The Emerald Terraces of the Cordillera

Day 1: Arrival in Manila                                                                     

Arrive in Manila and transfer from the airport to your hotel. Depending on the time of your arrival, you will meet your tour leader at the hotel and have dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight at The Bayleaf Intramuros Hotel or similar. (D)    

Manila

Manila is the gateway to the islands of the Philippines and is the historical centre of government and history. Although sprawling and frenetic, the city offers a delightful mix of the old and the new, from centuries-old Spanish churches to gleaming high-rise structures, quaint street stalls to stylish shopping malls. With the old Spanish heart of Intramuros at its centre and its many varied sights, around every corner of Manila lies a discovery.

Day 2: Manila                                      

After breakfast, take a tour around within Intramuros (the walled city of Old Manila) and discover more about the country's history through a guided. Lunch will be in a local restaurant from where we will begin a tour of Intramuros aboard a kalesa, a horse-drawn carriage. We will ride through the streets built by the Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, between the city walls, which once protected the most important homes, buildings, churches, and hospitals from attacks by the Chinese, Dutch, and the British. The most notable colonial structure is the baroque church of San Agustin, the oldest in the Philippines, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. We will also drop by Rizal Park where Dr. José Rizal, the national hero of the Philippines, was executed. Overnight at The Bayleaf Intramuros Hotel or similar. (BL)                    

Day 3: Manila - Gawad Kalinga Enchanted Farm - Pampanga - Abe’s Farm

Today, we take a 1.5-hour drive north of Manila, to Gawad Kalinga (GK) Enchanted Farm. This is a prototype of a sustainable community dedicated to ending poverty by empowering people to develop useful skills. We spend time discovering how the lives of the residents here have benefited from the enterprise and have the opportunity to taste some of the organic farming produce when we take lunch. Continue one hour via the North Luzon Expressway to Bacolor, Pampanga, which is among hundreds of towns and villages devastated by the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in June 1991. Tour the village and visit the San Guillermo Church, which is now half-buried in lahar (a debris flow composed of a slurry of pyroclastic material, rocky debris and water), and see the remains of houses, which were also covered. Mount Pinatubo's wrath continues to be a constant threat to the lives of the villagers every year as the monsoon rains carry more lahar down from the Pinatubo mountain range adding further layers. Our day ends with the chance of an afternoon dip in a warm pool in a garden setting. Overnight at Abe’s Farm. (BLD) 

Gawad Kalinga (GK)

Gawad Kalinga (GK), which means to "give care" in Filipino, is officially known as the Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation, a Philippine-based poverty alleviation and nation-building movement. The GK Enchanted Farm is Gawad Kalinga’s platform to raise social entrepreneurs, help local farmers and create wealth in the countryside. The foundation provides homes, and harnesses the country’s abundant resources (land included) with the aim of ending poverty for every Filipino. 

Day 4: Pampanga- Banaue

We leave the farm behind and drive to Banaue, which will take 7-8 hours through the countryside, backroads, and rice fields of Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya. We make a short stop in San José City for lunch (payable locally) before continuing to Banaue. Along the way, we also visit Dalton Pass, a shrine to the Battle of Balete, before passing by Bagabag where picturesque mountains and rivers unfold. Arrive in Banaue late in the afternoon. Overnight at Banaue Hotel or similar. (B) 

Banaue’s rice terraces

The rice terraces appear to be "Stairways to Heaven" but these paddies were a way out of hunger for the Ifugao people who fashioned them in the mountainside by hand, some say 2,000 years ago. They appear on the UNESCO World Heritage list and are among the most spectacular sights in the Philippines. 

Day 5: Banaue – Excursion to Batad

Board a local jeepney, which will bring you to Sadel, the jump-off point to start your hike to the terraces of Batad. Forming an amphitheatre, these rice terraces are truly stunning. Afterwards, visit an Ifugao village where most people still live a traditional lifestyle. Return to Banaue and overnight at Banaue Hotel or similar. Near the hotel is another village that continues to observe a traditional burial practice of keeping the bones of their dead in their homes. The bones of their ancestors are preserved and wrapped in indigenous weaving. (B) 

Please note: To reach the rice terraces entails hiking up and down paths which are narrow and steep in places, without walls or rails. Those preferring not to hike may explore the very scenic area around Batad by jeepney and tricycle. Please contacts us if you have any questions or concerns. 

