10-Day Philippines Nature Holiday Package to Palawan Island, Ilocos Province & Cordillera Mountains
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Description
Summary
Tour starts
Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines
Duration
10 days
Ending place
Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines
Languages:
English
Difficulty:
Easy
Minimum age:
None
Description
Discover the Philippines’ best highland attractions in Luzon and visit the island province of Bohol with this 10-day vacation package. You’ll be able to explore dozens of tourist destinations in Luzon and Visayas. From enjoying scenic views on mountain tops to frolicking on white-sand beaches with blue waters, you’ll get a taste of the top destinations of the country. This package already includes all of your transfers, accommodations, tourist guides, and entrance fees.
The Philippines is not just about islands and beaches, it also has amazing highland attractions. With this package, you’ll get a good dose of cultural and historical sites. You can also expect to hike up a mountain, and even a volcano, swim in the sea, and bask in the awe-inspiring natural locations of the Philippines.
You will explore “Old Manila” in the walled area of Intramuros. This historic destination is home to fortifications and churches that date back over a hundred years or more. This trip will present you with the rare opportunity of going to an active volcano, Mt. Pinatubo, and seeing its crater lake.
At Banaue Viewpoint, you’ll see the breathtaking rice terraces, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Benguet, you can get the chance to handpick strawberries at the expansive La Trinidad Strawberry Farm. The tour of the highlands is not complete without visiting Baguio, the City of Pines. You’ll get to visit refreshing parks and locations, such as Camp John Hay.
In the Visayas, you will make your way to Bohol, which is home to many natural wonders. You can better appreciate the province’s beauty when you go on the Loboc River Cruise. The highlight of your tour will be visiting the wondrous Chocolate Hills.
Get ready for some stunning sights on this 10-day trip visiting the best highlands of Luzon and Bohol attractions. Check availability by choosing a date.
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Included
9 nights accommodation (budget category)
9 days breakfast
9 lunch
All flights with 20kgs baggage allowance
Day 1 - Intramuros Tour (Manila)
Day 2 - Mt. Pinatubo Tour
Day 3 to 6 - Banaue, Sagada, Baguio Tour (Cordillera Region)
On your first day, you will check-in at your hotel in Manila and start off your tour in Intramuros. You can expect to visit historical structures and learn more about the past of the city and the country.
At Fort Santiago, you’ll come upon a 16th-century fortress that was also used as a prison. The country’s National hero, Jose Rizal, was even imprisoned here in 1896. Next, you’ll visit one of the major squares of Intramuros, Plaza Roma.
Bahay Tsinoy, which means Chinese-Filipino House, is a museum dedicated to the Ethnic Chinese. You will know more about how they have contributed to the past and present of the city. Then at Casa Manila, you can see how the affluent Filipinos lived during the Spanish Colonization.
There are only a few parks in the city, one of which is the small but pleasant San Diego Gardens. This park is right in front of the oldest stone fort in Manila, the Baluarte De San Diego.
On your Manila Tour, you’ll also visit the oldest stone church in the Philippines, San Agustin Church and Museum. This National Historical landmark was completed during the 17th century. The last stop for the day is the Manila Cathedral, the country’s premier church.
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Day 2
Day 2 - Day 2: Mt. Pinatubo Tour
You’ll start off your journey towards the Philippine highlands by visiting an active volcano. Mt. Pinatubo is part of the Zambales Mountains in Central Luzon. It became infamous during the 90s for its violent eruption, the second largest one during the 20th century.
Mt. Pinatubo used to be 1,745m tall but its eruption destroyed its summit. Now, it is only 1,486m and a caldera was formed. Mt. Pinatubo’s crater lake has since become a popular tourist attraction. To visit it, your van will take you to the province of Tarlac, which is over 100km away from Manila.
The base camp of the volcano is located in Sta. Juliana, Tarlac. You will be crossing Crow Valley, which was a base of the US military. One of the consequences of the Mt. Pinatubo eruption is the lahar-filled and craggy terrain. You’ll be riding a 4x4 vehicle through the bumpy and dusty roads.
Once you reach the trail towards the crater lake, you’ll be going forward on foot. Not to worry though as it is quite easy, even beginners can do it. Your hike will end once you reach the beautiful lake of Mt. Pinatubo. After the tour, your van will take you to your hotel in Nueva Ecija.
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Day 3
Day 3 - Day 3: Banaue Tour
Once you have checked out of your accommodation in Nueva Ecija, you are going to the province of Ifugao. You’ll be visiting a man-made site in Banaue, the Batad Rice Terraces which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This ancient irrigation system is quite a sight as rice terraces are carved into mountains. To get the best view of the rice terraces, you need to go on a 30-minute hike to Batad Banaue Viewpoint.
