Wanderlands Philippines - 12 Days

Customer Reviews

• EG

  Emer

  · April 29th, 2025
  Excellent itinerary and lots of activities to do in each location.The Philippines is a stunning destination for any traveller.An area for improvement; would be the group being informed earlier during the day re plans for the next day and restaurants for group dinners that night,as I know this became an issue for those who had dietary requirements, as we often were told lastminute.
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  Trip date: April 2025
• A

  Arne

  · April 27th, 2025
  I would recommend the trip to the Philippines to experienced backpackers. Whether it was the diving with whale sharks, the sardines, the trips to the waterfalls or the canyoning alternative, as the main tour was being cleaned at the time we traveled, I thought it was great. I thought it was even better than the main tour, which you can see on YouTube etc. I would have liked there to have been more activities as I personally got bored in between, but there are enough alternatives here that you can do at your own expense. As a constructive point, I would have liked Jastwan to have been more responsive to the group and explained more so that the participants knew what was needed where and how. After talking to him, this improved considerably, so in my opinion there is nothing to criticize here. Nevertheless, I got to know Jastwan as a very likeable Filipino. I found him very funny and got on very well with him. If you want, he can also show you one or two good spots in the city or on the tour. He also made a lot of effort when it came to vegetarian alternatives, especially on the last evening when he changed the restaurant so that there was something for everyone. I found this very positive, as it meant we had a nice end to the trip together. All in all, I can recommend this trip with a clear conscience and felt that I was in good hands. There were many wonderful and unforgettable moments. Thanks you!
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  Wanderlands Travel commented on this review

  Hey Arne! Thank you for your feedback. We're pleased to hear that you enjoyed your time in the Philippines. We try to find a balance between activities and free time so all travellers can have time to explore for themselves as well as enjoy all the... Show more
  Trip date: April 2025
• RM

  Rathini

  · April 26th, 2025
  Rate the trip, wouldn't rate the tour leader. The trip: beautiful locations and amazing activities. I thought there were a few days too much scheduled beach time: a 10 am start to 7pm finish at the same beach very much eats into any personal evening activities, IMO. But these can be opted out of as needed. Rate the trip, wouldn't rate the tour leader. The trip: beautiful locations and amazing activities. The tour leader: rude, neglectful, only started briefing the group on the day ahead with extensive prompting and often left out pertinent details like the need to bring cash, location and timing of toilet stops. At one point, he refused multiple times to give details about the length of a walk – finally claiming it was 2 minutes when it was 25 - which resulted in me aggravating a foot injury that I’d told him about 4 days before and was actively opting out of activities to manage. This isn't even covering his sexual innuendos at female group members, and jokes about and encouragement re: accessing sex work services. Apart from the disrespectful way he went about it, it's illegal in the Philippines. Future travellers: take note if he doesn't tell you this.
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  Trip date: April 2025
• 

  Serena

  · April 26th, 2025
  While some reviews from Jess, H, and Lena paint a positive picture, it's important to note that these were not entirely truthful. They were guilted by the tour leader, Jastwan, into writing more favorable accounts than they expressed throughout the tour Here’s what actually happened on the tour: • The group was actively encouraged to bring people back to the hotels, with Jastwan saying that "anything goes in the Philippines." He then shared with the group one breakfast that one male traveler in the group had brought three sex workers back to his room the night before . Gleeful that someone had followed through on his previous encouragement to do so • For the canyoning activity, we were told the main fall was closed but that an alternative version would be offered. What wasn’t mentioned is that this version was in a completely different location, requiring a 90-minute drive instead of 30. We only found this out once we were already en route and heading in the opposite direction from what we expected. It was an alarming experience to be in a van travelling in the wrong direction. • Vegetarians in the group were repeatedly mocked by Jastwan to the rest of the group throughout the trip • Dietary requirements weren’t fully communicated to the local cooking class. The hosts later told us they could have easily accommodated us if they had known in advance. • Two group members were lifted in an awkward argument with bar staff after Jastwan left without settling his bill. The staff tried to make the group pay for drinks they hadn't ordered. • One participant was injured during an activity and received no assistance or support afterward. • Two girls were left behind in the water during an activity and genuinely felt as if they were abandoned to drown. • We were given very little information on where we were going each day or what time we needed to be ready. The lack of communication made it stressful and chaotic. • The hotels we stayed in were poorly prepared: one had no soap, another had only one towel for two people. • Personally, I experienced inappropriate and uncomfortable comments from Jastwan, which made me feel disrespected and unsafe. By all means, go to the Philippines and enjoy the activities—it's a beautiful country with warm, welcoming people. But absolutely do not go with this tour group. Jastwan is not representative of the kind-hearted Filipino spirit. In fact, based on the number of negative, disparaging comments he made, it often felt like he actively disliked the country he was representing. That’s not the vibe anyone wants on a holiday.
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  Trip date: April 2025
• JB

