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Your Itinerary

Day 1 - Welcome to the Philippines

This afternoon your overnight flight arrives in Manila, an energetic city with a historic heart. Your private driver will greet you at Nino Aquino Manila International Airport and transport you to your comfortable accommodation. We’ve not planned anything for this afternoon to allow you to recover from your flight, so relax or head out for a wander.

Accommodation

Day 2 - Explore historic Intramuros by bicycle

Today you will tour the walled city of Intramuros on bamboo bicycles. Your guide will explain the history of the walled city as you cycle leisurely along on a hand-made bicycle. See the UNESCO-designated Saint Augustin Church, Fort Santiago, and other historic buildings. Exploring by bicycle allows you to see more of this historical area and absorb the sights and sounds of what was once the heart of Manila. The tour including time to reach Intramuros and return to your hotel takes approximately 4 hours. You may wish to have lunch in the old city, and the remainder of the day is at your leisure.

Day 3 - Taal Volcano

Your guide and driver will collect you this morning for a trip down to the Taal Volcano. To reach the rim of the crater you’ll first cross a lake by outrigger boat then walk or ride a horse up the soft sand where you can peer into the caldera. From there you’ll pay a visit to the heritage town of Taal with its beautiful heritage houses. Return to Manila for the night.

Cordillera-road

Day 4 - The heart of the Cordillera

Rise early to beat the Manila traffic and head north to Banaue. As you venture into the Cordillera Mountains you’ll stop at historic monuments and view points along the way. This will be a long day on the road but the views as you rise into the mountains are nothing short of stunning.

Accommodation
batad-rice-terraces

Day 5 - Ancient rice terraces of Batad

Your guide today will take you out in a private jeepney to the stunning rice terraces of Batad. Visit the farming community of Banga-an to see the traditional Ifugao homes before beginning the walk to the rice terraces. These 2,000-year-old terraces are fed by an irrigation system just as old. If you’re up for more, your guide can lead you to a waterfall before you return to your jeepney and the ride back to Banaue.

Day 6 - Terrace views and a mountain town

Your private driver and guide will take you through more mountains to Sagada today. On the way you’ll have stunning views of the rice terraces. You’ll reach Sagada in the early afternoon and have time to wander the quiet streets of this mountain town.

Accommodation
hanging-coffins-sagada

Day 7 - Coffins and Caves

Sagada and other Igorot towns resisted the 16th century Spanish conquest of the Philippines. Traditional culture survived the centuries including the unique burial practices of hanging coffins. Your guide today will take you to see some of these and the Lumiang Burial Cave where more than 100 coffins are stacked in the entrance. If you want to continue your exploration, your guide can arrange a spelunking adventure into Sumaguing Cave.

Day 8 - Trek to a traditional community

Your driver will take you on a scenic drive this morning through the Cordillera to the Chico River. Walk to the village of Bugnay for lunch then head to the weaving community of Lubuangan. You’ll trek a bit to reach the women who pass down the weaving traditions of Kalinga.

Accommodation
sabang-beach-palawan

Day 9 - Fly to Palawan

This morning you’ll have one more scenic drive, this time to the airport. Fly to Puerto Princesa, Palawan via Manila. Once you arrive, you’ll be collected at the airport and transferred to your seaside accommodation.

Accommodation
underground-river-entrance

Day 10 - The Underground River

Spend the first part of your day seeing the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At a length of 8.2 kilometers, it’s one of the longest navigable underground rivers in the world. You’ll see the first 1.5 kilometers of the cave during your guided canoe journey. The cave is filled with stalagmites and stalactites formed over thousands of years and is inhabited by swifts and bats. Fear not, you’ll have protective headgear! Enjoy the afternoon at leisure.

hammock-el-nido

Days 11-15 - El Nido

Your final destination will be the relaxing beaches of El Nido. It’s a long drive north but once there, you’ll have the remainder of your holiday free to relax. We haven’t planned anything for you but consider a day of island hopping, diving, snorkeling, or venturing inland to a waterfall. Perhaps use these final days to begin plotting your return!

Accommodation

Day 16 - Bid farewell to the Philippines

You’ll be collected this morning and transferred to the airport in El Nido for a flight to Manila. From there, connect to your international flight home. Safe travels!

