I am heading to the famous Taroko Gorge, the most gorgeous part of Taiwan. I will be staying at the only 5-star resort in the area, Silks Place Taroko! Undoubtedly, the best accommodation in Taroko Gorge. The luxurious resort is in the national park. This boutique resort incorporates elements from the 250 million years old Taroko Gorge into its bespoke rooms and suites. It is the perfect place for visitors visiting the Taroko Gorge National Park. It offers easy access to the sights and the hotel is pet friendly with a special pet hotel for the little fur kids. This is perfect for pet owners who want to have a vacation. Stopping by here is a must when you are visiting the Hualian area.
Booking Process & Pre Arrival
The two nearest train stations to the resort are Hualian and Xincheng Taroko. It is about a 30 to 50 mins drive. The hotel offers complimentary parking for all guests. Guests can also arrange the hotel shuttle service to and from Hualien Airport/train station. This cost NT$ 250 for adults and NT$ 150 for children under 12 years old. This is the best and the only luxury hotel in the area. I relished the opportunity to review this hotel. Seeing The World In Steps stayed as a guest of Silks Hotel Group. I am staying in their Retreat Garden View Suite. Each room features a tub, separate shower stalls and the signature Wellspring Bed. With its tranquil and soothing atmosphere, the hotel provides serene and luxurious accommodations among nature. Silks Place Taroko boasts 160 guest rooms and suites. You can find the breakdown of the rooms below.
| Rooms | Retreat Lounge Access | Bathtub | Room Size | No.of Rooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garden View | No | Yes | 36 Sqm | |
| Japanese | No | Yes | 36 Sqm | |
| Gorge View | No | Yes | 36 Sqm | |
| Gorge View with Balcony | No | Yes | 36 Sqm | |
| Gorge View Suite | No | Yes | 96 Sqm | |
| Honeymoon Studio | Yes | Yes | 36 – 42 Sqm | |
| Garden View Suite | Yes | Yes | 63 Sqm | |
| River View Suite | Yes | Yes | 63 Sqm | |
| Mei Yuan Suite | Yes | Yes | 78 Sqm | |
| Taroko Gorge Suite | Yes | Yes | 63 Sqm | |
| Taroko Gorge Suite with Terrace | Yes | Yes | 114 Sqm | |
| Silks Suite | Yes | Yes | 216 Sqm |
Checking In
We arrive at the hotel at around 3.30pm after about a 40 mins drive from Xincheng Station. We took a train from Jiaoxi before transferring to a bus transfer. The drive to the hotel was full of majestic views of the mountains and valleys. Upon arrival, the bellboy came to help us with our bags. The grand lobby comes with plenty of seating on both sides. The hotel’s warm finishes felt very cosy and comforting. The Silks Taroko team welcome us before we head to the Retreat Lounge for check-in. Welcome drinks and refreshing towels were offered as check-in was done.
Garden View Suite
I was assigned a suite on the third floor. It is quite a walk from the elevators. The spacious suite measures 63 Sqm. While classified as a standard suite, it is more like Junior Suite given the lack of separate living areas and a half bath. Upon entering, you have a wide entrance. I love the look of the place. The warm wood finishes and soft lighting made it feel cosy and welcoming. By the entrance, they have a shoe tray with flip-flops and a chair for you to sit on. This is thoughtful since shoes are bound to be dirty with all the nature excursions here. They even have a shoehorn.
Moving on is the mini bar area. It was well equipped with a kettle, tea set and an espresso coffee machine. I always appreciate having a proper coffee machine in the room. You can find a full set of glassware. Accompanying it are plenty of bottled drinking water. The fully stocked minibar is complimentary for guests. There are both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
The main space of the suite is mainly in a rectangular configuration. The suites come with a courtyard view. The terrace stretches alongside the entire length of the suite. It comes with two deck chairs and a coffee table. This is great for some fresh air. On weekends, you can also catch a glimpse of the dance performance.
