Experience the Philippines Tour
Day 1
Arrival in Manila
Meals: none
Meet your driver upon arrival for the start of your Experience the Philippines Tour. He will transfer you to the hotel.
The rest of the day is free at leisure.
Overnight at Amelie Hotel – deluxe
Day 2
Manila
Meals: B L
Your guide and driver will pick you from the hotel for your private day tour of Manila. Drive to Fort Santiago where we start our exploration of Intramuros. Visit the interesting Rizal Museum and learn about Jose Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines. Visit Casa Manila, which is a replica of Spanish colonial mansion of late 19th century Manila*. It is filled with period furniture and furnishings of Philippine, Chinese and European origins. Continue to San Agustin Church, a UNESCO World Heritage site and visit their museum. Continue on foot to the walls of Intramuros. We will walk on top of the walls and down to Rizal Park.
From here we drive to Binondo, the oldest Chinatown in the world. Here we start a short walking tour and have lunch in a very special Chinese restaurant. The final visit today will be to the Chinese cemetery, which is a city in itself with some very interesting mausoleums. Return to the hotel.
Overnight at Amelie Hotel – deluxe
*Casa Manila is closed on Mondays.
Binondo Church in Manila – Experience the Philippines Tour
Day 3
Manila – Banaue
Meals: B
Your English-speaking driver will meet you at the hotel for an early departure. He will transfer you to Banaue in North Luzon where you will arrive in the late afternoon. You can ask him to stop at places to take a picture or go to the toilet. We’ll stop at a restaurant along the way for lunch (on own costs).
We will cross the Dalton Pass, which was originally named Balete Pass. During World War Two fierce fighting between Allied and Japanese forces took place here. The pass is named after American brigadier-general Leo Dalton who was killed here in 1945. There are several memorials where we will stop briefly. We continue to Banaue where we will arrive in the late afternoon. Your driver will drop you off at your hotel.
Overnight in Banaue Hotel – standard
Day 4
Banaue – Batad
Meals: B L D
Your guide and driver will pick you up from the hotel. Drive to the point where we start walking to the world-famous rice terraces of Batad, part of the UNESCO World Heritage named “The Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras”. These terraces were constructed 2000 years ago. They offer a magnificent sight. It is a 45-minute walk to the viewpoint where you can enjoy the stunning panorama of the mountains and rice terraces.
Hike to the village where you will have lunch. In the afternoon you can explore the rice terraces, hike to a nearby waterfall or just relax.
You can help your guide cook dinner and learn some secrets from him.
Dinner and overnight in a simple guesthouse
Day 5
Batad – Bontoc – Sagada
Meals: B L
Enjoy breakfast. We will hike back to the place where our jeepney is waiting. Pick up your luggage at the hotel. We travel to Bontoc and onwards to Sagada. We will stop at several spectacular viewpoints along the way. In Bontoc we will visit the local museum that exhibits powerful black-and-white photographs as well as artefacts depicting the history and heritage of the indigenous peoples of the Cordillera region. Arrival in Sagada will be in the afternoon. Your guide will drop you off at the hotel.
Overnight at the Masferre Inn – standard
Hanging coffins Sagada – Experience the Philippines Tour
Day 6
Sagada
Meals: B
Today, you will explore the traditional burial sites of Sagada, which the mountain town is famous for. Sagada should be on every Philippines Tour. Your local guide will meet you at the hotel and start the walking tour going to the Echo Valley where most of Sagada’s famous (some) centuries-old hanging coffins are perched high on the limestone cliffs. When you get to the “lookout”, you are allowed to shout here and the valley will shout back at you.
Your next stop will be at Sugong where you will also see hanging coffins suspended from the cliff face. After this, we will proceed to the Lumiang Burial Cave where over 100 coffins are stacked in the entrance. The oldest is believed to be about 500 years old. The last stop for this tour is the Sumaguing Cave. This cave is the gateway to the 3-hour difficult spelunking adventure. This may not be for everyone. Extra charge (on own) is needed if you want to go inside the magnificent limestone formations and cavern-like expanse that can only be seen by taking the adventurous trail down the deep, dark, and cold cave.
After this, you’ll have the option to try the various adventure activities around Sagada.