  JESSICA

  · April 25th, 2025
  What an amazing place, the Philippines. It was a jam packed 12 days getting to experience what this beautiful place has to offer. I was very happy with all destinations selected for this tour, along with the locations of accommodation at each place. The inclusions were great, everything you would want to do and more. Only having a few optional extras also meant you didn’t have to budget or worry while travelling. If anything, there was very little down time, which I would’ve liked. Maybe a morning or afternoon of free time every third day or something so we could go explore or just relax. I also think some unorganised meals would’ve been good, so we could eat at places we might have seen or at different times. Highlights were snorkelling with turtles, sunsets at Moalboal, both boat day trips and of course the kayaking! Lowlights were lack of communication from tour guide - a lot of questions had to be asked where I would have expected this information to be given freely and at least a day in advance. I would however recommend this tour for anyone visiting Philippines for the first time and feeling bit overwhelmed on where to go/what to do. I will definitely be back to visit more islands, there’s so much to do and see. Thanks to Jastwan and Wanderlands for the opportunity to explore and creating some amazing memories.
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  Wanderlands Travel commented on this review

  Hey Jessica, thank you for getting back to us about your experience in the Philippines! All guests are free to explore restaurants for themselves as no restaurants or activities are compulsory. All travellers can eat wherever they want and have as much... Show more
  Trip date: April 2025
• 

  Humera

  · April 25th, 2025
  The tour was filled with so many activities and amazing sights to see. The people are amazing and all very friendly. Our guide jatswan was great and helped us with all our questions and day to day adventures. A great experience!
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  Wanderlands Travel commented on this review

  Hey Humera! Glad to hear you enjoyed your time with Justwan and the gang! hope to see you out this way again in the future - Bali maybe? Safe travels, Team Wanderlands!
  Trip date: April 2025
• LT

  Lena

  · April 24th, 2025
  The tour is very varied. You see many beautiful places. There could have been more activities. However, there was definitely enough time to relax. The tour is suitable for experienced travelers. Our highlight was lunch on a desert island. We had a great time in the Philippines.
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  Wanderlands Travel commented on this review

  Hey Lena thank you for getting back to us, we are all really pleased to hear that you enjoyed your tour. We like to make our experiences suitable for everyone from first time travellers to experienced backpackers so we are pleased to hear that you had... Show more
  Trip date: April 2025
• 

  Gabe

  · April 11th, 2025
  Fantastic trip, great company and tour guide!!
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  Wanderlands Travel commented on this review

  Thanks for the props Gabe! see you soon brother!
  Trip date: April 2025
• CW

  Claire

  · April 10th, 2025
  Dian has been an absolute star! I can’t recommend Wanderlands enough. From start to finish it has been an amazing experience and meeting lots of new friends. Dian was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly and helpful in every way. She truly was a friend/family/advisor. Dians enthusiasm was contagious, making every stop feel special. Whether we were exploring the stunning beaches of Palawan, or discovering the vibrant streets of Manila, Dian ensured that we made the most of every moment. The local dining experiences were a highlight, as Dian guided us to some of the best local eateries, allowing us to taste authentic Filipino cuisine. Safety and comfort were clearly priorities, as Dian made sure we were well taken care of throughout the journey. Overall, our trip was unforgettable, If you’re looking for an incredible adventure in the Philippines, I highly recommend booking with them! Thank you for an amazing experience!
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  Wanderlands Travel commented on this review

  Hey Claire! Authentic dining experiences are one of my favourite parts of travel and you can always trust Dian to know the spot! Glad to hear you had such an amazing time!
  Trip date: April 2025
• CW

  Christian

  · April 10th, 2025
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  I had Dian as my tour guide She was outstanding, I felt comfortable and she managed to create a really good group atmosphere She always had an open ear for every question and through her stories I took away so much more from this country than I ever thought I would! It was a wonderful time for me that I will never forget.
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  Wanderlands Travel commented on this review

  Great picture Christian! Looks like a fun group! We're so pleased to hear you had such an enriching experience with Dian! Safe travels and see you soooooooooon!!!
  
  Trip date: March 2025