From the beginning, I thought that a trip to Taiwan on a motorbike approximately 1800-2000 km (we’d got lost as well) would be boring and not really surprising, but…
As you might see in the video, it looked funny and full of nature, surprisingly gorgeous! We spent 8 days on motorbikes and it was a bit tiring, but it was worth it! Let’s talk about some useful advice and places, which you don’t know about and shouldn’t miss.
What you need to rent a motorbike in Taiwan
Simply, if you want to go there, you need a motorbike. Those are the things which you need to bring with you in order to get the motorbike:
- International driving license – It isn’t expensive and it takes up to 2 days.
- Passport
- No deposit at all. No credit cards. You pay a rental price and insurance for any accidents included (Honestly, I crashed the bike and they did not say anything).
- Suncream and raincoat – it can be very hot and it can rain a lot.
You can rent 125cc for 300$ (10$ US dollars) for 24 hours, 155cc for 400$ and so on. You can find a rental place in Taichung.
How to go around Taiwan in a short period
The first day a.k.a. “Hot and Cold”
As I mentioned from the beginning, we drove approximately 1800 km in total and we’d started from a city called Taichung headed to Yilan (270 Km).

Our first ride from Taichung to Yilan was pretty exhausting. It was the longest and uncomfortable most of the way, but the view of the mountains was pretty cool (Cool as cold in the mountain). We’d managed only a few things to see: Kuhua Pond Waterfall and Nanyhuang Old Street.
There is a link for the planned road (Taichung to Yilan).
If you have extra time, you can also visit those places: Ronghua Dam, Yixing Suspension bridge, Xiaowulai Falls, Baling (Youling Falls, Shuangfeng Waterfall) Natural Hot springs, Kavalan Brewery.
When we arrived at Yilan, we slept in Hsing Tsuan Inn, in 1 room with three beds (pretty comfortable – 5:13 in the video) for TWD 2100 (70$ US).
The second day or “the road like from Lord of the Rings”
I don’t want to use the word “Amazing, Gorgeous” so often, but it’s true. I’d personally enjoyed the road from Yilan to Renai Township (160 km) a lot, even when the road was bumpy and we’d got lost for an hour (we recommend a map).

We were on the road 6-7 hours and we didn’t stop almost anywhere, except at 7-11, our favorite fast food, Watermelon farm, and Lanyang Museum.

If you have time on the road, you can try those destinations: Waiao Beach, Jim & dad’s brewery, Wuling farm, and Cingjing farm.
There is a link for the planned road Yilan to Renai Township (160 km).
We slept at Cingjing Hanging Garden & Resort (Renai Township) – 2 double beds & 2 single beds, 2-floor bungalow and the breakfast included for TWD 4900 (164$ US).
The most beautiful third day at Hehuanshan (3,416 m) with a hot bath
That day was really cool, the beginning of the day was like a fairytale at Renai Township without tourists. We had a great breakfast and then we continued to one of the highest mountain Hehuanshan (3,416 m), then through an unusual road surrounded by rocks, had a bath in hot springs to the final destination Hualien City.


On the way to Hualien, you should also visit those destinations: Blue Giant Tree, Lushui Wenshan Trail, Baiyang Trail, Xiangde Temple, Tunnel of Nine Turns, Changchun Shrine, Qingshui Cliffs and Dongdamen Night Market.
There is a link for the planned road from Renai to Hualien.

When we arrived at Hualien City, we slept at Phoenix Hostel, 2 rooms, 5 beds and breakfast for TWD 1900 (63$ US).
Easy ride the fourth day with a lazy hike and sea wind in the air
We slept like babies (I did, my Irish friends partied a lot) and we went for the hike in the morning (Hiking Old Zhuilu), you could see rocks, kind of Amazon forest and then we continued to Taitung City (170 Km) by the cost.


We had a pretty chill road, no elevation, just the sea without many stops. But we’d also visited: Jiqi Beach, Baxiandong Archaeological Site and Tropic of Cancer marker.
Those places we had missed: Sanxiantai Bridge (we could have gone there, but the wind was strong (Typhoon had come) so the police closed the entry), Dulan surf village and Taitung Old Street.

There is a link for the planned road from Hualien City to Taitung City.
When we arrived, we had accommodation at Genuinn, 2 twin rooms, 1 single room for TWD 2550 (87$ US).
The fifth day when we finally faced rain and hitchhikers
I was wondering after 5 days how is it possible that there is no rain. That day we experienced it. On the way from Taitung to Kenting (130 km), we visited also Taiwan Southernmost Point and National Museum of Marine Biology & Aquarium.

Now I remember what’d happened, I crashed my scooter a bit, but it’s not a very useful message for you… (Insurance is really important!!!)

When you have time and good weather you can go to Xuhai Grassland Trail, Alangyi historic trail, Feng Chui Sha Cliffs and Kenting Night Market.
There is the planned road from Taitung to Kenting.
When we arrived at Kenting, we slept at Dajenshan Chalet, Private Cabin, 4 double beds, 1 sofa for TWD 3200 (106$ US).
The sixth day we met a big Buddha with the Typhoon right behind us.
It was also another funny day when we began our journey from Kenting to Chaiyi (250 km). It was an uncomfortable way because we experienced a little Typhoon, my friend slipped with his bike but we’d survived anyway.
We’d managed to see only Luigi Buddha, we didn’t have lots of power and the weather sucked.

If you have time and good weather, visit those places: Tiantai Mountain temple, Shiba Luohan Mountain and Zengwen Reservoir.

There is a link for the planned journey from Kenting to Chaiyi.
When we arrived at Chaiyi, we slept at Back Home Hotel, 2 Twin rooms & 1 single room, buffet breakfast (I didn’t like it at all) for TWD 2850 (95$ US).
The cable car took us to the last day of the Taiwanese trip
The last day was better, from Chaiyi to Taichung (240 Km), we visited places like Sun Moon Lake (Cable car and tasting traditional sweets) and interesting Buddhist temples.

If you have time (Don’t be speedy like us), check those places: Fenqihu Village, Alishan National Park, Dong Pu scenic area, National Taiwanese Hill tribe and Xiannu Waterfall.
There is a link for the planned way from Chaiyi to Taichung.


I hope that you found what you were looking for (I did not plan the journey, Darren’s brother Alex did), God bless him! Enjoy your journey!