The suite consists of a dining table which comes in handy for room service. Room service is integral here seeing that there isn’t much around the area. It comes with chairs for two. They even had some board games left on the table. There was a generous welcome amenity from the hotel consisting of some local snacks and fruits.
Mounted on the wall is a high-quality smart screen television that comes with a good number of both local and cable TV channels. I feel that the size was a little small especially when viewing from the bed but perfect from the sofa and the dining table.
The full-length working desk marks out the bed area. It is equipped with a chair that provides decent back support for short periods of work. This isn’t a place where you come to work. The Wi-Fi connection is strong in the room.
On the other end of the suite is the centrepiece of the whole place, a gorgeous and plush four-poster bed. The bed is extremely comfortable. I love that the beddings are soft and high quality. They also come with plenty of pillow options to customise your sleep experience. I got a memory foam pillow and slept like a baby. Flanking both sides of the bed, you can find nightstands. They only have local power sockets so you do need to bring your adapter.
The bathroom is located to the right of the bedroom and it’s a mighty one! It is even bigger than my bedroom back home. The bathroom comes with double sinks that are opposite each other. It is well stocked with all sorts of amenities and toiletries.
In the middle of the bathroom, you can find a freestanding bathtub which is such a joy to soak in. It is so spacious and they even had a bath pillow. I appreciate that they even had some aromatherapy oil around the bathroom that you can use. Taking a soak every night is something that you have to do over here.
The toilet and shower are in separate rooms. It comes with a bidet toilet which is common in Taiwan. Those warm heated seats are a joy to use during the cold season.
The standing shower is equipped with a handheld showerhead. It can be taken down or mounted to the wall. I wish that installed a rainforest showerhead. Aesop toiletries are provided for suites. This is one of my favourite brands ever! The water pressure is good and temperature control is excellent.
The bathroom is connected to the dressing room and vanity area. It comes with an open-concept wardrobe as well as a luggage storage area. There are plenty of hangers, tote bags and even toiletries bags for your wet clothes. The vanity area comes with a cosmetic mirror and a Dyson hairdryer. It is lovely to see that they offer quality items in the suite.
Turndown service is offered automatically and was a nice touch. The staff came around with Iced Pineapple Tea and cosmetic products. They switch this up depending on the season. During winter, they will offer corn soup.
Retreat Lounge
The Retreat Lounge is an exclusive facility for the hotel exclusive guests with all-day beverages and snacks service. It is on the highest floor of the hotel. The main hours of operation are from 7.30am to 6pm. The lounge offers breakfast, afternoon tea and happy hour. In the evening, the lounge converts into a private dining facility for guest reservations. The lounge offers a good view of the surrounding area and tons of natural light. There is plenty of seating around the lounge. You can also access the outdoor space directly from the lounge. The lounge staff are polished and knowledgeable. Here are some pictures of the lounge.
I was there during the afternoon tea service to check out the selections. It is a lovely space to relax and escape the heat after a morning of excursions and activities. Pair up the view with a glass of wine. The canapés were a nice touch and they are not skimping on the offerings over here. On offer are some dim sum, salads, sandwiches and cakes.
There is also a good selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. You can find fresh juices, soft drinks, artisan water, beers, wines, plum liqueur and even a signature millet wine from the region.
Recreation Centre
The Recreation Centre is an indoor space located on level B1. It offers a space for kids and adults to enjoy activities like DIY Workshop, Baby Playground, Climbing Playground, Interactive Games and Table games. This is a good space when the weather isn’t on your side. It is open from 9am to 9pm daily.
Fitness Centre
The fitness centre is found on the Roof, just above the lounge. They are open from 7am to 10pm. It is a cosy space for a workout. I love the ambience and the look of the place. It comes with a view of the surrounding mountain and the natural light makes it so welcoming. It is on the smaller side. Instructors are available from 9am to 9pm.
