11-Day Scenic Countryside, Islands & Heritage Tour to Bohol, Cebu & North Luzon from Manila

The next day, you will take a plane to Ilocos Norte. When you land at the Laoag Airport, a van will bring you to your hotel in Laoag City. After settling down, your guide will lead you to the St. Williams Cathedral, also known as the Laoag Cathedral. The construction of this Renaissance-style church began back in 1612 and has undergone multiple renovations.

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Here, you will also be able to view its bell tower, the Sinking Bell Tower. The stone structure has a sandy foundation that supposedly causes it to sink around an inch year after year. Next is a visit to Aurora Park. This public space also features the Tobacco Monopoly Monument that was established in 1881.

You will then leave Laoag via a van and travel to the Malacanang of the North. Before being a museum, this was the former home of the late Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos. After going through its exhibits, you will drop by the Paoay Church. It was erected in 1710 and is considered a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Finally, you will be able to see the wax replica of the late president in the Marcos museum together with some of his memorabilia.

From your hotel in Laoag, a van will bring you to your new accommodation in Vigan. Your tour around this city will kick off with a visit to the National Museum Ilocos Sur Complex. This site honors the sixth Philippine President, the late Elpidio Quirino, and the late reform-advocate priest Padre Burgos.

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From here, you will travel to the town of Bantay to see the Bantay Church and Bell Tower. The church sustained significant damage during World War II. Similarly, the Bantay Bell Tower was also heavily damaged but both were restored in succeeding years.

After enjoying the view from the church, you will tour the popular Pagburnayan Jar Factory. These jars are created from earth and the tradition of making them predates the Spanish era. Next, you will visit the Crisologo Museum, the ancestral home of the Crisologo political family.

You will then take a stroll along Calle Crisologo, a cobblestone street lined with old Spanish homes. After this, you will make your way to the St. Paul Metropolitan Cathedral before ending your day in the Baluarte Zoo. Bengal tigers, deers, ostriches, species can be found in this park. Finally, your guide will escort you back to your hotel.

On your fourth day, you will depart from Vigan early in the morning and travel to Sagada via a van. This town sits in the valley of the Cordillera Region and will require you to pass by zigzag roads to reach it. Once you arrive, you will check in to a hotel in the town before starting the tour.

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First is the Sugong Cave, one of the more than 60 caves you can find in Sagada. It is also a popular area to see the town’s most iconic attraction, the hanging coffins. This is a part of the locals’ burial traditions that started more than 2,000 years ago.

Next, you will travel through the Echo Valley. In this valley, you can hear echoes bounce off the surroundings whenever someone shouts. After exiting this site, you will enter the biggest cave in Sagada called Sumaguing Cave.

Inside it, you can find various rock formations as you walk through its interior. It also houses bats and contains pools and streams of cold water.

To end your day, you will drop by the Bontoc Tribal Museum. Here, you can learn about the province’s heritage and the different indigenous groups that live here.

For Day 5, you will leave Sagada to explore Benguet. After reaching the region via a van, you will be brought to your hotel before the tour begins.

To start the tour, you will enter the La Trinidad Strawberry Farm to handpick some tasty strawberries that you can bring home with you. This region is well known for its strawberries, so make sure to taste them while they’re still fresh as well.

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You will then take the time to through a park that contains 30 Sakura trees. The Atok Sakura Flowers park has been a popular spot since the Japanese government gave the trees to the locals as a gift in 2016. Following your time here, you will make your way to the Northern Blossom to view even more vibrant flowers of different shapes and sizes.

Next is a trip to a viewing deck that sits at 7,400 feet above sea level, which is the second-highest altitude in the country. Aptly named 2nd Highest Point, it is located along the Halsema Highway that runs through Benguet and Sagada.

Lastly, you will travel to the Spanish Trail. This scenic trail goes on for almost 3km and passes through cave-like tunnels.

You will then leave the highlands of Benguet via a van to travel to the province of Tarlac, where the famous Mt. Pinatubo stands. It is known for its large eruption back in 1991.

After arriving in Tarlac, you will first drop by the active volcano’s base camp in Barangay Sta. Ana. Here, you will leave your van and board a 4x4 vehicle that can safely take you to the hike’s jump-off point.

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To get there, you will cross the Crow Valley. On the way, you will also spot several lava sand deposits that were caused by the historic eruption. The valley spans around 5.4 km and has a rough terrain due to the lahar from the volcano.

