Itinerary
- Day 1
Manila
You'll arrive in Manila and head to a welcome meeting at 6 pm to meet your local leader and other travelers. If you get there early, walk through Rizal Park in the city center to get oriented. Later in the evening, grab dinner with the group and try local dishes like adobo and buko pie.
Optional Activities
- Walk around Rizal Park
- Dinner and sample regional specialities like adobo and buko pie
Landmarks/POIs Rizal Park - Day 2
Manila to Mt. Pinatubo
After breakfast, you'll take a guided tour through multicultural Manila, sampling food in the Muslim Quarter and Chinatown. Then it's time to hop on an eco-friendly bamboo bike and ride around Intramuros, the historic Spanish walled area from the 16th century. Following lunch, you'll drive toward Mt. Pinatubo and check into a local guesthouse with a swimming pool.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Guided tour of multicultural Manila
- Food tastings in the Muslim Quarter
- Food tastings in Chinatown
- Eco-friendly bamboo bike tour around Intramuros
- Lunch
Landmarks/POIs Intramuros Mt. Pinatubo - Day 3
Mt. Pinatubo Crater Hike
Head to Crow Valley early to see views of the Mt. Pinatubo crater. A 4WD jeep takes you to the trailhead where you'll do a challenging hike up to the crater lake at the summit, which formed after the 1991 eruption and sits below dramatic cliffs. Afterward, you'll have a traditional lunch in Tarukan Village with the Aetas people, eating the meal off banana leaves with your hands. Later you'll return to the guesthouse for the night.
- Meals
- Lunch (Traditional meal with the Aetas community in Tarukan Village, laid out on banana leaves)
Included Activities
- Mt Pinatubo crater hike
- Traditional lunch in Tarukan Village with the Aetas community
Landmarks/POIs Crow Valley Mt. Pinatubo Crater Lake Tarukan Village - Day 4
Mt. Pinatubo to Banaue
You'll wake early and travel through rice fields and mango plantations toward Banaue. Stop in Bacolor to visit the local church half-buried by lahar from Mt. Pinatubo, where locals still worship by climbing through upper windows. After a lunch stop, you'll arrive in Banaue in the late afternoon with your evening free to rest.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit to Bacolor church buried by lahar
- Lunch at local restaurant
Optional Activities
- Dinner recommendations - ask leader about pinikipan (local chicken dish)
Landmarks/POIs Bacolor Church - Day 5
Banaue Rice Terraces Trek
This morning, catch a local jeepney to Sadel and start your trek through the UNESCO-listed Banaue rice terraces, built by the Ifugao people over 2,000 years ago. You'll stop for lunch in Batad where you can talk with Ifugao villagers and join in rice activities. Then return to Banaue in the late afternoon with the rest of the day to yourself.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Banaue rice terraces trek from Sadel to Batad
- Lunch in Batad
- Opportunity to talk with local Ifugao people
- Rice activities in Batad
Landmarks/POIs Banaue Rice Terraces Sadel Batad - Day 6
Banaue to Sagada
You'll travel to Sagada for a half-day guided tour. Visit the Hanging Coffins, an ancient burial tradition with coffins suspended on cliffs, and the Lumiang Cave which holds coffins over 500 years old. Next, go to the home of Spanish photographer Eduardo Masferre where family members show you rare photos from the 1930s. Your afternoon is free to check out coffee plantations, local farms, or just relax.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Sagada half-day guided tour
- Visit to Hanging Coffins
- Visit to Lumiang Cave
- Visit to Eduardo Masferre's home
Optional Activities
- Explore Sagada coffee plantations and sample Sagada coffee
- Explore local farms
- Relax and prepare for next day's trekking
Landmarks/POIs Hanging Coffins of Sagada Lumiang Cave Eduardo Masferre's Home - Day 7
Bontoc Maligcong Rice Terrace Trek
Get ready for another rice terrace trek starting in Bontoc and hiking along the Maligcong Rice Terrace to Faverey village. A Kalinga local guide shares stories about their traditions and heritage. At Faverey, you'll learn about the village's unique tradition of living with deceased family members. After hiking back to Bontoc and having lunch, you'll return to Sagada.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Maligcong Rice Terrace trek from Bontoc to Faverey village
- Guided tour with Kalinga local guide
- Visit to Faverey village
- Lunch in Bontoc
Landmarks/POIs Maligcong Rice Terraces Bontoc Faverey Village - Day 8
Sagada to Baguio
Drive to Baguio, known as the City of Pines. Your afternoon is free to explore things like Mirador Hill and Eco Park with its Japanese-inspired garden, or the Igorot Stone Kingdom. Later, the group gathers for an interactive dinner with a famous local chef. You'll do a market walk with your leader to learn about key Cordillera ingredients, then join the chef and his wife for a live cooking demonstration before eating the grilled food you helped prepare.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Interactive dinner with famous local chef including live cooking demonstration and grilled dishes)
Included Activities
- Cooking class and dinner with famous local chef
- Market walk with leader to learn about Cordillera ingredients
- Live cooking demonstration
- Group dinner
Optional Activities
- Walk around Mirador Hill and Eco Park
- Explore Igorot Stone Kingdom
Landmarks/POIs Mirador Hill and Eco Park Igorot Stone Kingdom - Day 9
Baguio Art and Weaving Studios
Spend today exploring Baguio's art and culture by visiting local art studios and galleries with traditional and contemporary work. Stop by Harvest Hub Studio to learn how a foundation supports women weavers in the Cordilleras through entrepreneurship training. You'll meet local artists, learn about their craft, and can try some traditional techniques. Head back to Manila in the afternoon and join the group for a farewell dinner.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to local art studios and galleries
- Harvest Hub Studio tour
- Meeting with local artists
- Opportunity to try traditional weaving techniques
Optional Activities
- Farewell dinner with group
Landmarks/POIs Harvest Hub Studio - Day 10
Tour End
Your Philippine adventure ends after breakfast today. If you'd like to stay longer in Manila, contact your booking agent beforehand to arrange extra accommodation.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Extend stay in Manila (requires pre-arrangement with booking agent)
