THE FULL ROUTE MAP
THE EAST COAST & KOM
RIDE ALONGSIDE THE PACIFIC OCEAN, SANDY BEACHES, JUNGLE CLAD HILLS AND TAKE ON THE ICONIC TAIWAN KOM CHALLENGE ROUTE
ESSENTIAL STATS YOU NEED TO KNOW
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Total Days:
8
Total Nights:
7
Total Distance:
696km |432miles)
Total Elevation Gain:
9349m (30672ft)
Difficulty Level:
★★★★☆
THE PACKAGE
*US$2879
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All accommodation will be based on two riders sharing a twin room. If you prefer to have a room to yourself, then we can arrange it for a supplementary cost.
Bike rental: US$275
Single Room Option: US$637
Deposit: US$580
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Difficulty Level explained: CLICK HERE
*(SELF-GUIDED starting from US$799)
*Above prices based on groups of 4 or more riders.
HIGHLIGHTS
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Ride alongside the coast where mountains 1000m high plunge into the Pacific Ocean.
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Cross the rolling hills and lush jungle to the East Rift Valley.
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Enjoy a day of relaxing on the beach in Hualien or hiking in Taroko Gorge.
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Ride the famous Taiwan KOM Challenge route, from the ocean to 3275m in elevation.
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Soak the tired muscles in a hot spring, down in Jiaoxi.
WHAT IS INCLUDED?
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7 Nights accommodation.
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Breakfast, lunch and riding snacks but not Dinner which, from experience, is best left to personal choice.
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All your hydration requirements, including water, sports drinks, sodas, tea and coffee.
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Rider/Guide ratio of 6/1.
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Full vehicle support.
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Bike and kit wash service.
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Epic Ride Taiwan jersey.
ITINERARY
A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF EACH DAY OF THE TOUR
Day 1 - Checheng to Kenting (transfer from Taipei)
Distance - 33km. Elevation Gain 163m. Estimated Riding Time - 2hrs
Day 1 is mostly a travel day, as after meeting, we'll drive from Taipei down to the southerly Pingtung County.
Once we get off the main road, we'll get the bikes off the roof, set them up, change clothes, and we can enjoy a gentle spin to release the legs of that travel tiredness.
You'll find it the perfect preparation for the longer, tougher days to come, as we roll around the coast, savouring the sea air, and finish at our first accommodation in the famous beach area of Kenting.
Day 2 - Kenting to Taitung
Distance - 122km. Elevation Gain 1204m. Estimated Riding Time - 5-6hrs
The first proper day of our East Coast and KOM tour will begin in the southern beach town of Kenting, by the Eluanbi Lighthouse, which marks the most southerly point of Taiwan. The only way is north from here.
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We will first take on the windswept Kenting peninsula before moving slightly inland through rolling, green hills that will twice drop us down the Pacific Ocean.
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After around 100km we are on the eastern coastal plain where we will ride northward towards the town of Taitung, our first stopover for this tour.
Day 3 - Taitung to Chenggong
Distance - 118km. Elevation Gain 1569m. Estimated Riding Time - 5-6hrs
From Taitung, we will head up the stunning coastline past Dulan. This stretch is glorious and resembles Hawaii with huge green mountains plunging into the Pacific.
Soon we will turn inland up into the hills before dropping into the East Rift Valley, full of paddy fields and fruit farms.
We’ll then head back across the Haian Range to the coast where we’ll enjoy the night at the seaside town of Changbin.
Day 4 - Chenggong to Hualien
Distance - 111km. Elevation Gain 1259m. Estimated Riding Time - 5-6hrs
Day 4 will start off along the coast for a nice 20km warm up before heading through the picturesque, rolling valley road to Ruishui, back in the East Rift Valley.
From here, we will remain inland winding our way northwards along the wonderfully sinuous and rolling road 193, before arriving at Hualien, the large East Coast town, site of our first rest day and the starting point for the legendary Taiwan KOM Challenge race.
Day 5 - Rest Day at Hualien
Day 5 is a much needed rest day, giving you a chance to save your strength for tomorrow's Queen Stage. Hualien is a delightful place to relax for the day, with multiple options to keep you entertained. Go for a hike in the world famous Taroko Gorge, do some sea kayaking at the dramatic Qingshui Cliffs, chill on a beach or simply take it easy around the hotel.
Day 6 - Hualien to Lishan
Distance - 127km. Elevation Gain 3623m. Estimated Riding Time - 6-8hrs
Day 6 is the Queen Stage of the tour, where we will begin the day oceanside, from where we'll be riding upwards for most of the day.
First, we’ll ride under the entrance to Taroko Gorge, and work our way up to 3275m, through spectacular scenery over the following 90km, which is the full route of the Taiwan KOM Challenge, which was won by Vincenzo Nibali, back in 2017.
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The last 10km are particularly notorious but don’t worry, if on the day you don’t have the legs (or the will) you can skip that part and your ride will top out at a mere 2700m before descending to our hotel.
Day 7 - Lishan to Jiaoxi
Distance - 118km. Elevation Gain 958m. Estimated Riding Time - 5-6hrs
After such a tough day 6, you deserve to spend most of the day descending, so that’s what we have for you.
There are a couple of climbs to deal with in the first 30km, as we ride across the Wuling Plateau, but as you are surrounded on both sides by multiple 3000m+ mountain peaks, you might forget the pain in your legs.
Shortly after passing Wuling farm, we reach the Siyuan Pass, before rolling down one of the longest descents in Taiwan, the 70km drop down to Jiaoxi, where you will be able to soak those tired muscles in the hot springs the area is famous for.
Day 8 - Jiaoxi to Taipei
Distance - 100km. Elevation Gain 738m. Estimated Riding Time - 5-6hrs
Day 8, the final day of the tour, and you will finally say goodbye to the Pacific ocean. The first 40km will be riding up the coast until we reach the beach town of Fulong.
From here, we turn inland and ride though farmland back towards Taipei. We’ll still have to climb a little as we pass the Pingxi area, famous for it’s lantern festival and spectacular hiking options.
Finally, we’ll enter the outskirts of Taipei, where we’ll finish by the iconic 101 skyscraper.
