Real Philippines

12 days
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Small Group Tour
Fall in love with the Philippines on this 12-day tour, from bustling Manila to glittering coasts and rugged mountains. Begin with a bang in the capital, then change the pace in cruisy San Juan. Learn to surf (or show off pre-existing skills), then leave the beach behind for the mountains of Sagada, where you will discover the hanging coffins attached to the c...

Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Basic - 2 star
Physical level
Easy

Highlights

    • Get acquainted with the three Bs in San Juan – beach, beers and boards. Your leader can show you the best spot to catch the sunset.
    • Check out the hanging coffins on the cliffs of Sagada and learn about the hows and whys of this unique death ritual.
    • Navigate the narrow ledges of the Batad Rice Terraces on a morning hike through this towering cascade of bright green paddies.
    • Spend a full day island hopping in El Nido – AKA paradise! – exploring lagoons framed by limestone karsts and technicolour coral reefs.
    • When you’re travelling in the great outdoors it doesn’t make sense to micro-plan every second. This trip is a perfect mix of included highlights and free time to explore at your own pace.

What's this trip about?

    Fall in love with the Philippines on this 12-day tour, from bustling Manila to glittering coasts and rugged mountains. Begin with a bang in the capital, then change the pace in cruisy San Juan. Learn to surf (or show off pre-existing skills), then leave the beach behind for the mountains of Sagada, where you will discover the hanging coffins attached to the cliff face by the Igorot people. Whether you’re climbing to dizzying heights on cascading rice terraces or drinking rice wine while watching the sunset in El Nido, every moment here is one for the books.

Details

Itinerary focusOperator does not provide
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 16 people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityOperator does not provide
End CityOperator does not provide

Travel Themes

  • 18 - 30's

Destinations

  • Philippines

Attractions

  • Manila

Popular Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Manila

Welcome to Manila! Your tour begins with a 6 pm welcome meeting at your central hostel in the Makati City. When the formalities out of the way, head to a nearby restaurant for an included dinner with your fellow travellers. Let your local leader take the reins when it...

Day 2 San Juan (La Union)

Rise and shine for a very early check out a private transfer to the bus terminal. Board a local bus to San Juan, a suburb in coastal La Union (approximately 6–7 hours). A book or a few podcasts will help the time pass quicker, as will the promise of sinking your feet ...

Day 3 San Juan (La Union)

There’s nothing scheduled until dinner, so you can decide whether you’d like to embrace the laid-back life on the beach or head out on an optional adventure to nearby Luna. This optional morning excursion includes a visit to the Miraculous Shrine of Our Lady of Namacp...

Day 4 Sagada

From the beach to the mountains! Load into a private minivan for the approximate 5-hour drive to Sagada. Time spent on the road isn’t so bad when the scenery is this beautiful (and the company is so great), but it’s a good idea to have a book or podcast ready just in ...

Day 5 Sagada

If you’ve heard anything about Sagada before, it was probably about the hanging coffins that decorate the mountains. Today you’ll see them for yourself and learn about the ancient ‘burial’ practice the area is famous for, which involves stringing up wooden coffins on ...

Day 6 Banaue

Rise, shine and watch the sunrise over evergreen hillside. Any residual grumpiness about being up so early is sure to evaporate when you watch the mist give way to the light. Pack your stuff, eat some breakfast and then drive to Bontoc Museum. This sweet little centre...

Day 7 Banaue

Do some centring exercises, because this morning you’ll be hiking some very narrow rice terraces in Batad. Take a 1-hour transfer to the Batad Rice Terraces, then trek around this man-made amphitheatre. Your leader will school you on the intricacies of growing rice, t...

Day 8 Manila

Dusk; Birds of Prey; After Lambana – what are these? All great books (well, one is a graphic novel) by Filipino authors. Why are we mentioning them? Because you’ve got a 10-hour drive ahead, which is a great opportunity to crack one open. If you get carsick, or just h...

