14-Day Philippines Tour

Meet your adventure leader and fellow travellers at our hostel in bustling downtown Manila for a trip briefing to start your Philippines Adventure Tour. Hop on Jeepneys, Manila’s most colourful form of public transport, which will whisk you to all the must-see city sights including cathedrals, markets and forts. Try the local fastfood at Jollibees – we’re sure the colonel would approve of their spicy chicken. Your adventure starts in typical Dragon Trip style – fast paced – as tonight it’s already time to hop on a VIP sleeper coach heading North to Batad Village. Reclining seats, blankets and aircon mean you’ll be asleep in no time. Wake in the morning to discover yourself a world away from the noise and choas of Manila, in a tiny, remote village settled in a lush amphitheatre of rice terraces.

Grab yourself a fresh coconut juice and enjoy the laid back vibes in this rural Unesco World Heritage Site. Follow your adventure leader on a hike to the Tappiya Waterfall, where a dip in the plunge pool at the bottom of the falls is the perfect way to cool off. A sense of community is extremely important to the Ifugao people who live in Batad and they are very welcoming of visitors, so once back from the falls, take a stroll through the village, explore some of the local stores and get to know some of the friendly faces.

Traverse the 2,000 year old rice terraces and arrive at a view point which allows you to gaze in awe at the full amphitheatre of the terraces – our team rate this as one of the most stunning views across all Dragon Trips. Continue your journey North to the rural village of Sagada. The un-missable activity this afternoon is a visit to the site of its hanging coffins, which hang from the cliff faces in the countryside outside the village. This is a traditional way of interring the deceased that is still used to this day in this part of the Philippines.

This morning’s drive to Vigan is one of the most memorable journeys of your adventure, as the high mountain passes provide lovely views of the forested landscapes below. It’s another dramatic change of scenery as you arrive in Vigan, one of the best preserved Spanish colonial towns in Asia and the second UNESCO World Heritage Site you’ll visit in as many days. Take a guided walk through the cobbled streets of the old town stopping at rustic, Spanish townhouses, churches and plazas.

There are over 7,500 islands in the Philippines, so having spent 4 days on Luzon, the largest and most populous island, it’s now time to start exploring some of the other ones as you board a flight to Bohol. Bohol is a small Island in the central Visayas region. It’s known for its coral reefs and unusual geological formations – most notably the Chocolate Hills. Once you arrive it’s time to hit the beach – stretch out on the white sands or take a dip in the crystal clear waters!

This morning you can opt to go stand-up paddle boarding on Bohol’s Loboc River. After a quick lesson you’ll be standing up in no time, giving you the ability to explore the nature and wildlife of this meandering river. Next up is an unmissable activity to see the smallest primate in the world, the Philippine Tarsier, at one of the island’s protected wildlife sanctuaries. These small furry friends, known as ‘mawumag’ in the local language, are endemic to this part of the Philipinnes. Move on to see the Chocolate Hills, geological formations dotted throughout the Island named after the grasses growing on the earth mounds which turn brown during the dry season. Then it’s back down to the beach to catch the sunset.

Board a ferry for the short crossing across the Tuburan Straits to Cebu, one of the larger islands which is famed for its spectacular coral reef dive sites and white sandy beaches. We head straight to the backpacker Mekka of Moalboal, a small village located on Cebu’s craggy Western coastline. Spend the afternoon on the beach then join the party once the sun goes down in one of the many shoreside bars!

This morning you can opt to try scuba diving with a beginners’ introduction to this aquatic sport. The half day course will allow you to safely try 2 scuba dives above colourful coral reefs, going to depths of 15 metres. It’s a great way to experience the underwater world without signing up to a full padi scuba diving course. Experienced divers can opt to join a wide array of dives today, including seeing the ‘sardine run’ where thousands of the small fish make stunning displays as they dart in unison through the clear waters. Unlike diving with the whale sharks in this region, these dives are ethical as the sardines naturally come to these waters year round to feed. Once back on dry land, head to the Kawasan Falls, a multi-tiered waterfall system in the South of the island.

Board a flight to Coron, another of the Philippine’s archipelagos and best known for its soaring karst peaks lapped by clear waters. The highlight this evening (pun fully intended) is a tour to see Coron’s fireflys, which buzz around the mangroves with their tails glowing a bright green creating a magical night-scape.

Choose to wake up early for a morning soak in one of the world’s few natural salt water hot springs. This rare natural phenomena is caused by an underground volcano heating the waters above. The un-missable attraction today is an island-hopping boat trip which showcases the best of Coron’s picturesque karst rock formations and stunning lagoons. The boat stops at places like the Green Lagoon, Sunset beach and Kayangan Lake, which holds the title of the “cleanest lake in the Philippines”, thanks to a group of local volunteers who work hard to keep it 100% litter and pollution free! This is a great place to try free-diving, and you can opt to take a class to learn more about the breathing and safety techiniques required. Tonight you’ll be sleeping on the wild side as you spend the night in a beach camp on one of the islands of Coron. The sounds of waves lapping on the shore will lull you to sleep in no time.

Rise with the sun and board a boat to El Nido on the Island of Palawan. We’ve saved the best until last on this trip, as the lagoons, beaches and islands lying in the bays around El Nido are frequently topping the polls as some of the most beautiful in the World. As the sun goes down on your first day in El Nido, call in at one of the many shoreside bars and get to know the other backpackers in this friendly paradise.

Of course the un-missable activity in El Nido has to be a day’s island hopping where you’ll stop at the most beautiful sea lagoons and pristine beaches. The big lagoon you’ll kayak through is perhaps the most instagramable place in the world… If taking incredible photos and making your friends jealous isn’t your thing then simply lose yourself in the awesome natural beauty of your surroundings.

Your final full day in El Nido is yours to spend as you wish – spend the day relaxing on a white sandy beach or grab a snorkel for last views of the coral reefs just beyond the shore. Come together in the evening for one last night out with your fellow travellers and hop along the many beach-side bars El Nido has to offer.

This morning your epic Philippines adventure tour though this beautiful, friendly and fun country comes to an end. We can help book your transfer to the airport, or why not opt to stay a few more nights in paradise where can assist with booking your accommodation. If you’ve been bitten by the underwater bug (not literally we hope!) then why not stay on to take your padi course, which is a 3-day course allowing you to become a qualified open water scuba diver. Our course takes place at Sabalatan, one of Palawan’s hidden jewels just around the bay from El Nido.