Flight: CX901 Hong Kong - Manila 09.00 - 11.20

Meet & greet: On arrival in Manila, you will be welcomed to the Philippines by your private English-speaking guide and then transferred to your hotel to check in.

Guided tour of Manila: After some time to freshen up, you will meet your guide in the lobby of the hotel and then set out on a tour of Manila. The tour starts with a visit to Rizal Park, which was named in honour of Dr. Jose Rizal, the Philippines' national hero. After a photo stop here, you will proceed to Intramuros, the Walled City, and look around Fort Santiago, an ancient fortress that defends the mouth of the Pasig River. From here, you will continue onto San Agustin Church and Casa Manila. Afterwards, crossing the Pasig River, driving through Quiapo district, the old downtown area, to Santo Tomas University which was founded in 1611 by the Dominican friars. You will also see the Chinese Cemetery where some of the mausoleums are larger than an average-sized house. The tour will end with a drive along Ayala Avenue, the financial street and commercial centre in Makati. Afterwards, return to your hotel via Roxas Boulevard, the city's sea front, and pass by the Cultural Centre of the Philippines.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Hotel Jen (Deluxe Room)

Private road transfer: After breakfast, you will meet your guide in the lobby of the hotel and then set out on the long drive to Banaue, located some 185 miles from Angeles in north of Luzon. You will travel north on the Expressway and the Cagayan Valley Road until you reach the town of Bagabag, in Nueva Vizcaya, where the landscape starts to change and you begin the climb up to Banaue which is located at 1,300m above sea level. Lunch will be taken in a local restaurant en route. You will reach Banaue late in the afternoon and on arrival you will check into your hotel and then have some time to look around the town.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Banaue Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Full day guided tour around Banaue: After breakfast, you will board a local jeepney for the drive to a nearby village which you will reach by a short hike from the main road. After spending sometime in the village, continue to a vantage point to view and admire the world famous 2,000 year old rice terraces of Banaue. These rice terraces were carved into the surrounding hillsides by the Ifugao people. The Ifugao were legendary head-hunters but also great engineers and they invented a sophisticated irrigation system that allowed them to create these incredible rice terraces. If placed end to end, the Banaue rice terraces would reach half way around the globe. Afterwards, proceed to the town's public market to mingle with the local people, view the vast array of native handicrafts and have lunch in a local restaurant. Time and weather permitting, you will visit another village before returning to the hotel late in the afternoon.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Banaue Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Full day guided tour from Banaue up to Sagada: After breakfast, you will leave Banaue and drive inland along a winding mountain trail towards the hinterland town of Bontoc, where you will visit a museum founded by some Belgian sisters. The museum has many relics but is perhaps most famous for its grisly head-hunter exhibits. Lunch will be taken in a local restaurant. After lunch you will drive on to Sagada and, weather conditions permitting, you will visit the burial caves of Sagada, where dozens of ancient limestone coffins hang from the region's cliffs. The unique burial ritual of the local people involves placing dead relatives into caves after carefully preparing a hollowed out ‘log'. The log or coffin is carved by the elderly themselves in anticipation of their death. The dead body is then pushed into coffin which in turn is then placed high up in the burial caves, or cliffs, in places that seem almost impossible to reach. This is a practice that has been going on for more than 2,000 years. Later, you will have some time to explore and meet some of the indigenous tribes' people and afterwards, you will return to your hotel in Banaue.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Banaue Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Private transfer to Manila: After breakfast, start the journey back to Manila, passing through Luzon's central plains, before you pick up the North Expressway bound for the capital. Lunch will be taken in a local restaurant en-route. You will arrive in Manila late in the day and on arrival, you will check in to your hotel.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Hotel Jen (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Private transfer: After an leisurely breakfast, you will be transferred to the domestic airport for Philippine Airlines flight to Puerto Princesa in Palawan.

