How many travellers will be in my group?

Maximum 12 travellers — that's the cap on every Undiscovered Destinations small-group tour. Small enough to eat in a local family home; large enough to share the wonder with other like-minded travellers.

Yes — there's no compulsory single supplement on our small-group tours. You get your own room at no extra cost. About 60% of UD travellers come solo, so you'll be in good company.

How fit do I need to be?

Fitness requirements vary by itinerary, from gentle to demanding. The day-by-day tour dossier sets out walking distances, terrain and any altitude so you know what to expect. If you have specific concerns, speak to our team before booking — they can talk you through a typical day.

When are the next departures?

The next available departures are 2 May 2027. See the "Pick your departure" table further up the page for the full schedule and per-departure pricing.

What's included in the tour price?

Included items vary by tour — see the full list above. On this trip, expect: Arrival and departure transfers; Overland transport throughout with professional driver; Domestic flight; and more. International flights and travel insurance are not included.

Where exactly does this trip go?

This tour visits Philippines. Each destination has its own page with practical information, climate, and the attractions our specialists recommend — linked from the itinerary above.

Philippines15 daysMax 12Solo-friendly

Philippines – Emerald Terraces of the Cordillera

A 14-day journey linking Manila's walled city, the UNESCO rice terraces of Banaue and Batad, Sagada's hanging coffins, colonial Vigan, and Palawan's underground river with El Nido's limestone lagoons.

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About this journey

The story behind the route

Comprising more than 7,000 islands scattered gracefully along the westernmost rim of the Pacific Ocean, the Philippines is a country known for its boundless hospitality and the friendly smiles of its people. A wealth of possibilities of discovery and adventure await visitors to these islands with their blend of picture postcard beaches, historic sites, natural attractions and the most important asset of all, the Filipino people. Among the many attractions, we will embrace the big city excitement of Manila; the breath-taking rice terraces of Banaue; and the atmospheric cobbled streets of Vigan. Added to this, we will sample life on the island of Palawan, with the opportunity to marvel at the stunning Underground River, and enjoy the crystal-clear waters and beaches of the beautiful neighbouring islands.

The journey

Philippines – Emerald Terraces of the Cordillera

Key moments

The moments that define this trip

Drawn from the full tour dossier — the standout days, encounters and views our specialists keep coming back to.

Your route

Intramuros Kalesa Ride and San Agustín Church
A guided tour of Intramuros, Old Manila's walled city, includes a kalesa (horse-drawn carriage) ride through streets laid out by Spanish conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legaspi. The baroque church of San Agustín — the oldest in the Philippines — is a UNESCO World Heritage Site declared in 1993. The route also passes Rizal Park, where national hero Dr. José Rizal was executed.
Batad Rice Terraces Amphitheatre Hike
A local jeepney carries travellers to Sadel, the jump-off point for the hike down to the terraces of Batad, which form a dramatic amphitheatre shape. The hike follows narrow, steep paths to reach the terraces and continues to an Ifugao village where most people still live a traditional lifestyle. Near the hotel in Banaue, a further village maintains the practice of keeping and preserving the bones of ancestors, wrapped in indigenous weaving.
Hapao Rice Terraces and River Views
A jeepney ride brings the group to the Hapao rice terraces, where stonewalled paddies are bisected by the sparkling water of the Hapao River. The walk crosses the terraces for a close-up view before passing through a local village to see traditional houses and meet residents. The return route includes viewpoint stops and a call at a local market.
Sagada Hanging Coffins and Burial Caves
The Alpine village of Sagada is reached via the Bontoc Museum, where Cordillera exhibits and a reconstructed outdoor Bontoc village reveal the region's traditional architecture and way of life. In the afternoon, ancient burial caves are visited and the unusual hanging coffins of Echo Valley are viewed. Overnight is at Masferré Country Inn.
Colonial Vigan Kalesa Tour and Heritage Architecture
Vigan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the oldest surviving Spanish colonial city in the Philippines, formerly known as Ciudad Fernandina. After a traditional Ilocano lunch at Café Leona — housed in a historic Vigan building — the group boards a kalesa for a tour of well-preserved old brick houses (bahay na tisa). Visits include the Burgos Museum and the historic Syquia Mansion, with an evening light and sound performance in the main plaza.
Paoay Church and Laoag Exploration
A detour to Laoag includes a stop at the fortress-like Church of St. Augustine in Paoay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, before visiting Museo Ilocos Norte in the former Spanish colonial tobacco factory. The itinerary also covers the Abolition of Tobacco Monopoly Monument, St. William's Cathedral and its Sinking Bell Tower, and the Malacañang of the North — the former lakeside residence of ex-dictator Ferdinand Marcos in Ilocos Norte.

