Taiwan Taste Trail

A Culinary Tour of the Beautiful Island

Taiwan Taste Trail
Tour Details
Duration:
7 days
This Trip Operates:
As well as our fixed tour date, this trip departs on request with a minimum of 4 passengers.
Max Group Size:
8
What's Included:
  • 6 nights accommodation on twin-share basis in comfortable hotels
  • tour leader
  • culinary instruction from Jodie Tsao
  • private vehicle and driver throughout
  • all entrance fees as listed
  • many meals
Cost:
TBC

Taiwan is a culinary adventure just waiting to happen. A tropical climate, vast altitude range and abundant marine life lends Taiwanese chefs a huge array of the highest quality ingredients, and the island's equally diverse cultural influences make it one of the world's premier food destinations. Indigenous communities hunt wild boar and forage for wild mountain vegetables, whilst Chinese immigrants have brought regional dishes from all over the mainland, and to cap it all off the Japanese period has left Taiwan with a love of sushi.

Our food journey will take us to some of the island's most mouthwatering destinations, from the nightmarkets and cosmopolitan variety of Taipei to mountain teafields and aboriginal settlements, and ending with the sumptuous southern snacks of Tainan. To enable us to really get the most from our meals, the group will be accompanied by acclaimed local food expert Jodie Tsao, as well as an experienced Bamboo Trails tour leader. So prime your chopstick skills and get ready for a real taste of Taiwan!

Day 1 – Taipei

Today people will be arriving throughout the day. In the evening we'll meet for an introduction to the tour and our first culinary adventure at Shilin Night Market where we can sample dishes as diverse as stinky tofu and oyster omelets!!

Day 2 – Taipei

Today we'll start with a trip to a lively local market where we'll gather the ingredients for our introductory cooking lesson with local food legend Jodie Tsao. In the evening we'll dine on xiaolongbao.

Day 3 – Sun Moon Lake

Today we'll leave the city behind, venturing south to Sun Moon Lake. En-route we'll visit the tea region of Pinglin and taste the acclaimed local brew, Wenshan Baojhong. In the afternoon we'll take a boat ride on the lake where we'll see traditional Chinese pendulum fishing nets and local aquaculture. In the evening we'll sample local delights including President Fish fresh from the lake and exotic fruit cooked in ways you would never imagine.

Day 4 – Alishan

Today we'll drive south through the mountains to Alishan. Surrounded by the highest peaks in North East Asia, Alishan is famed for its mountain scenery, the amazing sea of clouds, and its oolong tea and wasabi!

Day 5 – Dabang Village

After a trip to (hopefully) catch Alishan's famed sunrise we'll head down the mountain to the small settlement of Dabang where we'll spend the day learning about (and sampling) local aboriginal fare. We'll overnight in a simple homestay in the village.

Day 6 – Tainan

Today we'll leave the mountains and head down to the warmth of Taiwan's western coastal plains. Tainan, the island's former capital, is set in the heart of Taiwan's banana belt, and is famous for its xiaochi (snacks), which include Beggar's Noodles, Shrimp Rolls and Coffin Bread! In the afternoon we'll learn how to make some of these local specialties, and then in the evening we'll head out for a final banquet to mark the end of our food odyssey through Taiwan.

Day 7 – Tour Ends

The tour ends after breakfast. Tainan is only 90 minutes from Taipei by high-speed rail and equally close to Kaohsiung International Airport.