Flight: PR2785 Manila - Puerto Princessa 13.10 - 14.25

Private transfer by road and by boat: On arrival, you will be met and assisted by the representative of Dos Palmas Resort for the 25 minute land transfer to the wharf, from where you will take a ride onboard an outrigger that will ferry you across Honda Bay to the island resort. On arrival, check in and then make use of the resort facilities or simply relax.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Dos Palmas Island Resort & Spa (Beach Villa)

Meals: Breakfast

Day at leisure: After breakfast, you can relax or try one of the resort activities, which include snorkelling, diving, watersports, island-hopping trips, or sightseeing on mainland Palawan. 

Accommodation: Stay tonight at Dos Palmas Island Resort & Spa (Beach Villa)

Meals: Breakfast

Boat transfer: After breakfast, the Dos Palmas boat will take you to the Saint Lourdes Wharf back on the Palawan mainland.

Road transfer: On arrival at the wharf, you will be met by a representative from the Daluyon Resort in Sabang. You will board the resort's jeepney and set off on the drive to Daluyon Resort which will take around 2-3 hours as you will be driving on some rather basic roads. On arrival check into the hotel.

Afternoon guided tour to the Underground River: This afternoon, you will walk to the port (around 10 minutes) from where you will take a boat from Sabang to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park. This national park is famous for the ‘Underground River' which extends through a limestone cave for around 5 miles. You will pass along part of the river in a small boat admiring the unusual shapes that have been formed by the limestone erosion. Some of the caves you pass through have been compared to temple domes due to their size and the array of glittering stalactites that hang from the roof. The stalagmites rising from the water also help to create an eerie atmosphere. After visiting the ‘Underground River' you will have a chance to see some the wildlife in the national park before returning to the hotel to relax for the rest of the day.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Daluyon Resort (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Private road journey from Sabang to El Nido: After breakfast, you will be picked up from the hotel and transferred overland to El Nido which is approximately 6 hours' drive away.

Hotel boat transfer: On your arrival at El Nido, you will board a boat which will transfer you to the hotel to check into your island accommodation.  

Accommodation: Stay tonight at El Nido: Miniloc Island (Water Cottage)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Days at leisure: These days are yours to relax and reflect on your adventures, or perhaps try one of the resort activities such as hiking, rock climbing, a lagoon tour, cave exploration, a mangrove river tour, bird watching, picnics, kayaking, snorkelling and diving.

Accommodation: Stay these nights at El Nido: Miniloc Island (Water Cottage)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Hotel transfer: After breakfast, you will be transferred by speedboat to El Nido's small airport for the morning flight to Manila with AirSwift. 

Flight: T6127 El Nido - Manila 12.00 - 13.15

Private transfer: On arrival in Manila, you will be met by one of our representatives and then transferred to the international airport for your Cathay Pacifc flight back to London Heathrow, via Hong Kong.

Flight: CX918 Manila - Hong Kong 17.50 - 20.15

Own transfer: On arrival in Hong Kong, you will make your own way to your hotel in Kowloon. A shuttle bus runs from the hotel or you can take the MTR. Detailed instructions on using public transport can be provided. 

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Metropark Kowloon Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Day at leisure: Today you are free to explore independently. This would be a good time to take a trip around Hong Kong Harbour on the famous Star Ferry. You may also wish to take the funicular railway to Victoria Peak to admire views from the top. Alternatively, you may wish to explore some of the outer islands and it is easy to take a ferry to Lamma Island or Lantau Island, where you can find the Tian Tan Buddha which is also known as Big Buddha due to its colossal size (34m high).

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Metropark Kowloon Hotel (Standard Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Day at leisure: Today you are a final day at leisure to explore Hong Kong independently. 

Own transfer: In the early evening, make your own way back to the airport in time to check in for your return flight to London Heathrow with Cathay Pacific. For this transfer you can use the hotel shuttle, a taxi, or public transport. Detailed instructions can be provided by your consultant. 

Flight: CX251 Hong Kong - London Heathrow 23.55 - 05.40 (overnight)

Meals: Breakfast