Philippines Discovery: Rice Terraces, Vigan & Bohol – 14 Days
Manila, Mount Pinatubo, the Banaue rice terraces, Sagada, Vigan, Bohol's Chocolate Hills and Cebu, fully inclusive with flights from the UK.
Tour overview
This 14-day escorted tour explores two very different sides of the Philippines: the mountains and colonial towns of northern Luzon, and the islands of Bohol and Cebu in the Visayas. It is fully inclusive: return flights from the UK, two domestic flights and a ferry, 3-star-plus to 4-star hotels, all meals, guided touring with entrance fees, and visas for UK and EU passport holders where needed.
After a tour of Intramuros, the walled Spanish quarter of Manila, you head north to Pampanga. From here there is the chance to hike to the turquoise crater lake of Mount Pinatubo, whose eruption in 1991 was one of the largest of the 20th century, and to visit an indigenous village. The resort's nature trails are an easier alternative. On the way into the Cordillera mountains you stop at San Guillermo Church in Bacolor, half-buried by the volcano's mudflows.
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From Banaue you ride a jeepney into the highlands and walk through the Hapao rice terraces, carved into the mountainsides by the Ifugao people, to a hot spring by the river. A day trip to Sagada shows you its burial caves and the hanging coffins fixed to the cliffs. You then travel to Baguio, the cool summer capital, for its market, a weaving workshop and the presidential mansion, and on to Vigan on the coast. This UNESCO-listed colonial town has cobbled streets, Spanish-era houses and a pottery workshop.
After the sand dunes of Laoag you fly back to Manila and on to Bohol. On Panglao Island you visit Hinagdanan Cave and the Bohol Bee Farm, then the Chocolate Hills, more than a thousand grassy domes that turn brown in the dry season. A river cruise with lunch follows, along with a visit to the tarsier sanctuary to see the tiny primates. A ferry takes you to Cebu for a final city tour with views over the bay.
The pace is active in the mountains, with optional hikes, and relaxed on the islands. It suits travellers who want to see the Philippines beyond the beaches, with everything arranged.
Trip highlights
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Intramuros, the walled Spanish quarter of Manila (Day 3)
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A hike to the crater lake of Mount Pinatubo (Day 4)
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A jeepney ride and walk through the Hapao rice terraces (Day 6)
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The hanging coffins and burial caves of Sagada (Day 7)
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The UNESCO-listed colonial town of Vigan (Day 9)
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The Chocolate Hills, a river cruise and the tarsier sanctuary on Bohol (Day 12)
Your route
13 stops from Manila to Cebu City
- Manila Days 1–2 & 10
- Pampanga (Green Canyon) Days 3–4
- Mount Pinatubo Day 4
- Bacolor Day 5
- Banaue Days 5–7
- Hapao Rice Terraces Day 6
- Sagada Day 7
- Baguio Day 8
- Vigan Day 9
- Laoag Day 10
- Panglao Island (Bohol) Days 11–12
- Chocolate Hills Day 12
- Cebu City Day 13
Why choose this tour
Fully inclusive, with international and domestic flights, a ferry, all meals, entrance fees and visas for UK and EU passport holders. It combines the mountains and heritage of northern Luzon with the island scenery of Bohol and Cebu.
Best suited to
- First-time visitors to the Philippines
- Travellers interested in indigenous culture and colonial history
- Walkers keen to hike among the rice terraces
- Anyone who wants an all-inclusive tour with flights from the UK
Day-by-day itinerary
14 days from Manila, Philippines to Cebu, Philippines
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Day 1 Fly to Manila
Board your overnight flight from the UK to Manila. Flights and taxes are included in the price.
- Hotel
- Overnight flight
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Day 2 · Manila Arrive in Manila
Arrive in the evening and transfer to your hotel in Makati, Manila's cosmopolitan business district, which has a rooftop bar.
- Hotel
- City Garden Grand or similar
- Meals
- Dinner
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Day 3 · Intramuros, Pampanga Intramuros and Pampanga
Tour Intramuros, the walled colonial heart of Manila, with its churches and Spanish-era walls. Then travel north to the green hills of Pampanga.
- Hotel
- Green Canyon Resort or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 4 · Mount Pinatubo Mount Pinatubo
Hike to the crater lake of Mount Pinatubo, with stream crossings along the way, and visit a local indigenous village. If you prefer, walk the easier nature trails at the resort instead.
- Hotel
- Green Canyon Resort or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 5 · Bacolor, Banaue Bacolor and Banaue
Travel north into the Cordillera mountains to Banaue, gateway to Luzon's rice terraces. On the way, visit San Guillermo Church in Bacolor, half-buried by the mudflows that followed the Pinatubo eruption.
