In the midst of life’s constant motion, we sometimes find ourselves returning — to water, to silence, to something quieter within.
Over the years, we’ve guided and trained members from every branch of the military — not in gyms or dojos, but here, in the wild landscapes of Taiwan. Through our canyoning adventures in Taiwan, we’ve quietly completed the set.
One of our recent participants was a retired airborne soldier. Rappelling, tactical movement, and handling pressure are part of her professional background. But in this hidden river canyon — where water meets stone and time slows down — she chose to start fresh.
She didn’t rely on strength. She listened. She softened. She moved with the flow.
This wasn’t just a sport. It was a return — not only to outdoor adventure in Taiwan, but to herself.
⸻
“The mountains were cold today, but I still came. I’ve been on ten straight days of duty. I almost canceled. But I told myself — just go. And I’m glad I did. The clarity of the system, the calm presence of the instructor, the rhythm of the canyon — it helped me reset. The cold water felt like therapy. No pressure, no performance. Just presence.”
⸻
This is not tourism. It’s not just an extreme sport in Taiwan or a weekend escape. It’s guided canyoning in Taiwan — a rare chance to train, breathe, and reconnect.
Whether you’re a seasoned climber, a military veteran, or someone seeking a nature retreat in Taiwan, the canyon offers something more than a challenge.
It offers silence. It offers movement. It offers clarity.
We step into the gorge, and often, we walk back out with something we didn’t know we had lost.
Two and a half months ago, I booked today’s canyoning trip as a birthday gift to myself — to celebrate turning 33.
I’ve always loved something the instructor said in one of his YouTube videos:
“Time is a canyon — one-way, no turning back. All we can do is live each moment fully, and in those fleeting seconds, discover the true world and the meaning of the journey.”
From the 12-meter rappel to the 30-meter drop, I was shaking the whole way. For a split second, I thought: “Is there still a way to turn back?!” 😂😂😂 But when I actually looked down from the top — yes, it was high — but what struck me most wasn’t the fear. It was how beautiful it was.
To experience something this stunning, here in Taiwan, made me feel deeply lucky — and grateful — to call this place home. Thank you, Mountain Spirits and Mother Earth, for watching over me and letting me experience this canyoning adventure with such joy and peace.
At some point, I realized it wasn’t really about the height anymore. It was about every step I took. About learning to control the rope. About that quiet, reverent awe in the presence of nature.
That sense of happiness — of being alive — far outweighed any fear of heights.
Well… jumping into the water scared me more, actually 😅 But I did it! Thanks to my coach and my friends for cheering me on 💪
So here’s an early birthday wish to myself: “You really are that adorable little creature — timid and brave at the same time. You hesitate, but you always end up challenging yourself anyway.”
This birthday adventure was such a blessing. What could be more fulfilling than this?
I’m opening my arms wide — welcoming joy, happiness, and everything this beautiful, limited life still has to offer. I love you, self.
Canyoning is such a blissful activity. I hope my housemates (especially the ones with great eyebrows) get to try it too!
🧗♀️💦 A little story: At the 30-meter cliff, there’s a part where your feet lose grip and you have to go full vertical — I had zero core strength left and ended up “falling horizontally” into the deep pool. Honestly, that moment was hilarious. So sad no one caught it on camera!
(Meanwhile, my teammate watching from the top saw my entire collapse in real-time and just burst out laughing 😂😂😂)
—
If you’ve ever wanted to try canyoning in Taiwan, I can’t recommend this incredible guide enough: @justcanyoning.taiwan
This time, as my heart calmed, so did all of nature.
A calm mind is the best remedy for the fear of waterfall descent. With calmness, I moved forward with ease. With calmness, I wasn’t shaken by the noise around me. With calmness, I saw things for what they truly were. With calmness, my mind emptied — all restless thoughts and illusions faded away.
Stillness. Clarity. Reverence.
This was a journey not just through water and stone, but a quiet pilgrimage within — a moment to heal, to be present, to truly breathe.
Since discovering canyoning, my life has become so much more vibrant and full of color.
This year marks my 12th canyoning trip with Justen, and incredibly — only once have I ever repeated a location. Even though they’ve all been “beginner-friendly” routes, every single experience still amazes me.
It’s not just the breathtaking landscapes, but also the endless challenges that keep me coming back.
In the canyon, there are no worries, no labels of age, no noise from the outside world — just us, like wild children in the mountains, playing, climbing, and laughing in the most natural kind of joy.
“The one who knows is not confused. The kind are not anxious. The brave are not afraid.”
And in these wild moments, I see that part of myself — and I really like who I become out there.
Thank you, Justen Wu, for your professional guidance and for always leading us to the most incredible places. Every trip is unforgettable. Every view, a gift.
