Overview
Book online and enjoy exclusive savings on Intrepid's 10 Day Northern Philippines Highlights. Get to the heart of the Philippines on this 10-day adventure exploring the north. Move around multicultural Manila on a bamboo bike and then trek to Mt Pinatubo’s crater lake. Hike the UNESCO-listed rice terraces of the Cordilleras while listening to stories from a Kalinga local guide along the way. Visit local villages to meet the Ifuago rice terrace builders, learn about Faery village’s unique burial traditions and connect with locals over a community feast. Go beyond the guidebook and fully immerse read more yourself in the rich culture and traditions of this beautiful archipelago.
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Our Price From
US$2,490 per person
Price shown based on twin share
Save up to $500 per person
Trip Length
10 Days
Trip Starts
Manila
Trip Ends
Manila
Departures
Nov 2026 to Dec 2027
Countries Visited:
Operator
Intrepid
Trip Style
Original
Budget
Affordable
Age Range
18-99 Years
Max. Group Size
12
Pace
Moderate
Guide Style
Fully Guided
Tour Code
TOSN
Itinerary
Kumusta! Welcome to the Philippines. Located on the island of Luzon – the largest of the county’s 7641 islands – Manila is the Philippines' lively capital. Your adventure officially starts with a welcome meeting at 6 pm, where you’ll meet your local leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive before then, take some time to explore the city and get your bearings. A walk around Rizal Park, conveniently located in the city's centre, is a great place to start. In the evening, maybe get your group together for dinner and sample some regional specialities, like abodo (pork marinated in vegetables and spices) and buko pie (coconut pie).
After breakfast, dive into a guided tour of multicultural Manila. Taste the different flavours that have been cooking up in the country over the past few hundred years with food tastings in the Muslim Quarter and the world’s oldest Chinatown. Then hop on an eco-friendly bamboo bike and ride around Intramuros – a historic walled area that was constructed by the Spaniards in the 16th century. Enjoy a lunch together and then leave Manila behind and drive to the foot of Mt. Pinatubo for tonight. Arrive in the early evening and you'll stay in a lovely local guesthouse in the countryside with a swimming pool.
Included Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch
You’ll set off for Crow Valley this morning so you can get a view of the crater of Mt Pinatubo. You’ll arrive at the foot of the trailhead by a 4WD jeep. The hike isn’t easy – but the views of the crater lake at the top are definitely worth it. Formed after Mt Pinatubo erupted in 1991, the rainwater lake is framed by dramatic cliffs. Reward your body with a traditional lunch in Tarukan Village with the Aetas, the earliest inhabitants of the Philippines. The chieftain and a local interpreter will join you, making it a unique cultural experience. Do as the Aetas do and eat the meal – which will be laid out on banana leaves – with your hands. Head back to your lovely guesthouse afterwards for another peaceful night in the countryside.
Included Meals:
Breakfast, Lunch
Wake up early and head for Banaue, travelling through rice fields and mango plantations. Break up the drive with a stop in Bacolor – this town was devastatingly destroyed by the Mt Pinatubo eruption. Visit the local church that has been half buried by lahar – yet locals still use it to worship by climbing through the upper windows. Hit the road again before stopping off for lunch at a local restaurant. You’ll arrive in Banaue in the late afternoon, where you can enjoy a free evening before exploring the rice terraces tomorrow. For dinner, maybe ask your leader for recommendations on where to try pinikipan (a local chicken dish).
Included Meals:
Breakfast
Jump on the local jeepney this morning to Sadel, where you’ll start the trek through the UNESCO listed Banaue rice terraces. These rice terraces were created by the Ifugao people and can be traced back 2000 years. A feat of engineering, the terraces were crucial to the survival of the people and are now known for their combination of functionality and beauty. Stop for lunch in Batad, where you’ll have the opportunity to talk to local Ifuago people in the village and try some rice activities. Return to Banaue in the late afternoon and spend the rest of the day as you wish.
Included Meals:
Breakfast
Travel to Sagada and embark on a half day tour around the town. Your local guide will bring you to some of the key spots, like the Hanging Coffins – an ancient burial tradition where coffins are suspended on a cliff – and the Lumiang Cave – home to coffins over 500 years old. Next, head to the home of famous Spanish photographer Eduardo Masferre, where family members will show you his rare photos chronicling the Ifuago way of life in the 1930s. The afternoon is then yours to explore Sagada in your own way – maybe you’ll check out the coffee plantations (and sample the delicious Sagada coffee), explore local farms, or simply relax and get ready for your next day's trekking.
