HuanDao
( 環島 Huándǎo - "journey around the island")Embark on a thrilling journey around Taiwan's captivating shores with Huandao - where adventure meets breathtaking scenery at every turn.Huandao is more than a trip, it is a once-in-a-lifetime mission that becomes such a wonderful experience, that many repeat it.Usually, this quest is done counterclockwise but there are no clear rules and many little detours that really provide interesting perspectives into little seen attractions, high mountains, friendly hosts and forgotten houses somewhere in the jungle.Let's get you started on this journey with this (not yet comprehensive) mini guide:
Table of content
through rain or traffic
Cycling
You are eager to cycle around Taiwan? Good for you! Be aware of the torrential rain showers, and unrelentless heat in summer. In about 10-15 days you can do the Huandao by riding your bike for 5-7 hours a day.Taipei has some nice bike lanes and the eastern coast is among the most beautiful - if you catch a short time of good weather and there are fewer trucks than normally.Now, without further ado, here you have the links to experiences of a range of people that have cycled around Taiwan. At least a small selection of people who have done this:
Bicycle Insider Tips
- invest 30 NTD into a 7/11 raincoat
- always wear a helmet
- buy a cheap bike from NTU used bike market (weekly)
- invest in a phone holder and charger
- prepare komoot apps to supplement google and apple
- start in Taipei and go to Taichung
- if you have time: plan a detour to Sun Moon Lake from Taichung
- if you have more time: loop down to Kenting from Kaohsiung
- if you have even more time: explore Taroko Gorge from Hualien
Guestimate: 100+ Bike Huandaos per year
Hyper Hyper
The scooter Huandao
Taiwan is the world's scooter nation number one. You will find tens of millions of scooters in Taiwan and it is still one of the most prominently used form of transportation. Lately, Gogoro has taken Taiwanese cities by storm, but the Huandao is usually still done by CO2 emitting vehicles. 125-250 ccm scooters by Yamaha and local KYMCO and SYM are the most common.Read more about this 6-10 day trip of 3-5 hours per day.
Scooter Insider Tips
- a 50-100 ccm scooter if you want to travel really slowly
- get a 125-250 ccm scooter if you do not want to spend too much time on the road
- new 200-250 ccm scooters cost around 100,000 NTD
- used 125 ccm scooters are up for 20,000 NTD
- have your international travel license, insurance, passport ready
- if you are a resident: make sure you have a local scooter license
- a Gogoro Huandao is possible, but best to plan the battery switch meticulously. You might also want to skip detours to Alishan, Kenting etc.
- smaller scooters are not allowed on some roads (check beforehand)
Guestimate: 100+ Scooter Huandaos per year
E Bike Huandao
Assisted
A compromise is doing the e-bike Huandao. It might not be faster than the 7-15 day bicycle Huandao, but you sweat less and can engage more with locals and have a more relaxed passage. Find out from people who did it:
E-Bike Insider Tips
- e-bikes are becoming more and more popular and affordable
- consider a foldable e-bike in order to combine it with train rides
- charging usually often takes 4 hours (perfect to do during a long lunch break and in the evening)
- consider bringing a second battery in case you have a heavy e-bike anyways
Guestimate: 10+ E-Bike Huandaos per year (but rising)
Per Pedes
Step by Step
Walking around the island is a major quest. There are only a handful of people that have achieved a huandao by walking. It usually takes 4-6 weeks to accomplish.
Walking Insider Tips
- keep your backpack to below 10 kgs
- plan for showers and comfortable accommodation
- check for shoes stores in advance of the trip
- take extra laces
- take blasters
Guestimate: 1-2 on foot Huandaos per year
Taiwanese hospitality test
Hitchhiking
A compromise is doing the e-bike Huandao. It might not be faster than the 7-15 day bicycle Huandao, but you sweat less and can engage more with locals and have a more relaxed passage. Find out from people who did it:
Walking Insider Tips
- difficult in Taipei
- relatively easy in the south of Taiwan
- hence, think about combining it with train rides
- easy to catch rides for girls difficult for guys
Guestimate: 10 hitchhike Huandaos per year
#Vanlife
Huandao in a van
The somewhat most comfortable way of Huandao: in a van. Yes, #Vanlife is already some years past us, but a van is still the best way to bring your home with you on the tour and you can be the one inviting strangers on your Huandao for a coffee!
Walking Insider Tips
- camper van rentals are pricey... 3000-5000 NTD per day
- buy a used camper van for 500,000
- camper vans usually smaller on Japanese chassis
- familiarise with local traffic rules especially left turns
Guestimate: 20 camper van Huandaos per year
#Vanlife
Huandao by train
Taiwan has build one of the most efficient bullet train systems on the western part of the island and you could easily hop from Taipei to Kaohsiung in a few hours. On the eastern side, travel is much slower and you should still stick to a 5-6 day schedule so you can also visit some places along the route. Taichung, Tainan, Kaohsiung, Taitung, Hualien and Taipei are the usual suspects.
Walking Insider Tips
- bullet train rides cost about 500 NTD to the next major city
- slow trains cost around 200 NTD to the next major city
- Rides to the next city takes 2 (bullet) to 5 hours (slow train)
- Kaohsiung to Taitung is longest route
Guestimate: 50+ train Huandaos per year
Let's go together
Have you done the Huandao?Share your epic experience below and we are happy to link out to you as well.While it is often an individual mission, let's form a community of people that are doing this together.
See you on the road
Excited to see you on the road. Let's create a friendly and supportive community around Huandao!