Hidden Village Eco Hostel, Hualien, Taiwan

Hidden Village Eco Hostel is a accommodation of epic proportion. It is a place where one can experience nature up close in Taiwan's beautiful rainforest. This hostel caters to the tourist who is looking for a once in a lifetie experience to stay on a farm in the remote rainforest of Taiwan, near a traditional Aborigine village.

There are five seperate houses to accomodate different types of travelers. Some are more private with duel twin beds, while others are filled with bunk beds for groups traveling together.

The bungalows are traditional aboriginal huts, with modern furnishing. Beds, desk, electricity, sofas, etc. There are also adequate restroom facilites and a swimming pool.

All meals are provided for the traveler. These are traditional Aboriginal meals (delicious). We can accomodate both carnovores and herbovores! Meals are cooked over open fies in traditional fashion.

Extra services include: free hiking and guide service, pick up to and from the train station or airport, and traditional aboriginal entertainment (singing and dancing) at night around the camp fire.

An epilog by Peace Dave: The sleepy hamlet of Pratan (later named San Jhan) lies nestled against the foothills where two crystal clear gorge rivers merge. A kaleidoscope of stones and boulders fleck the intensely dramatic terrain, reminiscent of long-lost prehistoric islands. The south and north rivers alike provide pool after pristine pool. Foothills give way to mountains, giving way to jaw-dropping peaks, layer upon layer.

This is what struck me with awe on my rickety bicycle in 1987. The highway ran right beside the village that it side-skips now. Over the years, I've always made it a point to immerse myself and revitalize here each and every time I've come to Hualien. I finally saw no intelligent choice but to move here.

Less has changed here in the last 25 years than anywhere I know of in Taiwan. Here is still Shangri-La in the raw. The facade of the village framed by the rugged rain-forested gorges has more than retained its charm to woo nature-loving interlopers.

New Orleans Stevie, Taipei based Historian and associate, will set up your custom, all inclusive tour and see you off from Taipei Main Train Station. Peace Dave will meet you at Haulien station and Baki Jian (John) will see to your every need.

Baki Jian (John) hosts a self-constructed riverside sanctuary, running with river water, with simple yet quaint rooms, and basic necessities. He is a respected village elder and has been living in the village since the Japanese Occupation (Pre-WWII). John is hospitable, humorous, and just down-right cool!

This is an all inclusive tour package; Round trip express train tickets from Taipei to Haulien; Pick up to and from the village; all lodging (10 bungalows, site sleeps 40 people comfortably, private rooms available, AC available, natural spring water showers and bathroom facilities, easy access to river and hiking straight off the farm, swimming pool); all hiking (two hikes, one half day and one full day) and guides; all traditional aboriginal meals cooked for you, traditional aboriginal musical and dancing entertainment on the first night.

If you want to stay longer, it is an additional 1K per every 12 hours stayed after the 36 hour slot. It is for a great cause and not to mention a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience real eco-tourism in your own backyard. No one else offers anything like it.