18 Days Manila Philippines, Banaue, Cambulo with Batad Culture and Heritage Trip Package

The Clipper Hotel Makati 3

Mabuhay ! Welcome to Manila. An intriguing, bustling and overwhelmingly chaotic city, Manila is the worthy capital of the Philippines. With contradictions and surprises around every corner, Manila is packed full of things to see, do, taste and experience. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight check with hotel reception for more information and have your insurance details and next of kin information ready for collection. A unique mixture of the modern and historic, Manila has both sights like the walled city of Intramural, built by the Spaniards in the 16th Century, and the Mall of Asia, a shopping center that spreads for nearly a kilometre in length. A unique way to get around Manila and the Philippines is by jeep, colorfully and flamboyantly decorated vehicles originally made from jeeps left by American troops after the war.

Banaue Hotel And Youth Hostel 3

It/’s an early start today as you leave Manila by private van and travel to Banaue, settling in for a 10 hour drive get out your book, get to know your fellow travelers, listen to your new favorite album, or watch out the window for your first taste of the Philippines outside of the metropolis. The isolated and quaint town of Banaue features markets and a local museum, but the main draw card of the area is the rice terraces.

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Leave you main luggage in Banaue and pack a day pack with your necessities for the next few days, then drive 40 minutes to the start of the trek. Over the next 3 days and 2 nights, you/’ll hike through rice fields, forest and villages, staying overnight in local Ifugao villages where people farm rice the way their ancestors did 2,000 years ago. On this first day of the trek, you/’ll walk for approximately 4 hours on a mixture of up and down, but mostly flat terrain. Start from Kinakin and we take a short drive up a paved road to get to our start of the trail. The next 3 hours will be on a rather flat path, and the last hour includes steps down to the guesthouse in Cambulo.

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With the sound of animals as your alarm clock, wake up to a fueling breakfast, and then begin the second day of your walk. Walk a total of approximately 3 hours to Batad Village, where you/’ll spend the night. Today involves some serious walking and can be especially challenging for those with limited experience in hiking. The trail is a combination of up and downhill, and there are sections where you/’ll walk on the edge of steep rice terraces, balancing on narrow edges of concrete or natural stone. Sticks are used for balance plant them in the rice terraces to help your progress and the local guides will assist you if you need. The incredible views are more than worth it though, and you can also use the time to learn about the customs and culture of the local Ifugao people from your guide.

Banaue Hotel And Youth Hostel 3

You/’ll start the third day of the trek with a short final walk of approximately 30 minutes up to Sadel. Then you/’ll probably be happy to not use your legs for a bit as you/’re transported back to Banaue by road (approximately 1 hour). Here you/’ll be reunited with your main luggage back at the guesthouse. Enjoy plenty of time to freshen up, then later in the afternoon head out to the Hiwang Village. Here you/’ll find wonderful views overlooking the rice terraces, Banaue town, and the Cordillera Mountains. Your leg muscles haven/’t done all their work quite yet you/’ll also wander around traditional Ifugao houses that have been converted into mini museums. Here you can discover the traditional culture of the local people, including a multitude of wooden carved rice gods and decorative skulls.

Banaue Hotel And Youth Hostel 3

Leave the rice terraces behind and travel into scenic alpine mountains by jeep. There/’ll be plenty of time to stop off at the many viewpoints along the way and capture those priceless photos of the rice terraces below. Along the way you/’ll also pause at Bontoc, the capital of the Mountain Province (2 hours from Banaue). Here there/’ll be time for some lunch and a visit to the Bontoc Museum. This wonderful museum, laid out in the style of a traditional Ifuago house, is packed with captivating memories from the past of each of the region/’s main tribes. There are turn of the century photographs of headhunters with their loot, hunting implements, baskets for carrying severed heads, traditional costumes, farming tools, musical instruments, jewelry, and more.

Banaue Hotel And Youth Hostel 3

Today you/’ll get trekking again with a 3 hour walk to the Hanging Coffins in Echo Valley. Pass by the town cemetery, the American Anglican St. Mary/’s Cathedral built by missionaries, then continue into Echo Valley. Trek down the side of some cliffs, maybe testing out the valley/’s name, before reaching an unusual burial site. Dangling high up on the limestone cliffs, the coffins are both mystifying and eerie in their presence. The Igorot practice of attaching the coffins to the mountain comes from a belief that underground burials isolate a person from the natural world and the gods. Continue on your trek, crossing an ankle deep stream, and pass by a coffee plantation and a small waterfall. The trek then ends at the Sagada weaving factory, a local pioneer in the industry having been making products since 1968. If you/’d like to delve deeper into the local burial practices, this afternoon you can take local transport to a valley view point across to the Sugong Hanging Coffins, visit Lumiang Burial caves to see stacks of carved coffins, and also see the Klitepan and Kapay - aw rice terraces.

Eurotel Baguio 3

Hop on a private mini bus heading towards Baguio City. This journey takes approximately 7 hours through some of the most spectacular scenery in the Philippines. Travelling through the Cordillera Central, the highest and largest mountain range in the Philippines, pass peaks of incredible heights (and drops), dotted all over with small villages and terrace upon terrace of rice and other crops. This is one journey you don/’t want to sleep through. Baguio City was established by American troops in 1900 and has become a popular destination for both travelers and local tourists seeking a retreat from the heat of the lowlands. It/’s now a bustling urban center offering town comforts high in the Cordillera Mountains.