They also have a dedicated yoga room well equipped with mats. Guests can use the facilities to do their stretching and exercises. On weekends, they have instructors to conduct Yoga classes. In the summer, they have a very unique “Watermelon” yoga!
Pool
The resort comes with two pools. An Indoor facility as well as an outdoor one! I will recommend the outdoor pool which is so gorgeous and scenic. The indoor pool is right next to the recreation centre. It is open from 9am to 1pm and from 3pm to 9pm. The pool is of a good size with a regular shape allowing laps to be done.
The outdoor pool is the gem and my favourite place in the resort. It is happening both in the day and the night. The pool is glistering and has an infinity edge that looks out towards the mountains. There are plenty of sunbeds and cabanas by the side of the pool. It looks so inviting.
Besides the main pool, they also have some jacuzzis on the side and another quieter pool at the end. Staff service is excellent and you can order cocktails or some drinks poolside.
The hotel is also pushing out a Rainbow Ice Cream special. It cost NT $580 and is good for 2 to 3 pax. It is a great way to cool down under the sun by the pool. How pretty is this! It is all made with natural ingredients. The 14 scoops of ice cream consist of 7 different flavours. Perfect for the gram and to pamper the well-behaved kids!
In the evening, there are also events by the pool. From Mon to Fri, 8.30pm to 9.30pm. They have an Indigenous Music Festival with a Bonfire. Guests can enjoy the music and dance along in the open space. I love it! Currently, they also have traditional Taiwanese sausages or popsicles on offer for guests to enjoy!
From 9.50pm till late, there will be an outdoor poolside cinema. Movies will be screened for guests to enjoy in and out of the pool. The vibes are excellent. A classic Silks Hotel activity!
Morning Yoga in the Gorge
The hotel has events and activities for guests to take part in. They are comprehensive. I am glad to see that most of them are complementary as well. You can find more detailed information here. I took part in the Morning Yoga in the Gorge activity.
We were brought to a scenic place by the gorge on the Lushui Trail for yoga. The staff were well prepared and they had mats pre-laid. The ambience and vibes are excellent. It felt so good to stretch and enjoy the fresh air of Taroko Gorge. The instructor was very helpful and patient.
ATV & Picnic Excursion
This is hands down the most fun and exciting activity I took part in while staying here at Silks Place Taroko. The hotel organised an excursion to Qing Shui Cliff and Chong Da Beach. This cost NT $3000 per person. You will get a guided tour on an ATV over the beach to various spots. It is perfect for pictures. While the weather is blazing hot, it is packed full of fun.
I got so many pictures and it is so fun riding an ATV. It is pretty simple and much safer than a bike. Do watch out for uneven surfaces as you are riding.
We then stop by an area of the beach where the hotel staff kindly set up a super gorgeous tentage for our picnic! How fancy is this! We were first welcomed with towels and sparkling wine. A lifesaver in this weather! We even had the Silks Place Taroko house dog join us for a fun day by the beach.
We then enjoy a spread of afternoon tea consisting of both sweet and savoury items. You can have unlimited white wine and sparkling wine.
I had so much fun here. Check out my IG for a lovely reel and video of me riding an ATV. I am glad to ride and learn how to ride an ATV for the first time!
DIY Workshop
There are plenty of DIY events and workshops run by the hotel. We took part in the Herb Academy Herb Salt-making activity. We first took a tour of the hotel herb garden. How cool is this that their chef comes here to get herbs right from here into their cooking?
We were led to a spot in the garden to make our herb salt. It is pretty simple. We choose the herbs we want to incorporate into the salt. We start by drying out the herb before putting it in the salt and frying together. We then cool the salt and place it in a jar. The hotel staff also prepared some sweet potatoes for us to enjoy the very own salt that we made.
Taroko Gorge Tour
Checking out the Taroko Gorge is the main thing you come here for! The hotel offers half-day guided tours to various sites in the area. It cost NT $600 for adults and NT $300 for children. We start with a walk thru the Tunnel of Nine Turns. It is so gorgeous here and we can see some of the best views of Taroko!