Overnight at Masferre Inn – standard
Day 7
Sagada – Vigan
Meals: B
Your English-speaking driver will meet you at the hotel. He will transfer you to Vigan, the best-preserved Hispanic town in the country. The drive will take about six hours. You will pass through the historic Bessang Pass National Park. You can ask him to stop at places to make a picture or go to the toilet. We’ll stop at a restaurant along the way for lunch (on own costs).
Vigan is a UNESCO World Heritage. Your driver will drop you off at the hotel. Explore the famous cobblestone streets of Vigan on your own.
Overnight at Villa Angela
Day 8
Vigan – Laoag – Manila
Meals: B
Your driver will meet you at the hotel. He will transfer you from Vigan to Laoag Airport. He will stop along the way at St. Augustine Church in Paoay, which is another UNESCO world heritage site. You will also visit the Juan Luna House and the Sinking Bell Tower Continue to the airport.
Pay the terminal fee at the airport (200 Pesos per person)
Fly from Laoag to Manila on Philippine Airlines**TAP to issue**
Meet your driver upon arrival. He will transfer you to the hotel.
Overnight at Amelie Hotel – deluxe
Day 9
Manila – Panglao
Meals: B
Meet your driver at the hotel. Transfer to the airport.
Fly from Manila to Tagbilaran on Cebu Pacific **TAP to issue**
Meet your driver on arrival and transfer to the resort.
Rest of the afternoon free at leisure.
Overnight at Oasis Panglao Resort – standard
Day 10
Panglao
Meals: B L
Your guide and driver will meet you at the resort. Today you will visit the highlights of Bohol and kayak on the Abatan River. Your first stop will be at the Philippine Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary in the town of Corella.
Afterwards we head to the most famous tourist attraction in Bohol, the Chocolate Hills. They are covered in green grass that turns brown (like chocolate) during the dry season, hence the name.
We drive to the town of Cortes. The Abatan River Community Life is being managed by a non-profit organization in cooperation with the local government. Grab your kayak and paddle your way to the small passages of the nipa swamp together with your guide. Along the way you may witness people harvesting nipa palms or fishermen at work. Visit the fish cages, acquaint yourself with the different mangrove species or just paddle around and enjoy nature. After the tour your guide will drop you off at your accommodation.
Return to the hotel.
Overnight at Oasis Panglao Resort – standard
Tarsier on Bohol Experience the Philippines Tour
Day 11
Panglao
Meals: B
Free day. Enjoy the beach or go on one of our optional excursions.
Overnight at Oasis Panglao Resort – standard
Day 12
Panglao – Cebu City – El Nido
Meals: B
Transfer to the pier with your driver and transfer-out guide to facilitate your terminal and luggage fees. Board the Oceanjet to Cebu.
Continue to the airport.
Fly from Cebu to El Nido on Airswift **TAP to Issue**.
Meet your driver who will transfer you to the hotel. Rest of the day free at leisure.
Overnight at El Nido Cove – forest room
Day 13
El Nido
Meals: B
Free day. Enjoy the beach or go on one of our optional excursions.
Overnight at El Nido Cove – forest room
Day 14
El Nido
Meals: B L
Today you will enjoy a private island hopping tour of Bacuit Bay. This will be one of the highlights of your Experience the Philippines Tour.
Board a Bangka. Experience the beauty of Bacuit Bay at your own pace and allow us to share with you its many secrets. Our itinerary is flexible today. You will visit secluded beaches and some of the many lagoons of this stunning area. Your crew will make sure that you avoid the crowds. Enjoy a seafood lunch on the beach. Snorkeling equipment is included today so enjoy the underwater world at your own pace.After a memorable day on the water return to El Nido. We will drop you off at your hotel.
Overnight at El Nido Cove – forest room
Day 15
El Nido – Cebu City
Meals: B
Meet your driver at the hotel. Transfer to the airport.
Fly from El Nido to Cebu on Airswift **TAP to Issue**
Meet your driver who will transfer you to the hotel. Rest of the day free at leisure.
Overnight at the Montebello Hotel – deluxe
Day 16
Cebu City – flight home
Meals: B
Check at noon.
Meet your driver at the hotel. He will transfer you to the airport for your flight home. It is the end of your Experience the Philippines Tour.
End of the program