The Philippines: Mountains & Islands
Philippines
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Discover the Philippines on this 18-day adventure, blending cultural encounters with refreshing natural moments. Cycle through the lively streets of Manila, trek to the crater lake of Mt. Pinatubo and hike the UNESCO-listed rice terraces of the Cordilleras with local guides. Visit villages to learn about unique traditions and feast with communities. Then, soak up Palawan's beauty as you trek to meet the Batak tribe, snorkel in clear waters, island hop around El Nido and explore limestone caves. With a mix of guided experiences and free time, this trip offers an unforgettable journey through the heart of the Philippines.
Availability
From 14/01/2025 to 03/01/2027
Departure dates & prices
Dates
Availability
Price
What's included
Hike the UNESCO-listed rice terraces in the Cordilleras, crafted over 2000 years, and trek to the crater lake of Mt Pinatubo for breathtaking views.
Savour Manila’s food scene – enjoy a community feast in Tarukan village, learn culinary secrets from a Baguio chef and start one day with a sunrise picnic breakfast.
Spend a full day of island hopping and snorkelling off the coast of El Nido.
Look to the bottom of these clear waters and glide among the coral reefs and tropical fish.
Visit local villages to meet the Ifugao who shaped the rice terraces, learn about Batik people who reside deep in the mountains, and discover Kalinga culture and 1930s Ifugao life through a famous Spanish photographer’s lens.
Enjoy plenty of beachside free time to choose your own adventure – maybe go on a daytrip to Nacpan Beach, take a self-guided kayaking adventure or indulge in a spot of shopping!.
Breakfasts Included: 16.
Lunches Included: 4.
Dinners Included: 1.
Hotel (13 nights),Beach chalet (2 nights),Guest House (1 night).
Boat,Jeepney,Private Minibus,Plane.
Age: min 15.
Group Size: 1 - 12.
Manila - City Tour.
Manila - Intramuros bamboo bike cycling tour.
Mt Pinatubo - Crater hike.
Tarukan Village - Community lunch.
Banaue - Bangaan rice terrace hike.
Bontoc - Maligcong rice terrace hike.
Bontoc - Favarey Village visit.
Sagada - City tour.
Sagada - Eduardo Masferre’s home visit.
Kiltepan - Sunrise viewpoint & picnic breakfast.
Baguio - Cooking class & dinner.
Baguio - Art gallery visit.
Baguio - Women's weaving studio co-op visit.
Puerto Princesa - Iwahig River Firefly Boat trip with dinner.
Puerto Princesa - local farm visit.
Sabang - Puerto Princesa Subterranean River boat trip.
Sabang - Batak tribe hike.
El Nido - Island hopping boat trip & snorkelling.
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Itinerary
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1 - Manila Kumusta! Welcome to the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon - the largest of the county's 7641 islands - Manila is the Philippines' lively capital. Your adventure officially starts with a welcome meeting at 6 pm, where you'll meet your local leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive before then, take some time to explore the city and get your bearings. A walk around Rizal Park, conveniently located in the city's centre, is a great place to start. In the evening, maybe get your group together for dinner and sample some regional specialities, like abodo (pork marinated in vegetables and spices) and buko pie (coconut pie).
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2 - Manila After breakfast, dive into a guided tour of multicultural Manila. Taste the different flavours that have been cooking up in the country over the past few hundred years with food tastings in the Muslim Quarter and the world's oldest Chinatown. While you're in Chinatown, sit down with your group for lunch in a restaurant that was once a fire station. When you're full, hop on an eco-friendly bamboo bike and ride around Intramuros - a historic walled area that was constructed by the Spaniards in the 16th century. Enjoy a free evening, where you can relax and unwind before your early start tomorrow.
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3 - Mt Pinatubo You'll set off for Crow Valley at 4 am this morning so you can get an early morning view of the crater of Mt Pinatubo. You'll arrive at the foot of the trailhead by a 4WD jeep. The hike isn't easy - but the views of the crater lake at the top are definitely worth it. Formed after Mt Pinatubo erupted in 1991, the rainwater lake is framed by dramatic cliffs. Reward your body with a traditional lunch in Tarukan Village with the Aetas, the earliest inhabitants of the Philippines. The chieftain and a local interpreter will join you, making it a unique cultural experience. Do as the Aetas do and eat the meal - which will be laid out on banana leaves - with your hands. When you're finished, head to Abe's Farm - a countryside guesthouse with a pool.
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4 - Banaue Wake up early and head for Banaue, travelling through rice fields and mango plantations. Break up the drive with a stop in Bacolor - this town was devastatingly destroyed by the Mt Pinatubo eruption. Visit the local church that has been half buried by lahar - yet locals still use it to worship by climbing through the upper windows. Hit the road again before stopping off for lunch at a local restaurant. You'll arrive in Banaue in the late afternoon, where you can enjoy a free evening before exploring the rice terraces tomorrow. For dinner, maybe ask your leader for recommendations on where to try pinikipan (a local chicken dish).
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5 - Banaue Jump on the local jeepney this morning to Sadel, where you'll start the trek through the UNESCO listed Banaue rice terraces. These rice terraces were created by the Ifugao people and can be traced back 2000 years. A feat of engineering, the terraces were crucial to the survival of the people and are now known for their combination of functionality and beauty. Stop for lunch in Batad, where you'll have the opportunity to talk to local Ifuago people in the village and try some rice activities. Return to Banaue in the late afternoon and spend the rest of the day as you wish.
