"A-Li-Shan: A 3-Day 2-Night ..." a A-li-shan Travel Page by chatterley

Our package to A-Li-Shan included accommodation at a homestay, meals (dinner on Day 1, breakfast+lunch+dinner on Day 2 and breakfast on Day 3), transport to the Alishan National Scenic Area, admission tickets and guided tour. Our guide is the son of the homestay's owner. The homestay is located in the mountains, about 1000 - 1300 m above sea level, and the view is beautiful! The homestay overlooks a tea plantation.

We bought the High Speed Railway (HSR) tickets from Taipei to Chiayi at the Taipei Main Station. Each ticket costs NT1080 (one-way), and we were assigned seats. With the HSR, it took only 90 minutes to get to Chiayi! The train was very clean and comfortable.

After reaching Chiayi, our guide came and picked us up and we started the tour. We went to places such as the Fen Qi Hu Scenic Area, Alishan Forest Reserve etc. We also went into the forest at night to look at "flying squirrels" and fireflies. Our guide was very knowlegable, and he entertained us with lots of anecdotes and stories.

The meals we had during the tour was good. Breakfast and dinners were cooked by the homestay's owner, and all ingredients used were fresh local produce. We were even treated to dessert - green bean soup on our last night at the homestay! The homestay owners also own a tea plantation, and we got to drink the famous Alishan Mountain Tea every day.