Duration
11 days, 10 nights
Price Per Person
Destinations

The Philippines, an archipleagic nation consisting of over 7,000 islands and islets, is a tropical destination offering some of the world's most stunning beaches, mountains, diverse cultures, indigenous traditions, and rich history. Discover some of the Philippines' classic destinations on this 11-day journey which takes you from the bustling capital Manila to stunning hand-carved ancient rice terraces in the northern mountains, indigenous cliff-side burials of Sagada, and down to the beach paradise of El Nido where sunshine, warm clear waters, and pristine white sands round out your trip.

This itinerary is an example. It’s designed to inspire you and provide you with thoughtfully curated ideas. You can choose to do this exact itinerary or completely personalize it. All trips are 100% bespoke.

Highlights

  • Ancient Rice Terraces: Carved by hand into the mountainside over 2,000 years ago by the Ifugao tribe, the dramatic Banaue rice terraces are a striking sight to behold and a must-see wonder of the world.
  • Macabre Rituals: The remote mountain town of Sagada is best known for the centuries-old coffins hanging along cliff faces.
  • Karsts and Lagoons: A beach destination worlds-away from the party-central likes of Boracay, El Nido offers stunning green-carpeted karsts, turquoise waters, and plentiful small islands with quiet beaches.

Day-by-Day

Day 1

Manila

Arrive in Manila, the dynamic capital of the Philippines, where centuries of Spanish colonial heritage meet the modern skyline, dining, and creative culture of one of Southeast Asia’s largest metropolitan areas. Upon arrival, enjoy VIP airport assistance before meeting your representative for a private transfer to your hotel. Check in and take some time to refresh before setting out on an introduction to modern Manila. Explore Bonifacio Global City (BGC), known for its contemporary architecture, public art, landscaped streets, and lively dining scene, before continuing to Makati, the country’s leading financial and commercial district and home to upscale shopping, galleries, and some of the city’s most established neighborhoods.

Hotel Options
Why We Love This Hotel
  • Outstanding Service: Guests rave about the staff at Fairmont Makati, from the front desk, concierge, and housekeeping professionals to the expert bartenders and chefs.
  • Fitness Forward: The hotel’s fitness and spa facilities are especially well-equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and creatively planned classes. The spacious fitness center alone occupies some 928 square feet.
  • Indulgent Cuisine: Fairmont Makati’s culinary offerings include “live culinary theater,” handcrafted pastries, and artisan cocktails.
See Hotel
Fairmont Makati Preferred Hotel
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: The Peninsula Manila is the most centrally located five-star hotel in Manila.

Dining: Four world-class dining and drinking options including a modern French restaurant, a restaurant serving exotic Asian fare, a 1930s Shanghai mansion style bar and an ostentatious lobby lounge.

Health and Fitness: The Peninsula Manila boasts a host of luxury well-being facilities including a spa, swimming pool, gym, steam and sauna rooms.

See Hotel
The Peninsula Manila Preferred Hotel

Day 2

Manila

Begin the day with breakfast at your hotel before setting out to explore Old Manila, where centuries of history reveal the city’s diverse cultural influences. Discover Intramuros, the historic Spanish walled city, with its colonial architecture, churches, and fortifications, before continuing to Binondo, established in 1594 and considered the world’s oldest Chinatown. Explore the bustling streets of the Quiapo District, home to lively markets and the revered Quiapo Church, offering a glimpse into the rhythms of everyday Manila. Along the way, pass the distinctive Coconut Palace, built using indigenous Philippine materials and showcasing traditional Filipino design.

Manila
Manila

Day 3

Banaue

Today, journey north to Banaue, flying to Cauayan before continuing approximately three hours by private vehicle into the mountainous landscapes of the Cordillera. Upon arrival, enjoy lunch and time to refresh at your hotel before exploring the Hapao Rice Terraces on a leisurely hike. Follow gentle paths through the lush, centuries-old terraces, passing small communities and observing local farmers tending their rice paddies. Along the way, take in sweeping views across the sculpted hillsides and gain insight into the traditional agricultural practices that have shaped this remarkable landscape for generations.

Hotel Options
About

Opened in early 2024, Banaue Grandview Hotel is the most upscale property in the Banaue area. Spacious rooms are fitted with modern comforts and amenities, hardwood floors and furnishings, and large panoramic windows that offer sweeping views of the famed rice terraces.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Day 4

Banaue

Discover the remarkable Batad Rice Terraces, part of the UNESCO-listed Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras. Carved by hand into the mountainsides, the terraces form a vast natural amphitheater, with distinctive stone-walled rice fields cascading across the valley. Spend the morning hiking at a leisurely pace through this remarkable landscape before continuing to Bangaan Village, a traditional farming community surrounded by verdant rice terraces. Wander among its traditional wooden homes, meet local residents, and learn about everyday life and the agricultural traditions that have sustained these mountain communities.