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An early start by private mini bus (it can get cold on the bus so pack a light warm layer) takes you to the small town of Capas (approximately 5 hours). Here you/’ll meet your guides and prepare for the trek to stunning Mt Pinatubo, which erupted as recently as 1991. By the time the explosions had finished, the top of the mountain was gone, replaced by a large lake-filled crater. Jump in a 4 x 4 and travel along a bumpy, dusty road (bring a scarf and sunglasses to protect your eyes) for around an hour before disembarking and starting your trek. You/’ll hike for around 2.5 hours to reach the crater. On the way you may meet some of the indigenous people of the area, the Aetas, who have lived on the slopes of the volcano for several centuries, surviving as hunter-gatherers in the dense jungles.

The Clipper Hotel Makati 3

Wake up in unique surroundings, soak up the views across the lake, then trek around 2.5 hours back from the campsite down the mountain. Get back in the 4 x 4 for an hour, and then transfer to a private bus to swap mountains of rock for mountains of buildings as you return to Manila (approximately 3 hours). Depending on traffic you/’ll arrive in the city in the late afternoon, around 6 pm. Reacquaint yourself with the hustle and bustle of city life after all that time spent out in isolated communities, and then tonight perhaps gather together your fellow adventurers for an optional dinner in downtown Manila.

The Clipper Hotel Makati 3

Today is a free day for you head and experience this lively city however you/’d like. Remember to take a hotel business card with you to help you get back to your hotel! You might like to check out Binondo Manila/’s Chinatown, and one of the oldest in the world, or take a stroll along Roxas Boulevard in downtown Manila, full of shops, street vendors and coconut trees. If you/’re feeling like releasing your inner child, why not head to Star City a waterfront theme park with a heap of rides and attractions. Keep in mind that tonight there is another group meeting scheduled at 6 pm, where you/’ll be briefed on the next stage of your Philippines adventure. Here, you may also meet some new travel pals joining you! Afterwards, why not get acquainted with your updated travel group with a meal at a local restaurant. Your leader will know of some popular spots, but if all else fails, head down to Dampa Seaside, where the day/’s freshly caught seafood gets cooked up in myriad ways at a variety of harbor side stalls and restaurants.

Filigans Hotel 3

In the morning, take the short flight from Manila to Puerto Princesa (approximately 1.5 hours). On arrival, you/’ll instantly see the slower pace of this island compared to the busy capital. Puerto, as the locals call it, is the capital of Palawan and has been internationally recognized as the cleanest and greenest of all cities in the Philippines. You/’ll likely arrive after lunch, and if your group has time, head to the Palawan Heritage Museum, the Palaweno Brewery for a drink and the Bay walk for a stroll. Later on, travel for around 45 minutes out of Puerto Princesa to the Iwahig River, where you/’ll see fireflies glowing among the mangroves by the river. It/’s a truly magical experience and the perfect way to spend an evening.

Villa Del Carmen Resort & Restaurant 3

Head out this morning in a private minivan and drive to Sabang, which should take around 2 hours. Sabang is most famous for its Subterranean River that/’s eight kilometres in length and passes through a magnificent limestone cave that opens onto the ocean. Jump into a boat with a local guide and explore this great cave complex and remember to bring a camera. After lunch you may want to embark on an optional mangrove boat trip which gets you into the heart of the thick mangrove forests. You will travel in small traditional boats down the river with plenty of opportunity of wildlife spotting.

Villa Del Carmen Resort & Restaurant 3

This morning you meet up with your local guide who/’ll be walking with the group to meet the Batak Tribe one of about 70 indigenous communities of the Philippines. The trek will take around two to three hours in total, and you/’ll leave early in the morning to avoid the afternoon heat. The trek is generally quite flat with only small rises along the way, but the path is quite rocky so shoes with a good grip is recommended. There are quite a few river crossings today, so packing some sandals with a back strap and decent grip would be ideal if you don/’t want to get your shoes wet. If you/’re lucky enough to be there in the right season, you may be able to eat the fruit directly from the cashew trees.

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Say farewell to San Rafael Beach today and travel to El Nido in a private minivan (approximately 5 hours). With a backdrop of marble cliffs to its white sandy beaches and crystal-clear waters, El Nido town is the base for many island adventures. There are over 50 beaches to discover that are all accessible by the boats docked. It/’s quite easy to pick an isolated beach, book a local boat, pack some food and drinks, and head out on your own adventure. The afternoon is free for you to wander around town, have a drink at one of the many beach side restaurants, do a spot of shopping or count how many different colored tricycles you can spot on the streets.

Ipil Suites 3

This morning head off on a full day snorkeling trip, island hopping off El Nido. Pass by jagged limestone islands, rocky coves, virgin rain forest and white sandy beaches. The snorkeling is just as spectacular, with beautiful coral and many different species of colorful fish. After an included lunch, venture out on various trips to lagoons throughout the afternoon. Your evening is then free to do as you wish.

Ipil Suites 3

You/’ll have plenty of free time today in El Nido for beach loving activities. If you feel like some more adventure, then hire a kayak from El Nido town or jump on a boat out to one of the lagoons. You/’ll kayak on turquoise, crystal clear waters, lagoons with dramatic cliffs or past pristine, untouched beaches and see a plethora of tropical fish. If you want to see a picture-perfect beach, take an optional trip to Nacpan Beach. White sand and lined with palm trees, this is another beach in paradise and worth the drive out of town. Your leader can help you organize transport here if you are interested. Otherwise, hire a bike and get pedaling around El Nido town.

With no activities planned for today, you are free to leave the accommodation at any time. This doesn/’t mean your Philippines adventure has to come to an end! If you would like to spend more time in El Nido, we/’ll be happy to organize additional accommodation.