21 DAYS
Banaue • Sagada • El Nido • Bohol • Siargao
The Grand Philippines
Three weeks from Manila's old city to the rice terraces of the Cordillera, then Palawan, Bohol and Siargao. The whole country in one trip, without pretending it is a small one.
The islands are what bring most people to the Philippines, but the country makes more sense once you have seen where it starts. This journey opens in Manila, with a day in Intramuros and a long, serious lunch, then heads north into the Cordillera: the 2,000-year-old rice terraces of Banaue and Batad, and Sagada's pine forests, caves and cool mornings. Only then do you go to the coast, through El Nido's lagoons, Bohol's countryside and finally Siargao.
It is a big trip, and we will not pretend otherwise. The mountains are a long drive from Manila each way, and there are three island transfer days. In return you get a picture of the Philippines that most visitors never see. It is a starting point: you can swap Bohol for Siquijor or Cebu's south coast, fly instead of driving where possible, or cut the north for a slower island finish. We will help you decide what to keep.
What's included
- 20 nights' accommodation in your chosen tier, breakfast daily
- Domestic flights Manila–El Nido, El Nido–Manila, Manila–Bohol, Cebu–Siargao
- Tagbilaran–Cebu fast ferry
- Road transport Manila–Banaue–Sagada–Manila (bus in Essential, private car from Boutique up)
- Local guides in Manila, Batad and Sagada
- Two El Nido boat days, one Bohol countryside day, two Siargao boat days
- Airport and pier transfers throughout
- Tours with a Spanish- or English-speaking local guide, private or shared depending on the trip
- Lunch on boat and tour days
- Entrance fees for the visits in the itinerary
- Premium and Signature: dinner at a top-rated restaurant in every destination, plus a local food experience with a guide (market visit and tasting)
- Free rebooking by our team if weather or other events cancel a boat or flight
- International travel insurance, with cancellation cover up to €2,000
- 24/7 local support by WhatsApp throughout your trip
Not included
- International flights
- Other meals not listed as included
- Environmental and terminal fees
- Drinks
- Tips for guides, drivers and boat crews
- Extra costs caused by weather or other events outside our control (new tickets, extra hotel nights). We handle the rebooking for you
The route
Flights, ferries and transfers
- RoadManila → Banaue · around 9h by roadOvernight bus in Essential; private car by day from Boutique up.
- RoadBanaue → Sagada · around 3h by road
- RoadSagada → Manila · 11–12h by road, via BaguioIn Signature we can route via Baguio with a night there, or arrange a charter where available.
- FlightManila → El Nido · 1h 20m flight
- FlightEl Nido → Manila · 1h 20m flight
- FlightManila → Bohol (Panglao) · 1h 20m flight
- FerryTagbilaran → Cebu · around 2h fast ferry
- FlightCebu → Siargao · 1h flight
- FlightSiargao → Manila · 1h 50m flight
Day by day
Choose your trip length
Route: Banaue • Sagada • El Nido • Bohol • Siargao
The day-by-day plan and prices update for the length you choose. Every plan can still be adjusted with our team.
Day 1–2
Manila: arrival and the old city
Arrive and rest. The next day, walk Intramuros with a guide who can make sense of four centuries of history, then eat: Binondo's Chinese-Filipino food, or a long lunch of dishes you will not find abroad. Manila is chaotic, but with the right guide it is far better company than its reputation.
OvernightManila
Day 3
North to Banaue
About nine hours by road. In Essential this is the overnight bus, which leaves Manila in the evening and arrives at dawn; from Boutique up we drive you in a private car, by day, with stops. It is a long journey and the arrival, as the terraces appear, is worth it.
OvernightBanaue
Day 4
Batad's rice terraces
A short drive and an hour's walk bring you to Batad, an amphitheatre of terraces built by the Ifugao people and still farmed. With a local guide, walk the terrace walls down to the village and on to Tappiya Falls if your legs agree. It is steep and best for reasonably fit walkers.
OvernightBanaue
Day 5–6
Sagada: caves, pines and cool mornings
Around three hours by mountain road to Sagada. Explore Sumaguing Cave with a guide, see the hanging coffins of Echo Valley, and get up early for the sea of clouds at Kiltepan. Evenings are cool enough for a jacket, a strange feeling in the Philippines.
OvernightSagada
Day 7
The long road back to Manila
The trip's longest day: around 11–12 hours by road, via Baguio. We break it up with stops and you spend the night near the airport, ready for tomorrow's flight.
OvernightManila
Day 8
Fly to El Nido
A short flight to El Nido. After the mountains, an afternoon in the sea.
OvernightEl Nido
Day 9–11
El Nido's lagoons and islands
An early boat into the lagoons, a second boat day to the outer islands, and a free day for Nacpan beach or doing very little.