Banaue
Banaue

Day 5

Sagada

After breakfast, check out of your hotel and travel approximately three to four hours by private vehicle to Sagada, stopping en route at the Bontoc Museum for an introduction to the history, traditions, and material culture of the indigenous communities of the Cordillera. Upon arrival in Sagada, begin exploring the town’s natural landscapes and cultural heritage with a walk from historic St. Mary’s Church, through the old cemetery and into Echo Valley, where pine forests and limestone cliffs surround viewpoints overlooking Sagada’s famous hanging coffins, part of a centuries-old burial tradition. Continue through a local coffee farm and along trails leading past an underground river to Bokong Falls, before returning through rice paddies and forest paths. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit Sagada Weaving and Pottery to learn about traditional crafts before concluding at Lumiang Cave, where centuries-old burial coffins provide further insight into the ancestral customs of the region. Afterwards, transfer to your accommodation and check in.

Hotel Options
About

Located in the north of the Philippines, Masferre Country Inn and Restaurant is a very simple guesthouse in Sagada. Conveniently-located on Sagada’s prime tourist trail, the Masferre Hotel offers WiFi in public areas, laundry service, and dry cleaning, as well as a massage parlour on site, in an atmosphere reminiscent of a mountain lodge.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Day 6

Vigan

This morning, travel approximately six to seven hours by private vehicle to Vigan, one of the Philippines’ best-preserved colonial cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Upon arrival, set out on a walking tour through the historic center, exploring its cobblestone streets, centuries-old ancestral houses, historic churches, elegant plazas, and traditional shops. Along the way, admire the distinctive architecture blending Filipino, Chinese, and Spanish influences, browse locally made handicrafts, and learn about Vigan’s history as an important trading center during the Spanish colonial era. Afterwards, transfer to your hotel and check in.

Hotel Options
About

Step back in time with a stay at Hotel Luna, a unique hybrid of hotel and museum located in the city of Vigan in the Philippines. Nestled in the heart of the incredible architecture and intangible history of Vigan, a classified Heritage Village, Hotel Luna itself is a sight to be seen.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Vigan
Vigan

Day 7

Manila

This morning, travel by private vehicle to Laoag Airport for your flight to Manila. Upon arrival, meet your representative and transfer privately to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you may opt to explore Poblacion, one of Manila’s liveliest evening neighborhoods. Discover its eclectic mix of restaurants, cocktail bars, cafes, independent shops, and creative spaces, experiencing a more contemporary side of the capital and its evolving dining and nightlife scene.

Hotel Options
Why We Love This Hotel
  • Outstanding Service: Guests rave about the staff at Fairmont Makati, from the front desk, concierge, and housekeeping professionals to the expert bartenders and chefs.
  • Fitness Forward: The hotel’s fitness and spa facilities are especially well-equipped with state-of-the-art equipment and creatively planned classes. The spacious fitness center alone occupies some 928 square feet.
  • Indulgent Cuisine: Fairmont Makati’s culinary offerings include “live culinary theater,” handcrafted pastries, and artisan cocktails.
See Hotel
Fairmont Makati Preferred Hotel
Why We Love This Hotel

Location: The Peninsula Manila is the most centrally located five-star hotel in Manila.

Dining: Four world-class dining and drinking options including a modern French restaurant, a restaurant serving exotic Asian fare, a 1930s Shanghai mansion style bar and an ostentatious lobby lounge.

Health and Fitness: The Peninsula Manila boasts a host of luxury well-being facilities including a spa, swimming pool, gym, steam and sauna rooms.

See Hotel
The Peninsula Manila Preferred Hotel
Manila
Manila

Day 8

El Nido

Today, begin the final chapter of your journey through the Philippines with a tropical island retreat in Palawan. Fly to El Nido at the northern end of the island before continuing by private vehicle to the pier and onward by speedboat to El Nido Resorts Pangulasian Island. Set amid tropical forest and fronted by a 750-meter (2,460-foot) stretch of white-sand beach, this intimate island resort features just 42 villas, offering a peaceful setting in which to unwind and enjoy the clear waters and dramatic limestone scenery of the Bacuit Bay archipelago.

Hotel Options
About

Location: Getting to and from the beautiful Pangulasian Island Resort is a relatively simple process, with an airport only a 25 minute boat ride away from the hotel.

History: The Palawan area where this hotel is located is known as one of the last ecological frontiers of the Philippines, and still retains much of its rustic, natural charm.

