Taroko Lodge …… The Lodge environment is an independent natural and lovely park Close to the Taroko National Park Simple and comfortable room B & B Welcome to Taroko gorge in Cycling and Hiking … Taroko Gorge is called a hand-hewn from the road, but also Taiwan’s first road across the Central Mountain Range. Let the world a glimpse of the beauty of Taroko scenery.
My friend and I stayed here for three nights last week in order to do some hiking and biking in the gorge. We are fairly independent travelers who like to explore on our own, but without Rihang's help and enthusiasm we would not have seen nearly as much as we did in such a short time. Having been in situations before where hospitality can become overbearing, I was worried at first that his idea of what we should do would overrule our own plans, but that was not the case at all. Rihang exists to make your visit as fulfilling as possible for you. He picked us up from the train station with his wife, and took us to the lodge, which is 5 minutes by car. We dropped our stuff off and he immediately drove us north across the river to the beach so we could have a short hike. We had only just met him, and while communication was never a problem during our stay, we didn't yet have unwavering faith in Rihang's advice, and unfortunately did not follow his directions correctly and missed out on the best part of the hike. (Walk ALL the way to the end of the beach - there is a beautiful staircase there going all the way up to the highway!) For the other days, thanks to his amazing planning, we were able to see most of the sights in the gorge and go on several amazing hikes (not for the faint of heart).
Rihang also sorted out all of our hiking permits for the Jhuliu Trail and Dali/Datong Trail and did it in impressive fashion. My friend forgot to email him our name and passport information, so Rihang just MADE THEM UP when he applied for our permits, so they were ready for us. He is a guy who gets things done!
About the lodge itself, another reviewer here complained about the bathroom. While it could be improved, it was clean, and the "open" design of the shower is typical for Taiwan - other hotels of similar cost that I stayed in had similar designs. Additionally, this is NOT a hostel! Another reviewers criticism of the price seemed to be grouping Taroko Lodge into hostel-style accommodation. I have never stayed in a hostel where the owner gives us personal service, even driving us around for free to 7-11, to dinner, and that includes such a delicious breakfast. We were the only ones staying during our time there and we were in the first floor room on the left hand side of the house, which has two queen sized beds, which are very comfortable. Overall, WITH bike rental, hiking permits (Jhuliu wasn't exactly cheap) and even the cost of a hot pot dinner in Hualien, our total cost per person per night was only $50 USD. And there were numerous other things that Rihang could have (and definitely should have) charged us for but didn't. (Free bananas from his property for hiking snacks!) We almost considered giving him a tip, but I decided that sending him more business with a glowing review would do fine.
I am very, very glad that we stayed here. If you want to stay near Taroko and hike or cycle, this is the place for you, whether a family, group of friends or even a single traveler. And if you are a cyclist, this is the place for you (no need to haul your bike from abroad - which I have done once). The bikes are in very good condition, and Rihang even has proper road bikes for rent (he keeps those upstairs). The lodge would also be a fantastic place for retreats or even family reunions or group trips. I will consider it in the future - it makes me want to come back, even though I feel I've already seen the sights. There aren't many places I've stayed that I feel this way about.
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Date of stay: March 2013
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Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip:Â The first floor room with two large beds is very comfortable.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We decided to try a minsu in Taiwan because we were unfamiliar with the area and hoped that the host could recommend us great hiking trails. Rihang and his family turned out to be much more than your average helpful host. He goes out of his way to make sure that you feel welcomed and that you get to see and experience the beautiful sights and food. even before our arrival, he had settled our hiking permits (for the jhuilu trail) so we had one less thing to worry about. Oh, and he heated up some leftover soup for me on my last night because i couldn't get over how delicious it was; that was very sweet on his part. Also, he lives in a very accessible location as its only about 5-10min drive from Xincheng train station and ~10min drive from the national park. He offers bicycle rental as well (its really awesome cycling down the national park but beware of the huge smoke-sprouting tour busses)
If you are really fussy about breakfast, inform him beforehand. breakfast is a simple fare - but satisfying and filling (the Bananas are a MUST HAVE. rihang grows them in his backyard. its delicious!)
it was a memorable trip because of the great people like Rihang and his family. Would definitely return to his lodge if i pass by the area again. Thank you Rihang for the lovely stay!
