Simakus & Wild Private Kitchen & Starry Sky Camping for 2 Days and 1 Night

It's great when the weather is nice. The tour guide tells indigenous stories and organizes fun activities. What sets it apart from others is the menu-less food and the constant feeding (lunch, afternoon tea, dinner, supper, breakfast, lunch).

The view from Smangus was absolutely breathtaking. During the trip, we tried chopping wood. At first, I couldn't chop accurately, but I finally succeeded. Climbing the mountain was quite tiring, so be sure to wear non-slip shoes as the path was muddy. Thank you to Brother Mao and Daniel for leading the group.

The private kitchen under the stars was amazing! Every dish was delicious, and they even considered our needs by preparing hot soup. I highly recommend the vegetables!

The itinerary was amazing, the private chef's food was delicious, and they even had grass jelly for late-night snacks.

I booked a two-day, one-night tour to Smangus from Silv online around early January. The trip started with a shuttle bus from Jiuzuo at Hsinchu High Speed Rail Station, followed by lunch at a stream in Xiuluan, and finally a leisurely stroll through the Smangus village. A special thank you to Chef Daniel; I learned a lot from him (and his food was especially delicious XD). Thanks also for the drinks he provided; I hope to have his cooking again next time I book a Silv tour. I also want to thank our guide, Mouse, for his assistance with various tasks over the two days. His sharing of hiking experiences around the campfire at night sparked my interest in hiking. Finally, a comment on the Smangus village: besides the bumpy route, I recommend taking motion sickness medication before heading up the mountain, and don't eat too much for lunch in Xiuluan, otherwise the climb will be quite strenuous. PS: I immediately messaged Silv after descending the mountain to book a tour to Gaoshi Village! 🤣🤣🤣

This was my second time on this trip. The last time was in 2023, and I was very lucky with the weather; the flowers were about 70-80% in bloom. Some people in my group asked about my sleeping bag, but we didn't exchange contact information, so I'm writing it here. The sleeping bag was a Black Ice G700, with a comfort temperature of -5 degrees Celsius. I highly recommend bringing your own good sleeping bag; last time I woke up from being too hot, but this time I let my sister sleep in it, and she said it was very comfortable 😂. This time, sleeping in a regular sleeping bag, I experienced the cold that everyone talks about, haha. People prone to motion sickness should take motion sickness medication beforehand, as the mountain roads can be quite bumpy, and those who are sensitive should be careful.

Since we didn't have the courage to drive up the mountain ourselves, we opted for a chartered car. The kids really enjoyed the camping experience, and hiking the Giant Tree Trail the next morning was also a rare treat! Unfortunately, we were quite rushed when we went to Neiwan Old Street, but we also had to consider that our return train time was already a little later than expected, so we only had an hour to spare, which was a bit of a shame. If we had gone on a weekday, I believe we would have had more time.

Thank you, Brother Mao, for providing such a wonderful itinerary, including thoughtful transportation, afternoon tea, a delicious and amazing dinner, a warm and fun wood-chopping and campfire activity, and a delightful pickling of cabbage. The tents were also very comfortable, and the toilets and showers were clean and bright. The directions for the trek along the sacred tree the next day were simple and clear. The perfectly arranged itinerary was truly excellent! Thank you, Silv! I would love to sign up for another trip like this!

Although we encountered a cold snap and didn't experience snowfall, it didn't affect Silv's warm and welcoming services.

The driver was exceptionally smooth, knowledgeable about all the scenic spots along the way, and intimately familiar with the unique characteristics of each tribe we passed through. The campsite was also well-chosen; the views of the mountains at dusk and dawn, illuminated by different lights, offered varying vistas, and it was also perfect for stargazing at night. It was clear the travel agency aimed to strike a balance between commercialization and authentic tribal experiences. Aside from the slightly chilly nighttime temperatures, the trip to Smangus in late autumn was very comfortable.