DETAILS: -

This itinerary costs from £2450 per person B&B and is based on two people sharing during the high season (Nov-May) excluding the Christmas and New Year, Chinese New Year, Easter, and other holiday periods. The price includes all private transfers and domestic travel but not international flights.

International flights tend to cost between £400 and £800 per person return – do ask us for advice. Alternatively we can book the flights for you but a booking fee may apply.

What's included?

INCLUDED:
  • Prices start from £2450 per person
  • Accommodation on B&B basis
  • Private transfers in an air-conditioned vehicle or by boat as indicated
  • Local taxes
  • Entrance fees
  • All excursions and activities mentioned in the itinerary
  • Internal flights
  • All trips are ATOL protected or ABTA bonded to ensure you are fully covered
 Make a booking

Combine the culture and history of Manila and Luzon with the island beauty and raw nature of Palawan in this 16 day itinerary. Your first week will be busy as you’ll see one of the smallest volcanoes in the world, ancient rice terraces, colorful cliff-mounted coffins, and more. There’s a great deal of trekking involved so bring sturdy shoes! Once you’ve had your fill of culture and hill-walks, fly to Palawan for some serious beach time.

This itinerary is meant to inspire you as we customize every trip we create. Email our Philippines expert at philippines@fleewinter.com or even better, give her a ring at (UK) 020 7112 0019 to begin planning your tailor made holiday.

Manila
The bustling capital city is home to historic Intramuros and Rizal Park. Let us arrange a bicycle tour of the walled city so you can explore the narrow streets and learn about the nation's colonial past. More
Banaue
Ancient rice terraces in Batad, coffins mounted on a cliff in Sagada, the Cordillera is home to some of the most unique and fascinating bits of the Philippines. More
Vigan
Some of the best preserved Spanish colonial architecture in the world can be found in Vigan. Wander the cobbled streets, sample the Spanish-influenced cuisine, and relax in one of the city's historic boutique hotels. More
Boracay
Sink your toes into the white sands of Boracay. Grab a cocktail, take it easy, and watch the clear blue water lap against the shore. When night falls, join the parties of District Two or slip away to romantic Diniwid beach. More
Bohol
Chocolate hills, tiny tarsiers, Boholano art, beautiful beaches, and some lovely snorkeling and diving make Bohol one of our favorite parts of the Philippines. The gorgeous boutique resorts don't hurt, either! More
Negros Oriental
The island of Negros is home to world-class diving off the coast of Dauin and on neighboring Apo Island. Waterfalls and adventure are just a day trip away from the university town of Dumaguete. On neighboring Siquijor settle in to the tranquility of an island known for sorcery and healing powers. More
Negros Occidental
On the west coast of Negros you'll find Bacolod, the city of smiles. Sugar plantations in the area host historic mansions and in October, the streets come alive with the annual MassKara festival. More
Puerto Princesa
The gateway to Palawan, Puerto Princesa sits near one of the longest subterranean rivers in the world. Let us arrange a stay for you at a beachside hotel with mountain views just a short boat ride away. More
El Nido
When people refer to Palawan as the most beautiful island in the world, images of El Nido come to mind. Limestone cliffs jut from aquamarine water, lush jungle fills the interior, and the coasts are lined with dazzling beaches. Some of the finest resorts in the country dot the islands around this northern bit of Palawan. More
Coron
For divers, the WWII shipwrecks of Coron are one of the highlights of the Philippines. Natural hot springs, clear blue lakes, isolated beaches, and a rather surprising game reserve and wildlife sanctuary make Coron a fun destination for divers and landlubbers alike. More
Puerto Galera
Fast drift dives and schools of big fish await experienced divers in Puerto Galera while shallow macro dives make for excellent underwater photography, relaxing night dives, and the perfect place to learn or improve your dive skills. More
Tubbataha Reefs
The greatest variety of marine life in the Philippines is within Tubbataha Reefs National Marine Park; only accessible for diving mid-March to mid-June

Your adventure starts here!

Do you fancy having a chat about Cordillera & Palawan? Personally, it's one of our favourite things to talk about.

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