Hualien Outdoors
Hualien Outdoors
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Hualien Outdoors is a full service out tripping company specializing in trips to the more off the beaten path areas of Hualien and Taroko Gorge National Park in Taiwan. We offer small, high quality adventures that try to get guests into the most exciting, most beautiful and safest places in the Taroko Gorge area. Our guides are wilderness first aid certified and have years of experience in the outdoors of Hualien. We pride ourselves in offering the best river tracing, hiking, and Taroko Gorge tours in the Hualien area, bar none.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
5.0
121 reviews
Excellent
113
Very good
8
Average
0
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0
Terrible
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ChengyChua
Singapore, Singapore20 contributions
May 2013 • Friends
It was a memorable experience for us! Having had no swimming experience (and a phobia of water), Matt was extremely reassuring and patient with me. I could have never imagined myself doing river tracing. Apart from making sure we were all safe with helmets, life vests, river tracing boots and insurance, Matt also gave us some knowledge of the wild edible plants in the gorge. We came to feast not only upon the delicious lunch (pastries, fruits, tea, french bread), but also the history and geology of the area. Brought us to spots to do some 'cliff-jumping' or just chill along the rocks. More can be read about Matt's River Tracing here: http://thechengying.wordpress.com/2013/06/07/%E6%88%91%E8%B6%85%E7%BA%A7%E7%88%B1%E5%8F%B0%E6%B9%BE-25-may-to-1-june-2013-post-4/
Thanks for the experience!
Thanks for the experience!
Written June 7, 2013
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.
Bervinm
Singapore, Singapore17 contributions
Sep 2013 • Couples
I engaged Matt upon reading all the reviews people made here, from my very first email to him. He was very eager to answer all my questions and help me in answering questions about Hualien. Finally when i had met him for the hike itself he was on time to fetch me and he had much knowledge about Hualien and the gorge itself..
All in all i would highly recommend his services if you are looking to do something special in taroko. His prices may seem steep but i assure you that it will be money very well spent!!
All in all i would highly recommend his services if you are looking to do something special in taroko. His prices may seem steep but i assure you that it will be money very well spent!!
Written September 12, 2013
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.
Mac
San Francisco, CA20,147 contributions
May 2017 • Friends
My group of 2 spent 3 fantastic, most memorable days hiking and touring with Peter. First 2 days were in the Taroko Gorge doing short hikes on day 1 and the Zhuliu Old Trail on day 2. We enjoyed Peter's company so much that we requested to add a 3rd day to tour the coastline. Peter planned out a perfect day driving along Highway 11 showing us scenery that look like we were in Hawaii or the South Pacific. Peter took great care of us, in addition to learning area's history from him, he introduced to us a variety of local plants and insects. We ate well too, satisfying Taiwanese style breakfast and lunch is a spread of home-made bread, freshest and most delicious fruits, cheese, nuts and freshly brewed tea . Hualien Outdoors will be my go-to tour company for all future visits around Hualien area.
Written May 15, 2017
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.
caslee10
Hong Kong, China679 contributions
Jul 2015 • Friends
I rarely hike (in fact hate it most of the time!) but the Taroko National Park is definitely highly recommended! We went with Matt at Hualien Outdoors and super happy with the one day tour. Matt took very good care of us. Frankly, the hike is not that bad... It was super hot as we went in July but started the day early so ahead of most of the tourists. The park is soooo amazing and serene. Am very glad we did it!!!
Written August 9, 2015
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.
philiptoh
Singapore29 contributions
Jul 2015 • Couples
Hualien is very nice and the people are courteous and clean. Go to Taroko to enjoy the scenery and you will fall in love. Street food are quite nice
Written July 21, 2015
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.
Aaron N
Singapore, Singapore3 contributions
May 2013 • Friends
We travelled in a group of 4, and together with another couple whom we didn't know beforehand, participated in this rivertracing activity. The guide Matt was very assuring and this helped to dispel any doubts that this might be a dangerous activity. In reality, it was a fun activity through and through. We jumped off some cliffs which weren't that high, though that's a subjective view. Matt also provided a brilliant lunch with an array of pastries and fruits and tea. Overall, this activity totally made our trip to Hualien a memorable one. :)
Written June 4, 2013
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.
dianna_1970
Tokyo, Japan143 contributions
Nov 2014 • Family
Took my family of 5 on the Highlight Tour of the Taroka National Park. We enjoyed the day with Matt, as he is very knowledgeable about the area and kept us away from the crowds. He also communicated often and provided recommendations beyond our day trip with him. He even texted a competitor that we had a trip with the following day to make sure everything was in order - This was after we had difficulty contacting them.
