Highlights of the Philippines (16 days)

Our ‘Highlights of the Philippines' tour is the perfect introduction to this amazing archipelago. From Manila head into Northern Luzon, where the dominant feature is the Cordillera (the central mountain range), to visit Banaue - home to the region's famous rice terraces which were carved into the surrounding hillsides by the Ifugao people over 2,000 years ago. From Banaue spend a night in Sagada learning about the indigenous culture before heading south and stopping at the fascinating ‘summer capital' Baguio. After the sightseeing in Luzon fly south to enjoy six nights on the island of Boracay.

Guide Price

From £3,410 per person.

Day by Day Itinerary

Click on each day to expand the itinerary detail. Or click on the print itinerary button above to preview the tour in full.

Day 1: Fly from London Heathrow to Manila, via Dubai

Flight: EK2 London Heathrow - Dubai 14.20 - 00.20 (overnight)

Day 2: Arrive in Manila and transfer to your hotel

Flight: EK332 03.30 - 16.00

Meet & greet: On arrival in Manila, you will be welcomed to the Philippines by your private English-speaking guide, and then transferred to your hotel to check in. Once checked in, you have the remainder of the day at leisure to relax after your long flight.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Dusit Thani Manila (Deluxe Room)

Makati skyline, Manila

Day 3: Guided tour of Manila

Guided tour of Manila: After breakfast, you will meet your guide in the lobby of the hotel and then set out on a tour of Manila. The tour starts with a visit to Rizal Park, which was named in honour of Dr. Jose Rizal, the Philippines' national hero. After a photo stop here, you will proceed to Intramuros, the Walled City, and look around Fort Santiago, an ancient fortress that defends the mouth of the Pasig River. From here you will continue onto San Agustin Church and Casa Manila. Afterwards crossing the Pasig River, driving through Quiapo district, the old downtown area, to Santo Tomas University which was founded in 1611 by the Dominican friars. You will also see the Chinese Cemetery where some of the mausoleums are larger than an average-sized house. The tour will end with a drive along Ayala Avenue, the financial street and commercial centre in Makati. You will then be taken for lunch in a local restaurant, and then afterwards return to your hotel via Roxas Boulevard, the city's sea front, and pass by the Cultural Centre of the Philippines.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Dusit Thani Manila (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Intramuros, Manila

Day 4: Road journey to Banaue

Private road transfer: After breakfast, you will meet your guide in the lobby of the hotel and then set out on the long drive to Banaue, located some 185 miles from Angeles in north of Luzon. You will travel north on the Expressway and the Cagayan Valley Road until you reach the town of Bagabag, in Nueva Vizcaya, where the landscape starts to change and you begin the climb up to Banaue which is located at 1300m above sea level. Lunch will be taken in a local restaurant en-route. You will reach Banaue late in the afternoon and on arrival, you will check into your hotel and then have some time to look around the town.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Banaue Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Jeepney in North Luzon

Day 5: Full day tour around Banaue

Full day guided tour around Banaue: After breakfast, you will board a local jeepney for the drive to a nearby village which you will reach by a short hike from the main road. After spending sometime in the village, continue to a vantage point to view and admire the world famous 2,000 year old rice terraces of Banaue. These rice terraces were carved into the surrounding hillsides by the Ifugao people. The Ifugao were legendary head-hunters but also great engineers and they invented a sophisticated irrigation system that allowed them to create these incredible rice terraces. If placed end to end, the Banaue rice terraces would reach half way around the globe. Afterwards proceed to the town's public market to mingle with the local people, view the vast array of native handicrafts and have lunch in a local restaurant. Time and weather permitting you will visit another village before returning to the hotel late in the afternoon.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Banaue Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Ifugao tribal ladies, North Luzon

Day 6: Guided tour from Banaue to Sagada

Full day guided tour from Banaue to Sagada: After breakfast, you will leave Banaue and drive inland along a winding mountain trail towards the hinterland town of Bontoc, where you will visit a museum founded by some Belgian sisters. The museum has many relics but is perhaps most famous for its grisly head-hunter exhibits. Lunch will be taken in a local restaurant. After lunch you will drive on to Sagada and, weather conditions permitting, you will visit the burial caves of Sagada, where dozens of ancient limestone coffins hang from the region's cliffs. The unique burial ritual of the local people involves placing dead relatives into caves after carefully preparing a hollowed out ‘log'. The log or coffin is carved by the elderly themselves in anticipation of their death. The dead body is then pushed into coffin which in turn is then placed high up in the burial caves, or cliffs, in places that seem almost impossible to reach. This is a practice that has been going on for more than 2,000 years. Later you will have some time to explore and meet some of the indigenous tribes' people and afterwards you will drive to your hotel to check in.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Masferre Country Inn (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Hill village near Sagada

Day 7: Guided tour from Sagada to Baguio

Road journey to Baguio City: After breakfast at the lodge, you will leave the highlands and drive south passing through some majestic scenery as you head through the countryside towards Baguio City, also known as the country's summer capital. On arrival check in to your hotel and afterwards lunch will be taken in a local restaurant.

Afternoon guided tour of Baguio City: This afternoon, you will tour Baguio City taking in Session Road, Burnham Park, the Mansion House and the President's summer residence. One of the highlights of the tour is the energetic public market where villagers from around the region come to sell their goods.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Ridgewood Residences (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Baguio, the 'City of Pines'

Day 8: Road journey to Manila

Private transfer to Manila: After breakfast, you will check out and start the journey back to Manila along the National Highway, passing through Luzon's central plains, before you pick up the North Expressway bound for the capital. Lunch will be taken in a local restaurant en-route. You will arrive in Manila late in the day and on arrival you will check in to your hotel.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Dusit Thani Manila (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Manila skyline

Day 9: Fly to Boracay

Private transfer: After breakfast, you will be picked up from the hotel and transferred to the airport in time to check in for the flight to Caticlan, near Boracay, with Philippine Airlines.

Flight: PR45 Manila - Caticlan 09.05 - 10.15

Private transfer by boat: On arrival in Caticlan an hour and 10 minutes later, you will be met and transferred to the jetty at Caticlan's port where a boat awaits to transfer you to Boracay Island (the boat transfer will take around 15-20 minutes). On arrival in Boracay you will be met and transferred to your hotel to check in. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Coast Boracay (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

White Beach, Borocay

Days 10-14: Days at leisure in Boracay

At leisure: You have five full days at leisure. Explore the island, snorkel, dive or simply laze by the beach.

Accommodation: Stay these nights at Coast Boracay (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

White Beach, Borocay

Day 15: Fly back to Manila and on to London Heathrow, via Dubai

Private transfer by boat: In the morning, you will be transferred back to Caticlan airport, by boat, in time to check in for your return flight to Manila with Philippine Airlines.

Flight: PR62 Caticlan - Manila 14.05 - 15.15

Private transfer: On arrival in Manila, you will be transferred to Ninoy Aquino International Airport in time to check in for your flight back to London Heathrow, via Dubai with Emirates.

Flight: EK333 Manila - Dubai 18.00 - 23.05

Meals: Breakfast

Jeepney

Day 16: Arrive back in London Heathrow

Flight: EK7 Dubai - London Heathrow 02.30 - 07.05

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Highlights of the Philippines

Highlights of the Philippines (16 days)

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