Though not as well-known internationally as Yushan or Xueshan, Nanhu Dashan (南湖大山) is reputed to be the favorite of experienced Taiwanese trekkers. In fact, many claimed it to be the most beautiful Taiwan mountains. As challenging as it is beautiful, the 50km trail across rugged terrain requires at least 4-5 days of hard trekking to complete.
ITINERARY
Day 01
TAIPEI – NAN SHAN VILLAGE
Leave Taipei City (metro station or hotel) for homestay in Nan Shan Village (南山村) (~5 hrs. drive) in the late afternoon (5pm). Check-in to the homestay and turn in early for the next day‘s trek.
Overnight: Homestay in Nan Shan Village
Day 02
NAN SHAN VILLAGE – SIYUAN PASS – NANHU TRAILHEAD – YUNLIN COTTAGE
After breakfast, you will be transferred to Siyuan Pass (思源啞口; 1,940m) where you will trek for 2 hours along a dirt track to the Nanhu trailhead (南湖登山口). From here, you will enter the coniferous forest for a 4 hours trek to Yunlin Cottage (雲稜山莊; 2,600m). Along the way, you will pass by the 2795m high Mount Duojiatun (多加屯山) and also enjoy some nice view of the Lanyang River valley (蘭陽溪谷).
Overnight: Yunlin Cottage
Day 03
YUNLIN COTTAGE – NANHU NORTH PEAK – NANHU COTTAGE
Have a good body stretch to prepare for today’s 9hours trek to Nanhu Cottage (南湖山屋; 3,400m). Firstly, it is a 4 hours uphill trek to Mt Shenmazhen (審馬陣山). At 3,141m high, it is the first of the four Baiyue (百岳) that you will bagged during this trek. A further one hour trek will bring you to Shenmazhen Hut where you will stop for lunch break. Beyond Shenmazhen, the trail continues upwards for 4 hours through meadows interspersed with patches of woodlands to the 3,565 m high Nanhu North Peak (南湖北山; 3,536m ), the second Baiyue of this trek. From the summit, you will be rewarded with amazing views of the Holy Ride that from north to south connecting Snow Mountain (雪山) to Dabajianshan (大霸尖山). A 30 minutes scramble down a scree slope with rope assist will then bring you Nanhu Cottage.
Overnight: Nanhu Cottage
Day 04
NANHU COTTAGE– NANHU DASHAN – NANHU EAST PEAK – YUNLIN COTTAGE
Wake up around 4am for a light snack and then don your headlight for the 1.5 hours sunrise trek to Nanhu Main Peak (南湖大山; 3,742m), the third Baiyue of this trek After enjoying a magnificent sunrise over the great wilderness, you will trek for another 2 hours to take in Nanhu East Peak (南湖東峰; 3,632M) – the last Baiyue of this trek. Descend for 1.5 hours back to the cottage for breakfast and some rest. Thereafter you will retrace the 6 hours trek back to Yunlin Cottage.
Overnight: Yunlin Cottage
Day 05
YUNLIN COTTAGE – SIYUAN PASS – TAIPEI
A 6 hours progressive downhill trek will bring you back to Siyuan Pass where you will be transferred back to Taipei (~ 4 hrs. drive).
HIKING GRADE
OPTIONAL PROGRAM
List of mountain hikes we offer in Taiwan are as below. They can be combined to form a longer itinerary.
2D2N Yushan (Jade Mountain) Climb
2D2N Xue Shan (Snow Mountain) Climb
3D3N Xue Shan (Snow Mountain) & Cui Pond Climb
2D2N Hehuanshan
3D3N Dabajianshan
3D3N WuLing Sixiu
4D4N Nanhu Dashan
2D2N Qilai Nanfeng & Nanhuashan
TESTIMONIALS
See latest reviews on our Google page!
The guide, Mr Lu, was very professional, kind and nice to us! Despite disruptions in our plans due to the rainy weather, he always had alternative options for us. His driving skills were superb, winding through sharp bends for hours where there was so little visibility and still maintaining a positive and optimistic outlook. All these on top of taking us through long hikes makes him one of the most resilient and nicest person I’ve known! Thank you!
- Xin Han (Group of 6 on a 5D4N Xueshan & Hehuanshan trip in May 2019)
Mountain guide is very friendly. He brings us around to try local delights and share with us local stories and facts.
- Wan Lin (Group of 6 on a 5D4N Xueshan & Hehuanshan trip in May 2019)
The guide was very experienced and friendly. He also plans the ascend and descend schedules very well and is able to walk at a comfortable pace for the team.
- Ruobing (Group of 6 on a 5D4N Xueshan & Hehuanshan trip in May 2019)
Why 5 stars? There key difference was the 雪山 summit climb. On the way up, we met at least two groups that turned back because the trail was completely snowed over. There were doubts and we thought this was going to be an anti-climax.
However, when we reach the snow line, our guide hacked through the top layer of hard snow so that our clamp-on spikes could dig into the softer bottom layer. Without doing this, it was not possible for inexperienced climbers to summit. He could have simply said "Let's turn back, this is too dangerous". It was act of professionalism backed by long experience, sound judgment and supreme fitness.
– Chee Wai (Group of 10 on a 3D3N Xueshan trip in Mar 2019)
Honorable mention to the guide, whom was the driver too. Her energy and dedication throughout the trek makes the trip very worthwhile, even though the view at the summit was spoiled by the poor foggy weather. Our team would gladly scale another mountain in taiwan with her as the guide again, if we had the chance.
– Jonathan (Group of 5 on a 2D2N Yushan trip in Mar 2018)
The whole organisation was prepared smoothly prior to the trip. The ample of times attending to the enquiries and the notes given had definitely been useful. For transport, guide (and driver), food, activities, accommodation - they were pleasant. The van provided was spacious especially the legroom, and even had enough room to store our bag packs. The guide and driver were very accommodative, for an instance, stopping the van to allow us take some photos before proceeding to the trail head. Additionally, both tried their best to attempt to make conversations in English. As per food and activities, it was great. The food complimented the next activity well, an example, we were provided rice instead of noodles on the day before our summit push and back to the trail head. It was essential since we had to have plenty carbohydrates for the long trek ahead.
– SR (Group of 5 on a 2D2N Xueshan trip in Oct 2017)
Thanks Ying! You've been very helpful and professional! We truly enjoyed ourselves 😊
– Johan (Group of 9 on a 2D2N Xueshan trip in Jan 2017)
Thanks so much for Organising the Taiwan trip. The 2 mountains were amazing and the guides were great! Everyone enjoyed the trip and were able to make it down from both mountains safely!
– Shaun from NUS Mountaineering Club (Group of 10 on a 5D4N Xueshan -Yushan Climb in Dec 2016)
Read more at testimonials!
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