The tour guide is very knowledgeable and gave us all the relative information. We can get up close to the stones and view the running river. Do you think that this looks like the shape of Taiwan?
Chef Table Dinner at Retreat Lounge
We had an exclusive Chef Table Dinner in the Retreat Lounge. The Retreat Lounge converts into an exclusive dining facility in the evening. From Mon to Fri, there is a 10 pax minimum requirement. On Sat and Sun, smaller groups are possible. The set menu introduces seasonal delicacies specially made with local ingredients. An extra surcharge of NT $1580 is required for those with meal plans included in their room rate.
We started with an introduction by our host and the concept of the menu. We had their Signature Sparkling Millet Wine. I love how the honey makes it so tasty. Here are some of the dishes we had!
精選手工麵包 Homemade Bread
火腿玉米飯卷, 羊肚菌玉米雞, 馬告番茄飽魚, 焦糖牛蒡 Ham and Corn Rice Roll, Chicken with Corn and Chanterelle Mushroom, Abalone with Chinese Mahogany Fruit and Caramelized Burdock
花蓮洛神, 有機生菜, 全麥葵瓜碎, 白玉娟牛, 得迎油蛋 Hualien Roselle, Organic Lettuce, Whole Wheat Sunflower Seed White Jade Snail, Soursop Oil and Vinegar Dressing
千貝, 松茸, 絲瓜, 茶香澄清雞湯 Scallops, Matsutake Mushrooms, Luffa, Clear Chicken Soup with Tea Fragrance
台東關山芋香米, 鮭魚卵燉飯 Guanshan Rice Salmon Roe Risotto
花蓮源興但馬和牛, 碳烤原民蔬食 Hualien Yuanxing Wagyu with Seasonal Local Vegetables
龍蝦奶焗蛤蜊白醫佐黑松露汁, 千邑白蘭地肉汁 Grilled Lobster with White Sauce and Black Truffle Sauce
濁酒冰沙, 梅子凝凍 Nigori Smoothie with Plum-flavored Jelly
Dinner was excellent and a treat! Some of the most memorable items were their Mushroom bread with scallions butter and the local wagyu beef. It was so flavourful and comes with a unique scent. It was served with various herb salt which makes it even more delicious.
Breakfast at Retreat Lounge
We had a simple breakfast at the Retreat Lounge. Breakfast is served from 7.30am to 11am. Guests can choose either the Asian or Western Breakfast. I went for the Western option. It is all served on a tray and nicely presented.
It comes with a mixed salad, pastries and fruits. You can also choose your egg dish from Egg Benedict with Smoked Salmon, Cheese Omelet with Ailanthus Prickly Ash or Scrambled Egg with Truffle.
I got a cup of cappuccino which was excellent and fresh fruit juices. You also have some items from their collaboration with Green Michelin Star holder Little Tree Food “小小树林”. I had their Acai Bowl and Virgin Mary.
My friend had the Chinese set which was equally good and pretty. It started with a Taiwanese classic, Salted Soybean Milk. You then get a tray full of steamed vegetables and seafood congee with local ingredients.
Conclusion
Silks Place Taroko is polished and luxurious. I had an amazing stay. Every single aspect of the hotel is excellent. I am not just talking about the PR and management team but every single interaction with the hotel staff is excellent from the guides to the bellboy and housekeeping staff. This is the only 5 Star luxury hotel in the Taroko Gorge. I will have no qualms recommending this to anyone travelling to this area to stay here. They use plenty of high-quality items in the suite, from the Aesop toiletries to the Dyson hairdryer. I love the turndown service with chilled pineapple tea in the summer and hot corn soup in the winter. That is very thoughtful. It will be great if this property can be part of a Luxury Rate booking like Amex Fine Hotels and Resorts or Virtuoso. Check out a reel of the breakfast on my IG here.
This was part of a hosted media trip by Silks Hotel Group, all views expressed are my own.
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