My dear Son — I may not be able to give you the whole world, but I can give you something even more powerful: a heart that knows no fear.
Every year, I give you a new challenge — not to make things hard, but to remind you that as long as you believe in yourself, you’ll always find the strength to rise above your fears.
When your heart grows strong, you can walk through thorns and storms with your head held high.
We once thought that, having tried river tracing and high rappels, a “beginner canyoning trip” wouldn’t be much of a challenge. But today, this wild-hearted girl of mine — yes, even she — felt her heartbeat race.
And that’s the beauty of it: You don’t need experience. You just need the courage to step over the edge.
At the top, the descent looked endless. But once we reached the ground and looked back up, we laughed: That wasn’t so high after all! What were we even afraid of?
This was such an exciting and fun adventure. And as I stood there, looking at the higher waterfall ahead, I quietly made a promise to myself: I’ll be back.
Thank you to our adventure buddy, “King of River Tracing,” and to our canyoning guide Justen for the patient, thoughtful guidance.
If you’re curious — come try waterfall canyoning with us. Bring your wild heart. Bring your courage. You might just surprise yourself.
My first canyoning adventure — pushing myself beyond my limits! Definitely a day to remember.
Surrounded by stunning forest and canyon views, guided by an amazing coach, and supported by an awesome team, this experience was pure joy from start to finish.
Honestly, it felt like stepping into a scene from Tomb Raider — full of exploration, excitement, and wild adventure.
So grateful for today. Already can’t wait for the next descent!
Secret Canyon — My First Waterfall Rappelling Adventure! After feeling the thrill of Harley’s triple rhythm and the rush of rally racing, I decided it was time to decode another part of life — and face my biggest fear: heights.
The mountains had been dry for days, so the waterfalls in the gorge had quieted. No roaring cascades today — but for a first-timer like me, it turned out to be the perfect moment to practice.
Taiwan is truly full of hidden gems. In the silence of the valley, the sound of my teammates’ cheers echoed from the cliffs — each voice gave me the courage to take that next step downward.
Grateful for our incredibly professional coach, who made each of us feel safe and confident every moment of the way.
And me? I think I’ve fallen in love with the thrill of this secret canyon adventure.
My first-ever 40-meter waterfall descent — with the one and only, super pro coach Justen Wu!
Most people in Taiwan have probably tried river tracing or waterfall jumping… but canyoning — rappelling down a waterfall — is still a hidden gem here, even though it’s super popular overseas.
Honestly, Taiwan has the perfect mountains and ecosystem for this kind of adventure. And with a certified, experienced, and super well-equipped coach like Justen, you feel safe and free to push your limits — even while hanging off a 40-meter drop!
We descended three waterfalls in total, and every moment was exciting, safe, and unforgettable. Huge thanks to Justen for making this happen and showing me a whole new way to enjoy the wild side of Taiwan.
Oh — and about that fear of heights I’ve been trying to overcome? Somehow I was totally fine rappelling 40 meters… but screamed like a child jumping off a 2-meter ledge at the very start 😂 Seriously, what was that all about?
If you’re looking for real outdoor adventure — mountains, rivers, oceans — this is the team to go with. 100% recommend.
I think I’ve just triggered another “chain reaction” of pushing my life beyond its limits. It all started when I saw that epic 50-meter canyoning video from Instructor Justen Wu, and somehow, with reckless courage, I signed up.
Deep in the silence of the canyon, even the sounds of our gear — carabiners, figure 8 descenders — echoed like music. We laughed like wild children, faces smudged with dirt, wiping it off casually with leaves, moving forward without hesitation. Our canyoning shoes slipped across boulders and wet stone steps, but we didn’t care. Covered in mud or soaked to the skin, we kept going — chasing every hidden corner of this wilderness.
We passed what looked like ruins — but to us, they were beautiful. So beautiful. I kept repeating it: “This is just so beautiful.”
Then came the big one: a 40-meter waterfall rappel. I was nervous — but I chose to trust the pros.
From fear to full trust. I looked into Coach Justen’s eyes — yeah, I almost swooned (lol). And shoutout to Coach Sherry, too — so kind and calm, making sure everyone felt safe from start to finish.
This team is top-tier in Taiwan, no exaggeration. Coach Justen even said: “Taiwan’s canyons are world-class — no less beautiful than overseas.” I felt so proud of this land.
Huge thanks to today’s crew — friends who said “yes” to my wild invitation even when they had no idea what we were doing. Real ones. 💪🏼 P.S. I really love nature. There could’ve been more pics, but… my phone and the river had a moment. Let’s just say they’re very close now 😂