Full itinerary · 15 days

Free — no sign-up

Dates & prices

Pick your departure

Reserve your place with a 10% deposit. Final balance due 70 days before departure. Single-room supplements optional — most travellers happily share.

Departs	Returns	Status	Price pp	Single supp.
2 May 2027	16 May 2027	Guaranteed	£4,495	+£575	Book now

Departure
2 May 2027 → 16 May 2027
Guaranteed
From
£4,495 pp
Single supp. +£575
Book now

Can’t find the right fit?

Every one of our Philippines journeys can be rebuilt around your dates, pace and interests — or we’ll design something entirely new.

Tailor my trip

What's included

Everything covered — and what's not

Included in the price

Arrival and departure transfers
Overland transport throughout with professional driver
Domestic flight
All accommodation
Services of English-speaking guide / tour leader
Meals as listed
Entrance fees for sites listed as part of the itinerary

Budget separately for

International flights (, contact , us, for expert advice and a quote)
Any airport taxes (except when included with domestic airfares)
Travel Insurance
Visa – when required
Drinks
Items of personal nature
Tips (Discretionary)

Before you go

Essential information

Shared across all tours that visit this destination. Read alongside your individual tour dossier for trip-specific details.

Foreign Office travel advice

We constantly monitor official travel advice, including the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Philippines Travel Advice, and will always advise clients of any warnings before departure. At the time of writing, there are no specific warnings against travel to the parts of the Philippines that we visit on our tours.

Please contact us if you have any specific concerns or would like to understand what measures are in place to ensure your trip remains safe and trouble-free.

Voices from the road

What travellers say about us

Reviews from across our small-group programme — Mongolia, Madagascar, the Silk Road and beyond. Independently rated 4.9 Excellent on AITO by 250+ travellers.

“An amazing trip! We had the most amazing holiday — over two weeks we had a taste of the cities, the culture, the mountains, a safari, and time at the beach. Our driver/guide made the whole trip very relaxing, and we were welcomed warmly by everyone we met, enjoying fabulous food and drink along the way. Undiscovered Destinations planned a really amazing itinerary for us with great hotels, a fabulous guide/driver, and interesting places to visit — they took great care to ensure we had an excellent holiday. We look forward to booking another holiday with them in the future. Thank you, Mark!”

Anna

“This adventure was always going to be very full-on, which is how we like our trips. I didn't count on getting bronchitis and ending up in hospital, however. The itinerary was quickly amended to avoid high-altitude destinations as much as possible while still making sure we had a chance to enjoy interesting experiences. While obviously sad to have missed some of the original sites, the revised itinerary was the only sensible option under the circumstances. I was extremely impressed with how Undiscovered Destinations and their local team handled the situation — taking the stress out of it, smoothing the way, rearranging the itinerary and booking new hotels, translating for me with the medical staff, and making sure I always had transport, medicines and anything else I needed. Nothing was too much trouble, and they kept in touch with me, each other, and the insurance company throughout. I can't recommend them enough!”

Grete

“My wife and I had a wonderful tour with Undiscovered Destinations. We had a different guide at each stop, and all of them were friendly, cheerful and knowledgeable. The local people were welcoming, and we always felt safe and comfortable. The beaches were spectacularly beautiful and empty of people, with warm, clear water, and each stop had its own character — some we loved for their unspoiled scenery, others for their history and the warmth of the welcome. We took the opportunity to snorkel on one of the most pristine reefs we've experienced, swimming with sea turtles and enormous manta rays that came right up to us out of curiosity. A wonderful destination for nature lovers.”

Frank

“Excellent. Action packed. Our local agent was excellent, and a good choice by Undiscovered Destinations. Because there were only two of us on the holiday, we had different guides at each stop, each one making sure we were handed over safely. All manner of transport was used, and we appreciated the different guiding strategies, the wealth of information given, the high level of English, and the genuine wish to show off their country at its best. Excellent.”

Cathy

“Far exceeding my expectations, this was one of the best trips I've ever done. A beautiful destination, with interesting history, lively ceremonies, lovely people and — surprisingly, for somewhere that sees so few tourists — absolutely no hassle on the streets. Excellent service from start to finish, with a first-class tour leader.”

Lynn

“We had a two-week trip with Undiscovered Destinations, flying in for two days first to break up the journey. It was a great trip, because we managed to see so much more than just the capital cities. This was the fourth trip we've taken with Undiscovered Destinations, and each one has been wonderful. Our guides were lovely — very professional and helpful. We rate UD very highly.”

