Complete Preparation for Cycling Around Taiwan: 14-Day Route, Accommodation, and Resupply Planning

Cycling around the island is the number one dream on every Taiwanese cyclist’s bucket list. Circling this island covers roughly 1,000 kilometers, crossing plains, hills, coastlines, and cities, letting you experience the diversity and vastness of this land with your own legs. This article provides a complete 14-day island tour plan to help turn your dream into reality.

Direction of the Tour: Clockwise vs. Counterclockwise

This is the first thing you need to decide, and it matters more than you think.

Counterclockwise (West Coast southbound → East Coast northbound)

• Advantages: Warm up on the flat western sections first; by the time you hit the eastern climbs, your fitness has adapted
• Disadvantages: During the autumn/winter northeast monsoon season, you’ll face headwinds on the east coast
• Best seasons: Spring (March-May), Autumn (October-November)

Clockwise (East Coast southbound → West Coast northbound)

• Advantages: In autumn/winter, you can ride south on the east coast with the northeast monsoon at your back
• Disadvantages: You face the challenge of the Suhua Highway right from the start
• Best seasons: Autumn/Winter (October-February) to take advantage of the northeast monsoon

Recommendation: Most people choose counterclockwise, because you can first adapt to long-distance riding on the flat west coast.

Best Season Selection

14-Day Itinerary Plan (Counterclockwise)

Day 1: Taipei → Hsinchu (approx. 90 km)

• Route: Provincial Highway 1 southbound
• Road conditions: Flat, but heavy traffic
• Key points: Depart in the morning to avoid rush hour; stop in Zhongli for lunch
• Accommodation recommendation: Business hotel in Hsinchu city center (NT$ 800-1,500/night)
• Resupply: Convenience stores are plentiful along the way, no worries

Day 2: Hsinchu → Taichung (approx. 95 km)

• Route: Provincial Highway 1 or Provincial Highway 3
• Road conditions: Highway 3 has rolling hills but fewer cars; Highway 1 is flat but busier
• Key points: The Miaoli section has gentle climbs; watch your pacing
• Accommodation recommendation: Hostel near Taichung Train Station (NT$ 500-800/night)

Day 3: Taichung → Chiayi (approx. 100 km)

• Route: Provincial Highway 1
• Road conditions: The Changhua to Yunlin section is very flat
• Key points: This may be the most boring stretch; a good chance to practice group riding and pacing
• Accommodation recommendation: Hotel near Chiayi Wenhua Road Night Market (NT$ 600-1,200/night)
• Food: Turkey rice is a must-try! A great choice for replenishing carbohydrates

Day 4: Chiayi → Tainan (approx. 70 km)

• Route: Provincial Highway 1
• Road conditions: Flat and easy, shorter distance
• Key points: An easy day today; spend the afternoon exploring Tainan’s historic sites and eating local food
• Accommodation recommendation: Old-house homestay in Tainan (NT$ 800-1,500/night)
• Food: Beef soup, rice cake (wa-gui), danzai noodles—the culinary highlight of the island tour

Day 5: Tainan → Kaohsiung → Fangliao, Pingtung (approx. 95 km)

• Route: Provincial Highway 1, passing through Kaohsiung city
• Road conditions: Kaohsiung city has bike lanes, comfortable riding
• Key points: In Kaohsiung, you can detour to Cijin and take the ferry for photos
• Accommodation recommendation: Homestay near Fangliao Train Station (NT$ 600-1,000/night)

Day 6: Fangliao → Kenting (approx. 55 km)

• Route: Provincial Highway 1 then Provincial Highway 26
• Road conditions: Entering the Hengchun Peninsula, terrain becomes more rolling
• Key points: Short distance; relax in Kenting in the afternoon
• Accommodation recommendation: Homestay on Kenting Main Street (NT$ 800-2,000/night, higher prices in peak season)
• Attraction: Eluanbi Lighthouse—check in at Taiwan’s southernmost point

Day 7: Kenting → Dawu, Taitung (approx. 85 km)

• Route: Provincial Highway 26 then Provincial Highway 9 (South Link Highway)
• Road conditions: Shouka is the biggest climb of the entire tour (elevation approx. 460m)
• Key points: One of the toughest days of the island tour; after Shouka, it’s downhill all the way to Dawu
• Accommodation recommendation: Homestay in Dawu Township (NT$ 600-1,000/night)
• Resupply: Few resupply points on the South Link section; stock up on water and food before departing

Day 8: Dawu → Taitung City (approx. 65 km)

• Route: Provincial Highway 9
• Road conditions: Along the coastline, gentle and easy riding
• Key points: Must stop for photos at Duoliang Station; enjoy the sea view at Taimali
• Accommodation recommendation: Hotel in Taitung City (NT$ 800-1,500/night)
• Relaxation: Taitung Tiehua Village Night Market, Zhengqi Road food

Day 9: Taitung → Yuli (approx. 85 km)