Day 9 El Nido

Check out of your accommodation and catch a direct flight to El Nido (AKA paradise), which should take under 2 hours. Enjoy a day that’s as clear as the waters in El Nido’s reefs to do whatever the heck you’d like. An island-hopping adventure is included tomorrow, so ...

Day 10 El Nido

This morning head out on a full day of snorkelling and island hopping. Witness jagged limestone islands, rocky coves, virgin rainforest and white sandy beaches. The snorkelling is just as spectacular, revealing beautiful coral and many different species of fish. After an included lunch, venture to the area’s spectacularly clear lagoons. Your evening is then free to do as you wish.

Day 11 El Nido

Soak up El Nido however you want during a free day. If you feel like some more adventure you can pay to hire a kayak from El Nido town or book a boat out to one of the lagoons. If you want to see a picture-perfect beach, consider optional trip to Nacpan Beach where wh...

Day 12 El Nido

Your tour comes to an end this morning, but that doesn’t mean your adventure has to. El Nido is captivating, and plenty of travellers decide to extend their time here.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $0
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Last Updated: 11/18/2020

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Intrepid Travel.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Intrepid Travel

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The Intrepid Travel Experience

If you’re looking for adventure, you’ve come to the right place. For the past 25 years, we’ve been taking small groups of travelers on unforgettable trips around the world. What makes them unforgettable? Take a look for yourself and discover the Intrepid experience.

Our travelers have three styles of tour to choose from: Basix, Original and Comfort. Each has a different level of inclusions and accommodation, but all have unforgettable real life experiences as part of the package. Travellers can also choose themed trips, such as Family, Sailing or Food, to suit their interests.

Our group size has an average of just ten travellers, which allows us to get off the beaten track, use local accommodation and transport, and really get to know the culture. It also ensures we are contributing to the local economy; by choosing local suppliers we were able to keep AUD 60 million in local economies in 2012. We’re also working hard to reduce our carbon footprint and were the first in our sector to introduce carbon offset trips. This, along with our many corporate sustainability activities, has meant we’re one of the travel industry’s leaders in responsible travel.

Why Intrepid?

  •   Small groups - average of 10 people per trip
  •   Sustainability - pioneers for the industry
  •   Local leaders - authentic perspectives
  •   Local transport - get close and personal
  •   Local accommodation - experience real living
  •   Intrepid travelers - like-minded companions 

History

Intrepid Travel has come a long way since its beginnings in 1989. From two university friends, a typewriter and a kitchen desk, it is now a proud member of The Intrepid Group, taking over 100,000 travelers every year.

Intrepid Travel is part of The Intrepid Group of companies, alongside leading small group adventure companies Peregrine, Urban Adventures and PEAK DMC.

Despite growing into a global business with over 1,000 staff based all over the world and over 800 different trips across every continent, we’ve remained devoted to the same grassroots values and responsible travel philosophies that we had at the very beginning.

 

Values

On every trip we operate and in every interaction we have with a client, supplier or local, we live our core values everyday:

  • Integrity – Doing the right thing
  • Responsible – Think global, act local
  • Growth – Stakeholders in our own success
  • Innovation – Thriving on new ideas and embracing change
  • Fun – It’s engrained into who we are and what we do
  • Passion – We are inspired by the work we do and the trips we offer

 

Why we love this operator
They’re very committed to sustainable and responsible tourism and contribute to important initiatives like climate action.
What they’re known for
Small group tours for active and adventurous travelers at a range of different price points and service levels.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Hotel (3 nights),Guesthouse (4 night),Hostel (4 nights),

