13 Days Discover Philippines Majestic Moutain and Rice Terraces

You fly to Manila where you will be met by our taxi driver who will take you to the hotel in Manila. Manila is a metropolis of extremes and you want to experience it for a day. Hotel is located in the vibrant area Makati where there are many restaurants and bars.

Today we drive to Angeles after breakfast which takes about 2 hours. We check in early so that you have the rest of the day to explore Angeles. We can explore "walking street" in the evening with its many bars and restaurants. If you want to be physically well-prepared for the trip, many massage parlors can help you with this

To leave Angeles we have to go through the busy traffic to turn off via the main road and continue on secondary roads. The first part is hilly and has steep roads that are well paved. Then it becomes flat for a while and sometimes drive via small paths through rice fields and small villages. Before we go into the mountains, we will first have lunch, and then drive the winding mountain road to Baguio. The hotel is located on the edge of the city with the possibility to visit the always lively center in the evening.

We leave Baguio and soon drive into the high mountains. Here we get a breathtaking view of the Pulog mountains. The mountain road is quiet, the river sometimes flows along the road and the landscape becomes rougher. Tonight we spend the night in the village of Sagada. The guesthouse where we sleep is a simple but clean accommodation.

Today we drive into the mountains of Ilocos to enjoy the views and many winding bends. After a few hours we descend and drive towards the coastal road to follow it to the town of Vigan.
Vigan is the best preserved Spanish colonial city in the Philippines and even in all of Asia. It is like going back in time. The residents are proud of their special history and culture. Actually, the colonial city center of Vigan should no longer exist. It miraculously escaped destruction during the Second World War. Japanese troops fled the city, just before the Americans wanted to cover Vigan with a bomb blanket. The Allies therefore aborted the mission at the last moment. The sixteenth-century Spanish colonial city center of Vigan is on the Unesco World Heritage List. The buildings are a mix of Filipino, Chinese and European architecture. In the evening you can enjoy a dinner on the central square of the city.
We spend the night in a beautiful hotel, a Spanish colonial building in the center with shops and restaurants just around the corner.

Today's route goes inland over the Cordillera mountain range. We drive through this special mountain landscape that has actually had a well-paved road for a few years, but there are still parts that are not finished and sometimes after the rainy season there is still a lot of mud/sand on the road. The more than 100 kilometers through this rugged mountainous area with its many views will sometimes force you to stop to take a picture. Our overnight stay tonight is a new and clean hotel with a swimming pool and a fine restaurant.

We drive further north through vast mountainous area along the Chico river and later Abulog river, the road is often well-paved and has many beautiful bends that go through a remote wooded area. When we turn off the engines, the various birds that live here will sing to you. We leave the mountains behind us and before we reach the northern coastal road we drive off-road through some villages and the many rice fields that are here. The coastal road with its 1300-meter-long viaduct takes us with its many bends to the town of Pagudpud. Hotel with swimming pool within walking distance of the beach.

We drive eastwards back via the Patapat viaduct, the coastal road of Pasaleng Bay. We will regularly turn off the main road and drive through various small villages and the vast rice fields on and off-road. We leave Ilicos Region and drive via Portugal and Plampona to Santa Ana which is located in Cagayan Valley. This region is becoming increasingly popular among kite and windsurfers on the very tip of the mainland. Our hotel is located directly on the beach and also has a swimming pool to relax.

We first drive back a bit on the main road. Then we will drive via various secondary roads, parts of which are off-road, through the very extensive rice fields. Parts of the region where we drive are still backward and that is reflected in the houses in which they live. About an hour before Tuguegarao we make a stop at Quibal where we can visit a seven-room limestone cave with chapel. Our hotel is located in the center so that we can walk over the night market in the evening and enjoy the local dishes.

We first drive back a bit on the main road. Then we will drive via various secondary roads, parts of which are off-road, through the very extensive rice fields. Parts of the region where we drive are still backward and that is reflected in the houses in which they live. About an hour before Tuguegarao we make a stop at Quibal where we can visit a seven-room limestone cave with chapel. Our hotel is located in the center so that we can walk over the night market in the evening and enjoy the local dishes.

After breakfast we walk up again. Our porters deliver the luggage, then we drive south again and then turn east. The middle part of this stage is flat, but will change again later. The mountains are in front of us again and on well-paved roads we drive up through the Quirino Mountains, winding with many bends, and then towards the coast. This coastal road with its breathtaking views takes us to Baler. At first glance an average town, but when you go to the beach you will find many surfers and nice restaurants.
Our luxury hotel with a swimming pool is located directly on the boulevard by the sea.

The last leg of the tour back to Angeles goes through the Aurora Mountains. Again we will drive a lot of bends until we leave the mountains behind us and we are swallowed up by the busy traffic that brings us to Angeles. We stay in the same hotel as at the beginning of the trip.

By taxi, you will first drive from Angeles to Manila airport in 2 hours and then fly back to your destination.