Wow! Philippines
A few of the 7107 reasons to visit
13 days / 12 nights (land only)
Recommended: year-round, Best Months: Mar - Jun
Discover a world that is as friendly and comfortable as your hometown, but as exotic and historic as no place you’ve ever been. The Philippine Islands are rich in culture and a desired destination for war veterans and history buffs. But they are also rich in scenery both above ground (most notably perhaps are the UNESCO World Heritage Rice Terraces in the north) and below the water’s surface (there are literally thousands of fantastic dive sites to keep scuba fanatics happily “out to sea” for days at a time!). For fashionistas there are modern malls located in every major city featuring clothing designed for the upcoming season. Food buffs will delight in the myriad flavors that blend local flavors with the imported tastes of the international residents. If you are in for adventure, you’ll want to check out the hiking, surfing, rafting, kayaking, mountaineering, and other activities that can easily be found here.
And don’t forget about the sunshine and beaches! This itinerary gives you a sampling of the 7107 reasons to visit. But remember: Custom itineraries for scuba diving, mountaineering, trekking, and kayaking available upon request.
DAY 1: MANILA
You will be greeted at the airport and transported to your hotel upon arrival. Remainder of day is free. You will be conveniently located to restaurants, shopping, banks and ATMs. (No Meals)
DAY 2: BAGUIO
This morning you will be picked up at your hotel to begin your journey north via the Philippine Friendship Highway to Ifugao, home of the World Heritage Site Banaue Rice Terraces. Today, however, you will stop enroute at Baguio the “Summer Capital of the Philippines.” Here you will enjoy a tour of the city and a visit to the local market. You will certainly fee like you are entering the mountain region of the Philippines as the temperature averages eight degrees cooler than the lowlands. The remainder of the day is free. (B)
DAY 3: SAGADA
Your journey north will continue today as you head toward Mount Data. The drive is casual and several stops for photos and sightseeing will be made along the way. Finally you will stop for the night at the Mt Data Hotel where the air is scented by pines. Stretch your legs on one of the many paths through rice terraces and vegetable gardens. (B)
DAY 4: SAGADA, BONTOC, BANAUE
Today will be a full day tour enroute to Banaue. You will view the centuries old hanging coffins of Sagada as you hear the story of the Igorot people. And an hour further down the road visit the Bontoc Museum of Mountain Culture where you will learn about head hunting and other traditions of the mountain people. You will end the day at Banaue. (B)
DAY 5: MANILA
Rise and Shine! Today you will visit one of the most breath-taking sights in the world. Known as the Eighth Wonder of the World, you will visit the 2000-year-old rice terraces, some of which are as steeply terraced as 70 degrees. The Ifugao Rice Terraces are also listed as a National Cultural Treasure and as an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. You will have a half-day guided tour followed by a free afternoon to allow you to hike and photograph this man-made wonder at your own pace. (B)
DAY 6: MANILA
The day will be spent enroute viewing the countryside as you return to Manila. Try to spot Mt Pinatubo, the site of the most catastrophic volcanic explosion of the 20th century, to the west as you near Manila. (B)
DAY 7: LEYTE
A morning flight to Leyte will take you to another of the wonders of the Philippines. Take in the cultural offerings of the region including Santo Nino Shrine and Heritage Museum where you will find paintings of the 14 Stations of the Cross by Filipino artists, a wooden bas relief of the legend of the first Filipino man-woman, a collection of paintings and priceless collector’s items before visiting the City Hall and Balyuan Tower and Amphitheatre. Time permitting you’ll also visit People's Center & Library, Santo Nino Church, Buddhist Temple. Enjoy a free afternoon relaxing or shopping, but be sure to join us for dinner as we take in a show featuring “Tinikling” the former national dance of the Philippines. (BD)
DAY 8: LEYTE
Today you will have an opportunity to walk amongst the ghosts of World War II as you spend the day touring one of the most important naval battle regions of the South Pacific campaign. From the Provincial Capitol you will be able to view where MacArthur landed on his famous return in October 1944. You’ll see the seat of the Commonwealth Government of the Philippines in ’44 and the Madonna of Japan (AKA the Madonna of Peace). You’ll visit Cancabato Bay, Price Mansion, Redona Residence, and Baluarte San Jose where remnants of WWII Japanese pill boxes and a cannon can still be fount. You’ll also visit the Landing Memorial in Red Beach. This spot marks where American liberation forces landed, so go ahead and stand where MacArthur stood and say, “I shall return.” (B)
DAY 9: CEBU
This morning enjoy the beauty of the countryside as you make your way to Ormoc the port town from which you will depart for Cebu on the “Super Cat.” Enroute stop to gaze into the diamond clarity of Lake Danao at 2600’ ASL. The lake is surrounded by cloud-capped mountains and ringed by forests teeming with indigenous animal life, and is said to be home of a giant eel. You’ll catch the early afternoon high speed boat to Cebu and be transferred to your hotel for your “island days.” Remainder of the day is free to explore or just wiggle your toes in the sand. (B)
DAY 10: CEBU
Free day! Please let us know in advance if you would like to go diving. (B)
DAY 11: CEBU
Free day Number Two, but be sure to be back for the group departure dinner tonight. (BD)
DAY 12: CEBU
Free morning and then it’s time to pack up and wave good-bye to your sunny spot on the sea (no pun intended). You’ll be on an afternoon flight back to Manila where you will spend your last night. (B)
DAY 13:
Transfer to the airport for your morning flight back to the States. Thanks for visiting!
