The best way to explore Taroko National Park in 2026
Qingshui Cliff Sea Kayak
Paddle under Taiwan's tallest sea cliff at sunrise — the kind of morning you'll still talk about years later.
Out before the day begins
Land instruction under headlamps. Launch into the dark and meet first light on the water. Coolest air, fewest boats, the cliff catching the day before anyone else sees it.
Taiwan's tallest sea cliff — from below
Qingshui Cliff is the tallest sea cliff in Taiwan. You can see it from the highway, but you only feel the scale from a kayak directly below it. ~4 km round trip.
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A clean, spacious base — so you're set before you launch
Our own check-in base, not a rental shack — covered parking, cool showers, changing rooms, and hairdryers. Arrive out of the wind, get kitted up in comfort, and rinse off after the paddle.
More from the base
Your morning, from outside the kayak
Your instructor follows in a second kayak with a waterproof camera. The angles — first light on the cliff, you mid-stroke, the wide silhouette of the wall — aren't shots you can get from your own boat. Sent by cloud after the trip. Yours to keep.
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A Hualien marble coaster,
finished by hand
Every paddler leaves with a Hualien marble coaster — cut and polished by the aunties at a small family stone workshop nearby. Local stone, local hands, a small way your visit stays in Hualien.
See how it's made
Three slots
Sunrise
We meet about 85 minutes before sunrise — enough time for the beach briefing, fitting gear, and launching in the half-light so you're on the water as the sun clears the cliff. On peak-season days we may start 10 minutes earlier.
- March
- ~6:05 AM
- ~4:40 AM
- April
- ~5:40 AM
- ~4:15 AM
- May
- ~5:15 AM
- ~3:50 AM
- June
- ~5:05 AM
- ~3:40 AM
- July
- ~5:10 AM
- ~3:45 AM
- August
- ~5:25 AM
- ~4:00 AM
- September
- ~5:40 AM
- ~4:15 AM
- October
- ~6:00 AM
- ~4:35 AM
Land instruction under stars, launch before dawn, meet the sun on the water below the cliff. Very early wake-up — add a shuttle pickup from Hualien City when you book.
- Best light
- Coolest air
Morning
On the water by ~10:00 AM, back around noon. Warmer and bright — the full Pacific-blue look. Hot and sunny, so bring more water and sunscreen.
- Easy wake-up
- Bright photos
Each slot runs ~3.5 hours from meetup, with a ~4 km round trip for the kayak trip.
Your trip includes
What's included
- Instructor — speaks basic English; contact us in advance if you need a fluent English instructor
- Photography service — our instructors shoot you on waterproof cameras; delivered by cloud link after the trip
- Full kit: tandem kayak, paddle, life vest, helmet
- Public liability insurance — NT$50M total cover
Policy details
Policy breakdown- Per person (death or bodily injury)
- NT$3,000,000
- Per incident (bodily injury)
- NT$24,000,000
- Property damage
- NT$2,000,000
- Total policy cap
- NT$50,000,000
Fubon Insurance Taiwan — public liability policy 0508字第22APL0000824號 - Hualien marble coaster — finished by a local family stone workshop
Not included
- Transport from Hualien City (shuttle on request)
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Individual expenses
Who can join
| Age | 7–60. Kids 7–12 share a boat with a parent. |
| Height | Min 120 cm |
| Weight | Max 130 kg per paddler; pair total ≤ 180 kg |
| Swimming | Non-swimmers welcome — life vests, helmets, and an instructor in the water with you |
| Health | Not for paddlers with heart conditions, high blood pressure, or epilepsy, or who are pregnant or recovering from recent surgery |
Meeting point
Our check-in base is in Chongde, Xiulin, Hualien — about 40 minutes north of Hualien City by car (Open in Google Maps). On site: parking, showers, changing rooms, and hairdryers. Please arrive 5–10 min before your meet time. From here it’s a ~5-min drive to the launch point, directly below the cliff.
Season and weather
We run this trip from March through October. November to February the northeast monsoon swell is too big to launch safely.
If the Central Weather Administration issues a heavy-rain or typhoon warning, or our instructors judge conditions unsafe, we cancel the trip and refund in full, less a NT$60/pax processing fee.
Kayak vs SUP
This trip runs on tandem sea kayaks by default. If we have fewer than four paddlers on the day, or seas are rougher than we’d like, we switch to SUP — easier to manage in marginal conditions, and the cliff looks just as good from the water. Quick guide to both:
Kayak
Sit-on-top, two paddlers per boat. More stable, easier if you're new, and goes further on the water.
SUP
We recommend one paddler per board — you don't have to stand; sit, kneel, or lie down as you like. Tandem boards also available. More physical than kayak, with better photo angles.