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Date of stay: February 2013
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
After attending a conference in Tapei, I arrived at Xinching with train around 8 p.m. where Rihang Su, the host at Taroko Logde, picked me up. He took me to a gate kitchen to ensure I got dinner, and on the way back to the logde, he also stopped at 7-Eleven. Back at the logde, he had a road bike ready for me inclusive Keo Looks pedals because I had asked for such. Next morning, I wanted to start biking at 6 a.m, but in spite of this early raise, Rihang was up to prepare some breakfast for me. After doing 245 km on the bike, I arrived back to the logde and was invited to join a dinner prepared by a small group from US/Canada. Another guest from Switzerland also joined in together with Rihang Su. The gear on my bicycle needed to be adjusted - Rihang had fixed that, so I next day could ride to Wurling Pass and return with a handful of musli bars in my pocket provided by Rihang. I also wanted to hike the Vertical Trail - Rihang took care of getting a permit; paired me with a guy from Korea and drove at 6 o'clock with our bikes to the start of the trail.
So as you can understand, Rihang really helps you with all kinds of problems and his friendly attitude creates an atmosphere, where staying at the logde feels like being a member of a family including the other guests.
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Date of stay: September 2012
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Trip type: Travelled solo
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PROS -very nice hosts -delicious homemade breakfast out on porch in the morning with the other guests -free transportation from Xincheng Station (and even after our train arrival times changed about 3 times, he was still there waiting for us! a big relief after a long day) -clean room, comfortable bed
CONS -we did not have a private bathroom and we didn't know until we showed up. not only did we have a shared bathroom, we actually had to go outside to use it (just for a moment). not the biggest issue, but he should have let us know - $75 USD is too much for a shared bathroom! -DOGS and ROOSTERS all night long. we could not sleep from 3am-6am due to a pack of dogs that barked non-stop and a rooster that started crowing about 3am, about once a minute. we live in brooklyn and are used to noise - we are not light sleepers. we were exhausted when we got up for the 8:30am breakfast and our bike/hike adventure to follow.
Overall, while the family is very nice, this experience was definitely not worth $75. I actually feel guilty leaving the negative review because they are so nice, but we feel strongly about this.
Part 2: Taroko Lodge Bike and Hike
In this day trip, Taroko Lodge (either Rihang or his son) drives you and the other guests 25km up through the gorge, complete with bikes and helmets (and bike lights on the front and back if you are lucky). You are on your own for the remainder of the day - even when you get to the bottom of the gorge, you will bike through town another 20min back to the lodge. Basically you ride your bike down the road, leave your bikes while you do a trail, then return and hop back on them, then ride down to the next one.
If you do this trip, pay attention to the brief points of interest that get called out so that you know where to turn when you bike back to the lodge. Also pay attention on the way up to the top when they tell you 'you won't go through this tunnel, there is a trail you can take' - little tidbits like that are not obvious at all when biking down and can be very confusing. Note that the 'trail' is a one way street where you will be going against traffic, but it's a decidedly better route than the super long tunnel you'd be taking otherwise. We passed it and then went back up a bit to take it.
PROS -this was an unforgettable adventure. the gorge is beautiful, and I'm certain that the bikes were a much better way to get around than the zillion tour buses and taxi cabs we saw. that seemed like a sad way to see the gorge. -we made some great new friends! our group of 5 was wonderful. -the bikes were in good condition
CONS this is seriously dangerous! not the hiking - the biking. anyone could do those hikes. the gorge is 25km of hairpin turns with steep dropoffs (albeit with beautiful surroundings) and through several long tunnels (a couple of which are under construction and the air is thick with construction dust).
