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The Philippines: Mountains & Islands
Operated by Intrepid Travel
Tripcode: TOSNC
Overview
Destination:
Philippines,
Duration:17 days
Type:Group tour (max 12)
Travel Period
November 2025 - December 2027
Discover the Philippines on this 17-day adventure, blending cultural encounters with refreshing natural moments. Starting in Manila and finishing in El Nido, you’ll cycle through the lively streets of Manila, see the crater lake of Mt. Pinatubo and hike the UNESCO World Heritage-listed rice terraces of the Cordilleras with local guides. Visit the Batak and Tagbanua Tribal Village in Sitio Kawasan, discover the limestone caves of Sabang and island hop around El Nido. With a mix of guided experiences and free time, this trip offers an unforgettable journey through the heart of the Philippines.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
1. A single supplement is bookable for this trip and is subject to availability. Please consult your booking agent if you are interested.
2. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking for the flight ticket on this trip. Ticketing fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing a new ticket.
3. A scanned copy of the personal details page of your passport needs to be sent to your booking agent no later than 40 days before departure in order for us to purchase a permit for Mt Pinatubo. Occasionally, the government doesn't approve these permits, and your group will follow an alternative itinerary. Please refer to Day 3 of the Itinerary for more details.
4. Internal flight includes 20kg checked luggage plus 7kg carry on.
2. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking for the flight ticket on this trip. Ticketing fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing a new ticket.
3. A scanned copy of the personal details page of your passport needs to be sent to your booking agent no later than 40 days before departure in order for us to purchase a permit for Mt Pinatubo. Occasionally, the government doesn't approve these permits, and your group will follow an alternative itinerary. Please refer to Day 3 of the Itinerary for more details.
4. Internal flight includes 20kg checked luggage plus 7kg carry on.
Highlights:
- 1. A single supplement is bookable for this trip and is subject to availability. Please consult your booking agent if you are interested. 2. Please provide your full name exactly as per passport at the time of booking for the flight ticket on this trip. Ticketing fees may apply for amendments to details within 45 days of departure, and in some cases you will be required to cover the cost of issuing a new ticket. 3. A scanned copy of the personal details page of your passport needs to be sent to your booking agent no later than 40 days before departure in order for us to purchase a permit for Mt Pinatubo. Occasionally, the government doesn't approve these permits, and your group will follow an alternative itinerary. Please refer to Day 3 of the Itinerary for more details. 4. Internal flight includes 20kg checked luggage plus 7kg carry on.
Standard inclusions
- Meals: Meals: 16 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 2 dinners.
- Transport: Boat, Jeepney, Private Minibus, Plane.
- Accommodation: Hotel (14 nights), Guest House (2 night).
- Manila - City Tour.
- Manila - Intramuros bamboo bike cycling tour.
- Mt Pinatubo - Crater hike.
- Tarukan Village - Community lunch.
- Banaue - Bangaan rice terrace hike.
- Sagada - City tour.
- Sagada - Eduardo Masferre’s home visit.
- Bontoc - Maligcong rice terrace hike.
- Bontoc - Favarey Village visit.
- Baguio - Cooking class & dinner.
- Baguio - Art gallery visit.
- Baguio - Women's weaving studio co-op visit.
- Puerto Princesa - Iwahig River Firefly Boat Tour.
- Puerto Princesa - local farm visit.
- Sabang - Puerto Princesa Subterranean River boat trip.
- Sabang - Batak tribe hike.
- Port Barton - Island Hopping.
- Port Barton - Traditional fishing demonstration.
- El Nido - Island hopping boat trip & snorkelling.
Itinerary
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Collapse allDay 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).
Day 2: Mt Pinatubo
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. Then 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 lunch together and then leave Manila behind and drive to the foot of Mt. Pinatubo for tonight. Arrive in the early evening and you'll stay in a lovely local guesthouse in the countryside with a swimming pool.
Day 3: Mt Pinatubo
You’ll set off for Crow Valley this morning so you can get a 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. Head back to your lovely guesthouse afterwards for another peaceful night in the countryside.
Day 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).
Day 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.
Day 6: Sagada
Travel to Sagada and embark 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), explore local farms, or simply relax and get ready for your next day's trekking.
Day 7: Sagada
Get ready for 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 going back to Sagada
Day 8: Baguio
This morning, 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!
Day 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.
Day 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).
Day 11: Puerto Princesa
This morning, take a 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. This afternoon, visit a local farm and take part in preparing local rice snacks. Snacking (merienda) is a way of life among Filipino rural folks. Tonight, relax by the Iwahig River and watch as glowing fireflies dart in and around the mangroves.
Day 12: Puerto Princesa
After breakfast, drive to Sabang. When you arrive, jump on a boat and travel along the Subterranean River, which passes through a limestone cave and into the ocean. After lunch, continue to the starting point of today's hike. Lace up your hiking boots and join your local leader on a hike to the Batak and Tagbanua Tribal Village in Sitio Kawasan, set against the backdrop of the majestic St. Paul Mountain. Meet the Batak Tribe – one of about 70 Indigenous communities of the Philippines – and maybe try some fruit directly from the cashew trees (weather dependent). This visit provides the opportunity to connect with the Batak and Tagbanua communities, learn about their traditions, and appreciate the harmony of their way of life within a beautiful natural setting.
Day 13: Port Barton
This morning, travel to Port Barton – a slow-paced coastal town located on the largest island of the Palawan region. When you arrive, enjoy a free afternoon to explore at your own pace. Maybe hike to the Pamuayan Falls, relax on the white sandy beach or watch the sunset over the region.
Day 14: Port Barton
Today, set off on an island-hopping adventure where you’ll spend the day exploring the beautiful hidden gems of Port Barton. See crystal-clear waters, vibrant coral reefs and white-sand beaches as you travel to secluded islands like Turtle Sanctuary, Exotic Island and Paradise Island. During your island-hopping tour, step into the shoes of a local fisherman and learn about the age-old fishing tradition in Port Barton, where simplicity meets skill. Unlike modern methods, this technique uses only a hand-held hook tied to a single nylon line (kawil). This region is perfect for swimming, snorkelling and relaxing on the beach shores, so be sure to pack a hat and your bathers!
Day 15: El Nido
Say farewell to Port Barton today and travel to El Nido this morning. 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, all of which are accessible by the boats docked nearby. This afternoon is free for you to explore at your own pace – maybe pack a picnic lunch and head out on an adventure to an isolated beach. Later, maybe join your fellow travellers for a drink at one of the many beachside restaurants.
Day 16: El Nido
This morning, head off on a full-day snorkelling trip as you island hop around El Nido. As you travel to the island, take in the surrounding landscape of jagged limestone islands, rocky coves, virgin rainforest and white sandy beaches. When you arrive, put on your snorkel and dive under the clear water, where you’ll see the beautiful coral and many different species of colourful fish that call this area home. After an included lunch, venture out on various trips to lagoons throughout the afternoon. Tonight, maybe head out for dinner with your fellow travellers and toast to your final night in the Philippines.
Day 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, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.
Dates
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Operator
Intrepid Travel
Intrepid is a small group tour travel company with humble beginnings that now sends over 100,000 travellers a year on grassroots and responsible travel tours.
Important Information
*Terms and conditions
Please note: We are proud to be an independent agent to travel providers of hotels, flights and other related services. We are not a tour operator. Details and information on the offer are provided by 3rd party businesses and although we do our best to verify the information, we cannot guarantee its accuracy on all occasions. These offers are not available in conjunction with any other offer unless otherwise stated. Pricing and availability are subject to change without notice.
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