Day 6: Banaue – Excursion to Hapao

Today, we take a local jeepney to the Hapao rice terraces, which offer a breath-taking view over stonewalled rice terraces, bisected by the sparkling water of the Hapao River. We will walk across the terraces to see them close up, and visit one of the villages to admire the traditional houses and interact with the locals. We will stop at some of the viewpoints and call into a local market on the way back to our accommodation in Banaue. Overnight at Banaue Hotel or similar. (B)

Please note: Today’s walk across the rice terraces and along the stone walls follows paths that are narrow in places and offer no support. If you’d prefer not to walk it’s also possible to view the terraces from the road. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns.

Day 7: Banaue - Sagada (approx. 3 hours driving time)

After breakfast, we will visit the Bontoc Museum where exhibits from all around the Cordillera region are curated and an outdoor museum, which is a reconstructed Bontoc village showing original structures in the grounds that allow guests to experience their old way of life before modern times. Inside the museum, there are a number of black and white photographs, which offer a fascinating glimpse into the differences and similarities among the people of the Cordilleras also collectively known as Igorot (people of the mountains). We will continue our drive to the Alpine village of Sagada and in the afternoon we will visit the ancient burial caves and also view the unusual hanging coffins from Echo Valley. Overnight at Masferré Country Inn. (B) 

Day 8: Sagada - Vigan (approx. 5 hours driving time)

After breakfast, we begin our drive to Vigan City in Ilocos Sur, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Vigan, earlier known as "Ciudad Fernandina" from 1758 to the late 19th century, is the oldest surviving Spanish colonial city in the country with some of its finest architecture. After a typical Ilocano lunch at Café Leona located on the ground floor of a traditional Vigan house, we board a kalesa (horse-drawn carriage) for a tour of Vigan with its well-preserved old brick houses (bahay na tisa). We visit the Burgos Museum and the historic Syquia Mansion. In the evening, join the townsfolk in the main plaza for a light and sound performance. Overnight at Hotel Felicidad or similar. (BL) 

Vigan

Vigan auspiciously escaped the bombs of World War II, unlike its sister cities, Manila and Cebu. This UNESCO Word Heritage city is known for its fine colonial architecture, cobbled narrow streets and old-world atmosphere, a place where "time stood still”. The old brick houses have spacious interiors, which showcase handcrafted-period furniture and accessories. The Burgos Museum was the official residence of one of the original martyrs of Bagumbayan, Father José Burgos, whose martyrdom in 1872 planted the seeds of the revolution against Spain. The Syquia Mansion was a former residence of Elpidio Quirino, a former congressman of the Ilocos province who later on became president of the country after World War 2. The Syquia Mansion was a wedding gift to Alicia Syquia, firstborn of the Chinese Tomas Syquia of Vigan and the Spanish Conchita Jimenez of Binondo. She married Quirino in 1921. 

Day 9: Vigan - Laoag (approx. 1.5 hours driving time) – Manila (domestic flight)

After breakfast, we will continue our tour of Vigan before we depart for Laoag, stopping by to visit Sitio Remedios. This is a recreated village of traditional Ilocano houses that were sourced from different towns in the province of Ilocos Norte and are well maintained to their original glory in beautiful grounds by the coast of Currimao. Upon arrival in Laoag, we take lunch at Café Herencia to sample local cuisine before beginning our exploration of the city. We stop at the fortress-like Church of St. Augustine in Paoay and move on to Museo Ilocos Norte, housed in the old Tabacalera (tobacco factory) where government-controlled tobacco was stored in the Spanish colonial period. Drive past the Abolition of Tobacco Monopoly Monument at the town plaza and pause briefly at St. William's Cathedral and its Sinking Bell Tower. We will then drive to visit the Malacañang of the North, the former lakeside residence of ex-dictator Ferdinand Marcos and his family when they visited Ilocos Norte, his home province. Later, transfer to the airport for our flight back to Manila (PR 2199 2100/2200) where we will transfer to our hotel on arrival. Overnight at The Bayleaf Intramuros Hotel or similar. (BL) 

Church of St Augustine in Paoay

Completed in 1710, the church is noted for its blending of architectural styles and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. It was built to withstand earthquakes and is probably the best known “earthquake baroque” church in the Philippines. One of its key features is its 24 buttresses (1.67 metres thick each) that support the church’s structure during earthquakes. 