the speeding tour buses and cabs don't yield to or care about a handful of mountain bikers. aside from a pack of road bikers we saw on our drive up the mountain, and a lone road biker making the climb up the gorge, we were the only bikes. the drivers are definitely not looking out for bikers at all and generally take turns as if they are on a one way street, not a two lane road with no bike lane. there was constant traffic throughout the day.
we were given maps, yes, but they were nearly worthless. Rihang and his son don't speak much english - it's enough to get by, but not really sufficient for calling out what's important. luckily, the 5 of us were able to piece the information together.
you should also know that the emphasis is definitely on the biking, not the hiking - the first hike to the water curtain is fun and a real hike, but the rest is just little visits such as walking up some steep stairs to see a pagoda or statue. also, we were told that the 'Nine Turns' hike listed on his site has been closed for 4 years (update the website?).
Overall, this day was amazing! However I feel like I can't recommend this because it's seriously sketchy. I am 30 years old, active, regularly ride my road bike in cities, and have done a 100 mile ride from Vermont to Montreal. I did a 50 mile ride around NYC in traffic and regularly ride around Brooklyn. If I had known what I was getting myself into, I wouldn't have done it, yet I don't regret it (since I'm still alive). I can't stress enough that this was the best day!! But man, was it sketchy.
RECOMMENDATIONS TO TAROKO LODGE -meet with the group and point everything out on the map before you start driving, so that when you are driving, you are only reiterating what you have already pointed out -make sure all the bikes have lights on front and back for when the bikes are in the tunnels -pull over at the point where the bikers are supposed to take a different tunnel - this was really confusing -be clearer on the website -consider being more hands-on - if the van had been driving down the mountain with us as we biked, we would have felt MUCH safer
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Date of stay: December 2015
Rooms
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Rihang, æ¥è€… at Taroko Lodge
Responded 1 Jan 2016
Thank you for your comment. Cheers, Rihang & Jin
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Taroko Lodge is nestled in countryside a short drive from Taroko national park entrance. Whilst English here is broken I found the Rihang and his family enthusiastic and really helpful when it came to organizing our activities at the gorge. For some trails you'll need park permits but Rihang can sort these out for you; it'll make your life much easier. The room we had was large but basic. There was an ensuite though it's looking a little scruffy now. The lodge feels very much like a home, which is a good thing and we found there was a real bond that formed between the guests. Breakfast is a generous home cooked meal out on the porch overlooking the grounds. It's a mix of western and eastern flavours but lovely nevertheless. Taroko Lodge hire out bikes and although these could be cheaper they're a fantastic way to get back from the gorge without relying on taxis or busses - I couldn't imagine doing the gorge without one. There's a transportation fee everytime you go out into the gorge with them which we'd forgotten about and which will put a bit of a dent in your wallet but really theres no other choice. The grounds around the lodge are very pleasant and it's nice to stroll there in the evening. Evening meals are had in the local town at a small roadside noodle shop, expect to come here every evening; despite evidence to the contray Rihang told us its the only place to eat. If you're planning multiple day visits to the gorge and want to avoid a generic hotel this definitely the place to come, I don't think there's another place like it in the area.
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Date of stay: November 2014Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Booked this on a second-hand recommendation, and showed up with seven more people than we planned on. Not a problem for Rihang, who went far, far out of his way to make sure we all had a great time. He worked around our schedule, brought in extra mattresses, and was the consummate host. He knew the best hiking spots and the quickest drives to get there, he steered us clear of overpriced restaurants and got us great local food, and made fantastic breakfasts every day. The house was charming, but you book this because of how attentive, responsive, and helpful they are to make sure you have a great experience. Would easily recommend this to friends/family.