Matt is a big Taiwanese history buff and we enjoyed his stories and insight into the culture, and his knowledge about the plants and terrain. The highlight of the day was probably a fresh fruit, cheese, and bread lunch along the river within a hidden area in-between a large number of very big marble rocks. We also enjoyed the Taiwan style breakfast that would could have never found without someone with inside knowledge of the area.
The only reason I did not rate this as excellent is the price. For 5 of us I paid 13500NTD (about $450). I travel with my family quite a lot and I don't mind spending money as long as I feel I get good value. I have spent more and less than this on tours as I have travelled across Asia. Matt clearly had a good sequence of sites mapped out in his head to avoid the crowds, provided good food, good conversation, and transportation from Hualien City to Taroka, all around, and back. To be fair, we pooped out and declined to go to the last stop, and I am not saying it was a poor value, but maybe a bit more than seemed appropriate after spending a few days in Hualien and getting a better idea of the price of things.
Matt is a big Taiwanese history buff and we enjoyed his stories and insight into the culture, and his knowledge about the plants and terrain. The highlight of the day was probably a fresh fruit, cheese, and bread lunch along the river within a hidden area in-between a large number of very big marble rocks. We also enjoyed the Taiwan style breakfast that would could have never found without someone with inside knowledge of the area.
The only reason I did not rate this as excellent is the price. For 5 of us I paid 13500NTD (about $450). I travel with my family quite a lot and I don't mind spending money as long as I feel I get good value. I have spent more and less than this on tours as I have travelled across Asia. Matt clearly had a good sequence of sites mapped out in his head to avoid the crowds, provided good food, good conversation, and transportation from Hualien City to Taroka, all around, and back. To be fair, we pooped out and declined to go to the last stop, and I am not saying it was a poor value, but maybe a bit more than seemed appropriate after spending a few days in Hualien and getting a better idea of the price of things.
Written November 30, 2014
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.
Hi,
Thank you for the kind words and I am glad you enjoyed the trip. I did too! You have a wonderful family. I had a lot of fun showing you guys the gorge!
As for your concerns about the costs of the trip, I think they are justified. As your kids are a little older(up to 18) I used a cost formula for adults where I shouldn't have. Trips with families are different and I am changing my fee structure to reflect that and capping the maximum amount that families pay for future trips. I really enjoy the trips with children, and I know how expensive raising a family can be. I only have 1 so far, but one is on the way and it always amazes me how much there is to think about! The costs of family trips should reflect this.
Thank you for the kind review and the feedback. I will make those changes right now!
-Matt
Written December 2, 2014
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Zack33
Sydney, Australia31 contributions
Apr 2014 • Couples
Zhuilu Old Trail was the one my partner and I attempted and whilst I wasn't able to complete the full hike, it was definitely worth it. The scenery is best described as amazing and Matt is an excellent tour guide - full of plenty of local knowledge about the area, flora, fauna and history. One word of advice - this particular trail is pretty hard so if you are like me and cannot finish it, don't worry as there is more to the area to see! You will be taken to the hot springs several kilometres down the road where you can freshen up but the main sight is the gorge itself, which you can explore at your own pace if needs be. Well worth it and thanks heaps to Matt for a memorable (but exhausting!) day.
Written April 28, 2014
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.
Cyclingknitter
Bethesda, Maryland43 contributions
Aug 2015 • Family
We had a great day trekking up the gorgeous cerulean blue water of the Sanzan River with Matt. An exceptional experience in every way, from Matt's responsiveness to multiple emails when planning the trip, the time and thought he put in to customizing the trip for our group (including providing waterproof boots for everyone), the way he checked out the river spots where we swam and jumped off rocks and cliffs and carefully explained how to navigate swimming across a rapid, the fabulous lunch of organic fruits, eggs, cheese, and French bread and pastries, to the wealth of information he shares about the river, flora and fauna, and Taiwanese culture and history. He even brings waterproof sports cams and films you and then emails you the photos for free, unlike the outfits that make you pay for the pictures they take. Trekking through clear blue water over the colorful river rocks and boulders through the beautiful scenery was a fantastic and fun way to spend the day, and a nice change from the hustle of Taipei. I highly recommend Matt and his company-we were so lucky to have found him!
Written August 25, 2015
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.
bayareatoday
Oakland, CA8 contributions
Sep 2018 • Family
Matt took us on a five hour river tracing trip near Taroko that was simply amazing. I’ve hiked in places around the world but this was one of the most special days outdoors that I’ve ever experienced.
