arEL SOL TRAVEL & TOURS SDN BHD - 54B, 1st Flr, Jln Desa Bakti, Tmn Desa, 58100 KL Tel: 603 7984 4560 Fax: 7984 4561 [email protected] www.elsoltravel.com

TAIWAN SAKURA Tour 8D7N MARCH 12 – 19, 2016

(Timed for Sakura Season, but Sakura blooms subject to Mother Nature’s discretion)

DAY 1 MAR 12 SAT: Taoyuan Airport arrival – (D) Arrival Taoyuan airport, 2.40pm. Transfer to Taipei and visit Chiang Kai Shek Memorial Hall (recommended to view Cherry Blossoms, subject to right timing); built in memory of former president Chiang Kai-Shek and Taiwan's landmark building. Dinner and check in hotel in Taipei.

DAY 2 MAR 13 SUN: Taipei – Danshui – Yehliu - Jiufen – Yilan (B/L/D)

Transfer to Danshui, the historic port town that has a Spanish built fort. Visit the Fisherman's Wharf and Danshui Street. After lunch, transfer to visit seaside Yehliu Geo Park, with its bizarre rock formations formed by erosion. Then to Jiufen town in the hills of northeast coast of Taiwan; a gold mining town in the past, it is now a popular getaway for tourists. Visit the town’s Old Street and try local snacks such as Dou Kou beef noodles, Thick soup fish, Jiufen taro balls & Shenkeng stinky tofu. The film ‘City of Sadness’ (starring Tony Leung Chiu Wai) was filmed in Jiufen. Transfer to Yilan for dinner. Then to Yilan Homestay for check in and overnight.

DAY 3 MAR 14 MON: Yilan - Taroko Gorge - Hualien –Taitung (B/L/D) Transfer to Taroko National Park, named after the landmark Taroko Gorge. It is a natural wonder of Taiwan; where in one afternoon, you can from rugged coastal cliffs through a maze of subtropical forested canyons to high elevation sub-alpine coniferous forests. Visit Taroko Monumental Archway and Changchun “Eternal Spring” Temple; with a waterfall nearby. Then transfer to visit East Rift Valley, a valley extending from Hualien to Taitung; an area of aboriginal culture and scenic natural landscapes. Lunch and then transfer to Lichuan Aqua Farm and practise picking up clams. Visit Sanxiantai East Coast Scenic Area. Then proceed for dinner and check in at a hot spring hotel. Enjoy the hotel’s hot spring facilities (swimsuit is compulsory).

DAY 4 MAR 15 TUE: Taitung – Pingtung – (B/L)

Transfer to Kaohsiung city, en-route visit Pingtung Long Chuan Brewery. Lunch will include special Beer cuisine (excluding cost of drinking beer). In Kaohsiung, visit Fo Guang Shan Buddha Memorial Center (the largest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan; the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist organization is also one of the largest charity organizations in Taiwan), THE PIER-2 ART CENTER, New Juejiang Shopping Area and Liuhe Night Market (DINNER on your own). Check in hotel to overnight in Kaohsiung.

DAY 5 MAR 16 WED: Kaohsiung – Alishan (B/L/D) Transfer to Alishan National Scenic Area, famous for its forests, waterfalls, highland tea plantations and beautiful maidens of the local Tsou aboriginal people. There is also the Alishan Forest Railway (built during Japanese colonial period) and the famous Sakura flowers (Alishan is the only and largest area of Yoshino cherry trees in Taiwan). Visit Fenchihu train station & Old Street. Lunch and then visit the main sights of Alishan: Jiemei “Sister” Lakes, “3 Brothers” giant cypress trees and Shouzen Temple. Dinner and check in hotel to overnight in Alishan.

DAY 6 MAR 17 THU: Alishan – (B/L) Go for Zhushan Sunrise Railway experience. Zhushan is the best place to watch sunrise at Alishan. 4am wake up, 5am take train to Zhushan train station (Taiwan’s highest train station) and sunrise from viewpoint. At 7.30am, you will be back at hotel for breakfast. Check-out and transfer to visit Aboriginal Produce Center. Have lunch and then continue to Sun Moon Lake, the largest lake in Taiwan; the east side of the lake resembles a sun while the west side resembles a moon. Take a boat cruise on the lake. Visit nearby Wenwu Temple. Proceed to Taichung city and visit Fengjia Night Market (DINNER on your own).

D7 March 18 FRI: Taichung - Lukang – Taipei (B/L)

After breakfast, check out and transfer to visit Lukang historic town. Visit Lukang Temple, Mazu Temple, Folk Arts Museum, Nine Turns Lane and Gentleman's Lane. Lunch and then transfer to Taipei. Visit ESLITE BOOKSTORE Xinyi Flagship Store for souvenir shopping. Then to , world’s no. 6 tallest building (EXCLUDING: ticket to Observation floor; paxs pay ticket directly). Stopover at a popular cake shop before proceeding to the Shilin Night Market, the most famous night market in Taiwan (DINNER on your own). Overnight in Taipei.

D8 March 19 SAT: Taipei - Taoyuan Airport departure (B/L) Morning, visit Yuanshan Scenic Area (overlooking the Tamsui River and Taipei) and Taipei Martyrs' Shrine (with an elaborate ceremony of changing guards hourly). Then visit Tien Lu Arts Center and Duty Free Shop. Transfer for lunch and then to Taoyuan airport for 3.55pm flight departure.

RATES: per person, twin sharing basis, based on minimum 16 persons group size.

a) Ground Tour package RM 3,490 b) Air Asia ticket RM 1,570 (price on Nov 18, subject to change) c) Travel Insurance RM 52

TOTAL= RM 5,112 /person

Single Supplement: RM 1,130

Child With Extra Bed, Ground Tour package = RM 2,890

Child No Bed, Ground Tour package = RM 1,990

Rate & itinerary subject to change due to foreign exchange rate changes, unforeseen surcharges, weather, etc.

INCLUSIVE: a) Air Asia ticket KL to Taipei return (including 20kg chk-in luggage and onboard meal combo, RM 1570 online price as of Nov 18; subject to change by airline) b) Airport transfers and tour excursion using tour coach on private basis. c) Hotel accommodation: Taipei: Yi Su Hotel (3 star) or similar Yilan: Hinoki Home B&B or similar (special experience of Yilan County) Taitung: Goya Hot Spring Hotel (4 star) or similar Kaohsiung: Golden Stone Mingxing Hotel (3 star) or similar Alishan: Gao Shan Ching Hotel (3 star) or similar Taichung: We Meet Hotel (3 star) or similar d) Meals as per itinerary e) English speaking licensed guide f) Entrance fees for attractions as per itinerary g) Tipping for guide & driver h) Travel insurance i) Daily 1 bottle of drinking water per person

EXCLUDING: a) Malaysians do not require visa to visit Taiwan. Other nationalities to be advised. b) 3 dinners: March 15, 17 & 18 (during Night Market visits) c) Expenses of personal nature like other optional activities not in itinerary, drinks during meals, hotel bellboy/porter tipping, laundry charges, etc.