This trip is from FEBRUARY 16 TO MARCH 3, 2019.

​ITINERARY

Part 1: Hiking and Culture in the Cordilleras

DAY 1

Arrive in Manila

Stay overnight in a hotel in Manila.

DAY 2

Manila City Tour

After breakfast, we will visit historic places in Old Manila such as Intramuros, Manila Cathedral, St. Agustin Church,

the National Gallery and Ayala Museum. We return to the hotel around mid-afternoon for rest and preparation for our overnight 5-6 hour drive to Baguio. Estimate time of depature is 11 p.m. We arrive arrive at Baguio, also known as the City of Pines, between 5 and 6 am. Baguio is located 1540 meters above sea level.

DAY 3

Mt. Ulap Day Hike

Upon arrival in Baguio, we have our breakfast and then we do our first hike of the trip - Mt. Ulap. This is a moderate 6-7 hour hike with ridge views of the towns below and cloud covered peaks of the Cordillera range.

Accommodation: Simple Homestay

Meals included: B, L, D

Transport: Van

Hiking time: 6-7 hrs

DAY 4

Sagada

After breakfast, we will proceed with our 5 hour drive to Sagada. En route, we will try a variety of local delicacies such as strawberry tofu snack at the strawberry farm en route, fresh coconuts and various rice cakes. There will also be an opportunity to shop for local handicrafts along the way. Sagada is a municipality in the Mountain province, where there is a highland rich in culture, history and amazing scenery. On our way to Sagada, we will be passing the highest national highway system of the Philippines known as the Halsema High Way, also known as the Benguet-Mountain Province Road, Baguio-Bontoc Road or Mountain Trail. At its highest point at 7,400 feet (2,300 m) above sea level in the municipality of Atok is the highest altitude highway in the Philippines. Once in Sagada, we walk around the town and try the local yogurt shop.

Accommodation: Homestay

Meals included: B, L, D

Transport: Van

DAY 5

Kiltepan Peak Sunrise, Bomok-od Falls & Echo Valley Tour

Enjoy the cool morning breeze at the land of the Igorots and Kankana-eys, Sagada. Experience another beautiful sunrise at Kiltepan peak where in you dont have to trek to enjoy the scenic sunrise at the elevation of 1,640 meters above sea level. After our breakfast, get ready to start the Echo Valley tour. For 2 hours, climb cliffs, hike through a picturesque valley and see the famous Hanging coffins of Sagada. A short side trail leads to a cave and an Underground river. Try Sagada's Pinikpikan for lunch, Sagadas local version of chicken stew, others called it the tortured chicken because they beat the chicken until its blood clots before cooking. We will then head to the hidden Bomod-ok falls, and trek through rice terraces and small mountain villages for 1 1/2 hours and swim at the 200 meters cascade water falls. Bomod-ok is a bontoc term, meaning “big.”

Accommodation: Homestay

Meals included: B, L, D

Transport: Van and Jeepney

Hiking time: 1.5 hrs hiking at Sagada Echo Valley Tour

2-3 hrs hiking to Bomod-ok Falls

DAY 6

Sumaguing Cave & Bontoc Museum

Take the challenge of a 2-3 hours spelunking adventure as we visit the Sumaguing cave. Sumaguing Cave has the largest chambers of all the caves found in Sagada; thus it is referred to as the "Big Cave." You can find several cave system/connection in this big cave. As you go along in its long and slippery steps, you will be amazed by its unique and alluring formations of stalagmites and stalactites that was incredibly molded by time. Get ready to be soaked in the water pools inside the cave. Guides are there to support all throughout the caving activity for our safety and encouragement.

After lunch, we will be leaving this beautiful town and travel to another marvelous town in the Cordillera, Bontoc, which is the capital town of Mt. Province. Let’s take a tour at the Bontoc Museum, where the museum itself is patterned after a traditional Ifugao hut. The museum's collection includes traditional costumes, hunting and farming tools, and turn-of-the-century photographs of the Ifugao, headhunter warriors and their prizes, and American missionaries trying to convert the natives. We will end our day at Banaue home stay and rest for another adventure for tomorrow.

