The Philippines is an archipelago of 7,000 lush, tropical islands of great natural beauty, fascinating colonial remnants and some of the best beaches and diving in Asia. The Philippines features jade-colored rice fields, long, pristine beaches, clear turquoise waters, active volcanoes and rainforest-covered mountains. As one of the most diverse nations in Asia, the Philippines boasts fascinating tribal people in the more remote areas of northern Luzon, and in Mindanao, the southern Philippines, where few tourists ever venture.
Europeans first encountered the Philippines during Magellan's voyage to circumnavigate the globe in the early 1500s, when the archipelago was a disparate collection of tribal kingdoms. Subsequent Spanish missions succeeded in uniting the kingdoms under the Spanish flag, naming the country "Las Filipinas" after King Philip II. Colonized by Spain for over 300 years, then by the United States for another 40, the Philippines was a major Pacific theater of World War II, as the Allies sought to overturn the Japanese occupation. In 1946, the Philippines finally became an independent republic. Centuries of Western colonization have deeply influenced the culture, creating a unique amalgam of traditional Eastern practices and modern Western sensibilities.
Despite centuries of colonial rule, Filipinos are exceedingly friendly and outgoing and very welcoming to visitors. About 80 percent of its 94-million-strong population is Roman Catholic, and the Philippines is one of the largest English speaking nations in the world.
Explore in-depth information, experiences and highlights by navigating to specific regions using the links below on the right.
With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.
With Remote Lands you'll travel with people who have made Asia the solitary focus of their own lifelong adventure. As our guest, in the continent that our north American founders Catherine and Jay have adored and explored for decades, you'll discover Asia on a journey that is completely, authentically your own, adapted from our own remarkable experiences and adventures over the years.
Browse a month-by-month breakdown of suggested itineraries, seasonal activities, climate considerations and festivals.
Remote Lands
Choose somewhere you’d like to visit, something you’re interested in, and when you’re planning to travel and we’ll suggest sample itineraries to inspire your bespoke journey.
Multi-Country Specialists
An Asia-focused magazine brought to you by Remote Lands – a platform for adventure, luxury, and authenticity from experts and explorers around the continent.
From wreck diving warships to lounging on the beaches of Palawan, the many islands of the Philippines make for the perfect post-Covid adventure.
The Philippines’ spectacular Banaue rice terraces are over 2000 years old, and home to the Ifugao former headhunters. The perfect place for an exhilarating and exhausting adventure.
Take a break from the beach and check out these five cute critters found everywhere from Bohol to Palawan.