Andy

“We had a fabulous trip with an excellent local guide, who took great care of us and enthusiastically shared his knowledge of both ancient and recent history, with lots of fascinating personal stories of his own life. We highly recommend this trip — Undiscovered Destinations were great to work with, and we hope to use them again.”

Jennie

“Everything was great — we got to witness a wonderful variety of wildlife, and thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and the hospitality of the people. A fabulous trip from start to finish.”

Debbie

“Excellent all-round trip. Drivers were conscientious and careful, accommodation was better than expected, and the scenery was stunning throughout.”

Alexis

“Fabulous, unusual destination, and great people. A private tour of somewhere little-visited, with great service from start to finish and excellent knowledge and advice from Undiscovered Destinations throughout.”

Steve

“An amazing trip! We had the most amazing holiday — over two weeks we had a taste of the cities, the culture, the mountains, a safari, and time at the beach. Our driver/guide made the whole trip very relaxing, and we were welcomed warmly by everyone we met, enjoying fabulous food and drink along the way. Undiscovered Destinations planned a really amazing itinerary for us with great hotels, a fabulous guide/driver, and interesting places to visit — they took great care to ensure we had an excellent holiday. We look forward to booking another holiday with them in the future. Thank you, Mark!”

Anna

“This adventure was always going to be very full-on, which is how we like our trips. I didn't count on getting bronchitis and ending up in hospital, however. The itinerary was quickly amended to avoid high-altitude destinations as much as possible while still making sure we had a chance to enjoy interesting experiences. While obviously sad to have missed some of the original sites, the revised itinerary was the only sensible option under the circumstances. I was extremely impressed with how Undiscovered Destinations and their local team handled the situation — taking the stress out of it, smoothing the way, rearranging the itinerary and booking new hotels, translating for me with the medical staff, and making sure I always had transport, medicines and anything else I needed. Nothing was too much trouble, and they kept in touch with me, each other, and the insurance company throughout. I can't recommend them enough!”

Grete

“My wife and I had a wonderful tour with Undiscovered Destinations. We had a different guide at each stop, and all of them were friendly, cheerful and knowledgeable. The local people were welcoming, and we always felt safe and comfortable. The beaches were spectacularly beautiful and empty of people, with warm, clear water, and each stop had its own character — some we loved for their unspoiled scenery, others for their history and the warmth of the welcome. We took the opportunity to snorkel on one of the most pristine reefs we've experienced, swimming with sea turtles and enormous manta rays that came right up to us out of curiosity. A wonderful destination for nature lovers.”

Frank

“Excellent. Action packed. Our local agent was excellent, and a good choice by Undiscovered Destinations. Because there were only two of us on the holiday, we had different guides at each stop, each one making sure we were handed over safely. All manner of transport was used, and we appreciated the different guiding strategies, the wealth of information given, the high level of English, and the genuine wish to show off their country at its best. Excellent.”

Cathy

“Far exceeding my expectations, this was one of the best trips I've ever done. A beautiful destination, with interesting history, lively ceremonies, lovely people and — surprisingly, for somewhere that sees so few tourists — absolutely no hassle on the streets. Excellent service from start to finish, with a first-class tour leader.”

Lynn

“We had a two-week trip with Undiscovered Destinations, flying in for two days first to break up the journey. It was a great trip, because we managed to see so much more than just the capital cities. This was the fourth trip we've taken with Undiscovered Destinations, and each one has been wonderful. Our guides were lovely — very professional and helpful. We rate UD very highly.”

Andy

“We had a fabulous trip with an excellent local guide, who took great care of us and enthusiastically shared his knowledge of both ancient and recent history, with lots of fascinating personal stories of his own life. We highly recommend this trip — Undiscovered Destinations were great to work with, and we hope to use them again.”

Jennie

“Everything was great — we got to witness a wonderful variety of wildlife, and thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and the hospitality of the people. A fabulous trip from start to finish.”

Debbie

“Excellent all-round trip. Drivers were conscientious and careful, accommodation was better than expected, and the scenery was stunning throughout.”

Alexis

“Fabulous, unusual destination, and great people. A private tour of somewhere little-visited, with great service from start to finish and excellent knowledge and advice from Undiscovered Destinations throughout.”

Steve

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Philippines – Emerald Terraces of the Cordillera

The story behind the route

The moments that define this trip

Intramuros Kalesa Ride and San Agustín Church

Batad Rice Terraces Amphitheatre Hike

Hapao Rice Terraces and River Views

Sagada Hanging Coffins and Burial Caves

Colonial Vigan Kalesa Tour and Heritage Architecture

Paoay Church and Laoag Exploration