- Hotel
- Banaue Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 6 · Hapao Rice Terraces Hapao rice terraces
Ride a jeepney into the highlands for a walk through the Hapao rice terraces, carved by the Ifugao people over centuries. The walk ends at a hot spring, where you can bathe in the river and a warm rock pool.
- Hotel
- Banaue Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 7 · Sagada Sagada
A day trip through mountain scenery to Sagada to see its burial caves and the hanging coffins fixed to the limestone cliffs, an ancient tradition of the local people.
- Hotel
- Banaue Hotel or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 8 · Baguio Baguio
Travel to Baguio, the cool hill city long used as the summer capital. Visit the market, the presidential mansion, a weaving workshop and Burnham Park.
- Hotel
- Burnham Suites or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 9 · Vigan Vigan
Head to the coast and Vigan, a UNESCO-listed colonial town. Walk its cobbled streets lined with Spanish-era mansions, and visit museums and a traditional pottery workshop.
- Hotel
- Hotel Luna or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 10 · Laoag, Manila Laoag and fly to Manila
See the city of Laoag and the great coastal sand dunes nearby, then take a flight back to Manila for the night before heading south to the islands.
- Hotel
- City Garden Grand or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 11 · Bohol, Panglao Island, Hinagdanan Cave Fly to Bohol
Take a morning flight to Bohol and explore Panglao Island, including Hinagdanan Cave and the Bohol Bee Farm, known for its organic ice cream. Your beachfront hotel sits on a white-sand beach.
- Hotel
- Bohol Beach Club or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 12 · Chocolate Hills, Loboc River, Tarsier Sanctuary Chocolate Hills and tarsiers
Visit the Chocolate Hills, over a thousand grassy domes that turn brown in the dry season. Lunch is on a river cruise, followed by the tarsier sanctuary to see the world's smallest primates.
- Hotel
- Bohol Beach Club or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 13 · Cebu Ferry to Cebu
Take the ferry to Cebu for a city tour, finishing with views over the city and bay, then a farewell dinner.
- Hotel
- Marco Polo or similar
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
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Day 14 · Cebu Fly home
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight back to the UK, arriving the same or the following day.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Manila (1 night) City Garden Grand or similar
- Pampanga (2 nights) Green Canyon Resort or similar
- Banaue (3 nights) Banaue Hotel or similar
- Baguio (1 night) Burnham Suites or similar
- Vigan (1 night) Hotel Luna or similar
- Manila (1 night) City Garden Grand or similar
- Bohol (2 nights) Bohol Beach Club or similar
- Cebu (1 night) Marco Polo or similar
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Flights return international flights from the UK, plus Laoag to Manila and Manila to Bohol
- Accommodation 12 nights in 3-star-plus and 4-star hotels
- Meals breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout
- Transport all transfers and touring, a jeepney ride and the ferry from Bohol to Cebu
- Guided touring with entrance fees, including Intramuros, Mount Pinatubo or the Green Canyon trails, Hapao, Sagada, Vigan, the Chocolate Hills and the tarsier sanctuary
- Visas for UK and EU passport holders, where required
Not included
- Visas for other nationalities
- Drinks and personal spending
- Optional activities
- Tips and travel insurance
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want a beach holiday — this tour spends most of its time touring
- You prefer to choose your own restaurants — all meals are included
- You want plenty of free time — most days are fully guided
- You dislike long road journeys — northern Luzon involves several long drives
Good to know
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £4,590 per person, including flights. 3 upcoming departures.
Flights from UK airports.
Frequently asked questions
How do I book this tour?
Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.
What financial protection do I get?
Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.
Are flights included?
Yes. Return international flights from the UK, the domestic flights from Laoag to Manila and Manila to Bohol, and all transfers are included.
Is the Mount Pinatubo hike compulsory?
No. You can walk the easier nature trails at the resort instead. For the hike, a blood-pressure check is required, the ascent must start by 8am, and there are several stream crossings.
What meals are included?
All meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout the tour, including lunch on a river cruise in Bohol.
Do I need a visa?
Visa fees for UK and EU passport holders are included where a visa is required. Other nationalities should check the rules before travel.
How active is the tour?
Moderately active in the mountains, with optional hikes, walks through the rice terraces and some long drives. The island days are more relaxed.
Is there a minimum age?
Yes. Children must be at least 12 years old.
Can you tailor the trip?
Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.
What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?
If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.
Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.
If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.
Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary