Explore Taiwan like a local
When in Taiwan, do as the Taiwanese do. As a popular destination among Singaporeans, many of us have gone to Taiwan to indulge in their food, shop, see the mountains and of course – release a sky lantern at Shi Fen Old Street. But by following the guidebooks religiously and checking off every activity on the pages, we’re missing out on many authentic local experiences Taiwan has to offer.
Fortunately, there’s an online site KKday which has sussed out all the interesting must-do activities by working with local experts. Gone are the days when you have to google “undiscovered spots in Taiwan” and scour 10 pages before finding something that seems legit.
Here are the top 11 local Taiwan activities off the beaten track that you must experience!
1. Take a dip in Wulai’s hot springs
I wouldn’t blame you if you’re not a fan of public hot springs – awkward stares and if you’re unlucky enough, noisy kids splashing the scalding hot water onto your face. But that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on all the comfort and relaxation hot springs have to offer!
Book a private hot spring at the Volando Spring House for you and your bae for an hour of rejuvenation before hitting the city. With a panoramic view of the scenery surrounding the resort, the spring house ensures that you’ll have the perfect spot to soak in tranquility.
You won’t leave on an empty stomach – the package comes with an afternoon tea set, or a set meal at their gourmet restaurant serving fusion cuisine of the West and East. Hotel shuttle services are also available so you can get to and from the city easily.
Address: No. 176, Sec. 5, Xinwu Rd., Wulai Dist., New Taipei City 233, Taiwan (R.O.C.)
Click here to find out more and make your booking!
2. Drift along the valleys of Hualien Mountain
Here’s how you can appreciate Taiwan’s nature with some fun and adventure.
Half-day/one-day rafting expeditions are available and open to anyone, with or without experience! This is your chance to plunge into the clear, blue waters at Hualien mountain, and drift along the rivers. We’ve always admired the view from mountain peaks, but it’s time to have a change in scenery and explore the valleys we often overlook!
Click here to find out more and make your booking!
3. Explore Taipei’s night scene on a bike
When night falls and the skies turns dark, don’t call it a day just yet – embark on a night cycling journey around Taipei! Get a guide and hear the interesting stories of famous landmarks as you witness their splendour at night; something that many tourists will miss out on.
Visit South Airport Night Market where you’ll stop for some snacks, cycle to the Treasure Hill Art Village and even take a peek at the President’s “secret hideout”! Revealing Taipei’s best-kept secrets that can’t be found on just any map, the local guide will ensure you’ll get an enriching experience and not get lost while straying off the usual tourist routes.
Click here to find out more and make your booking!
4. MAKE your own bubble tea
Bubble tea isn’t just another dying trend in Singapore, thanks to us bubble tea fanatics. Instead of visiting your tenth night market in Taiwan, learn how to make this cup of heavenly goodness, in the place where it originated!
From learning the history of bubble tea to crafting your own pearls, this workshop will teach you all you need to go pro in bubble tea making – yes, you even get a bubble tea experience course completion certificate after!
Click here to find out more and make your booking!
5. Try your hand at night time river shrimping
Step into the clear waters of Taiwan – not to enjoy a hot spring this time, but to try your hand at river shrimping! Put your hand-eye coordination and reflexes to the test while catching some of those sneaky shrimps… or at least attempting to.
After the hard work river shrimping, indulge in the BBQ buffet spread prepared, under the spectacular view of Taiwan’s starry sky. Don’t hold back – this whole buffet is for you! For the price you’re paying, this is worth it.
Click here to find out more and make your booking!
6. Go for a “sunrise tour” to catch the sunrise from 5 perfect spots!
Even if you’re not a morning person, this is something you can’t miss in Taiwan! The sunrise tour starts at around 3:30am – 4:30am, hitting 5 destinations before stopping at Sunghsue Villa to enjoy the Hehuan Mountain sunrise.
Ensuring that you’ll get the most out of your morning, the tour bus will bring you around to explore 3 different peaks of the mountain, where you can take in the gorgeous views from high up.
Click here to find out more and make your booking!
7. Go whale + dolphin-watching at sea!
Another activity many tourists miss out on when visiting Taiwan is whale and dolphin watching! Don’t underestimate the fun and excitement when you spot the magnificent sea creatures, just meters away from your boat.
You’re in luck if your visit falls between April and October – you’ll get a higher chance of spotting whales, on top of the 20 over types of dolphins out at sea. Don’t be afraid of making a wasted trip if you fail to catch sight of any marine life, they’ll issue you another ticket, and let you on board the next trip for free!
