Short Philippines Highlights Tour
Day 1
Manila
Your guide and driver will meet you at the airport to start your Philippines Highlights Tour. They will transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day free at leisure.
Overnight at the Amelie Hotel.
Day 2
Manila – Banaue
Your driver will transfer you to the airport.
Fly from Manila to Cauayan. Cauayan is the capital of Isabela province in North Luzon. Your guide and driver will meet you at the airport. Transfer to Banaue. Check into the hotel. Overnight at the Banaue Hotel.
Day 3
Banaue – Batad – Banaue
Your guides will meet you at the hotel. We will use one vehicle. Transportation today will be by private jeepney. We’ll drive to the farming community of Banga-an, just 2 kilometers past the Batad junction. We will walk down to this village. We’ll spend some time in the village and walk back to our jeepney.
Continue to the place where our hike to Batad begins.
To see the glorious rice terraces of Batad, it will be a 20-minute trek downhill to the village from the drop-off area. Ancestors of the indigenous Ifugao people carved rice terraces of Batad into the mountains about 2000 years ago. The Batad terraces have a unique ‘amphitheatre’ shape. It is commonly thought that the terraces were built largely by hand. They are fed by an ancient irrigation system from the rainforests above the terraces. They are inscribed in the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites as “Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordillera”. These terraces are one of the must-see Philippines Highlights. In the vicinity there is also waterfall which you’ll have the option to a visit or not.
In the afternoon hike back to where our jeepney is waiting and return to your hotel in Banaue.
Overnight at the Banaue Hotel.
Banaue rice terraces
Day 4
Banaue – Hapao – Banaue
At 0830 your guides will meet you at the hotel. Transportation today will be by private jeepney. Drive to the Hapao Rice Terraces. The Hapao Rice Terraces are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site. They are less visited than the terraces from Batad. Today we will enjoy spectacular views and will meet the Ifugao people whose ancestors created the world famous rice terraces.In the afternoon hike back to where our jeepney is waiting and return to your hotel in Banaue.
Overnight at Banaue
Day 5
Banaue – Manila
Board your private bus. Transfer to Manila. There is time for stops along the way amongst others at the Dalton Pass. This pass was the location of a famous battle during World War Two.
After arrival in Manila you will be dropped off at the hotel.
Overnight in Manila
Day 6
Manila – Busuanga
Meet your and driver at the hotel. Transfer you to the airport.
Fly from Manila to Busuanga.
Meet your driver who will transfer your hotel. Rest of the day free at leisure.
It is worth walking up to the viewpoint of Mount Tapyas for sunset.
Overnight at Coron Town, Busuanga
Day 7
Coron
Your guide will meet you after breakfast at 0700. Transfer to your private boat. Departure to Lake Kayangan. We will be here before the crowds arrive. Enjoy the splendid scenery. Swim in the lake for one hour.
Hike back to the boatlanding. Cruise back to Coron where our minivan will be waiting. Drive to Salvacion which will take a bit more than one hour. Here we will relax and have a coffee before we board our private boat to visit the Ancestral Domain of the Tagbanwa (aka Tagbanua) minority. The area comprises 19 islands and islets. We head for the jewel in the crown: Majalem aka Black Island”, a boat trip of about one hour. Here we will spend several hours swimming and exploring. We’ll have lunch here as well. After lunch we will visit San Isidoro, a Tagbanwa village. Learn about the local lifestyle of this lovely village and meet some of the people. Time to return to Salvacion where our van is waiting for the return drive to Coron.
Overnight at Coron Town, Busuanga
Day 8
Coron – El Nido
Free morning until our driver picks you up to transfer you to Coron pier. Board the Montenegro ferry that departs at 1200. Enjoy the boat ride and arrive at El Nido at around 1600. A driver will meet you and transfer you to the hotel. The rest of the day is free at leisure.
Overnight at El Nido
Day 9
El Nido
Enjoy a free day at El Nido. You can explore the town and its market that is located a bit outside of town. There are plenty of beautiful beaches around El Nido. Relax and swim today. El Nido is a another of the must-see Philippines Highlights.
Overnight at El Nido
Day 10
El Nido
Enjoy a full day of island hopping with your private boat. Having a private boat enables you to escape the crowds and be at places where not many people go. El NIdo is famous for island hopping. Bacuit Bay is the stunning setting with jutting limestone cliffs, white powdery sand beaches and crystal clear water. Enjoy a barbecue lunch on the beach.
Visit Helicopter Island, Hidden Beach, Secret Beach and Matinloc Shrine. We recommend an early departure to avoid crowds.
Overnight at El Nido
Beach near El Nido
Day 11
El Nido – Sabang
Your driver will meet you at the hotel. He will transfer you to Sabang. There is time for stops along the way. After arrival in Sabang enjoy some time on the beach. Overnight at Sabang.
Day 12
Sabang
The Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the longest navigable underground rivers in the world, with a total length of 8.2 Kilometers. It is one of the must-see Philippines Highlights.
This breathtaking tour takes you on a canoe journey into the first 1.5 kilometres of the cave, where you will experience the beauty of Stalagmites and Stalactites, formed over thousands of years, as well seeing the Swift and Bat populations that inhabit the cave.
Return to the resort. Overnight again at Sabang
Day 13
Sabang – Puerto Princesa
Your driver will meet you at the hotel. He will transfer you to Puerto Princesa airport.
Fly from Puerto Princesa to Manila.
End of your Philippines Highlights Tour