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6 - Bontoc Another day, another trek through rice terraces - this time you'll start in Bontoc and hike along the Maligcong Rice Terrace to Faverey village. Listen to stories from a Kalinga local guide along the way and find out about their traditions. When you arrive in Faverey, you'll learn about one pretty unique tradition in the village - the practice of living with deceased family members. Hike back to Bontoc and refuel with lunch before continuing to Sagada in a comfy private vehicle.
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7 - Sagada Get to know Sagada on a half day tour around the town. Your local guide will bring you to some of the key spots, like the Hanging Coffins - an ancient burial tradition where coffins are suspended on a cliff - and the Lumiang Cave - home to coffins over 500 years old. Next, head to the home of famous Spanish photographer Eduardo Masferre, where family members will show you his rare photos chronicling the Ifuago way of life in the 1930s. The afternoon is then yours to explore Sagada in your own way - maybe you'll check out the coffee plantations (and sample the delicious Sagada coffee) or explore local farms.
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8 - Baguio Wake up bright and early this morning at around 5 am for breakfast at the Kiltepan viewpoint, where you'll catch the Sagada sunrise. Then, drive to Baguio, affectionately called the City of Pines due to the greenery that thrives here. When you arrive, you'll have a free afternoon. Maybe walk around Mirador Hill and Eco Park - a Japanese-inspired garden - or the Igorot Stone Kingdom - a modern-day castle. Later, come back together as a group for an interactive dinner with a famous local chef. Take a stroll through local market with your leader and learn about key ingredients for traditional Cordillera meal at the market, then join the chef and his wife for a live cooking demonstration. When you've picked up some tips, tuck into the grilled goods you helped prepare!
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9 - Manila Get to know Baguio culture today by visiting the local art studios and galleries, which showcase a mix of traditional and contemporary pieces. Stop by the Harvest Hub Studio and learn about a foundation set up to support women weavers in the Cordilleras through entrepreneurship training. These mountain-based women are working to scale their businesses and need this vital support. You'll be guided through the studio, where you can meet local artists and learn about their craft, and maybe even try some traditional techniques yourself! Head back to Manila in the afternoon and perhaps rally your group together for a farewell dinner.
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10 - Manila Today is a free day in Manila. You'll have another welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight to meet your new group members and leader. Until then, relax in Manila and maybe explore some of the parts you missed the first time around. If you're looking for a souvenir, head to Bonifacio High Street, where you'll find lots of modern shops, or explore the Quiapo street market for more traditional finds. After your meeting, perhaps get your group together to sample foods like lechon (whole roasted pig) and longganisa (Philippine sausage).
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11 - Puerto Princesa In the morning, take the short flight from Manila to Puerto Princesa. When you arrive, you'll instantly see the slower pace of this island compared to the busy capital. Puerto, as the locals call it, is the capital of Palawan and has been internationally recognised as the cleanest and greenest of all cities in the Philippines. Head onto a local community eco farm where you'll get to learn how local snacks are prepared with herbs and spices, and enjoy a delicious farm-to-table lunch. Later, travel out of Puerto Princesa to the Iwahig River, where you'll see fireflies glowing among the mangroves by the river. It's a truly magical experience and the perfect way to spend an evening.
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12 - San Rafael Beach Head out this morning in a private minivan and drive to Sabang. Sabang is most famous for its Subterranean River that's 8 km in length and passes through a limestone cave that opens onto the ocean. Jump into a boat with a local guide and explore this great cave complex. After lunch, you may want to embark on an optional mangrove boat trip which gets you into the heart of the thick mangrove forests. You'll travel in small traditional boats down the river with plenty of opportunity for wildlife spotting. Tonight, drive to your private beach for the next two nights.
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13 - San Rafael Beach This morning you meet up with your local guide who'll be walking with the group to meet the Batak Tribe - one of about 70 indigenous communities of the Philippines. If you're lucky enough to be there in the right season, you may be able to eat the fruit directly from the cashew trees. After finishing the hike, drive back to the beach chalets in San Rafael Beach. There's plenty of free time for a swim or to read a good book and relax into the evening.
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14 - El Nido Say farewell to San Rafael Beach today and travel to El Nido in a private minivan. With a backdrop of marble cliffs and white sandy beaches, El Nido is the base for many island adventures. There are over 50 beaches to discover that are all accessible by the boats docked. It's easy to pick an isolated beach, book a local boat, pack some food and drinks and head out on your own adventure. The afternoon is free for you to wander around town, have a drink at one of the many beachside restaurants, do a spot of shopping or count how many different coloured tricycles you can spot on the streets.
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15 - El Nido This morning, head off on a full-day snorkelling trip, island hopping off El Nido. Pass by jagged limestone islands, rocky coves, virgin rainforest and white sandy beaches. The snorkelling is just as spectacular, with beautiful coral and many different species of colourful fish. After an included lunch, venture out on various trips to lagoons throughout the afternoon. Your evening is then free to do as you wish.
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16 - El Nido You'll have plenty of free time today in El Nido for beach activities. If you feel like some more adventure, maybe hire a kayak from El Nido town or jump on a boat out to one of the lagoons. You'll kayak on turquoise waters and lagoons with dramatic cliffs, surrounded by a plethora of tropical fish. If you want to see a picture-perfect beach, take an optional trip to Nacpan Beach. White sand and lined with palm trees, this is another beach in paradise and worth the drive out of town. Your leader can help you organise transport here if you are interested. Otherwise, hire a bike and get pedalling around El Nido town.
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17 - El Nido With no activities planned for today, you are free to leave the accommodation at any time. This doesn't mean your Philippines adventure has to come to an end! If you would like to spend more time in El Nido, we'll be happy to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability).
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