Birds of Central Tour – 3-Days / 2-Nights
Set off on a hand-crafted 3-day birding experience in Central Taiwan, a perfect short trip that maximizes your chance to spot many of Taiwan’s endemic bird species.
There are over 9,000 known bird species in the world and, of these, 589 can be found in Taiwan, including 32 endemic species. Proportionally speaking, the bird density in Taiwan is number-two in the world. Thus, it’s no surprise that bird-watching has been a favorite outdoor activity in Taiwan since the 1970s.
Now’s your chance to capture a few shots or sights of Taiwan’s incredible avian ecology on our 3-day / 2-night Birds of Central Taiwan Tour.
While this tour is available year-round, one of the most important factors for bird-watching is the season. Summer tours offers a chance to spot local Taiwanese birds and summer visitors. Winter sees migratory bird species from the north. Generally, though, spring is considered the best season for bird-watching because it is the mating season.
Over this 3-day / 2-night guided tour guests will visit three popular birding destinations include in Daxueshan National Forest, Sun-Link Sea Nature Education Area, and Xitou National Education Area.
- Duration: 3 days
__________________________________________ - Trip level: Easy
__________________________________________ - Availability: Year-Round
__________________________________________ - Type: Guided
__________________________________________ - Price: (TWD)
– 1 Guests: $99,000pp
– 2 Guests: $51,500pp (dbl occupancy)
– 3 Guests: $35,700pp (dbl occupancy)
– 4 Guests: $29,750pp (dbl occupancy)
– 5 Guests: $25,500pp (dbl occupancy)
– 6 Guests: $22,700pp (dbl occupancy)
– 7 Guests: $20,700pp (dbl occupancy)
(Single Supplement is $7000TWD)
__________________________________________
Highlights
- Visit to three distinct birding hot spots in Central Taiwan
- Stay overnight in unique cabin accommodation inside Daxueshan National Forest.
- Private English-speaking birding guide throughout trip
- Consultation with birding guide pre-trip to outline bird list and review tour
- Private transportation and everything except personal cameras, gear & a few meals
Birds of Central Taiwan Tour – Overview
After meeting their private guide and driver, guests will head off to visit to one of Taiwan’s most popular birding destinations, Daxueshan National Forest. Guests and guide will slowly meander up the forest road, listening for elusive bird calls. Known in local birding circles as the “Street of Endemic Species”, guests will have a chance to spot the majestic, but elusive Mikado Pheasants, the more common, but equally beautiful Swinhoe Pheasants, which frequently parade along this stretch of forest road. Guests will stay overnight in a unique wooden cabin right insight this stunning protected area.
On day 2, guests will wake up to the vibrant sounds of the songbirds inside Daxueshan National Forest. A morning of birding, guided by your private, English-speaking guide will be capped off with lunch inside the protected park. Guests will travel south to their accommodation for the evening. Here, nestled in the mountains of Central Taiwan, guests will enjoy a home-cooked meal prepared by their hosts.
On the final day, guests will set off early enroute to visit two of protected areas and birding hotspots trying to collect as many endemic species and subspecies as we can before being transferred back to Taichung Train Station and the end of the tour.
Taiwan Outdoors takes care of all the details; from coordinating private transportation, arranging a private English-speaking birding guide, accommodation reservations, insurance booking, and arranging a few meals.
This tour is completed over three days and two nights and provides return transportation from Taichung Train Station (alternate pick up locations can be arranged. Additional costs may apply. Please send us an email at YourTaiwanOutdoors@gmail.com).
What is included
 | Bilingual (Chinese/English) & experienced birding guide services |
 | 3 Meals included – Day 1: Dinner | Day 2: Breakfast, Dinner |
 | Private round-trip van service from Taichung Train Station (Alternate pick up locations can be arranged. Additional costs may apply) |
 | One (1) night accommodation in Daxuehsan National Forest and one (1) night accommodation at a B&B |
 | Passenger (on van) & $3,000,000ntd Travel Agency Liability Insurance |
 | Admission and parking fees into Daxueshan National Forest, Sun-Link Sea Nature Education Area, and Xitou National Education Area. |
 | Local support by telephone and private LINE group with guide/staff |
What is not included
 | Flights (domestic or international), as well as train or other transportation needed to arrive in Taichung HSR Station |
 | Airport transfers (Available upon request. Additional costs may apply) |
 | Drinks and meals not included in itinerary (Day One: Breakfast, Lunch | Day Two: Lunch | Day Three: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner) |
 | Additional stops at attractions or souvenir shops not included in the itinerary |
 | Additional personal travel insurance or expenses of a personal nature |
 | Personal gear including cameras, binoculars, monoculars, etc. |
Birds of Central Taiwan Tour – Daily Itinerary
Day 1 Itinerary
Guests will meet our guide and be picked up in private transportation from Taichung Train Station and driven up to the famous “Street of Endemic Species” in Daxueshan National Forest.