River Tracing makes you feel like you have a super power — the ability to scale a river on your own two feet.
Matt picked us up at our hotel and within 20 min we were suiting up in life vest, helmet, and river tracing shoes — think dive booties with a thick layer of gripping felt on the bottom.
After a few minutes of getting used to it, we were off and up the river, climbing over boulders, scaling rapids, floating in wide sections. There were two great places to climb rocks and jump 10-20 feet into the river. And the natural water slide on a rock was great.
The water is so warm and pleasant and unbelievably clear and blue. We brought swim goggles with us and could see 60-70 feet visibility across the calm sections, and there is nothing like looking into the top of a waterfall from the inside.
Matt knows every element of the river and guided people more or less depending on what they wanted.
This really was an absolutely unforgettable trip. So beautiful, so peaceful, a good challenge, and so much fun.
River Tracing makes you feel like you have a super power — the ability to scale a river on your own two feet.
Matt picked us up at our hotel and within 20 min we were suiting up in life vest, helmet, and river tracing shoes — think dive booties with a thick layer of gripping felt on the bottom.
After a few minutes of getting used to it, we were off and up the river, climbing over boulders, scaling rapids, floating in wide sections. There were two great places to climb rocks and jump 10-20 feet into the river. And the natural water slide on a rock was great.
The water is so warm and pleasant and unbelievably clear and blue. We brought swim goggles with us and could see 60-70 feet visibility across the calm sections, and there is nothing like looking into the top of a waterfall from the inside.
Matt knows every element of the river and guided people more or less depending on what they wanted.
This really was an absolutely unforgettable trip. So beautiful, so peaceful, a good challenge, and so much fun.
Written September 23, 2018
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.
Hi! We're going in November and I'm planning our trip to Taroko. I would love to know how cost a 1 day tour or 2 days tour with this company, at least, how much more or less because I need to prepare the budget. We don't mind if we have to join to more people but we're sure we want to do hiking and look the more popular sights. Thanks in advance.
Written March 6, 2016
Here is the information we received before our trip: Highlight Tour of Taroko National Park
7:00-8:30am Pick up in Hualien at hotel/train station, big Western or Taiwanese style breakfast depending on the day, group preferences and our timing. Drive to Taroko Gorge National Park.
8:30-12am Visit various highlights of the gorge based on their availability, the weather, local conditions and the preferences of the group. Highlights include Swallow's Grotto, Lushui-Helio Trail, the Baiyang Waterfall Trail, Wenshan Hotsprings and a few other places that I hesitate to give away!
12-1pm Picnic lunch of french bread, brie, seasonal fruits and veggies at one of many beautiful places(Our favouite is the hotsprings!)
1pm-2:30pm Hike the beginning of the Lotus Pond Trail, about one hour with great views of the valley and some goose-bump inducing suspension bridges
2:30-3:30pm Drive through the gorge stopping at interesting places(bat filled tunnels and hidden waterfalls etc.) all easily accessible. Places will depend on the weather and preferences of the group.
4pm Return to Hotel.
Lunch is western style with good french bread, brie cheese, veggies, seasonal fruit, boiled eggs, tea, etc. Everything is as organic and locally sourced as it can possibly be. We can also take requests if there are any special concerns.
For this trip the price would be 3500NT$ per person. Price includes all transport, equipment, insurance, permits, gourmet lunches, breakfasts, snacks and a bilingual guide with knowledge of the area's history and wild edible plants.
Written March 7, 2016
Hi Aaron,
I came across this river tracing in Hualien, Im going in January, do you think it's too cold to do it? And how many days did you stay in Hualien? How much did you pay for this river tracing tour? I'll be traveling alone this Jan.
Thanks :)
Written December 10, 2015
Hi Vicka
I am also planning for a trip to Hualien - 21 - 23 (3 days 2 nites)
alone, do you want to pair up ?
Written December 28, 2015
hello, what would you suggest for a 6day Taiwan tour for 1 person? Can you assist with the hotel and tour by bus/rail please.
Written July 1, 2015
How much is a tour of Taroko Gorge for 4-6 people on March 4?
THanks
Written December 30, 2014
Best thing to do is to send us an email! The info is all on the website. Thanks!
Written February 20, 2015
We will be in Hualien Wednesday, March 4. Please send me information for your tour of Taroko Gorge for 4-6 people.
Thanks,
Sheri
Written December 30, 2014
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