Welcome to Sagada
Sitting among mist-shrouded mountains, tiny Sagada is the closest thing the Philippines has to a Southeast Asian backpacker mecca, yet it's possible to find tranquillity along its many hiking trails and get your adrenalin pumping on adventures in the depths of its caves. There's a mystical element to this village, a former refuge for intelligensia fleeing dictatorship: the centuries-old coffins high up along limestone cliffs lie close to the sky, and days and nights are peaceful thanks to the lack of tricycles or much other traffic.
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Sagada activities
Heritage of the Cordillera: Banaue, Batad, Sagada
Day 1: Travel to Banaue The group assembles in Manila in the evening and you get some shut-eye while you travel through winding mountain roads. When you wake up you will be in Banaue, home of the famous rice terraces, often referred to as the eighth wonder of the world. Day 2: BatadYou trek to Batad, a village within an amphitheater of rice terraces. You hike amidst the rice paddies to a spectacular waterfall and spend the night in the village. Day 3: Travel through Bontoc to Sagada You hike out of Batad then take the scenic road to Sagada. You stop at Bontoc where you learn about the customs of the indigenous people of the mountain region. In Sagada you do a preliminary tour of the village and its picturesque surrounds. Day 4: Sagada highlights You do plenty of hiking to see the many attractions of Sagada. These include a sacred waterfall, hanging coffins, an underground river and local handicrafts shops. Day 5: Sagada caving You've saved arguably the best for last. You spend an exhilarating morning underground traversing a bizarrely beautiful cave system. In the afternoon you say goodbye to the Cordillera mountains and take an overnight bus back to Manila. Day 6: Arrival in Manila At around 2AM you arrive at a bus station in Manila.
4 Days at Banaue Heritage Tour
Visit the remote and exotic village of Sagada – with its mysterious cave and underground river. The forebears of the current residents practiced an unusual burial practice by hanging and stacking coffins, hewed from tree trunks, in the limestone karst cliffs and caves near town.Day 1:0700H – Early departure to Banaue via North Expressway.Rural towns markets, verdant farm lands and mountains are mosaic images that encompass the day. Stop in San Jose town for lunch.Continue drive to Banaue. En route, photo opportunities at Dalton Pass, the culminating point between the provinces of Nueva Ecija and Viscaya. Late afternoon arrival in Banaue. Overnight at Banaue Hotel.Day 2:Breakfast at the hotel.Board a local non-aircon jeepney and we will drive about an hour to Banga-an town’s main road. Banga-an Village, a traditional village nestled in a panoramic valley of terraces. From the main road, the 20-minute walk in a descending trail permits a closer look into the inner lives of the Ifugaos. Mingle with them to discover how their daily life goes on.Trek up to the main road and enjoy the panoramic view by the rustic road side restaurant.Return to Banaue and proceed to Banaue View Point. Banaue Rice Terraces is acclaimed as one of the “8th Wonder of the World” – an engineering work built over 2000 years ago on mountainous terrain. Visit the wet market and witness a typical Ifugao market day.Overnight at Banaue Hotel.Day 3:Early morning breakfast.0800H – Early morning tour of Sagada, approximately 2.5hour drive from Banaue.Passing by the mountain province’s capital and crossroads – Bontoc, visit Bontoc Museum founded by a Belgian Sister which houses varied collection of authentic artifacts and photos from the tribes.Continue drive to Sagada. Sagada is a municipality that embraces many villages a top the rocky mountains of Benguet Province. It is popular for its legendary system of burying the dead and their system of mummification. Here visit ancient burial caves and see coffins of the ancient tribes locked in between rocks.Return to Banaue late in the afternoon.Overnight Banaue Hotel.Day 4:Breakfast at the hotel0800H - Depart Banaue for Manila via the Philippine-Friendship Highway, passing through the Central Plains of Luzon, the biggest rice farming province in the Philippines. Arrive and check-in at the booked hotel.
Philippines–Manila to Boracay on a Shoestring
Pick somewhere different to go for your next adventure – like, really different. These ten days in the gorgeous northern half of the Philippines will stay with you forever. Meander down the streets of Manila, trek through remote villages to see stunningly green rice terraces, learn about unusual and historic traditions like the hanging coffins of Sagada, and then wrap it all up by blissing out on the tiny beach paradise of Boracay Island, which may honestly have some of the best beaches you’ve ever seen. We swear.
Northern Philippines Adventure
With over 6,000 islands contained within its borders, the Philippines is one of the largest archipelagos in the world. While we can’t possibly show you all of the islands in just nine days, we can show you the country’s northern highlights, which will feel more than comprehensive enough. You’ll discover the arresting inland beauty of Luzon, known for world-famous (and incredibly picturesque) terraced rice paddies. Learn about colonial history and life in tiny villages. Looking for the road less travelled? It runs through here.
Northern Philippines & Islands on a Shoestring
This 17-day trip brings together the very best of Filipino culture and hospitality with its simply perfect island beaches. Begin by heading north to explore remote villages and see stunningly green rice terraces. Then island-hop around Siquijor, Bohol, and Cebu, snorkelling and swimming to your heart's content. Check out Moalboal and swim with whale sharks off the coast (seasonally). With two unique homestays to experience the warmth of the Philippines and its welcoming people, this tour is an experience you'll talk about for years to come.
Northern Philippines and Palawan Adventure
The colourful culture, pristine beaches, and colonial history of the Philippines aren't easy to capture in just one trip but this 16-day tour is a pretty decent effort. Envelop yourself in colonial history within Manila's former walled centre and the charming town of Vigan, embark on a subterranean boat ride through an underground cave system, and visit a self-governing penal colony. The Philippines' beaches are some of the world's best, so we've left plenty of time for snorkelling or simply just lounging on the beaches of El Nido. This way, your knowledge of the country will only deepen alongside your tan.