If you want to visit another natural site, you may trade this destination for the Tappiya Waterfall. Trekking towards the waterfall will afford you scenic views of the rice terraces too. However, this trek is a bit more tricky but the reward, in the end, is a 30m waterfall with a pool you can take a dip in.
If you don’t want to go trekking or hiking, there is another option you may choose. At Banga-an Village, you can learn more about the locals’ way of living. This small village has souvenir shops where you can purchase local goods.
Before you go back to your Banaue hotel, you’ll make one final stop. Banaue Museum has an impressive collection of artifacts of the Igorot people. It even houses the works of the Father of Philippine Anthropology, Otley Beyer.
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Day 4
Day 4 - Day 4: Sagada Tour
Your next highland destination is the quiet town of Sagada where you will be visiting caves too. Your first destination is Sugong Cave, which is one of the most popular sites in Sagada. It is the site of the hanging coffins. The locals still do this traditional burial practice, the dead are placed in wooden coffins and then hung up on the side of a mountain.
You’ll hike through the aptly named Echo Valley. When you shout, an echo will be heard throughout the area. It is the pathway heading towards the hanging coffins. If you continue hiking, you’ll be led to a river and also Bokong Falls.
At Sumaguing Cave, you’ll experience spelunking. Make sure that you are wearing the proper gear as it’s a bit tricky to navigate the insides of a cave. At Sumaguing Cave, you’ll come upon ancient rock formations and even pools with cold water plus a bat or two. There are dozens of caves in Sagada but Sumaguing Cave is the largest one.
You can learn more about the indigenous tribes of the Cordillera Region at the Bontoc Tribal Museum. It has a vast collection of tribal artifacts, jewelry, tools, and more. There’s even a section dedicated to the archeological objects, like Chinese ceramics, that were found in the region’s caves.
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Day 5
Day 5 - Day 5: Benguet Tour
The next highland province you will visit is Benguet. This area is known as the Salad Bowl of the Philippines, thanks to its huge vegetable production. In this province, you’ll go to La Trinidad Strawberry Farm. The farm takes up almost 80 hectares of land and can produce over 1,500 tons of strawberries. If the fruit is in season, you can get the chance to harvest strawberries by hand.
Your next destination is the Atok Sakura Flowers. This lush park is the site of a few dozen sakura trees that came from Japan. The white and pink cherry blossom trees are actually a gift from the Japanese government to the province of Benguet.
If you can’t get enough of colorful blooms, you’re in luck. You’ll get to visit Northern Blossom, a flower farm. Aside from colorful flowers, you can also enjoy a panoramic view of the mountains.
For the next site, get ready to reach new heights. As its name implies, the 2nd Highest Point is just that. It is situated along the Halsema Highway, so there won’t be any climbing involved to reach this elevated location. Before heading to your accommodation in Baguio City, you’ll get to visit the Spanish Trail first.
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Day 6
Day 6 - Day 6: Baguio Tour
Your Baguio Tour starts off at the Ifugao Museum. It showcases the historical and cultural heritage of the city. After that, you will visit the Surrender Site of General Yamashita. Baguio City played an important role during World War II and you’ll get to know more about it at the site.
Any Filipino who is looking for a career in the military must attend the Philippine Military Academy in Baguio City. The 373-hectare campus is a national historical landmark and some areas are open to the public. Another tourist destination you’ll visit is The Mansion. This is the Philippine president’s summer residence. It also has a museum that displays presidential memorabilia.
One of the main draws of Baguio City is its cool climate. You can better enjoy the fresh air and view of lush trees in your upcoming destinations. There’s the tourist-favorite Camp John Hay, Mines View Park, Wright Park, and Centennial Park.
After exploring the green spaces of the city, you can do a little bit of shopping at the popular Good Shepherd Convent. This convent has a store that sells some of the best treats in the city, like peanut brittle and ube. After your Baguio Tour, you’ll make your way back to Manila.
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Day 7
Day 7 - Day 7: Bohol Cambuhat Tour
On the 7th day of your tour, you will leave Luzon and head to the Visayas Islands. Your van will pick you up from your hotel in Manila and take you to Ninoy Aquino International Airport. The flight to Panglao International Airport is around 1 hour and 20 minutes.
On your first day in the province of Bohol, you will visit a quiet village in the northern part of the island. Cambuhat Village is located in the town of Buenavista. To reach it, you must ride a paddleboat through the Cambuhat River. Enjoy the scenic ride where you will see mangroves, tropical trees, and even nipa huts.
