Kicking off in Taiwan’s capital, a local guide will show you how the city fits together: incense curling through temple courtyards, jars of herbs and roots in traditional Chinese medicine shops and streets where different eras of architecture sit side by side. Then you’ll finish where Taipei really comes alive – at one of its best night markets. There’s row upon row of meals and snacks to try here, come hungry.

On a day trip out of the city, you’ll visit the old mining town of Jiufen on the north coast of the island. On a clear day, the view stretches out over the mountains and rocky coastline for miles. After sipping tea at one of the lantern-lit tea houses, you’ll travel on to Shifen, where you can write your wishes on a lantern before releasing it to fly into the sky, bearing your dreams aloft to the gods.

Driving south into the hills you’ll soon find yourself at Sun Moon Lake, one of Taiwan’s most popular mountain getaways. Our favourite way to see the scenery is on two wheels, biking along the lakeside path that circles the entire body of water. It’s 29 km long, but don’t worry, you don’t have to do the whole thing. Go slow and take in your surroundings or race your partner to the finish line.

Hop across the water by ferry to Ita Thao for lunch – try rice steamed in bamboo shoots and you may catch the Thao community performing traditional songs and dances down by the docks.

Travel higher up the central spine of mountains, on to the peaks of Alishan, over 2,000 meters above sea level. Walk along the boardwalk paths between lakes, past colourful temples and through the towering craggy cypress trees, some over a thousand years old. When the walking is done, you’ll switch to rail, taking the bright red cars of the Alishan Mountain Railway back towards your hotel. Arrive back in time for sunset views from the rooftop viewing platform, where if conditions are right, you’ll look out over the “sea of clouds” that fills the valleys below you. Before leaving Alishan, you’ll stop for a spot of tea at a tea plantation, learning why high elevation tea tastes different to lower altitude cousins.

Arriving into Tainan your first stop will be Chikan Tower, once the Dutch East India Company administrative centre during their short rule of Taiwan. Keep an eye open for the statue of Koxinga, the half Chinese half Japanese pirate who ended Dutch rule on the island, taking Tainan for himself. You’ll also visit Anping Fort and Anping Old Street, the first formal settlement and street on the island. In the afternoon you’ll stop at the Salt Fields, where tile-paved fields hold evaporating sea water to reveal valuable salt crystals. The sky reflecting on the watery fields at sunset is known as one of the best sunsets in Taiwan.

After breakfast today you’ll board the HSR (High Speed Rail) for a speedy and comfortable trip back to Taipei. Based on Japan’s Shinkansen bullet train, you may recognise the shape of the cars, though the orange livery is unique to Taiwan. Once back in Taipei, you’ll have an afternoon free to explore the city. Don’t forget to buy some pineapple cakes to bring home with you – a quintessential Taiwan souvenir snack.