OvernightEl Nido
Day 12
El Nido to Bohol via Manila
Two flights connecting in Manila (or Cebu, depending on schedules). Arrive on Panglao mid-afternoon.
OvernightPanglao, Bohol
Day 13–15
Bohol, or Siquijor, or Cebu's south
We have written this as Bohol: the Chocolate Hills at dawn, the tarsiers, the Loboc River and a day on Balicasag. It is the most flexible part of the trip. Siquijor suits people who want quiet, and Cebu's south coast (Moalboal's sardine run, Oslob, Kawasan Falls) suits people who want more in the water.
OvernightPanglao, Bohol
Day 16
Bohol to Siargao via Cebu
A two-hour fast ferry to Cebu, a one-hour flight to Siargao and 45 minutes by road to General Luna.
OvernightGeneral Luna, Siargao
Day 17–20
Four days in Siargao
A deliberately unplanned finish: island-hopping, Sugba Lagoon, a surf lesson, the rock pools at low tide and good dinners in General Luna. After three weeks, you will be glad to stay put.
OvernightGeneral Luna, Siargao
Day 21
Fly home via Manila or Cebu
A domestic flight connects to your international departure, with a comfortable buffer.
Where you'll stay
We choose hotels for you from our shortlist in each destination, matched to your travel style. Examples will appear here as our hotel collection is published.
Experiences
- Guided walk through Intramuros and a food tour of Binondo
- Batad rice terraces and Tappiya Falls with an Ifugao guide
- Sumaguing Cave and Echo Valley in Sagada
- Sunrise over the clouds at Kiltepan
- El Nido lagoons and island-hopping
- Chocolate Hills, tarsiers and the Loboc River
- Siargao island-hopping and Sugba Lagoon
- A beginner surf lesson
Possible upgrades
- A night in Baguio to split the drive back from Sagada
- Private boats for every island day
- Swap Bohol for Siquijor or Cebu's south coast
- Add Coron for three nights between Manila and El Nido
- Charter flight from El Nido to Siargao in Signature
Travel styles
Four ways to travel. All of them done properly.
I
Essential
The right places, smartly connected.
Well-located, characterful hotels, the experiences that matter and efficient routing. Never a compromise on where you are.
- Well-located 3★ hotels with character, double room with breakfast
- Shared airport and port transfers
- Group tours and shared boat days with a local guide
- Domestic flights and ferries with checked baggage
- Lunch on tour days, entrance fees and travel insurance
- 24/7 support by WhatsApp
II
Boutique
Small hotels with a point of view.
Design-led boutique hotels, upgraded rooms, private transfers where they make a difference and experiences curated for you.
- Everything in Essential, plus:
- Boutique 4★ hotels, superior rooms or better
- Private transfers by car throughout
- Private guided tours, and a private boat on one day per island
- Best available flight times
- Personal welcome at the airport on arrival
III
Premium
The best resorts, a slower pace.
High-end resorts and villas, private transfers throughout, exceptional experiences and service that anticipates.
- Everything in Boutique, plus:
- 5★ resorts and villas, sea-view rooms or better
- Private boats and private guides on every tour day
- Dinner at a top-rated restaurant in every destination
- A local food experience with a guide
- Meet-and-assist service at Manila airport
IV
Signature
The Philippines, privately.
Private-island resorts, villas and boats, charter flights where they save a day, and concierge-level care from arrival to departure.
- Everything in Premium, plus:
- Private-island resorts and villas with private pools
- Your own boat and crew on every island
- Charter flights or seaplanes where they save time
- Private dinners on the beach or a sandbar
- A dedicated concierge on WhatsApp before and during your trip
Price indication
Per person, based on two people sharing, excluding international flights. Final price depends on dates, hotels and room availability.
Best months
February to May; terraces are greenest around April and May, islands are dry and seas calm
Choose your trip length
Route: Banaue • Sagada • El Nido • Bohol • Siargao
The day-by-day plan and prices update for the length you choose. Every plan can still be adjusted with our team.
- Essential
- From €3,300
- per person
- Boutique
- From €4,900
- per person
- Premium
- From €8,400
- per person
- Signature
- From €14,500
- per person
Questions travellers ask
1. Can I change the route?
Yes, and on a trip this size most people do. The Visayas section is the easiest to swap, and the north can be shortened or dropped. It is a starting point.
2. Is the drive to the rice terraces worth it?
We think so, but it is honest to say it costs you two long road days. If you are short of time or patience, we can suggest closer alternatives.
3. Is it suitable for children?
For older children and teenagers who walk well, yes. The road days and Batad's steps are hard for under-tens.
4. When is the best time?
February to May works for both the mountains and the islands. From June the terraces are lush but the islands get wetter, and typhoons are possible from around August to November.
Ready to see the Philippines from the inside?
Tell us when you're coming. We'll help design the rest.