Included Meals:
Breakfast
Get ready for another trek through rice terraces – this time you’ll start in Bontoc and hike along the Maligcong Rice Terrace to Faverey village. Listen to stories from a Kalinga local guide along the way and find out about their traditions. When you arrive in Faverey, you’ll learn about one pretty unique tradition in the village – the practice of living with deceased family members. Hike back to Bontoc and refuel with lunch before going back to Sagada
Included Meals:
Breakfast
This morning, drive to Baguio, affectionately called the City of Pines due to the greenery that thrives here. When you arrive, you’ll have a free afternoon. Maybe walk around Mirador Hill and Eco Park – a Japanese-inspired garden – or the Igorot Stone Kingdom – a modern-day castle. Later, come back together as a group for an interactive dinner with a famous local chef. Take a stroll through local market with your leader and learn about key ingredients for traditional Cordillera meal at the market, then join the chef and his wife for a live cooking demonstration. When you’ve picked up some tips, tuck into the grilled goods you helped prepare!
Included Meals:
Breakfast, Dinner
Get to know Baguio culture today by visiting the local art studios and galleries, which showcase a mix of traditional and contemporary pieces. Stop by the Harvest Hub Studio and learn about a foundation set up to support women weavers in the Cordilleras through entrepreneurship training. These mountain-based women are working to scale their businesses and need this vital support. You’ll be guided through the studio, where you can meet local artists and learn about their craft, and maybe even try some traditional techniques yourself! Head back to Manila in the afternoon and perhaps rally your group together for a farewell dinner.
Included Meals:
Breakfast
Your adventure comes to an end after breakfast today. If you would like to extend your stay in Manila, just get in touch with your booking agent to organise additional accommodation ahead of time.
Included Meals:
Breakfast
Trip Inclusions
- Hike the UNESCO-listed rice terraces in the Cordilleras, crafted over 2000 years, and trek to the crater lake of Mt Pinatubo for breathtaking views.
- Savour Manila’s food scene – enjoy a community feast in Tarukan village, and learn culinary secrets from a Baguio chef.
- Hop on a bamboo bike in Intramuros, ride a traditional Jeepney, and traverse rugged valleys in a 4WD – the journey is just as important as the destination!
- Visit local villages to meet the Ifugao who shaped the rice terraces, learn about Favery village’s unique burial traditions, and discover Kalinga culture and 1930s Ifugao life through a famous Spanish photographer’s lens.
- Connect with the inspiring women at the Harvest Hub Studio – a social enterprise empowering women artists from the mountains to expand their market and achieve financial independence.
- Hotel (7 nights)
- Guesthouse (2 night)
- 9 Breakfasts included
- 2 Lunches included
- 1 Dinners included
- Accommodation, itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
- Price is for land, cruise and internal flights as specified. Flights not specified are not included
- Intrepid regularly update their itineraries throughout the year based on feedback and local conditions. Therefore the itinerary you see now may differ from when you booked. Global Journeys will provide you with detailed trip notes at the time of quoting, along with a finalised itinerary and trip notes before your trip departs.
Operator
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers off the beaten track to discover the world's most amazing places for 30 years. Every trip is designed to truly experience local culture - to meet local people, try local food, take local transport and stay in local accommodation. Led by a local leader, our small group tours offer more a sustainable way to travel off the beaten track, while giving back to the places and people that travellers visit.
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Intrepid Worldwide (2025-26)
Since 1989, Intrepid has been taking travellers beyond the ordinary to discover the real and remarkable. With small groups, passionate local leaders, and a commitment to responsible travel, every journey is crafted to connect you deeply with the people and places you visit. From iconic landmarks to hidden gems, Intrepid combines comfort, culture, and more curiosity for adventures that truly matter, all backed by a global network and guaranteed departures for peace of mind.
Dates & Pricing
USD
Flexible Deposit
Cancel up to 56 days before departure and your deposit becomes a credit for future travel.
Tuesday
17 Nov 2026
17 Nov 26
Manila
Thursday
26 Nov 2026
26 Nov 26
Manila
Details
Definite Departure
Exclusive Savings
Was: $2,960
US$2,516
Save $444
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Friday
20 Nov 2026
20 Nov 26
Manila
Sunday
29 Nov 2026
29 Nov 26
Manila
Details
Definite Departure
Exclusive Savings
Was: $2,990
US$2,541
Save $449
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Tuesday
24 Nov 2026
24 Nov 26
Manila
Thursday
03 Dec 2026
03 Dec 26
Manila
Details
Definite Departure
Exclusive Savings
Was: $2,930
US$2,490
Save $440
Twin Share (Per Personpp)
Note
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you Inquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.
A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you Inquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.
Note
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Intrepid. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Intrepid. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