Once you arrive at the village, you’ll head to the community center. It’s where you can learn more about the locals and their community. One such important livelihood you’ll know about is the Cambuhat Oyster Farm. You’ll get a better understanding of how this business sustains the community all the while making sure it is eco-friendly.
Aside from oyster farming, the locals also rely on weaving. You can watch them create a number of items using looms, such as baskets, hats, brooms, and mats. After your tour, your van will take you to your hotel on Panglao Island.
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Day 8
Day 8 - Day 8: Bohol Pamilacan Island Tour
Next, you will visit an amazing island located in the Sea of Bohol. Your van will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the port. From there, you are going to ride a boat to Pamilacan Island.
Pamilacan Island is about 12km from the main island of Bohol. Back in the 90s, the locals’ main source of livelihood was hunting whales and manta rays. Hunting has since been banned and the community has switched its focus onto tourism. These days, it’s still possible for tourists to spot whales in the area. During your boat ride, keep your eyes open and you might also spot dolphins.
The small Pamilacan Island is just 1.25km wide and 1.6km long. It’s very easy to explore and you can definitely find beaches with fine, white sand. One of the most popular activities on the island is snorkeling. You can spot colorful corals and fish. There’s even a dive site where moray eels, sea snakes, and sea turtles swim around.
An interesting structure located on Pamilacan Island is a Spanish old fort that is about 200 years old. This National Cultural Treasure is located northeast of the island. After your tour, you will go back to your Panglao hotel.
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Day 9
Day 9 - Day 9: Bohol Countryside Tour
On your last full day on the island province of Bohol, you’ll be exploring its rich countryside attractions which include the Chocolate Hills. First up is meeting one of the smallest primates in the world, the tarsier. At Corella Tarsier Sanctuary, you’ll come face to face with the wide-eyed creatures. It’s important to note that this delicate animal has sensitive eyes and flash photography is not allowed.
Up next on the itinerary is one of the most popular tourist activities in Bohol. At the Loboc River Cruise, you will go aboard a floating restaurant and be treated to wonderful views and even cultural shows.
Baclayon Church is a National Cultural Treasure that was first founded in 1596. However, due to time, wars, and earthquakes, the religious site had to be reconstructed several times. Its most recent restoration was in 2017 as it was majorly damaged in a 2013 earthquake.
At the Butterfly Conservatory, you’ll find dozens of butterfly species native to the province. You’ll also get to learn about butterflies and everything about their life cycles. In Bilar Forest, you’ll get to visit a natural site that is man-made. The 2km Bilar Forest was planted with mahogany trees during the 20th century.
Last but not least, get ready to be awestruck by the Chocolate Hills. This amazing geological formation is one of the best natural wonders of the Philippines.
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Day 10
Day 10 - Day 10: Departure to Manila
Your 10-day Philippine vacation has come to an end. It’s time to leave Bohol and go back to Manila. Your van will pick you up from your hotel in Panglao and take you to the airport. You’ll catch a flight back to Ninoy Aquino International Airport at Panglao International Airport.
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What to bring
Facemask and Face shield
Extra Clothes
Passport (Valid for 6 months from date of departure)
Swimwear and sunblock
Personal Medicine
Good to know
Please bring appropriate clothing. Please be aware that your itinerary may have to be rearranged to fit your arrival date and time better.
All our guides speak English. For other languages, contact us for availability and rates.
Not all establishments accept credit or debit cards, and ATMs can be limited.
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Accommodation
See our accommodation levels below and our preferred accommodation partners under each day in the daily itinerary. All accommodation levels, bookings for one person will be arranged in single rooms, bookings for two or more people will share a twin/double, and odd number groups will always be allocated a single room. If you are travelling in a group, but prefer a single room, please make separate bookings. Teenagers and children will be arranged in the same room with parents. If additional room(s) is needed, additional costs will incur.
For multi-day guided tours, accommodation cannot be upgraded and the levels below do not apply. Guide to the Philippines will provide you with the best available accommodation at the time of your booking from our preferred partners. If our preferred partners are fully booked at the time of your booking, we will find another suitable accommodation for you of similar level.
We always do our best to accommodate special requests, which may incur additional costs. Press choose a date to find availability.
Budget
Private rooms with private bathrooms in guesthouses or small hotels with basic amenities.
Comfort
Private Rooms with a private bathroom at three-star hotels or resorts located in the city center, in close vicinity, or near the beach area. Breakfast is included and with basic room amenities and toiletries.
Quality
Rooms at four-star to a five-star hotel in the city center or beachfront resort with a private bathroom at the absolute best locations with the best amenities, facilities, and services.
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