Qingshui Cliff Sea Kayak
Paddle under Taiwan's tallest sea cliff — at sunrise.
A 3-hour sea-kayak trip below the 1,000-metre Qingshui Cliff in Hualien. Small groups, our own instructors and gear. March–October only.
Launch before dawn. Meet the sunrise on the water.
Meet at our base around 3:30–4:30 AM. Full instruction on the beach, then launch into the dark and paddle out as the sun comes up behind the cliff. Coolest air, fewest boats, best light.
Paddle below a 1,000-metre sea cliff.
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, ~2 hours on the water.
1 instructor per 5 boats. Photos included.
Small groups only — max 12 boats per trip. Our instructors are in the water with you, with waterproof cameras. Photos are sent by cloud link after the trip. Professional kayaks, life vests and helmets; NT$50M public liability insurance.
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. Back to base by ~7:15 AM.
- Best light
- Coolest air
- Fewest boats
Very early wake-up — not for late risers.
How do I get there that early? Add a shuttle pickup from Hualien City when you book.
Morning
On the water by ~10:00 AM, back by noon. Warmer and bright — the full Pacific-blue look.
- Family-friendly
- Easy wake-up
- Bright photos
Hot and sunny — bring more water and sunscreen.
Afternoon
Partly sunny to cloudy with occasional thunderstorms — moodier light, softer heat.
- Soft light
- Train-accessible
- Cooler
Weather-dependent — afternoons here see wind or brief thunderstorms 30–50% of season days. We'll call the night before if conditions aren't safe.
Each slot runs ~3.5 hours from meetup, with ~2 hours on the water and a ~4 km round 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 coverPolicy 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 (local driver on request)
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Individual expenses
Who can join
| Age | 10–60; kids with a parent in the same boat |
| Height | 120 cm minimum |
| Weight | Up to 120 kg per paddler |
| Swimming | Non-swimmers OK — life vests, helmets, instructor support |
| Health | Not suitable for heart conditions, high blood pressure, epilepsy, pregnancy, or recent surgery |
Meeting point
Our base is on Heren Beach (和仁海灘), ~40 min north of Hualien City by car. Google Maps: search “立槳SUP, 獨木舟報到處 (愛呆玩戶外探索)” — the check-in has its own parking, showers, changing rooms, and hairdryers.
Kayak or SUP?
We run both below Qingshui Cliff. Quick guide:
| Kayak | Sit-in, two paddlers per boat. More stable, easier if you’re new, better for families, and less seasickness. |
| SUP | Stand-up, one person per board. Better photos, more physical, needs decent balance. |
If the day falls short of four paddlers, or seas are rougher than we’d like, we may switch the day to SUP — easier to manage in marginal conditions and the cliff looks just as good from the water.
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 Bureau issues a heavy-rain or typhoon warning, or our instructors judge conditions unsafe, we call it and refund 100%.
Cancellation
| When | Refund |
|---|---|
| We cancel (weather / conditions) | 100% |
| You cancel, 7+ days out | 100% of deposit |
| 3–6 days out | 50% |
| 1–2 days out | No refund, but one free reschedule |
NT$50 processing fee applies to all refunds.
What to bring
A change of clothes, a towel, reef-safe sunscreen, seasickness pills if you need them. Leave phones in the car — even dry bags fail at the launch. Wear swimwear plus light long sleeves, and reef sandals or Crocs. No jeans.
Why book with us
- 1,000+ 5-star Google reviews — search 愛呆玩戶外探索 on Google Maps.
- Licensed Taiwan outdoor operator — Eye Taiwan Co., Ltd. (統一編號 90872110).
- Fully insured — public liability policy, NT$50M total cover.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 - Professional kit — tandem kayaks, paddles, life vests, helmets.
- 1 instructor per 5 boats, in the water with you, photography service included.
- Duration
- ~3.5 hrs
- Group size
- Small group · max 12 boats; free private upgrade from 12 boats
- Skill level
- moderate
- Season
- spring · summer · autumn
- Meeting point
- Heren Beach, Xiulin, Hualien
- From
- On request
Book this trip
Tell us your dates, group size, and which slot. We reply ASAP.