Guests will be able to pick up supplies and lunch on the way up. After entering the park, guests and guide will slowly make their way up to the Daxueshan Visitor Center, where guests will check in to their private cabin before exploring the local trails for more species.
Here, guests will be on the lookout for pheasants and songbirds including the Mikado and Swinhoe’s Pheasants, considered by many casual and avid birders as the holy grail for Taiwan birds. Both species are endemic and rare, but Daxueshan is one of the best locations to spot them with any consistency. Other species spotted on this tour include Black-throated Tits, Taiwan Yuhinas, White-eared Sibias, Green-backed Tits, Yellow Tits, Grey-chinned Minivets, Taiwan vivid niltava, Crested Finchbill and more. Nearly all of Taiwan’s endemics have been spotted in Daxueshan National Forests, meaning we’re in the mecca.
The group will walk up to Daxueshan Visitor Center, where guests will check-in to their accommodation and have free time until dinner.
Accommodation for day one is a private cabin for guests inside the National Forest itself. Double, triple and quadruple occupancy is available. Towels are provided, however toiletries are the responsibilities of the guests.
Day One Walking Notes
– Day One Total Walking Distance: 4-10km (Depending on group/day)
– Estimated Time on Trail: 8 hours at a moderate hiking pace
– Trail Conditions: Hard-surface roads, compact soil, single track trail. No technical hiking required.
Day One Schedule
– 06:30 – Depart From Taichung Train Station(guests responsibility to travel to Taichung Train Station)
– 08:30 – Arrive at Daxueshan National Forest
– 12:30 – Trailside lunch (responsibility of guests)
– 15:30 – Arrive at Daxueshan Visitor Center to check-in
– 17:30 – Dinner provided by the National Forest Staff (included in tour price)
– 18:30 – Free Time
*Please note: These times are approximate and will depend on a number of factors including weather, road, and trail conditions and walking pace.
Breakfast: No / Lunch: No / Dinner: Yes
Day 2 Itinerary
Wake up to the sounds of surrounding birds, who are beckoning your presence. After a quick meal at the canteen in the visitor center, guests and guide will head out to the upper stretches of the park for a morning of birding.
We’ll spend the morning searching for more of our feathered friends including high elevation species. Depending on the weather and what species we’ve been able to see, we’ll venture to see other areas of the part to test our luck in other areas of the park.
Guests and guide will have lunch at the Daxueshan National Forest Visitor Center, before departing in our private transportation. Guests will travel to the southwest corner of Nantou County in Central Taiwan towards their accommodation for the evening. The group will aim to arrive just before dinner. Overlooking the mountainous landscapes of Central Taiwan, uests will enjoy a home-cooked meal prepared by their hosts.
After dinner, if the season is right (typically March), guests can explore the property and local area looking for fireflies that are frequent during this time. If visiting during other seasons, guests can spend time winding down at the local accommodation.
We suggest an early evening, as the following day guests will be spending the day traveling between two of Central Taiwan’s remaining top birding destinations.
Day Two Walking Notes:
– Day Two Total Walking Distance: 3-4km
– Trail Conditions: No real trails will be hiked on this day
– Estimated Time on Trail: 30 minutes
Day Two Schedule
– 07:00 – Wake up
– 07:30 – Breakfast included at National Forest (Basic Chinese meal – included in price)
– 08:00 – Morning birding at Daxueshan National Forest
– 12:00 – 13:00 – Lunch at Daxueshan Visitor Center (Basic Chinese meal – not included in price)
– 13:00 – 14:00 – Depart Daxueshan National Forest and transfer to accommodation
– 16:00 – 17:00 – Arrive at accommodation in Zhushan Township, Nantou County
– 17:30 – Dinner at accommodation (Included in pricing)
– After dinner – Seasonally dependent – Go explore for Fireflies
*Please note: These times are approximate and will depend on a number of factors including weather, road and traffic conditions.
Breakfast: Yes / Lunch: No / Dinner: Yes
Day 3 Itinerary
The third and final day of the trip includes visits to two more spectacular birding destinations. Guests and guide will set off before breakfast, ensuring the best chance to spot active birds at our first destination of the day. The guests will have a chance to stop for coffee and breakfast on the road before arriving at Sun-Link Sea Nature Education Area.
Once admitted into this protected area, guests and guide will head off into the park’s numerous trails. Birds spotted at Sun-Link Sea Nature Education Area on this tour include Steere’s Liocichla, Collared Bush Robin, Red-flanked Bluetail, as well as endemics like the Taiwan Whistling Thrush, Taiwan Wren Babbler and Yellow Tit. Other common birds spotted in the park include Black Eagles, Crested Serpent Eagles and more.
Guests will depart just before lunch and head north towards the last protected area and birding destination of this 3-day tour. Along the way, the group will make a quick stop in at a local restaurant to grab lunch and refuel for the remainder of the trip.
