Luzon & the Rice Terraces Tour #PHI611
PHI 611 - LUZON & THE RICE TERRACES - 5 DAYS/4 NIGHTS
This tour brings you to the Cordillera mountains, located in the northern part of Luzon. The main focus will be on Banaue area with its famous 2000 year old rice terraces (in the mean time it is an UNESCO world heritage site) from the Ifugaos. But during this tour you will also be at the foot of the Pinatobu Vulcano, in Baguio (the summer capital of the Philippines) and last but not least in Sagada, a village known for its unusual burial practice by hanging and stacking coffins. Daily departure from Manila, minimum 2 persons, available as private tour and by joining the group
DAY 1 MANILA - BAGUIO
Early morning depart from the hotel in Manila for Baguio through the North Expressway and reaching Bacolor about 3 hours later. This town is among many others, which have been devastated by Mt. Pinatubo's eruption in June 1993. Tour the village and visit the Basilica, which is now 3/4 buried in Lahar. See the remaining roofs of houses covered by Lahar. Townsfolk now have adapted to nature wrath by building houses on stilts. Continue to Baguio, the summer capital of the Philippines, located 1500 m high up in the Cordillera mountains. It is approx. 4 hours drive through the countryside, ascending up through zigzagging roads of Benguet. In the afternoon is time left for a sightseeing tour of Baguio City with major sights, such as Burnham Park, Baguio Cathedral and Tam-Awan Village with reconstructed Ifugao and Kalinga huts, but it is also a venue for art exhibits and workshops. Spend the night in Baguio.
DAY 2 BAGUIO - SAGADA
After breakfast you will leave Baguio for Sagada via the La Trinidad Valley. These scenic drive along the Halsema mountain highway does give you some breathtaking views of the vegetable terraces farmed by Benguet tribes. You will also enjoy the nice scenery of tiny villages in the valleys down below. It takes about 4 hours until you arrive in Sagada. Then in the afternoon start to explore this quaint little town with its towering pine trees, hanging coffins, subterranean caves used as burial grounds by the natives (but this unusual burial practice is now time of the past). Other stunning destinations are Bomod-Ok and Bokong Falls, Danom Lake and Weaving Shops. Hike trough simple trails which lead to some picturesque summits. Dinner and overnight in Sagada.
DAY 3 SAGADA - BONTOC - BANAUE
In the morning leave Sagada and travel on towards Bontoc, a second class municipality and the capital of Mountain Province. Bontoc is the historical capital of the entire Cordillera region since the inception of governance in the Cordillera. Bontoc Museum was founded by a Belgian nun to preserve the history and heritage of the indigenous peoples here in the region, collectively known as the Ifugao. It consists of four well laid out rooms featuring artifacts and old photos plus a group of traditional houses. Then continue to Banaue, a town right on the Cordillera mountain range in the north of Luzon. It is mainly visited for its stunning rice terraces, which are a UNESCO World Heritage site. On route enjoy some stunning views. Whole chains of mountains from top to bottom for the cultivation of rice are sculptured and curved from the steep mountain side by the Ifugaos with their bare hands and crude stone implements centuries ago. Dinner and overnight in Banaue.
DAY 4 BANAUE
After breakfast ride a jeepney (by far the most popular type of vehicle in this country) along bumpy roads to the small village of Bangaan. Here start for some trekking. The rice terraces of Bangaan has a more expansive yet layered arrangement. Like the other rice terraces in the area, they were also built two thousand years ago. It is amazing to see how the ancient Filipinos adapted their lives to their environment, most notably the shape of the terraces. Later you are transferred back to the hotel and there is some time left to relax or maybe for a massage, after your trek along rice terraces. Spend another night in Banaue.
DAY 5 BANAUE - MANILA
After another early and filling breakfast leave Banaue for the long journey back to Manila via the Philippine Friendship Highway. The first part will be still in the Cordilleras, but later you will pass through the Central Plains of Luzon, the biggest rice farming area in the country. Short breaks and photo stops can be done on route. By late afternoon you will be back in the capital. Transfer to the booked hotel or airport.
REMARKS/FLEXIBILITY:
- For most nationalities (you can check with us) there is no visa necessary for the Philippines if staying 30 days or less. But sometimes a return ticket has to be shown!
- Accommodation in Manila before- and/or after this tour can be booked with us, as well as at the well known beach destinations.
PRICE INCLUDES:
Air-conditioned transportation during the tour, English speaking tour guide, all transfers and excursions as mentioned in the above itinerary, accommodation at middle class and tourist class hotels incl. daily breakfast, dinner on day 2-4, all entrance fees as per program
NOT INCLUDED:
Drinks, tips and personal expenses
HOW TO GET TO MANILA:
From/to Bangkok (Thailand) daily flights by Philippine Airlines, Cebu Pacific Air and Thai Airways. Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air do have a huge network of domestic flights all over the Philippines.