canadian38

I'm going to Taipei, Taiwan, and the purpose of my trip is to visit someone there. I really want to see Taroko Gorge near Hualien, but she works a lot and since the purpose of my visit is to see her, she won't be able to come with me, and furthermore I don't want to stay overnight there if it's not necessary. I saw some flights from Taipei to Hualien and back for a really good price. Is a day trip to Hualien, Taroko Gorge and surrounding area a good idea, or do I need more time to see even just the main things.
Thanks for any tips!

thursdaysd

What time does the flight land, and how far is the airport from the gorge? You can certainly drive in and out in a day, but if you want to hike you won't have time for much. There's no reason to visit Hualien itself.

canadian38

The flight arrives at 7:30am and departs at 6:15pm, so it gives me the full day. According to Google Maps, from the airport it's 80 km / 2.5 hours each way. I anticipate that the roads may be a little slow, but to me this time sounds way too long for pure travel time. Factoring in stops, of course, it sounds realistic.

thursdaysd

Are you asking Google about Taipei airport or Hualian airport? I though you said you were getting a flight to Hualien. That airport is on the gorge (north) side of Hualien, it shouldn't take long to get to the entrance of the gorge. I arranged a car and driver through my Hualien hotel, not sure how much the taxis at the airport would charge. One of the upmarket Taipei hotels used to arrange a day trip, don't know if they still do.

For my visit to the gorge see: http://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com/...-taroko-gorge/

amln

The high speed train takes only two hours from Taipei to Hualian and is a real alternative to the flight. It also allows you to return later (with a 6:15pm flight you'd have to be at the airport by 5pm and leave the gorge by 4pm). By train instead you can take a late evening train, thereby staying longer at the gorge.

It's possible to visit the Taroko gorge in one day. You might take the bus in front of the train station. Regarding a taxi for the whole day, we were quoted 2500 TWD for an 8-hours trip.

Christine_Wu

The best way to see Hualien is to depart by the first TransAsia flight by propeller plane ATR-72 in the morning. Flying time is 35 minutes, minimum check in time 30 minutes. Fares are low, about US$ 50 one way.

At the Hualien airport you can take the tourism bureau shuttle bus. Or a taxi, but few drivers speak English.

The return by Taroko Express train takes just over 2 hours. Any other train will stop at Xincheng station nearer to the gorge, but this service then has up to ten stops before reaching Taipei in 3 hours or more. Yet sometimes it's your only choice.

You must prepare in advance, as most train seats are blocked by groups; package tours will take you shopping in a 'marble factory'. Since Taiwan is in the (sub-)tropics, sunset will be by 1800/1830: try to take a daylight train to enjoy the landscape and coast route.