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Date of stay: September 2014
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Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ok rooms, but with a owner who is really friendly and takes you out to night markets and restaurants. He gives you the best bike/hike in the Taroko. He lets you off att the top and then you can glide down and stop and go for hikes. This was the most beautiful experience we had in Taiwan:)
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Date of stay: July 2014Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Really great host Rihang Su made the difference during my girlfriend and I's stay at Taroko Gorge. He picked us up at Hualien Train Station since he was in town anyway, and on the way to his wonderfully tucked away lodge, he stopped to let us have a nice view of the sea coast which NE Taiwan is famous for. While communication could be challenging at times, Rihang was able to understand most of what we said, and wanted us to enjoy our stay. Lodging for one room was 2000 NTD per room, and bike rentals were 350 NTD per day. (This may be subject to change) While it may be a little bit steep for the true budget traveler, it is on par with the cost of hotels in Hualien, and is a bargain with Rihang taking care of you, and driving you to dinner and to the train station. I will remember my visit to Taroko fondly due to my stay at Taroko Lodge.
Another person staying at the lodge did have some trouble sleeping since you could hear the neighbor's roosters crowing very early, so if you are a light sleeper you may want to bring some ear plugs.
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Date of stay: May 2013
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â We stayed in the side house that was built by the pond for a little more privacy. You do have to...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stayed 2 nights in early April with our 3 kids aged 9, 7 and 5. From the moment we were picked up at the Xincheng station to the moment we were dropped off there for our departure, Rihang was there for every single need we had and really made this trip special - he is the reason this property gets 5 stars. He really went out of his way to make sure everything went as we would like and took us to places we would never have got to ourselves. We did two bike rides with all the kids, one along the ocean front for an hour or two, and the other one a bigger adventure riding 25km all the way down Taroko Gorge. This is a very cool way to see this incredibly scenic part of Taiwan. Rihang followed us all the way in his car for safety on the tight roads, and really made sure we got the most out of the trip. He looks after his bikes and has a good range to choose from. The lodge itself is in a pretty setting a little way away from everything, but close to the gorge, and Rihang was there to take us wherever we needed to go with an unfailingly cheerful demeanour. It's not luxury accommodation but it was great for a family and you'll probably get to know the other guests as well, since Rihang has a way of bringing everyone together. Overall a fun and relaxing stay, and some great memories of a place where everything ran smoothly, with many thanks to our host.
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Date of stay: April 2013
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Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I spent a long time researching on the internet when planning our trip to Taroko Gorge - logistically it seemed quite difficult if travelling without your own transport. Accomodation options appeared to be limited to either Hualien (about 20km away, it meant taking a bus to Taroko everyday or hiring a taxi) or a few places located within the Taroko Gorge park itself (again difficult without either hiring a car or a taxi, and accomodation limited to either very expensive hotels or cheap hostels). The Lonely Planet guide also recommends a few hotels/hostel in Taroko "village" located just outside the park gates. (In reality Taroko "village" is a busy main road, lined by shops, petrol stations and rather sad looking places to stay (again, staying in the "village" doesn't help with the problem of not having a car)). I started to despair until I finally stumbled on the website for this place just a week before arriving in Taiwan.
Taroko Lodge is located just a few kilometres from the park gates. A really lovely homestay with a large garden, ensuite bedrooms and a large living room for guests. Really fast free wifi. Breakfast was taken on the terrace - a simple meal of toast, cheese, eggs and jam.
What really made this a great place to stay and the reason why i've rated this "excellent" was Rihang - the owner of the lodge. He was friendly, extremely helpful and really went out of his way to help us have a great stay. He picked us up from the local train station (Xincheng), drove us to local restaurants each evening for dinner. He helped us plan the next part of our Taiwanese adventure and drove us to the train station to buy the tickets; when we changed our minds the following day, he drove us back to obtain a refund without complaint. When we evetually decided to hire a car instead to take us to Hehuan Shan, he helped to sort this out for us in Hualien too.
We stayed here for 3 nights. Rihang sorted out walking permits for us. Each morning, he would drive us to the park gates with mountainbikes and leave us to explore. However, if you were not keen to cycle, he could either drive you up the gorge (to cycle back down) or sort out a sightseeing trip in the van instead.
I would really recommend staying here if you are looking to explore Taroko gorge over a few days.
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Date of stay: October 2012
Value
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
There are more places to choose from in the Xiulin area.
LOCATION
TaiwanHualienXiulin
NUMBER OF ROOMS
4
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