Transportation & Flights

Plane,Private minibus,Public bus,

Transportation & flights

Plane,Private minibus,Public bus
Guides
All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leaders. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced leader however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your leader is new to a particular region or training other group leaders. Your leader will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you were interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your leader can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory on all our trips for those travelling internationally. We require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. If you are travelling within your home country or region please confirm before travel that you are entitled to access the public medical system easily should an accident occur. We strongly recommend all travellers have a policy that also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage or personal effects. For international trips, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number has been sighted by your leader. If you have credit card insurance your group leader will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number, and emergency contact number rather than the bank's name and your credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country. Travellers who reside within the European Union or Switzerland receive basic international health insurance, so travel insurance is not mandatory under European Union Law. However, as this does not cover situations such as emergency rescues, private health care, or repatriation to their home country, comprehensive travel insurance is strongly recommended. European Union or Swiss travellers who decline travel insurance when travelling outside of their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form at the Group Meeting. For assistance with travel insurance or other services, please visit the link below: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/booking-resources/our-services
Visa requirements
As a general rule most countries expect that your passport has a minimum of 6 months validity remaining. Please ensure the name on your passport matches the name on your booking and airline tickets. Your passport details are required to complete your booking. Your consultant will contact you when this is required. Take a copy of the main passport pages and other important documents with you, and leave another copy at home with family or friends. PASSPORT You will need a valid passport to travel internationally. As a general rule, most countries require that your passport has a minimum of 6 months validity remaining. Your passport details are required to complete your booking. Please ensure the name on your passport matches the name on your booking and airline tickets exactly and contact us immediately if there are any errors. We recommend taking copies of the main passport pages and other important documents with you as well as leave copies at home with family or friends. VISAS Visas are the responsibility of the individual traveller. Entry requirements can change at any time. It is important that you check your government's foreign travel advisories along with the consular website of the country or countries you are travelling to for the most up to date information specific to your nationality and circumstances. Please be aware that not all visa information found online from other sources may be valid while COVID-19 restrictions are in place. Visas can take several weeks to process, so make sure you research the requirements as soon as you have booked your trip to allow for obtaining any necessary documents as well as the application and processing time. Your booking consultant can advise on a visa processing service or you can apply yourself directly through a consulate. Below you will find general visa advice about the destinations on your trip. Due to constantly evolving COVID-19 requirements and restrictions, please refer to your government's foreign travel advice for most up to date information. PHILIPPINES: Citizens of most countries are allowed to enter the Philippines without a visa for a stay of up to 30 days, provided they hold a valid return ticket. Please check with your nearest consulate or embassy for further information.
Health & Safety
Most national governments provide regularly updated foreign travel advice on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all destinations and activities on your trip. Please refer to our website's safety page for links to major travel advisories and updates on safety issues affecting our trips here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/travel-alerts We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe-keeping of your passport, flight tickets, cash and other valuable items. Leave your jewellery at home - you won't need it while travelling. Many of our hotels have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. Your leader will accompany you on all included activities, however, during your trip you'll have some free time to pursue your own interests or relax and take it easy. While your leader will assist you with the available options in a given location, please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your Intrepid itinerary, and Intrepid makes no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgement when selecting an activity in your free time. Please also note that your Leader has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it's deemed necessary due to safety concerns. Intrepid's operational safety policies can be viewed on our website at the link below. We recommend that you take a moment to read through this information before travelling, and would appreciate any feedback on how safety is being managed on our trips. PETTY THEFT AND PERSONAL SAFETY: While travelling there is always the risk of pick-pocketing and petty theft, particularly in the more touristy cities. We recommend that you exercise caution when walking alone at night and encourage you to walk together and only on main, well-lit thoroughfares. Be particularly vigilant on public transport. Simple measures like carrying your day pack on your front, not hanging your bag over the back of your chair or on the floor and wearing a money belt will reduce any chance that your valuables should go missing. WATER SAFETY: Please take care when taking part in any activities in the ocean, river or open water, where waves and currents can be unpredictable. It's expected that anyone taking part in water activities is able to swim and have experience in open water. All swimmers should seek local advice before entering the water. FIRE PRECAUTIONS: Please be aware that local laws governing tourism facilities in this region differ from those in your home country and not all the accommodation which we use has a fire exit, fire extinguishers or smoke alarms.
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
Finish point Coral Cliff Hotel Calle Real corner Magsaysay Street El Nido, Palawan El Nido 5313 PHILIPPINES Phone: 63 905 873 2870
Trip ID
intrepid-TOYP

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