After reaching the jump-off point, you will begin hiking up a trail towards the top of the mountain. Once you reach the end of the trail, you will be welcomed by a grand view of the crater lake.

Take the time to admire its turquoise waters and enjoy a meal after your climb here. Once you’ve had your fill of food and photos, you will head back down to your van. Finally, you will be dropped off at your hotel in Manila.

The next day, you will check out of your hotel in Manila to ride a plane to Bohol. When you land in this idyllic province, a van will bring you to your accommodation in Bohol. Then you will start your tour across the province’s countryside by visiting the Corella Tarsier Sanctuary.

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This park offers close encounters with a population of Tarsiers, which are one of the tiniest primates in the whole world. From there, you will travel to Loboc River to join a Loboc River Cruise. This floating restaurant will slowly move across the water while you enjoy a buffet of local cuisine.

Following your delicious meal, your guide will lead you to the Baclayon Church. This historic landmark is recognized as a National Cultural Treasure. Next, you will learn about different butterflies at the Butterfly Conservatory. Here, they take care of a variety of species and run a breeding program to ensure their population is stable.

You will then spend some time among the mahogany trees of the man-made Bilar Forest before traveling to the famed Chocolate Hills. These hills are names as such since they look like piles of chocolate when their grass turns brown in the summer.

On Day 8, a van will escort you from your hotel to a port in Baclayon. You will then travel to Pamilacan Island via boat. This isle houses less than 2,000 people and sits in the middle of the Bohol Sea.

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While you sail to the island, keep your eyes peeled for marine life. Thanks to its lively ecosystem, there have been reported sightings of dolphins and whale sharks in the area. Once you arrive on the island, you will be welcomed by its stunning white sands and crystal waters.

The tropical atmosphere is ideal for both unwinding on the shore or exploring the waters. If you choose to go snorkeling, you can also come close to the schools of fish and groups of colorful coral that sit beneath the waves.

While it has idyllic charms and stretches of untouched nature, this island was previously used in the Spanish era. One of its iconic structures from the colonial period is a 200-year-old fort that stands on its northeast coast. It is also recognized as a National Cultural Treasure. When you’ve had enough sand and sea for the day, you will be guided back to your hotel on the mainland.

For the ninth day, you will depart from Bohol and travel to Cebu via a ferry. Upon reaching the city, your guide will escort you to your hotel inside the city proper. The tour will then begin at the Taoist Temple, a complex that houses tall towers and an entrance that resembles the Great Wall of China.

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After this, you will make your way to the Basilica Minore Del Santo Nino. This is the oldest Roman Catholic Church in the country and stands close to the Magellan’s Cross. This cross is an important religious site as it was planted by the Spanish explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521.

Next, you will visit the Heritage of Cebu Monument. This artwork was erected in Parian Park and exhibits some of Cebu’s most notable moments in history such as the Battle of Mactan. From here, you will head to the Yap - San Diego Ancestral House that was constructed in the 17th century.

You will then go to the Temple of Leah, which was built for the wife of a Cebuano back in 2012. Finally, you will drop by the Sirao Flower Farm to view its vibrant array of blooms before returning to your accommodation.

For Day 10, your guide will take you to the Kawasan Falls in Badian. Once you get there, you can take a dip in any of its natural pools. On the other hand, you can also try canyoneering as an add-on experience. For this, you will be trekking, jumping off of waterfalls, and going down natural slides.

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After the falls, you will make your way to Moalboal. This coastal town is popular among divers thanks to its coral ecosystem. From here, you will ride a boat that will take you to Pescador Island. This isle is known as a marine park that is home to schools of exotic fish and various corals.

Next, you’ll travel to Turtle Island. As the name suggests, you will be able to swim with sea turtles in its waters. Following your time with these marine animals, you will head to Panagsama Beach to have another encounter with sea creatures.

Here, you will snorkel to experience the Sardine Run. This natural phenomenon involves large schools of sardines that swim off of the shore. Due to the large groups of sardines, they appear to form a wall underwater. Finally, a van will escort you back to your hotel.

On the last day, you will be checking out of your Cebu hotel. Your van will then drop you off at the Mactan-Cebu Airport where you will catch your flight back to Manila. Your plane will land at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, marking the end of your vacation