Accommodation: Homestay

Meals included: B, L D

Transport: Van or Jeepney

Hiking time: 2-3 hrs of caving at Sumaguing cave

DAY 7

Tappiyah Falls in Batad; Overnight Stay in the Rice Terraces

The Banaue adventure starts with the glimpse of monumental structures by its own natural form. Be amazed by the "Eight wonder of the world" – our own Banaue rice terraces. In Tagalog, “Hagdan Hagdang Palayan ng Banaue,” which are 2,000-year-old terraces that were carved into the mountains of Ifugao in the Philippines by ancestors of the indigenous people. The terraces are 1500 metres (5000 ft) above sea level. They are fed by an ancient irrigation system from the rainforests above the terraces. Our Rice Terraces tour continues as we visit a UNESCO World Heritage site, the Batad rice terraces. Batad rice terraces is the highest and the most scenic view point of the Banaue rice terraces and can be dubbed as a "stairway to heaven". We will do a hike to Tappiyah Falls and enjoy our packed lunch at the site. This waterfall is found at the bottom of the terraces where we can take a cold dip and rest for a while as we indulge in this beautiful scenery before heading back to our homestay in Batad.

Accommodation: Homestay

Meals included: B, L, D

Transport: Van

Hiking time: 3-4 hours trek to Tappiyah Falls

DAY 8

Hike in the Rice Terraces and Overnight in a Village

After breakfast, we will be transported back to Banaue to catch our jeepney ride to go to Cambulo village. Upon arrival, we pick up our packed lunch and start our hike all day to enjoy the best parts of the rice terraces in the region. It's an exciting 5-6 hour hike that passes through an impressive rice-terraces scenery going to Pula and Cambulo in Banaue. This is one of the farthest and most remote village in Banaue. We can take our lunch at Pula view point, take a rest and take some beautiful photos at the rice terraces. Pula itself is a tiny collection of Ifugao houses on a hilly out crop. The long day trek was all worth it because we get to see the hidden beauty of the terraces away from the crowd. We then spend the night with the locals in their village with share in the merriment with the village children and adults.

Accommodation: Homestay

Meals included: B, L, D

Transport: Van and Jeepney

Hiking time: 5-6 hrs of hiking going to Pula and Cambulo

DAY 9

The last day can be heartbreaking as we leave this wonderful beauty of mother nature. We will travel from Cambulo to Barangay Cabangan via a 25 minutes trek, where our service vehicle awaits us. We will be traveling back to Manila as we enjoy the mountain scenery along the way. Our estimated arrival time is 9 pm.

Accommodation: Hotel in Manila

Transport: Van and Jeepney

Hiking time: 25 minutes

Note: For those doing the Part 2 only of the tour, day 9 would be the day of your arrival in Manila (July 8 and October 14).

Part 2: Beach Trip in Palawan

DAY 10

Coron City Tour

After breakfast, we board our flight to Coron for our beach trip. We will arrive by mid-day, rest and then do a city tour of Coron which includes a walk up to the famous view point in the town and Makinit hot spring.

Accommodation: Homestay by the water

DAY 11

Island Camping

Today, we venture out to stay overnight at a nearby island. But before the boat ride, we will go to the wet market and shop like a local for our food for the duration of our stay on the island. Our boat crew will be cooking tasty meals aboard the boat. Activities for the day include snorkeling, relaxing, enjoying a coconut, or simply doing nothing.

Accommodation: Basic beach cottages

Meals: B, L, D

DAY 12

Island Camping

Another day on the island is spent relaxing, snorkeling and enjoying the paradise experience. After lunch, we visit an island en route to the town.

Optional: For those who wish to dive, today will be the day to do it as an optional activity. You will leave around 6 am to join a diving trip back in town.

Accommodation: Homestay by the water

Meals: B, L

DAY 13

Island hopping Part 1

Today we, will visit a number of islands and beaches to see the best parts of Coron including a stop over at Kayangan Lake and Twin Lagoons where you can take the iconic shots that made Coron popular.

Accommodation: Hotel in Manila

Meals: B, L

DAY 14

Island hopping Part 2

One more chance to enjoy world-class snorkeling and beaching in Palawan as we visit 3-4 islands.

Accommodation: Homestay by the water

Meals: B, L

DAY 15

After breakfast, we catch our flight back to Manila. You have free time the rest of the day.

DAY 16

Fly home anytime.