Service: The Pangulasian Island Resort combines its five-star service with the traditionally warm and friendly hospitality for which the Philippines is known.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Pangulasian Resort El Nido

Day 9

El Nido

Spend the day at leisure at Pangulasian Island, surrounded by the turquoise waters, white-sand beaches, and dramatic limestone formations for which El Nido is renowned. Explore the coral reefs surrounding the resort, relax on the beach, or opt for a private boat charter to discover Bacuit Bay’s islands, secluded lagoons, and hidden beaches. The resort can also arrange a variety of private experiences upon request, including a beach dinner, sunset cruise with canapes, and a selection of ocean activities, allowing you to tailor the day to your interests.

El Nido
El Nido

Day 10

El Nido

On your final full day in the Philippines, enjoy the freedom to spend the day entirely at leisure. Relax on the white-sand beach, continue exploring the islands and waters of El Nido, or simply unwind and enjoy the resort’s amenities and tropical surroundings.

Day 11

Departure

Squeeze in one last dip in the waters before you make your way back to the mainland for your flight to Manila and connection onward.

Suggested Hotels For Days 1–2

Fairmont Makati
Preferred Hotel

Fairmont Makati

Manila’s Fairmont Makati is located at the heart of the Philippines’ premier art and business district of Makati, which ranks among the world’s busiest centers of commerce and culture. Although directly connected to Manila, Makati is typically considered a highly modernized, cosmopolitan city of its own thanks to its dense population, as well as its ample concentration of multinational and local businesses. Fairmont Makati has cemented a place among the capital’s finest five-star hotels thanks to its classy amenities and top-flight hospitality team. In terms of dining, the hotel’s unique offerings promise to satisfy the gastronomic desires of even the most discerning guests. And what’s more, the hotel is located within walking distance of some of Manila’s most sought-after attractions, including the Zuellig Building, 6750, Ayala Museum, the Glorietta Shopping Complex, and Greenbelt – one of the country’s most fashionable shopping malls. The sprawling metropolis of Manila beckons with a little bit of something for everyone, from culturally immersive explorations into the city’s music and art scenes to day trips adventuring among the country’s 7,100 islands. Whatever the journey, Fairmont Makati welcomes guests with a safe haven of five-star luxury and relaxation amid the urban landscape of the capital city.
See Hotel
The Peninsula Manila
Preferred Hotel

The Peninsula Manila

Strategically placed on the corners of Ayala and Makati Avenues, The Peninsula Manila is close to premier shopping facilities and within easy access of Manila's numerous attractions. The hotel is a nine kilometers drive from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) and just six kilometers from Manila's domestic airport. Elegantly furnished in classic style, the hotel's 351 rooms and suites provide modern, technologically advanced conveniences, including complimentary high-speed wireless Internet access. The Gallery Club Lounge is available 24 hours a day, providing live musical entertainment and all-day refreshments and nibbles, including a breakfast buffet, The Peninsula Afternoon Tea, gourmet canapés and an open bar with a curated selection of spirits and sommelier-selected wines. The thoughtfully-designed private lounge is enhanced with custom-designed tables and soft furnishings arranged in an intimate lounge setting. Continental and Pan-Asian cuisine is served at The Peninsula's many restaurants, including Old Manila and Spices, which are two of the top restaurants in the city. Salon de Ning, the hotel's quirky lounge, features musical entertainment on most evenings.

See Hotel

Suggested Hotel For Days 3–4

Banaue Grandview Hotel

Banaue Grandview Hotel

Opened in early 2024, Banaue Grandview Hotel is the most upscale property in the Banaue area. Spacious rooms are fitted with modern comforts and amenities, hardwood floors and furnishings, and large panoramic windows that offer sweeping views of the famed rice terraces. Select rooms have private terraces. There is an in-house restaurant with local and Continental options, as well as a bar and lounge. Other features include a garden, room service, concierge service, complimentary WiFi throughout the property, and 24/7 front desk.

Suggested Hotel For Day 5

Masferre Country Inn

Masferre Country Inn


Located in the north of the Philippines, Masferre Country Inn and Restaurant is a very simple guesthouse in Sagada. Conveniently-located on Sagada’s prime tourist trail, the Masferre Hotel offers WiFi in public areas, laundry service, and dry cleaning, as well as a massage parlour on site, in an atmosphere reminiscent of a mountain lodge. The hotel’s restaurant is also quite renowned for its epicurean delights, with a wide-ranging menu featuring Filipino, Western, and Asian dishes, and it’s often referred to as the best restaurant in town. Another guest favorite is the selection of powerful photographs featured by the hotel, taken by the late Sagada-born photographer Eduardo Masferre. 