A few of the 7107 reasons to visit
13 days / 12 nights (land only)
Recommended: year-round, Best Months: Mar - Jun
Discover a world that is as friendly and comfortable as your hometown, but as exotic and historic as no place you’ve ever been. The Philippine Islands are rich in culture and a desired destination for war veterans and history buffs. But they are also rich in scenery both above ground (most notably perhaps are the UNESCO World Heritage Rice Terraces in the north) and below the water’s surface (there are literally thousands of fantastic dive sites to keep scuba fanatics happily “out to sea” for days at a time!). For fashionistas there are modern malls located in every major city featuring clothing designed for the upcoming season. Food buffs will delight in the myriad flavors that blend local flavors with the imported tastes of the international residents. If you are in for adventure, you’ll want to check out the hiking, surfing, rafting, kayaking, mountaineering, and other activities that can easily be found here.
And don’t forget about the sunshine and beaches! This itinerary gives you a sampling of the 7107 reasons to visit. But remember: Custom itineraries for scuba diving, mountaineering, trekking, and kayaking available upon request.
DAY 1: MANILA
You will be greeted at the airport and transported to your hotel upon arrival. Remainder of day is free. You will be conveniently located to restaurants, shopping, banks and ATMs. (No Meals)
DAY 2: BAGUIO
This morning you will be picked up at your hotel to begin your journey north via the Philippine Friendship Highway to Ifugao, home of the World Heritage Site Banaue Rice Terraces. Today, however, you will stop enroute at Baguio the “Summer Capital of the Philippines.” Here you will enjoy a tour of the city and a visit to the local market. You will certainly fee like you are entering the mountain region of the Philippines as the temperature averages eight degrees cooler than the lowlands. The remainder of the day is free. (B)
DAY 3: SAGADA
Your journey north will continue today as you head toward Mount Data. The drive is casual and several stops for photos and sightseeing will be made along the way. Finally you will stop for the night at the Mt Data Hotel where the air is scented by pines. Stretch your legs on one of the many paths through rice terraces and vegetable gardens. (B)
DAY 4: SAGADA, BONTOC, BANAUE
Today will be a full day tour enroute to Banaue. You will view the centuries old hanging coffins of Sagada as you hear the story of the Igorot people. And an hour further down the road visit the Bontoc Museum of Mountain Culture where you will learn about head hunting and other traditions of the mountain people. You will end the day at Banaue. (B)
DAY 5: MANILA
Rise and Shine! Today you will visit one of the most breath-taking sights in the world. Known as the Eighth Wonder of the World, you will visit the 2000-year-old rice terraces, some of which are as steeply terraced as 70 degrees. The Ifugao Rice Terraces are also listed as a National Cultural Treasure and as an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. You will have a half-day guided tour followed by a free afternoon to allow you to hike and photograph this man-made wonder at your own pace. (B)
DAY 6: MANILA
The day will be spent enroute viewing the countryside as you return to Manila. Try to spot Mt Pinatubo, the site of the most catastrophic volcanic explosion of the 20th century, to the west as you near Manila. (B)
DAY 7: LEYTE
A morning flight to Leyte will take you to another of the wonders of the Philippines. Take in the cultural offerings of the region including Santo Nino Shrine and Heritage Museum where you will find paintings of the 14 Stations of the Cross by Filipino artists, a wooden bas relief of the legend of the first Filipino man-woman, a collection of paintings and priceless collector’s items before visiting the City Hall and Balyuan Tower and Amphitheatre. Time permitting you’ll also visit People's Center & Library, Santo Nino Church, Buddhist Temple. Enjoy a free afternoon relaxing or shopping, but be sure to join us for dinner as we take in a show featuring “Tinikling” the former national dance of the Philippines. (BD)
DAY 8: LEYTE
Today you will have an opportunity to walk amongst the ghosts of World War II as you spend the day touring one of the most important naval battle regions of the South Pacific campaign. From the Provincial Capitol you will be able to view where MacArthur landed on his famous return in October 1944. You’ll see the seat of the Commonwealth Government of the Philippines in ’44 and the Madonna of Japan (AKA the Madonna of Peace). You’ll visit Cancabato Bay, Price Mansion, Redona Residence, and Baluarte San Jose where remnants of WWII Japanese pill boxes and a cannon can still be fount. You’ll also visit the Landing Memorial in Red Beach. This spot marks where American liberation forces landed, so go ahead and stand where MacArthur stood and say, “I shall return.” (B)
This morning enjoy the beauty of the countryside as you make your way to Ormoc the port town from which you will depart for Cebu on the “Super Cat.” Enroute stop to gaze into the diamond clarity of Lake Danao at 2600’ ASL. The lake is surrounded by cloud-capped mountains and ringed by forests teeming with indigenous animal life, and is said to be home of a giant eel. You’ll catch the early afternoon high speed boat to Cebu and be transferred to your hotel for your “island days.” Remainder of the day is free to explore or just wiggle your toes in the sand. (B)
DAY 10: CEBU
Free day! Please let us know in advance if you would like to go diving. (B)
DAY 11: CEBU
Free day Number Two, but be sure to be back for the group departure dinner tonight. (BD)
DAY 12: CEBU
Free morning and then it’s time to pack up and wave good-bye to your sunny spot on the sea (no pun intended). You’ll be on an afternoon flight back to Manila where you will spend your last night. (B)
DAY 13:
Transfer to the airport for your morning flight back to the States. Thanks for visiting!
