RISING IN THE EAST
A RIDE FROM NORTH TO SOUTH ALONG THE DRAMATIC NORTH EAST COAST
ESSENTIAL STATS YOU NEED TO KNOW
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Total Days:
2
Total Nights:
1
Total Distance:
199km (123miles)
Total Elevation Gain:
1571m (5154ft)
Difficulty Level:
★★☆☆☆
THE FULL ROUTE MAP
THE PACKAGE
*US$679
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$110
Single Room Option: US$91
Deposit: US$140
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Difficulty Level explained: CLICK HERE
*(SELF-GUIDED starting from US$299)
*Above prices based on groups of 4 or more riders.
HIGHLIGHTS
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Ride past mountains full of gold, around the Jiufen area.
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Take the opportunity to make a pit stop at the Kavalan Whisky distillery.
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Savour the views of offshore Turtle Island, as you get blown down the coast with the prevailing tailwind.
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Ride through the paddy fields, unique to the Yilan Plain.
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Climb up and down roads clinging to the mountainside that plunge into the Pacific Ocean.
WHAT IS INCLUDED?
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1 Night 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, socks and cap.
ITINERARY
A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF EACH DAY OF THE TOUR
Day 1 - Keelung to Suao
Distance - 100km. Elevation Gain 317m. Estimated Riding Time - 4-5hrs
The Rising in the East tour will begin at the northern port of Keelung, formerly the island's largest port, and the shimmering Pacific Ocean will be on your left immediately. In fact, it will barely leave your sight all the way down.
The whole ride will be fairly flat today, but the first half will have a few gentle rollers to keep you entertained. We'll ride past the tourist beach town of Fulong, then we head towards the south towards the coastal plain of Yilan.
After a spot of lunch, we'll continue through the unique flatland of the Yilan plain, the estuary of the Lanyan river, where you'll be surrounded by waterways and rice paddies. It's extremely pretty and to your right, on a clear day, you'll see the distant Central Mountain range. Before too long, we'll arrive at Suao, where we'll enjoy our first night.
Day 2 - Suao to Hualien
Distance - 98km. Elevation Gain 1254m. Estimated Riding Time - 4-5hrs
Today will be all about the jaw dropping beauty of the Suhua Highway.
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This route used to be the main route from Taipei to Hualien and was notoriously busy, but fortunately the government have built a new super highway that takes the majority of traffic through tunnels and off the coast road. Nowadays, the only people on the road are sightseers and cyclists.
The first 50km in particular are spectacular, climbing up one hill after another while the road is perched high on the mountainside above the Pacific. One very famous section called the Qingshui Cliffs, where the road dangles several hundred metres above the water and is an incredible feat of engineering will leave you speechless. Finally, after passing the mouth of Taroko Gorge, and the start of the legendary Taiwan KOM Challenge race, we arrive in Hualien where we will end the tour.
