Sign up now for the limited-time East Rift Valley Railway Adventure Tour!

By Wei Ruyi, compiled and reported

Jointly organized by the Tourism Bureau of the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and Giant Travel Agency, the "East Rift Valley Railway Adventure Tour" has received an overwhelmingly positive response. The second session is now open for registration today (October 11) until noon on October 24, with departure scheduled for October 29. Each session has limited spots and will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Interested participants are advised to register online as soon as possible to avoid missing out.

The Ministry of Transportation and Communications is promoting a low-carbon green transportation service system, integrating railway, road, and tourism leisure resources to market Eastern Taiwan. With a new recreational model combining cycling and rail travel, the "Taiwan Bicycle Festival ~ East Rift Valley Railway Adventure Tour" was held from September to December 2011, featuring a total of 12 sessions. Participants can bring their own bicycles or rent one at one of the seven designated train stations — Xincheng, Hualien, Shoufeng, Ruisui, Yuli, Guanshan, and Taitung — from the bike rental stations set up at those locations, and return the bike at any of the same stations without needing to go back to the original rental point, allowing for “rent here, return there” flexibility.

Participants in this event enjoy a 30% to 50% discount off the original price, depending on whether they choose the bike-and-rail combo or just the two-rail ticket option, with slight variations between weekdays and weekends. Prices are approximately NT$450–NT$790 per person. The organizers also provide additional services such as roadside assistance, luggage forwarding, and hotel booking.

There are currently three more sessions available (October 29–30 / November 26–27 / December 24–25), and eight additional sessions will be added during the Bicycle Festival period (November 5–13). Registration for each session opens 18 days before the event, but exact times are subject to website announcements and spots are limited.

It is particularly important to note that participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Due to limited bike sizes (available for riders 145 cm and taller), tandem bikes, youth bikes, children’s bikes, family bikes, or electric bikes are not provided. Bike sizes are subject to availability on-site. More information, including brochures and registration forms, can be found directly on the website taiwanbike.tw.