• Route: Provincial Highway 9 (Huatung Valley)
• Road conditions: Gentle rolling hills, flanked by the Central Mountain Range and Coastal Mountain Range
• Key points: Must visit Chishang Brown Boulevard; Guanshan bike loop
• Accommodation recommendation: Hotel in Yuli Township (NT$ 600-1,000/night)
• Food: Yuli noodles, Chishang bento

Day 10: Yuli → Hualien (approx. 90 km)

• Route: Provincial Highway 9
• Road conditions: Continuing through the valley, beautiful scenery
• Key points: Soak your feet at Ruisui Hot Springs to relieve fatigue
• Accommodation recommendation: Homestay in Hualien City (NT$ 800-1,500/night)
• Rest: Consider taking a rest day in Hualien to visit Dongdamen Night Market

Day 11: Hualien Rest Day (optional)

• Activities: Bike to Qixingtan, half-day trip to Taroko Gorge, city food tour
• Purpose: Let your body recover from the first ten days of riding
• If you skip the rest day: Head straight for the Suhua Highway

Day 12: Hualien → Su’ao (approx. 90 km)

• Route: Suhua Highway (Provincial Highway 9) or Suhua Improvement (Provincial Highway 9Ding)
• Road conditions: This is the section of the island tour requiring the most attention to safety
• Important choice:
  • Suhua Highway: Spectacular scenery but dangerous (many large trucks, narrow road)
  • Suhua Improvement: Bicycles prohibited; you must take a train or bus through
  • Recommendation: For safety, take the train from Hualien to Su’ao (bike and rider together)
• Accommodation recommendation: Hotel near Su’ao Cold Spring (NT$ 700-1,200/night)

Day 13: Su’ao → Yilan → Toucheng (approx. 50 km)

• Route: Provincial Highway 2
• Road conditions: The Lanyang Plain is flat and easy riding
• Key points: An easy day; explore Yilan City and Luodong Night Market
• Accommodation recommendation: Homestay in Toucheng (NT$ 800-1,500/night)

Day 14: Toucheng → Taipei (approx. 80 km)

• Route: Provincial Highway 2 (North Coast) or Provincial Highway 9 (Beiyi Highway)
• Options:
  • North Coast: Longer distance but flat, with views of Keelung and Jiufen along the way
  • Beiyi Highway: Shorter distance but has climbs (Pinglin section)
• Key points: The final day! Enjoy the sense of accomplishment from completing the island tour
• Arrival: Back in Taipei—island tour complete!

Packing List

Clothing (keep to 3 days’ worth; do laundry each night)

• Cycling jersey × 2 (rotate between wears)
• Cycling shorts × 2
• Moisture-wicking undershirt × 2
• Casual clothes × 1 set (for evenings)
• Windbreaker × 1
• Lightweight rain jacket × 1
• Socks × 3 pairs
• Flip-flops × 1 pair (to change into at the hotel)

Riding Gear

• Helmet (wear it on your head; doesn’t take up luggage space)
• Gloves
• Sunglasses
• Headband/buff
• Front and rear bike lights
• Cycling computer or phone mount

Repair Tools

• Spare inner tubes × 2
• Frame pump
• Tire levers × 2
• Multi-tool set
• Chain quick link × 1
• Zip ties and tape (all-purpose repairs)

Personal Items

• Toiletries (travel size)
• Sunscreen SPF50+
• Lip balm (with SPF)
• Anti-chafe cream
• Band-aids and antiseptic solution
• Power bank × 1 (10,000mAh or larger)
• Charging cables
• ID and cash (not every place along the island tour accepts card payments)

Budget Estimate

Budget reference for a 14-day island tour (per person, excluding bike purchase):

Physical Preparation

Training Recommendations Before the Tour

• Starting 3 months out: Ride 3-4 times per week, 30-50 km each time
• 2 months out: At least one long ride of 80-100 km per week
• 1 month out: Simulate two consecutive days of 80 km each to test your recovery ability
• One week before departure: Taper and rest so your body departs in peak condition

Body Care During the Ride

• Do 15 minutes of stretching after each day’s ride
• Pay attention to saddle-area care (use anti-chafe cream daily)
• If your knees feel uncomfortable, immediately adjust saddle height or shift to easier gears
• Schedule rest days on Day 7 or Day 11 (when your body is most fatigued)

Conclusion

The island tour is not a race; there’s no need to chase speed. Fourteen days gives you enough time to stop in every town, taste local food, and connect with people you meet along the way. You’ll discover that this 1,000-kilometer journey changes not just your fitness, but also the way you see this island. You may feel nervous before departing, but the moment you ride back to your starting point, you’ll know—this is one of the most worthwhile things you’ve ever done.

Related Reading

• Taiwan Island Tour Route Planning: Choosing Between Clockwise and Counterclockwise
• Taiwan Island Tour Cycling Route Planning: Strategy Analysis of Clockwise vs. Counterclockwise
• 9-Day Taiwan Cycling Island Tour Plan: Pros and Cons of Clockwise vs. Counterclockwise with Daily Mileage Allocation
• Counterclockwise vs. Clockwise Island Tour: Complete Comparison of Wind, Elevation, and Traffic Flow