17 Nov 2026
Twin share
£1,605pp
Escorted tour
Northern Philippines Highlights: Pinatubo, Banaue & Sagada – 10 Days
Manila, Mount Pinatubo, the Banaue rice terraces, Sagada and Baguio, in a group of up to 12.
10 days
From £1,575
Tour overview
This 10-day small-group trip journeys from Manila into the Cordillera mountains of northern Luzon, combining a volcano hike, ancient rice terraces and the cultures of the mountain peoples. Groups have up to 12 travellers aged 15 and over, with a local leader throughout. You stay nine nights: seven in hotels and two in a countryside guesthouse with a pool at the foot of Mount Pinatubo. Breakfast is included every day, with several lunches and an interactive dinner with a local chef.
Your adventure begins in Manila with a food tour of the Muslim Quarter and the world's oldest Chinatown, followed by a ride on an eco-friendly bamboo bike around Intramuros, the walled city built by the Spanish in the 16th century. You then drive to the countryside near Mount Pinatubo. The next morning a 4×4 takes you through Crow Valley to the trailhead for a challenging hike to the crater lake formed after the volcano's 1991 eruption. Afterwards you share a traditional lunch, served on banana leaves and eaten by hand, with the Aeta people of Tarukan village, the earliest inhabitants of the Philippines, joined by their chieftain.
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On the way north you stop in Bacolor to see a church half buried by volcanic mud, where locals still worship by climbing through the upper windows. From Banaue a jeepney takes you to Sadel to trek through the UNESCO-listed rice terraces, carved by the Ifugao over 2,000 years, with lunch in Batad. In Sagada a local guide shows you the hanging coffins and Lumiang burial cave, and you visit the home of photographer Eduardo Masferre to see his rare images of Cordillera life. Another trek follows the Maligcong rice terraces to Favarey village with a Kalinga guide.
In Baguio, the cool City of Pines, you shop at the market with your leader before a cooking demonstration and dinner with a well-known local chef and his wife. A visit to a studio supporting women weavers from the Cordilleras introduces their craft before the drive back to Manila.
The physical rating is medium, with treks on uneven paths and long drives. This trip suits active travellers who want to meet local communities and see the Philippines beyond the beaches.
Trip highlights
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A bamboo bike tour of Intramuros (Day 2)
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Mount Pinatubo's crater lake (Day 3)
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Lunch with the Aeta in Tarukan (Day 3)
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The Batad rice terraces (Day 5)
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Sagada's hanging coffins (Day 6)
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A chef's dinner in Baguio (Day 8)
Your route
9 stops from Manila to Manila
- Manila Day 1
- Mount Pinatubo Days 2–3
- Bacolor Day 4
- Banaue Days 4–5
- Batad Day 5
- Sagada Days 6–7
- Bontoc Day 7
- Baguio Day 8
- Manila Days 9–10
Why choose this tour
A volcano, rice terraces and local communities in ten days. Small group of up to 12 with a local leader.
Best suited to
- Active travellers
- Culture lovers
- Solo travellers looking for a small group
- Travellers who want something different
Day-by-day itinerary
10 days from Manila, Philippines to Manila, Philippines
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Day 1 · Manila Arrive in Manila
A welcome meeting.
- Hotel
- Hotel
-
Day 2 · Intramuros, Binondo Mount Pinatubo
A food tour, a bike ride and a drive north.
- Hotel
- Countryside guesthouse
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
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Day 3 · Crow Valley, Tarukan Mount Pinatubo
A crater hike and an Aeta lunch.
- Hotel
- Countryside guesthouse
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
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Day 4 · Bacolor, Banaue Banaue
A buried church and the drive north.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
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Day 5 · Sadel, Batad Batad
Trek the UNESCO rice terraces.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 6 · Hanging Coffins, Lumiang Cave Sagada
A town tour and a photographer's home.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 7 · Bontoc, Favarey Maligcong
Trek the Maligcong terraces.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 8 · Baguio Baguio
A market visit and a chef's dinner.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
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Day 9 · Baguio, Manila Manila
A weaving studio, then back to Manila.
- Hotel
- Hotel
- Meals
- Breakfast
-
Day 10 · Manila Trip ends
The trip ends after breakfast.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Where you stay
- Manila (1 night) Hotel
- Mount Pinatubo (2 nights) Countryside guesthouse
- Banaue (2 nights) Hotel
- Sagada (2 nights) Hotel
- Baguio (1 night) Hotel
- Manila (1 night) Hotel
Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.
