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30 ratings
5.0

Secret Hiking Trail in Taipei Suburbs - Free English Tour

Taipei
Duration: 3h and 30min
Languages: English, Spanish
Guru: Shih-Heng
Registered on May 09, 2018

Hey there!:) I am Shih-Heng from Taipei...an amateur road cyclist, energetic badminton player, diligent bookworm, software product manager, and of course, your English/Spanish/Chinese tour guide in Taipei! I started to work as part-time tour guide outside regular office hours (as a software guy) since 2017, right after studying in Spain/Denmark/Slovenia and joining free walking tours myself in 20 European countries. Though not making a living by offering these tours, I do see walking tours as nice opportunities for me to share my knowledge about the Taiwanese history/nature/culture with you, and get to know about your own culture! Undoubtedly, I have a great interest in languages, since I not only speak native Chinese (Mandarin) as well as Taiwanese but also English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and a bit of German and Catalan. I am also quite familiar with the cultures in Europe, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, so if you happen to be from these regions, I am pretty sure that you will understand the Taiwanese culture more easily from the stories I prepare for you on my tours. So far, I have showed 2,000+ international travelers from 28 countries around in Taipei City, and I look forward to seeing you as well! Are you a foodie, nature lover or culture explorer? If so, I am exactly your ideal mate to accompany you getting to know Taipei and Taiwan better! Book a tour with me or send me a private message to personalize your itinerary (especially if you are passionate about hiking, cycling, and foods)!

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  • No minimum number of attendees
    No minimum number of attendees is required for the tour
  • Free booking and cancellation
    Free payment tour, no set price, booking and cancellation are free

Tour description

Who is recommended to join this tour? 🚩

  • First-timers in Taiwan hoping to know the fundamental knowledge and travel information about this country
  • People having travelled in Taiwan before and now eager to explore the less touristy places not well-known among international travelers


Wanna go for a hike but don't want to exhaust yourself? Then this is the right tour for you! 😎

Though mostly associated with modern city image, Taipei is actually home of more than 100 hiking trails. In this tour we will explore one of the steepest trails in the neighborhood called Neihu as well as the largest temple here. Besides enjoying the panoramic view of Taipei and getting closer to the astonishing nature, as a citizen living in this area for more than 20 years, I will also share some historical and religious stories only locals are familiar with. In the end of the tour, you also get the chance to buy some local agricultural products and try out the typical Taiwanese tofu pudding (douhua)!

This tour includes the following stops:

  • Enjoy the nature at Dagouxi Waterfront Park and Yuanjue Waterfall 
  • Bishan Temple with panoramic view of Taipei
  • Bishan Hiking Trail
  • Zhongyong Peak
  • Baishihu Suspension Bridge
  • Snack time in a local tofu pudding shop
  • Take the local bus back to MRT Neihu Station


Insider Tips:

  • Wear shoes suitable for hiking
  • Please bring your EasyCard or coins for local shuttle, the price is TW$15/one way
  • Remember to bring your mask. Taiwan is super safe now, yet due to COVID-19 those without mask will not be allowed to take public transport


Note:

  • In the event that the weather condition is not good, an alternative tour showing the main attractions in the old town of Taipei City will be provided!:) So no need to worry about cancellations

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Highlights

What will we visit on this tour?

  • Meeting point:
    Dahu Pk, Neihu District, Taipei City,...
    Dahu Pk, Neihu District, Taipei City, Taiwan 114
    View on map

    Right outside of the Exit 1 of MRT Dahu Park Station (Brown Line), you will find me wearing a camouflage hat and holding a red sign "GuruWalk"

  • 1
    Outside visit
    Dagouxi Waterfront Park
  • 2
    Outside visit
    Yuanjue Falls
  • 3
    Free admission
    Bishanyan Kaizhang Shengwang Temple

    This temple might not be as famous and busy as Longshan Temple in the city center, but this is exactly why we are exploring the spot. Being a gigantic temple sitting on a slope in Taipei's suburbs, it provides a breathtaking panoramic view just as the well-known Elephant Mountain does. Come visit, and you will be "wowed"!

