A Taste of the South I My Way Travel USA - Absolute Asia Tours

On arrival in Taiwan, you'll be met by your private guide, who will accompany you to your Tainan hotel.

Set out on a morning walking tour around the old city, wandering through winding lanes between ancient temples. Each has its own story to tell: the serene and russet red Confucius Temple is Taiwan’s oldest, while the nearby Lady Linshui Temple is considered lucky by couples hoping for a child, and the sombre Dongyue Temple is where families go to commemorate their ancestors. Your afternoon will be at leisure to continue your exploration of the city independently or simply relax until heading out for a multi-course Taiwanese dinner. Tainan is renowned for its cuisine with an astounding number of eateries and regional specialities. Settle down in an atmospheric local restaurant to try a smorgasbord of local specialties including danzai mian (bamboo pole noodles), the disconcertingly named 'coffin bread' (in fact a comforting chicken-stew-filled toasted loaf) and delicious shrimp rolls served with pickled ginger.

Head out early to Anping, Tainan’s oldest district, home to an array of fascinating temples and historical structures. Visit the ornate Matsu Temple, the Dutch era fort, and Anping Treehouse, a colonial warehouse which has become engulfed by a gigantic banyan tree. From Anping, it’s a short drive out of the city to the Guanziling Hot Springs. Check in to your resort, and enjoy the remainder of your afternoon at leisure soaking in the soothing hot spring waters and checking out the local cuisine.

Leave Guanziling and head south, making a short detour to the extraordinary Fire Water Cave, where natural gas bubbles ignite as they reach the surface of a small pool, creating flames on the water’s surface! Follow the Dongshan Coffee Road through one of Taiwan’s premier coffee growing regions, soaking up the expansive views and stopping en-route to sample a brew at a local farm café. On arrival in Meinong, head out to explore the area, visit the museum and enjoy the local cuisine.

Head south towards Kaohsiung, making several stops along the way. Pause at the small village of Santimen, on the edge of Maolin National Scenic Area, where you’ll find the excellent Indigenous People’s Cultural Park. This beautiful outdoor museum depicts all aspects of traditional indigenous life in Taiwan, including historic buildings moved here from elsewhere on the island. Drive to Fo Guang Shan, one of the island’s biggest Buddhist monasteries, where you’ll be guided by one of the resident nuns or monks through the highlights of this vast complex, including the 36-metre tall Great Buddha statue and new Buddha Memorial Centre, built to house a relic of the Buddha’s tooth. Continue on to Kaohsiung, where the rest of your afternoon will be at leisure. If the mood takes you, hop aboard a boats to cruise up and down the river, gazing upon historic structures along the banks.

Spend the morning learning how to cook classic Taiwanese dishes in the modern kitchens of Chill Chill Kaohsiung – a local project with a focus on Taiwanese culinary culture and quality local produce. Under the watchful eye of the project’s professional chef, you’ll be introduced to key seasonal local ingredients, and use them to prepare and cook three traditional dishes. The proof is in the pudding, as they say, and you'll be enjoying your own creations for lunch. Make an afternoon visit to Lotus Lake to see the impressive temples and pagodas that dot the shoreline. The rest of your afternoon will be at leisure to wander the banks of the Love River, take a boat ride in the harbour, or check out the edgy arts scene at Pier 2.

Your day will at leisure until your onward flight from Kaohsiung Airport.