MasterChef Travel

Itinerary in Brief

• Days 1–2 – To Taipei: Fly overnight to Taipei and check in to the Nanxi City Suites for a 3-night stay. Evening visit to a puppet theatre and introductory dinner of typical home-style Taiwanese fare. (D)

• Day 3 – Taipei: Morning tour of Taipei including the Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial and the National Palace Museum. Lunch will follow at the acclaimed Silks Palace featuring beautifully presented dishes inspired by the museum collection. Afternoon visit to a tofu factory. Evening tour of Shilin night market, one of Taipei's fastest moving culinary hotspots. Dinner will be included during the tour. (B, L, D)

• Day 4 – Taipei: Morning ascent of Taipei 101 followed by lunch at renowned Din Tai Fung, renowned for its first-rate dumplings. You will also have the chance to see dumplings being made and cooked. Afternoon walking tour of old Taipei. Dinner of Beijing duck this evening. (B, L, D)

• Day 5 – To Sun Moon Lake: Depart Taipei for the drive to Sun Moon Lake for an overnight stay at the Lealea Garden Moon. En route, stop at a tea farm and take part in a traditional tea ceremony. Lunch at a local restaurant. Continue to the turquoise waters of Sun Moon Lake. Sample President's fish and dishes made from local tropical fruit at dinner this evening. (B, L, D)

• Day 6 – To Alishan: Early morning boat ride on Sun Moon Lake before driving south through the mountains to Alishan for an overnight stay at Alishan House. Lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon walk in the pine and cypress forests of Alishan National Park and a tasting of wasabi products. A traditional hotpot is on the menu for dinner this evening. (B, L, D)

• Day 7 – To Tainan: An early start to catch Alishan's famed sunrise, then continue to Tainan, former capital of Taiwan, for a 2-night stay at the Shangri-La's Far Eastern Plaza Hotel. Lunch at the hotel. This afternoon, visit colonial Anping. Dine on typical Tainan dishes at a local restaurant this evening. (B, L, D )

• Day 8 – Tainan: Early morning visit to a local market to purchase ingredients for a cookery class with a renowned local chef. Lunch will be what you have all cooked this morning. Afternoon walking tour of old Tainan with tastings of typical local snacks. This evening dinner will be at a Japanese restaurant. (B, L, D )

• Day 9 – To Taipei: Today, the high-speed train will whisk you back to Taipei. Remainder of the day at leisure, prior to a final banquet dinner this evening. (B, D)

• Day 10 – To London: Return flight to London via Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific. (B)

  Meal basis: As per itinerary - B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals

  Extensions: Extend your holiday with a visit to Hong Kong. Please speak to a travel consultant for more details.

Detailed itinerary

• Days 1– To Taipei: Fly to Taipei via Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific. (N)

• Days 2 – Taipei: Arrive and transfer to the City Suites Nanxi for a 3-night stay. After settling in, meet your local culinary guide for a short introduction to the tour. This evening, enjoy a first taste of home-style Taiwanese cooking and a performance at a local puppet theatre. (D)

• Day 3 – Taipei: Delve into the island's cultural legacy, starting with a visit to the imposing Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall. Then continue to the National Palace Museum, home to the world's greatest collection of Chinese arts. Lunch will follow at acclaimed Silks Palace, featuring beautifully presented dishes inspired by the museum collection. This afternoon, gain a fascinating insight into a Taiwanese staple with a visit to a tofu factory. Taiwan has one of the best night market scenes in the world and some of the most exciting street food in Asia. This evening, take the opportunity to try the famous stinky tofu along with a host of other more alluring delicacies at Shilin night market. The air is filled with the aromatic mix of soy, rice wine, sesame, spices, grilled meats and the high-pitched shouts of hawkers at one of Taipei's fastest moving culinary hotspots. (B, L, D)

• Day 4 – Taipei: This morning, beat the crowds and take an early morning ascent to the top of Taipei 101, the world's second tallest building. Lunch will be at Din Tai Fung, renowned for its first-rate dumplings. You will also have the chance to see dumplings being made and cooked. This afternoon, take a walking tour of historic Taipei. Wander along some of the city's atmospheric alleys where everything from dried herbs to cured meats are on display. This evening, cross the culinary straits and dine on a northern Chinese classic, Beijing duck. (B, L, D)

• MasterChef Travel Tip: Try Guo Bao, a fluffy bun filled with delicious pork belly. For those with a sweet tooth, treat yourself to a pineapple cake and a cup of local bubble milk tea.