Cancellation
| When | Refund |
|---|---|
| We cancel (weather / conditions) | Full refund, less a NT$60/pax processing fee |
| You cancel, 7+ days out | 100% of deposit, less a NT$60/pax processing fee |
| 3–6 days out | 50% of deposit |
| 1–2 days out | No refund, but one free reschedule |
The NT$60 per person covers non-refundable payment-processing charges.
What to bring
- Change of clothes and towel
- Reef-safe sunscreen
- Seasickness pills (if you need them)
Leave phones in the car — even sealed dry bags can flood when we push through the surf at launch.
What to wear
- Swimwear, plus a lightweight sun shirt or rash guard
- Reef sandals or Crocs — no jeans
Why us
- Licensed Taiwan outdoor operator — Eye Taiwan Co., Ltd. (business ID 90872110).
- Fully insured — public liability policy, NT$50M total cover.
Policy details
Policy breakdown- Per person (death or bodily injury)
- NT$3,000,000
- Per incident (bodily injury)
- NT$24,000,000
- Property damage
- NT$2,000,000
- Total policy cap
- NT$50,000,000
Fubon Insurance Taiwan — public liability policy 0508字第22APL0000824號 - 1,600+ 5-star Google reviews — see below.
Huge thanks to coach William for leading the sunrise trip — everything ran so smoothly. The pre-trip briefing and on-beach instruction were clear and easy to follow, and the check-in base was clean and well set up, so you feel at ease the moment you arrive. The trip itself was fun and rewarding, and we came back with a ton of gorgeous photos. Next time we're in Hualien, we'll be booking Eye Taiwan again.
Aug 12, 2025 — Qingshui Cliff SUP. Saw the most beautiful sunrise of my life. Not sure if it was the calm before a storm — the sky and sea colors were unreal. The coaching team (Xiong & Xiang) were the best, the whole group's energy was next-level, laughter from start to finish. And the photo skills?? Better than any of our boyfriends! Really recommend Eye Taiwan.
Our coach was thorough and careful — safety-first, but still funny and warm. The base is spotlessly clean, no funky smell, and even the shuttle vehicles are tidy. Would recommend to friends.
Love the experience! The coach is patient and kind. Would definitely come again!
Huge thanks to coach Da-Xiong for guiding us. First time trying SUP and we went straight for sea SUP — so much fun. Swallowed a fair bit of seawater along the way, but with his patient instruction I finally managed to stand up and paddle. He also shot tons of great photos for us. Super lucky on the day too — caught an epic sky with calm waves. Eye Taiwan highly recommended.
First time trying SUP — the waves were a bit choppy and I got briefly seasick, but standing on the board felt amazing (even if the seawater tasted really salty every time I fell). Coach Ah-Hua was thorough and patient, and his photo skills are unreal. The sunrise slot is also less sunny, so you can properly soak in the view. Watching the sun come up there was stunning — worth every bit.
Reviews verified on Google · 2026-04-25
Moments from the cliff
Shot by your instructor from a second kayak — angles you can’t get from your own. Yours to keep, no extra charge.
- Duration
- ~3.5 hrs
- Group size
- Small group · max 12 boats
- Skill level
- moderate
- Season
- spring · summer · autumn
- Meeting point
- Chongde, Xiulin, Hualien
- From
- TWD 2,000
Book this trip
Tell us your dates, group size, and which slot. We reply ASAP.
FAQ
-
Who can join the Qingshui Cliff sea kayak trip?
Ages 7–60. Kids 7–12 share a boat with a parent. Minimum height 120 cm, up to 130 kg per paddler; pair total ≤ 180 kg. Non-swimmers are OK — life vests, helmets, and instructor support are provided. Not suitable for heart conditions, high blood pressure, epilepsy, pregnancy, or recent surgery. -
Why might the trip switch to SUP?
This trip runs on tandem sea kayaks by default — sit-on-top, two paddlers per boat, more stable and easier if you're new. If we have fewer than four paddlers on the day, or seas are rougher than ideal, we switch to SUP — easier to manage in marginal conditions, and the cliff looks just as good. Both run the same ~4 km route below the cliff. -
What is your cancellation policy?
If we cancel due to weather or unsafe conditions, we refund in full less a NT$60/pax processing fee. If you cancel 7+ days out: 100% of deposit refunded, less NT$60/pax. 3–6 days out: 50% of deposit refunded. 1–2 days out: no refund, but one free reschedule. -
When can I book this trip?
We run the Qingshui Cliff sea kayak trip from March through October. November to February the northeast monsoon swell is too big to launch safely. -
What time does the trip start?
Two slots: Sunrise (meet 3:30–4:30 AM, recommended for best light and coolest air) and Morning (meet 9:00 AM, family-friendly). Each slot runs ~3.5 hours from meetup with a ~4 km round trip for the kayak trip. -
Is transport from Hualien City included?
Transport is not included by default. Our check-in base in Chongde is ~40 minutes north of Hualien City. We can arrange a shuttle pickup on request — please mention it when you book.