FAQ

Hopefully you’ll find the answer you’re looking for here, but if not, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Are the hikes difficult?

Each hike is different.  We’ve given them difficulty ratings to help you decide which one is best for you.  If you’re still not sure, get in contact with us and we can help you to find the trip that best suits your needs.

 

What kinds of hikes do you do?

We essentially run two kinds of hikes.

Group Hikes – We announce these in advance and people sign up individually before a cut off date.  The dates are fixed for this kind of trip.

Privately Organised Hikes – You have your own group and commission us to organise a hike.  Dates are more flexible and you’ll only be hiking with the people from your group.

 

How do I secure place on a group hike?

To secure you place, you’ll need to send us a deposit in advance, typically 50% of the total cost.  The rest of the balance can be paid when we pick you up.  We accept Paypal and ATM transfers.  When you make the payment, be sure to let us know the last 4 digits of your account and then we can confirm your place.

 

Will you carry my equipment?

Not unless something happens so that you are unable to carry it yourself.  Everyone will be expected to carry their own gear and a portion of the group’s gear.  We don’t usually arrange portered hikes unless it is specifically asked for.

 

What equipment do I need?

This depends on each specific hike.  We will give you a list of essential and recommended equipment when you sign up for the hike.  If you’re short of gear let us know.  We may be able to rent some of the equipment out to you.

 

I don’t have all of the equipment on the list that you gave me.  Can you provide some of the this?

Yes, let us know what you need and we’ll see if we can help you out.

 

What happens if I want to cancel a trip?

If cancelling a privately organised trip 28 days in advance, we will offer a full refund minus any costs already paid by us, Taiwan Adventures, in good faith.  We can, of course, rearrange trips for alternative dates and any monies already paid can be used as credit for this minus any costs already incurred by us for the original trip.

If you are joining us on one of the prearranged group trips, we can’t return deposits as we have a limit on numbers.  We  have to turn down people when the trip is full and we may well have already told others they can’t come because you’ve already signed up.

 

What happens if you, Taiwan Adventures, cancel a trip?

This usually only happens if a trail gets closed at the last minute or if a typhoon is going to make landfall. If that does happen, we’ll offer a full refund, a different trip or rearrange the trip for another date if possible.

Please note we won’t cancel a trip for the weather unless we deem it unsafe.  If the forecast is for rain, the trip still goes ahead.

 

Can you arrange pickup?

If your trip involves only one group, we can arrange a pick up.  If the trip involves numerous groups, it’s best for us all to meet at a central location so we’re not crawling through the city traffic for too long!

 

I won’t be coming from Taipei.

That’s not a problem.  If your location is on the way, we can pick you up and if not we can help in getting you to Taipei to meet up with everyone else.

 

What’s the weather in Taiwan like?

The weather varies significantly from place to place.  For lower elevations the winters are cool/warm and the summers are hot.  In the high mountains it is cold/cool all year round and very cold in winter.  We’ll let you know what equipment you’ll need for the weather in advance of your hike.

 

How many people will be on a hike?

This will depend on the hike, but in general, for the group hikes, we have 7 clients per guide.

 

Will we encounter dangerous wildlife?

It’s unlikely. There are black bears in the high mountains but they are rarely seen and are very shy of people.  Taiwan does have a number of poisonous snakes, but again they are scared of people and rarely bite.

 

Do I need insurance?

We’ll arrange insurance to the value of $200 million NT for the duration of your time with us.  If you’re coming from abroad, it’s best to also get your own travel insurance too and make sure that you are covered for the activities you are going to participate in with us.

 

I’m vegetarian/vegan – is that a problem?

Not at all.  Just let us know and we’ll make sure the food is suitable to your needs.

 

How far in advance do I need to book?

For prearranged trips, we’ll set a date that you need to register with us before.  Once that date has passed, we can’t add any more people to that trip.

If you wish to hike in any of the national parks, the sooner you get in contact with us, the more likely it is that we can secure permits.  We can’t apply for permits less than a week before the trip.

If you intend to hike Snow Mountain or Jade Mountain especially on a weekend, you’ll need to contact us at least one month in advance otherwise there is very little chance of us getting a permit.

 

What kind of accommodation can I expect?

It depends on the trip.  Overnight hikes usually involve basic cabins or rough camping.  For trips to Neiwan, Taroko Gorge, Smangus and Guguan we can arrange camping at a campsite with facilities or hostels/hotels depending upon your requirements.
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