The Essentials of the Philippines

You arrive at Manila International Airport where you will be greeted by your private driver and transferred to your hotel. Your holiday in the Philippines begins now! After a briefing with our representative, you spend the rest of your day at leisure. If not too tired from your flight, why not stroll through Intramuros, the old quarter of Manila and the heritage of a rich Spanish colonial past.

This morning, you leave Manila and set off for the first step of your holiday in the Philippines: a 5-hour drive towards Baguio, nicknamed the “Summer Capital of the Philippines” due to its cool climate. Upon arrival in Baguio at the end of the afternoon, settle into your hotel. You can also take a walk around and visit the Baguio City Market and the city centre to see the main sights (Baguio Cathedral, Burnham Park, etc..)

After breakfast, you leave for Sagada along the famous Mountain Trail, a magnificent road which runs along the mountains of Luzon. The drive takes approximately 7 hours, but there are many photo stops you can take along the way to break up the journey. Upon arrival in Sagada, you visit the surrounding areas and stop for a tour of the sacred burial caves and hanging coffins, before continuing to a weaving workshop and visiting the Echo Valley with its unique landscapes.

After breakfast at your guesthouse, your driver picks you up and you take the road to Bontoc, where you visit the Ethnological Museum to learn more about rich history of the region and its various ethnic groups. You then continue for 2.5 hours on the road to Banaue via the famous Mont Pulis Pass. En route you stop at a viewpoint at the top off the valley which offers a breathtaking view of the famous rice terraces of Banaue which are undoubtedly an iconic landscape of the Philippines because they are so impressive. Feel free to let your private driver know if there are any other stops you would like to make on the way.