Click here to find out more and make your booking!
8. Paraglide over mountains from 680m above the sea
If you’re not convinced that Taiwan will satisfy the adrenaline-seeker in you, try this. At 680m above sea level, take off and paraglide through the air while getting a bird’s eye view of the Taiwan’s scenery.
It’s something you must experience at least once in your life – the feeling of complete freedom when you’re floating above the mountains and trees, with the wind in your hair. You’ll have an airtime of at least 15 minutes – you’ll have ample time to soak in the atmosphere.
Click here to find out more and make your booking!
9. Dive into Taiwan’s clear blue seas
When you’re done admiring Taiwan from above, complete your exploration by diving deep into the waters! Best part is, you don’t even need any swimming experience to take part in this diving expedition. Basic diving training will be provided, and you’ll learn about the diving techniques, safety procedures and use of equipment – everything you need to make this adventure fun and safe.
Be assured that you’ll be put in good hands, as the dive masters will bring you to the clearest spots of Taiwan’s ocean for amazing underwater photo opportunities with the marine life.
In addition to your diving experience, you’ll also be taken on a submarine tour! Aquariums? Those were so last season. You’ll be going under to see those sea creatures in their natural habitats.
Click here to find out more and make your booking!
10. Skip the queues and still enjoy 20 of Taiwan’s best night market dishes!
Trying the street food in Taiwan night markets are a must, but when your itinerary is jam-packed with back to back activities, the last thing you want to do is queue for 30 minutes just to get one Chou Dou Fu.
During your trip to Ningxia Night Market, skip the crazy food queues and make a beeline for Formosa Chang on the 2nd floor, where you’ll get to sample 20 street foods of the night market in just one sitting.
If you’d like, there’ll also be a guide to explain the history of Ningxia Night Market and the Taiwanese food culture. Get ready for many interesting stories that’ll be shared during the 20 “course” meal!
Priced at just 110USD for a table (max up to 10 people), you’ll be served with a plethora of food. That’s comes down to about 11 bucks for a person – that’s quite a steal. Plus, any unfinished food can also be tabao-ed!
Address: 2F No 58 Ningxia Rd, Datong Dist, Taipei City 103, Taiwan (R.O.C)
Click here to find out more and make your booking!
11. Hire a professional to capture all your picture-perfect moments
Of course, no trip can ever not grace the feeds of our Instagram. But in the process, we have to go through the paiseh-ness of asking a random stranger for help to take a photo, and settle for a subpar photo in the end.
But when you’re in Taiwan, avoid that situation for a small fee – you can hire a professional photographer who will bring you to the prettiest locations around, and snap some Insta-worthy shots!
Save yourself the trouble of finding those obscure, hipster and photogenic places – your photographer’s a local who knows all these at the tips of his fingers, so just leave it to him to snap up the best photos of your trip!
Click here to find out more and make your booking!
An authentic Taiwan experience
Enough visiting Taiwan as a tourist and leaving with just your shopping loots and a whole lot of bubble tea in your stomach – it’s time you see the city through the eyes of their locals! Stray off the usual hot spots like Taipei 101 or Shilin Night Market, and explore the real Taiwan with the help of their people.
There’s no better way to start interacting with trusty locals than through KKday, where you’ll be linked up with various groups offering interesting activities away off the beaten track.
KKday offers over 5000 genuine and local experiences in 170 cities, in 53 countries! Enter your travel destination, and be amazed at the activities you would’ve never known existed, if you had put your trust solely in tourist guides.
With easy-to-use filters which allow you to indicate your preference in the genre of activities, and work within your budget, KKday will be your next best friend when it comes to drawing up the perfect itinerary.
Plus, from 25 May – 30 June 2016, you’ll get to enjoy 5% OFF selected Taiwan activities when you enter the code KKDAYTSL5 prior to checkout! Click here to find out which activities are included in the promotion!
Win a free trip for 2 to Taiwan!
UPDATE: THIS GIVEAWAY HAS CLOSED
Whether you’ve been to Taiwan before or want to go there for the first time, everyone always needs a little push to start the planning. So here’s yours: KKday is giving away a pair of tickets to Taiwan, valid for booking from 1 June-30 September 2016. The tickets will be valid for travel from 1 June-31 December 2016.
All you have to do is
1. Like The Smart Local and KKday on Facebook
2. Like and share this post
3. Comment on the same post and tell us what activity you’re looking forward to do in Taiwan!
Contest ends on 3 June 2016. Good luck!
This post was brought to you by KKday.