After a delicious lunch at a local Taiwanese restaurant, the guests will travel a short distance to Xitou Nature Education Area. This unique protected area is approximately 2,500 hectares and nestled within the surrounding central mountains. This protective location makes it a hub for wildlife, with over 70 species of birds having been identified here.
The final few hours will be spent exploring Xitou’s numerous trails, giant trees and bamboo forests all filled with birdlife. Afterwards, guests and guide will board the private transportation and be whisked off to Taichung for the end of the tour.
Day Three Walking Notes:
– Total Walking Distance: 4-5km
– Trail Conditions: Hard surface and compact soil trails with some man-made structures such as wooden steps and small wooden bridges.
– Estimated Time on Walking: 6-7 hours at a moderate walking pace.
Day Three Schedule
– 06:30 – Depart Bamboo House for Sun-Link Sea Nature Education Area
– 07:30 – Arrive at Sun-Link Sea Nature Education Area
– 07:30 – 11:30 – Guided Birding and Walking Experience in Sun-Link Sea Nature Education Center
– 11:30 – Depart Sun-Link Sea Nature Education Area
– 12:00 – Lunch at local Taiwanese restaurant on route to Xitou Nature Education Area
– 13:00 – Arrive at Xitou Nature Education Area
– 13:00 – 16:00 – PM Birding in Xitou Nature Education Center
– 16:00 – Depart Xitou Nature Education Center
– 18:00 – Arrive at Taichung HSR / End of Tour
*Please Note: These times are based purely on weather, traffic and walking times.
Breakfast: No / Lunch: No / Dinner: No
IMPORTANT NOTICE
⚠️ PICK-UP / DROP-OFF LOCATIONs: Our pick-up location will be Taichung Train Station. It is the guest’s responsibility to arrive at Taichung Train Station. If you require an alternate pick-up/drop-off locations, please contact us directly at YourTaiwanOutdoors@gmail.com. Additional costs may apply.
⚠️GUIDE: In addition to providing an amazing outdoor experience, our guides have the responsibility for guest safety and well-being. Our guides will monitor the group’s fitness levels and health throughout the tour. In the event of poor weather or if any guests are struggling from poor fitness or adverse conditions, they reserve the right to alter the tour itinerary and/or cancel the ascent. We thank you for your understanding as we believe guests’ safety is of the utmost importance.
⚠️ MEALS: Day One Breakfast and Lunch are not included in the tour price. Day Two Lunch, as well as Day Three Lunch & Dinner are not included in the tour price. Guests are responsible for preparing and bringing their own meals on these days.
⚠️ GROUP SIZE: Our Birds of Central Taiwan Tour can be booked for groups between 1-7 guests. This tour is limited to 7 guests. If you have a team of more than 7, please contact us directly at YourTaiwanOutdoors@gmail.com.
⚠️ TOUR AVAILABILITY: Our Birds of Central Taiwan Tour must be booked at least one month prior to your planned departure date. Due to the consideration and advanced notice we wish to provide our birding guide, we require this advanced notice. This tour can be booked online year round.
⚠️ PAYMENT REQUIREMENTS: Full payment is required at least 14-days prior to the departure date. This ensures our guests commitment to the tour and allows us to confirm participation.
&n⚠️ NON-REFUNDABLE ADMINISTRATIVE FEE: When a group registers and pays for Taiwan Outdoors’ Birding of Central Taiwan Tour, we make arrangements with your private birding guide, reserve accommodations and arrange transportation. Because of the work required, as well as the money required to secure the services provided on this trip, Taiwan Outdoors’ has one non-refundable administration fee our guests should be aware of:
- Each booking will incur a non-refundable administrative fee of 10% of the booking price at the time of booking, in addition to cancellation fee enforced by the domestic law associated with consumer protection in Taiwan. The cancellation policy is outlined below.
⚠️ CANCELLATION POLICY:
In the event Taiwan Outdoors cancels the event due to an Act of God, adverse weather or any other unforeseen circumstance, a full refund will be provided. Guaranteed.
- 95% refund when the cancellation notice arrives 41 days before the scheduled day of departure (less the 10% non-refundable administration fee).
- 90% refund when the cancellation notice arrives 31 days to 40 days before the scheduled day of departure (less the 10% non-refundable administration fee).
- 70% refund when the cancellation notice arrives 2 days to 30 days before the scheduled day of departure (less the 10% non-refundable administration fee).
- 20% refund when the cancellation notice arrives one day before the scheduled day of departure (less the 10% non-refundable administration fee).
- No refund when the cancellation notice arrives after the scheduled day of departure.
Do you have any other questions? Please send us an email to YourTaiwanOutdoors@gmail.com.
Contact Us About the Birds of Central Taiwan Tour
Adventure Awaits
Ready to spend three days in the birding mecca of Central Taiwan?