What's included
Included
- Accommodation 7 nights in hotels and 2 in a guesthouse
- Meals 9 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 1 dinner
- Private vehicle, 4x4, jeepney and bicycle transport
- Manila food tour and Intramuros bamboo bike ride
- Mount Pinatubo crater hike and Aeta community lunch
- Rice terrace treks in Banaue and Maligcong
- Sagada town tour and Baguio chef's dinner
- Local leader throughout
Not included
- Flights
- Airport transfers
- Meals not included 6 lunches and 8 dinners
- Optional activities, tips, travel insurance and personal spending
This trip might not be for you if…
Honest disclaimer — please read
- You want a beach holiday
- You dislike long drives
- You want luxury
- You want flights included — they are not
Good to know
Meals by day
Breakfast: Days 2–10 · Lunch: Days 2–3 · Dinner: Day 8
FCDO advice
UK FCDO travel advice for Philippines
In pictures
Departures & prices
From £1,575 per person, twin share, tour only. 47 upcoming departures.
20 Nov 2026
Twin share
£1,590pp
24 Nov 2026
Twin share
£1,695pp
01 Dec 2026
Twin share
£1,575pp
08 Dec 2026
Twin share
£1,752pp
11 Dec 2026
Twin share
£1,904pp
29 Dec 2026
Twin share
£2,390pp
05 Jan 2027
Twin share
£2,335pp
12 Jan 2027
Twin share
£2,370pp
19 Jan 2027
Twin share
£2,415pp
26 Jan 2027
Twin share
£2,275pp
29 Jan 2027
Twin share
£2,220pp
02 Feb 2027
Twin share
£2,155pp
16 Feb 2027
Twin share
£2,155pp
23 Feb 2027
Twin share
£2,180pp
02 Mar 2027
Twin share
£2,095pp
16 Mar 2027
Twin share
£2,095pp
13 Apr 2027
Twin share
£2,095pp
27 Apr 2027
Twin share
£2,095pp
16 Nov 2027
Twin share
£2,095pp
23 Nov 2027
Twin share
£2,095pp
30 Nov 2027
Twin share
£2,095pp
07 Dec 2027
Twin share
£2,220pp
10 Dec 2027
Twin share
£2,220pp
14 Dec 2027
Twin share
£2,220pp
21 Dec 2027
Twin share
£2,260pp
28 Dec 2027
Twin share
£2,260pp
05 Jan 2028
Twin share
£2,375pp
12 Jan 2028
Twin share
£2,375pp
19 Jan 2028
Twin share
£2,375pp
26 Jan 2028
Twin share
£2,330pp
02 Feb 2028
Twin share
£2,260pp
16 Feb 2028
Twin share
£2,260pp
23 Feb 2028
Twin share
£2,260pp
01 Mar 2028
Twin share
£2,200pp
15 Mar 2028
Twin share
£2,200pp
29 Mar 2028
Twin share
£2,200pp
12 Apr 2028
Twin share
£2,260pp
26 Apr 2028
Twin share
£2,200pp
15 Nov 2028
Twin share
£2,200pp
22 Nov 2028
Twin share
£2,200pp
29 Nov 2028
Twin share
£2,200pp
06 Dec 2028
Twin share
£2,330pp
09 Dec 2028
Twin share
£2,330pp
13 Dec 2028
Twin share
£2,330pp
20 Dec 2028
Twin share
£2,375pp
27 Dec 2028
Twin share
£2,375pp
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.
How hard is the Pinatubo hike?
It is not easy, but the crater lake views are worth it. A 4x4 takes you to the trailhead.
Do I need to send documents in advance?
Yes, a scan of your passport photo page is needed at least 40 days before departure.
Which meals are included?
Breakfast every day, plus two lunches and a dinner with a local chef.
Do I need a visa?
UK visitors can usually enter the Philippines visa-free for a short stay. Check the latest advice before travel.
Are rooms shared?
Rooms are twin share, with a single supplement available.
How many people travel together?
Up to 12 travellers, with a local leader.
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.
ATOL protected
100% financially protected in a Trust bank account
PTS 6035
4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option
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