Day 10: Manila - Puerto Princesa

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for a scheduled flight to Puerto Princesa (PR 2785 1315/1430), which has been acclaimed as the cleanest and greenest city in the Philippines. We will take a late lunch on arrival and then check in to our hotel. Later, we head out to the Baywalk boulevard where we'll take a boat to watch fireflies with a local guide (subject to resumption of operations – currently unavailable due to the Covid-19 pandemic and travel bans in the city). We will see hundreds of fireflies clustering on their favoured fragrant mangrove trees and performing their electric dances to attract mates. We then have dinner at a local seafood restaurant before returning to our hotel. Overnight at Hibiscus Garden Inn or similar. (BLD) 

Puerto Princesa City

Puerto Princesa is the gateway to the island province of Palawan, previously rated by National Geographic Traveller magazine as the best island destination in East and Southeast Asia, and continuous to be recognized as one of the best islands in the world. Legend attributes the name “Puerto Princesa” to a princess-like maiden who in the early days was said to have roamed the area on certain nights of the year. On the other hand, some people attribute the name to its geographical advantages as a seaport–naturally protected the whole year round and with a depth that can accommodate any size of shipping. Among its sites is the Palawan Wildlife Rescue and Conservation Centre (formerly Crocodile Farming Institute) the showcase for a successful conservation project. The farm breeds two endangered species found in the country including the endemic Philippine Crocodile. There is also the unusual Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm- it is without walls and inmates tend vast farms instead of idly spending time behind bars. 

Day 11: Puerto Princesa – Excursion to Underground River and Ugong Rock

After breakfast at the hotel, we drive about 2 hours to Sabang, where we proceed to the wharf, to take a motorized outrigger boat to the mouth of the Underground River. We will take a tour with a boatman who will take us inside. An audio-visual device is provided to all guests to avoid disturbing the river's delicate ecosystem. Later, we continue to the town of Barangay Tagabinet and the 110-meter high Ugong Rock, which has taken its name from the echoing sound the rocks produce when tapped. We climb up inside the rock with its caves, stalagmites and stalactites. Wooden stairs lead to the top from where we can choose to descend by zip line or reverse climb. This is a community-based tourism project spearheaded by the private sector. We return to our hotel in Puerto Princesa in the evening. Overnight at Hibiscus Inn or similar. (BL) 

Puerto Princesa Underground River

Recognised as one of the “Seven Wonders of Nature” in 2012, the Puerto Princesa Underground River has an 8.2-kilometer area reputed to be the longest in the world, which winds through a spectacular cave before emptying out in to the South China Sea. Cathedral chambers, wide hallways, and interesting geological formations greet wide-eyed visitors to the grotto hidden beneath St. Paul Mountain. At the mouth of the cave, ancient trees grow right on the water’s edge framing a clear lagoon. Large monitor lizards and macaques can be seen in the forest near the cave. 

Day 12: Puerto Princesa - El Nido

Drive about 6 hours further north, amidst rice plantations and along the coast to the town of El Nido, considered a showcase of Palawan’s geology and diverse wildlife. Its majestic limestone cliffs stand guard over clear waters, with hundreds of species of tropical fish and coral and three species of endangered sea turtles. El Nido’s forests are host to more than 100 species of birds, a large number of which are endemic to Palawan. Later, you will have some free time to explore the town on your own. Overnight at Casa Kalaw or similar. (B) 

Day 13: El Nido                                                 

Today, we will take an island-hopping tour of the beautiful islands and beaches around El Nido. Our boat takes us through the crystal-clear waters to the enchanting lagoons of Miniloc Island, Shimizu Island and the Seven Commandos Beach with opportunities for swimming and snorkelling. We will take a picnic lunch on a picturesque beach before continuing our journey. We then return to El Nido. Overnight at Casa Kalaw or similar. (BL) 

Day 14: El Nido – Manila (Domestic flight)

The morning will be at leisure to enjoy El Nido before we transfer to the local airport for the flight back to Manila (1600/1715). On arrival in Manila, transfer to your hotel and the rest of the day will be at leisure. Overnight at The Bayleaf Intramuros Hotel or similar. (B)   

Day 15: Departure from Manila

Transfer to the airport at a time convenient for your onward flight. (B)