  • 4
    Outside visit
    Zhongyongshan Trail

    Here is a fun fact: Taipei City is actually home to 150+ hiking trails! If you are looking for some exotic places off the beaten track to fulfill your "wanderlust", come with me to check out this hiking trail. This is one of the steepest hiking trails in Taipei (but not that challenging) and it offers the vibe of tropical forests. We are also likely to encounter lovely indigenous wildlife such as butterflies, woodpeckers, and magpies!

  • 5
    Outside visit
    Baishihu Suspension Bridge
  • 6
    Free admission
    Mingguwu Bakery

    After the short walk, we will enjoy some local tea and snacks here to refresh ourselves a bit before heading back to the metro station.

  • 7
    Outside visit
    MRT Neihu Station

How much does this tour cost?

Free tours do not have a set price, instead, each person gives the guru at the end of the tour the amount that he or she considers appropriate (these usually range from €10 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).

Tour opinions

30 ratings
5.0
By category
Professionalism
4.97
Fun
4.97
Expression
4.97
Quality
5.0
Route
4.79
Generic
5 stars
30
4 stars
0
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
0
Mohamed 30 Mar 2023
Berlin

Verified booking
Travelled alone - Feb 2023
Shih-Heng is an energetic man who enjoys giving this tour. He adapted to the group and extended the time of the tour so we can enjoy the hike. He is very knowledgeable about Taiwan and its history and made the tour very engaging. At the end of the tour, Shih-Heng shared his contact information with the group and he answered my later questions about things to do and some other question about Taiwan. The hike itself is unique. Very nice view over Taipei, a tea house in the woods, lots of birds, etc. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone visiting Taipei!
Luisa 14 Mar 2023
Frankfurt

Verified booking
Travelled in couple - Mar 2023
Im Gegensatz zu vielen anderen free walking tours waren wir bei dieser Tour außerhalb von Taipei in den Bergen wandern und haben, abgesehen von sehr schöner Natur, viele spannende Infos zur Geschichte der Stadt bekommen. Eine ganz klare Empfehlung für alle, die Spaß am Wandern haben und mal ein paar Stunden raus aus der Großstadt wollen und trotzdem etwas über Taipei und Taiwan lernen wollen. Shiheng war ein toller Guide, wir hatten eine super Zeit mit ihm und er hat uns viele hilfreiche Tipps für unsere weitere Reise gegeben!
Joseph 13 Mar 2023
San Francisco

Verified booking
Travelled in group - Mar 2023
Shih-Heng is an incredible tour guide and really goes above and beyond. He is very knowledgeable on Taiwanese history, very kind, and overall such a wonderful person. The Secret Hiking Trail tour is a great "off-the-beaten path" gem - if you like nature, hiking, and views this tour is for you. Unlike other free walking tours that are in the city, this is more of a hike on paved inclines / stairs, so be sure to wear comfortable hiking shoes and bring water and a hat.
Marcel 04 Mar 2023
Leipzig

Verified booking
Travelled in group - Mar 2023
Es war meine erste Tour in Taipei und ich habe sehr viele Infos neben der eigentlichen Tour bekommen. Unser Guide war wirklich sehr bemüht und er hat auch die Geschichte von Taiwan sehr schön erzählt! Ganz klare Empfehlung, um neben der tollen Tour auch noch weitere Empfehlungen und Infos über Taiwan zu bekommen!
Michael 14 Feb 2023
Stuttgart

Verified booking
Travelled alone - Feb 2023
Shih-Heng is great and super knowledgeable guide. Best free walking tour I ever did! Even went for lunch with him afterwards. Awesome and fun morning- highly recommend the tour!!!
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Who is this tour for?

Accessibility
Non suitable for people with reduced mobility.
Groups
Does not accept large group reservations.
Pets
Suitable for carrying pets.

What should you know?

Minimum of attendees
There is no minimum number of people required for the tour.
Additional costs:
The tour does not require the payment of entrance fees or additional expenses.
Free cancellation
If you will not be able to attend the tour, please cancel your booking, otherwise the guide will be waiting for you.
Payment methods
Only cash payment is accepted.
Free tours
Taiwan
Free walking tours in Taipei
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