Suggested Hotel For Day 6

Hotel Luna

Hotel Luna


Step back in time with a stay at Hotel Luna, a unique hybrid of hotel and museum located in the city of Vigan in the Philippines. Nestled in the heart of the incredible architecture and intangible history of Vigan, a classified Heritage Village, Hotel Luna itself is a sight to be seen. Located in a decorative, four-storey colonial building, the hotel features fine pieces of Philippine art, from Juan Luna masterpieces to new items from contemporary artists. Guests can explore the artwork or spend lazy post-sightseeing afternoons lounging by the outdoor pool - located in the hotel’s courtyard - followed by a cocktail in the ornate Chula Saloon Bar. Afterwards, they may enjoy dinner at the in-house restaurant Comedor, feasting on Spanish dishes and gazing at the incredible art pieces adorning the walls, and take in a nightcap and a spectacular view of the city from Azotea, the rooftop patio. 


Suggested Hotels For Day 7

Fairmont Makati
Preferred Hotel

Fairmont Makati

Manila’s Fairmont Makati is located at the heart of the Philippines’ premier art and business district of Makati, which ranks among the world’s busiest centers of commerce and culture. Although directly connected to Manila, Makati is typically considered a highly modernized, cosmopolitan city of its own thanks to its dense population, as well as its ample concentration of multinational and local businesses. Fairmont Makati has cemented a place among the capital’s finest five-star hotels thanks to its classy amenities and top-flight hospitality team. In terms of dining, the hotel’s unique offerings promise to satisfy the gastronomic desires of even the most discerning guests. And what’s more, the hotel is located within walking distance of some of Manila’s most sought-after attractions, including the Zuellig Building, 6750, Ayala Museum, the Glorietta Shopping Complex, and Greenbelt – one of the country’s most fashionable shopping malls. The sprawling metropolis of Manila beckons with a little bit of something for everyone, from culturally immersive explorations into the city’s music and art scenes to day trips adventuring among the country’s 7,100 islands. Whatever the journey, Fairmont Makati welcomes guests with a safe haven of five-star luxury and relaxation amid the urban landscape of the capital city.
See Hotel
The Peninsula Manila
Preferred Hotel

The Peninsula Manila

Strategically placed on the corners of Ayala and Makati Avenues, The Peninsula Manila is close to premier shopping facilities and within easy access of Manila's numerous attractions. The hotel is a nine kilometers drive from Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) and just six kilometers from Manila's domestic airport. Elegantly furnished in classic style, the hotel's 351 rooms and suites provide modern, technologically advanced conveniences, including complimentary high-speed wireless Internet access. The Gallery Club Lounge is available 24 hours a day, providing live musical entertainment and all-day refreshments and nibbles, including a breakfast buffet, The Peninsula Afternoon Tea, gourmet canapés and an open bar with a curated selection of spirits and sommelier-selected wines. The thoughtfully-designed private lounge is enhanced with custom-designed tables and soft furnishings arranged in an intimate lounge setting. Continental and Pan-Asian cuisine is served at The Peninsula's many restaurants, including Old Manila and Spices, which are two of the top restaurants in the city. Salon de Ning, the hotel's quirky lounge, features musical entertainment on most evenings.

See Hotel

Suggested Hotel For Days 8–10

Pangulasian Resort El Nido

Pangulasian Resort El Nido

Located on a private island with breathtaking scenery comparable to Vietnam's spectacular Halong Bay, Pangulasian Island is the first and only luxury accommodation available in this pristine hideaway setting. Known as the “Island of the Sun”, guests at Pangulasian can enjoy stunning views of the sunrise and sunset from the expansive white sandy beach stretching over 2400 foot. The resort has 42 select palm-thatched beach villas built with a contemporary Filipino flair. The high-end amenities include an infinity pool, restaurant, a private dining area, beach bar, poolside grill, boutique, library, gym, spa, hiking trail with viewing deck, five-star dive center and a marine sports center. The deluxe abodes rest either on stilts above the lush flora and fauna or beside the beach or pool, all just a stones throw from warm inviting water. The villas, decorated with a neutral palate and natural materials, are spacious with their own private balcony (some have private pools and bath tubs), complimentary Wi-Fi, international TV channels, iPod dock, tea and coffee making facilities and mini-bar.

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Why Remote Lands?

Exclusively Asia

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.

Travelogues

An Asia-focused magazine brought to you by Remote Lands - a platform for adventure, luxury, and authenticity from experts and explorers around the continent.

What Others Say

Here is a small selection of the kind words our clients have said about us recently.

A couple from Florida - Aman Jet Expedition, Spring 2016

A couple from Florida - Aman Jet Expedition, Spring 2016

As the trip progressed strangers became friends. Particularly special was the effortlessness: perfect logistics, never having to worry about anything, and, of course, the charming and thoughtful way you organised everything.
A couple from Holland - Aman Jet Expedition, Spring 2016

A couple from Holland - Aman Jet Expedition, Spring 2016

People keep asking us which country we enjoyed the most, it's very hard to say, there were special experiences everywhere.
Jessika and David, Los Angeles

Jessika and David, Los Angeles

There was an authenticity to the type of experience set up for us that made every city we visited special and gave us countless moments we will never forget.
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