THE TWO TOWERS
A TOUR BOOKENDED BY TWO GIANT PEAKS
ESSENTIAL STATS YOU NEED TO KNOW
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Total Days:
3
Total Nights:
2
Total Distance:
688km (427miles))
Total Elevation Gain:
12414m (40728ft)
Difficulty Level:
★★★★☆
THE FULL ROUTE MAP
THE PACKAGE
*US$1079
​
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$150
Single Room Option: US$182
Deposit: US$220
​
​
Difficulty Level explained: CLICK HERE
*(SELF-GUIDED starting from US$419)
*Above prices based on groups of 4 or more riders.
HIGHLIGHTS
-
Ride up into the thin air of the glorious Sheipa National Park.
-
Pass through the aboriginal lands of Hsinchu and Miaoli Counties.
-
Enjoy the "Garden of Taiwan" that is Miaoli, and it's rolling roads.
-
Pass wonderful buddhist temples on hilltops.
-
Stop for a cup of Oolong tea in one of Chaiyi's many tea plantations.
-
Climb up one of the longest climbs in Taiwan to 2500m on Daxueshan (Big Snow Mountain) in Taichung County.
WHAT IS INCLUDED?
​
-
2 Nights accommodation.
-
Breakfast, lunch and riding snacks but not Dinner which, from experience, is best left to personal choice.
-
All your hydration requirements, including water, sports drinks, sodas, tea and coffee.
-
Rider/Guide ratio of 6/1.
-
Full vehicle support.
-
Bike and kit wash service.
-
Epic Ride Taiwan jersey, socks and cap.
ITINERARY
A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF EACH DAY OF THE TOUR
Day 1 - Hsinchu to Nanzhang
Distance - 104km. Elevation Gain 2142m. Estimated Riding Time - 5-6hrs
Our first day will start off in the foothills outside of Hsinchu, and we will begin with a long, 40km climb all the way up to the visitor centre at Sheipa National Park. Weather permitting we would have the option to continue a further 8km and getting us to a dizzying 2400m in elevation.
A long descent will follow, before we climb up the side of the valley to head back in the direction we came from, except this time a few hundred metres above the valley floor.
From here, it'll be a long, rolling descent through some stunning valleys before we finish up at Nanzhuang, our home for the night.
Day 2 - Nanzhuang to Taichung
Distance - 94km. Elevation Gain 2058m. Estimated Riding Time - 5-6hrs
On paper, day 2 is the "recovery" day, but it's not going to be that easy. We still have two solid climbs, the first one the more gentle drag up to Lingdong Palace, high up on the mountain.
After a steeper descent, we will ride along the rolling route 3, though the strawberry plantations and other fruit groves, before we take a right for the second climb, this one up the other side of the valley to Ginger Mountain.
Soon after we drop down to the Liyuan Reservoir with it's turquoise waters, before we head towards northern Taichung where we'll rest up for the big following day.
Day 3 - Taichung to Big Snow Mountain
Distance - 117km. Elevation Gain 2349m. Estimated Riding Time - 5-6hrs
Our final day and we have saved the biggest climb until last. Daxueshan (Big Snow Mountain) awaits and it will have us climbing for 45km.
The climb is nothing to be terrified about however, as it's a fairly steady gradient all the way. The first 20km are at an average gradient of 6.2%, after which the slopes are gentler to give your legs a break, and the views really open up.
Take a moment to soak in the views of the Central Mountains, and see if you can make out Yushan, Taiwan's tallest peak, on a clear day. Once at the top, we'll hand you your jackets and we'll freewheel all the way back to the end of the tour.