• Day 5 – To Sun Moon Lake: Leave the city and travel south with a stop at a tea farm. Experience a traditional tea ceremony followed by lunch at a local restaurant. Then continue to the glistening turquoise waters of atmospheric Sun Moon Lake, complete with traditional Chinese pendulum fishing nets and surrounded by mountains, temples and pagodas. Overnight stay at the Lealea Garden Moon. This evening, sample local delights including President's fish, fresh from the lake, and unique dishes made from the island's abundant tropical fruit. (B, L, D)

• Day 6 – To Alishan: Early morning boat ride on Sun Moon Lake before an incredible drive through the Yushan mountains to Alishan and an overnight stay at Alishan House. This is one of the most spectacular regions of Taiwan, famed for its mountain scenery, amazing sea of clouds, oolong tea and wasabi. After lunch at a local restaurant, take a walk through the pine and ancient cypress forests of Alishan National Park. Try a host of nose-burning wasabi products at a tasting this afternoon. Dinner this evening will be at a restaurant specialising in the legendary local hotpot. (B, L, D)

• MasterChef Travel Tip: Buy oolong tea and wasabi from Alishan and look out for handicrafts and carvings made from the wood of the local red cypress.

• Day 7 – To Tainan: Morning excursion to see the sunrise from the summit of Mount Alishan. Then head down the mountain to Tainan for a 2- night stay at Shangri-La's Far Eastern Plaza Hotel. The island's former capital, set in the heart of Taiwan's banana belt, is famed for its lively temple culture and xiaochi (snack foods). After lunch at the hotel, visit colonial Anping, the historical heart of the city. The first fort was built here by the Dutch in the 17th century. Dine on typical dishes of Tainan at a local restaurant this evening. (B, L, D)

• MasterChef Travel Tip: The shrimp rolls of Anping are legendary. Take the opportunity to sample these local delicacies during the walking tour.

• Day 8 – Tainan: Make an early start and visit a lively local market to purchase ingredients for a morning cooking class with a focus on classic dishes of Tainan. Learn the secrets of dishes as diverse as beggar's noodles and coffin bread, all under the supervision of a renowned local chef. Afternoon tour of the old city, including visits to the hauntingly beautiful Dongyue Temple and the incredibly ornate Lady Linshui Temple. There will also be time to stroll in the elegant grounds of the Confucious Temple, and of course additional opportunities to sample the tasty street snacks along the way. Dinner will be at a Japanese restaurant this evening. (B, L, D)

• Day 9 – To Taipei: This morning, the high-speed train will whisk you north through the changing landscape and back to Taipei for an overnight stay at the City Suites Nanxi. Afternoon at leisure. A final banquet dinner will mark the end of your stay in Taiwan. (B, D)

• Day 10 – To London: Transfer to the airport for the flight to London with Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong. (B)

As per itinerary - B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner, N: No meals

Extensions

If you wish to extend your stay in Taiwan, please contact us for details.

Itinerary pricing

Accommodation

You will stay in the following hotels during this itinerary.

• City Suites Nanxi, Taipei

  Located in the international hub of Taipei West, the City Suites Nanxi features 80 spacious guestrooms with TV, minibar and in-room safe.  Facilities include a buffet restaurant serving breakfast, business centre with complimentary wireless internet access, and a gym.

• Lealea Garden Moon, Sun Moon Lake

  Situated by the beautiful Sun Moon Lake, Lealea Gardens Moon Hotel offers air-conditioned rooms with wooden flooring and furnishings. All rooms are fitted with a desk, flat-screen TV with cable channels, minibar, free wireless internet access and a small seating area. Other facilities include a restaurant serving Chinese and western dishes, indoor swimming pool and gym. The hotel offers easy access to the Sun Moon Lake cable car, several temples and Tsen Pagoda hiking trail.

• Alishan House, Alishan

  Alishan House is a simple yet charming guesthouse in a delightful setting on the forested hillsides of Alishan. Facilities include one restaurant serving Chinese food and a spacious terrace for enjoying the panoramic views from the hotel.

• Shangri La Eastern Plaza Hotel, Tainan

  Shangri La's Far Eastern Plaza Hotel is a luxurious property situated in the heart of Tainan, within walking distance of the city's main railway and bus stations. Guestrooms and suites are spacious and elegantly decorated with a mix of traditional Asian and contemporary influences. Facilities include a choice of restaurants and bars, and the health club features an outdoor swimming pool, a spa and sauna.

MasterChef Travel is able to arrange extensions to your holiday for further sightseeing or relaxation in the local area, elsewhere in the region, or even as a stopover in Hong Kong on the way home. Please note that these extensions do not include culinary elements unless otherwise stated. Please contact a sales consultant for further details or request further information during the online booking process.