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The Philippines:
​Adventures in Paradise

14 Days IN BOHOL, PALAWAN, THE LINAPACAN ISLANDS, CORON AND SIARGaO
< Designed Trips

The Trip

Discover the epic scenery, coral reefs, jungle waterfalls and world’s best beaches with this two week island hopping adventure through the archipelago nation of the Philippines. After connecting through either Manila or Cebu City, your first stop is the island of Bohol and its baby sister Panglao. Traverse the chocolate hills, see the world’s smallest primates in their natural habitat, swim in a jungle waterfall and get to know the very warm and friendly Filipino culture before visiting beaches that are consistently ranked as best in the world. Next up, El Nido on the island of Palawan, surrounded by towering limestone karsts that shoot out of turquoise water. Explore the mind-blowing scenery on a private boat trip and optional hike to catch the view from above. If you’re feeling adventurous, choose to spend the next four days aboard a traditional Filipino bangka boat where you’ll sleep in raised beach huts on uninhabited islands in the Linapacan Archipelago. Visit tiny island villages and barely-there sandbars, snorkel pristine reefs, play beach volleyball among the palms, and fall asleep to the sound of waves as you fully disconnect on this once-in-a-lifetime experience. After docking on Coron island, fly on to Siargao, known for epic surf breaks, healthy food, great massages, and cool surf vibes. Every island of this adventure offers a unique energy with different landscapes, activities, and experiences, with pristine beaches, turquoise sea and mind-blowing sunsets being the constant.  As always, this itinerary can be modified to include more or less adventure and activities. 

The Details

Price: 
  • From $3,194 per person
Duration:
  • 13 nights, 14 days
Inclusions:
  • Highly-rated boutique hotels
  • All transportation within the Philippines
  • Private & small-group experiences
  • Curated destination mini-guide
  • Trip preparation & support
Exclusions:
  • International flights to the Philippines (It's recommended to fly into Cebu or Manila).
  • Meals & activities not listed
  • Travel insurance
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Philippines FAQs

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT THE PHILIPPINES?
December through May is generally the best time to visit the Philippines. Siargao (the final island on the itinerary) has a slightly different dry season, from March to May. We recommend avoiding the rainy season in June and July. 
Where should i fly into and out of for this trip?
The trip starts in Bohol and ends in Siargao, so you can connect through either Manila (with the most international flights), or Cebu. Once you book the trip, we’re happy to provide recommendations for the most cost effective and efficient flights from your home town based on your travel dates.
IS IT SAFE?
There are some islands in the Philippines that we do not advise you to visit, however the islands and destinations included in this itinerary are generally very safe, well-traveled, and welcoming to visitors. In any destination, we always recommend that you exercise caution and are aware of your surroundings.
will i have a hard time communicating?
Not at all. English is one of the official languages in the Philippines and is widely spoken, especially in tourism. 
how active & adventurous is this trip?
This itinerary has been designed for travelers who are active, open to adventure and comfortable with ‘rustic’ accommodations. The included hotels at both levels are quite nice and very comfortable, however the beach huts on the boat trip are very basic and do not have air conditioning. However (as with all of our Designed Trips) the trip can be customized, including the exclusion of the boat excursion, and to offer more privately guided experiences.
how do i get around?
This trip includes all transportation to and from your destinations, including private transfers to your hotels. Within the destinations, tricycles (trikes) are the Filipino version of tuktuks and are widely available, as are some taxis. If you’re up for riding scooters/mopeds, they are inexpensive and can be rented in every destination. We can also pre-arrange transfers and/or tours in air-conditioned cars.

The Itinerary


Panglao, Bohol
  • Day 1: Mabuhay sa - Welcome to the Philippines! Made up of over 7,600 islands and home to some of the world's most beautiful beaches and epic scenery, you have officially landed in paradise. Step off the plane into the humid tropical air at Panglao island’s tiny airport and meet a private driver for the short ride to your boutique hotel. Check in and get settled before walking down to the beach for the nightly show as the sky glows pink and the sun dips into the sea. For dinner, try sinugba or inihaw, various types of grilled or spit-roasted barbecue dishes that this region is known for, before getting a good night's sleep. Tomorrow, adventure awaits!
  • Day 2: In the morning you’ll be picked up by a local guide to explore the larger, neighboring island of Bohol. Stop at a traditional market to discover typical produce and daily life before visiting an animal sanctuary where wild tarsiers - the world’s smallest (and most adorable) primates live protected in their natural habitat. If you’re up for some adventure, choose to zipline through the jungle or SUP down the Loboc river before stopping for fresh coconut water and a local food tasting surrounded by rice paddies. Learn about traditional rice farming and enjoy locally grown coffee, then continue on to the island’s famous chocolate hills. Finish the day with a dip in the cool waters of a natural waterfall before heading back to your hotel.
  • Day 3: After a breakfast of topical fruits, eggs and garlic rice (get used to it - nearly every Filipino meal is served with rice!), you have a full day to relax and discover the small island of Panglao. Known for its white sand beaches, coconut groves, and fantastic offshore coral reefs, it’s the perfect place to settle into island life. Spend the day on the sand, in the sea, or cruising on a scooter as you explore some of the best beaches in the country. 

El Nido, Palawan
  • Day 4: Sleep in and soak up the relaxed energy of the island. The first half of the day is free to hit the beach, pick up a snorkel and fins, hop on a scooter, or lounge by the pool. In the afternoon, it’s back to the airport for a short and scenic hop to the island of Palawan and the town of El Nido. Located on the northern tip of the island, this bustling town is the most famous, and arguably most impressive, location in the Philippines due to the striking limestone rock formations that surround it. Watch Bacuit Bay light up at golden hour before grabbing dinner at one of the many restaurants.
  • Day 5: Rise and shine to discover some of the Philippines most epic scenery. Meet your private captain for a morning of cruising to the surrounding lagoons, hidden coves, and hard-to-reach beaches that surround El Nido. This is paradise defined, with glowing turquoise water, white sands and towering cliffs. Work up an appetite snorkeling and kayaking in various locations before a relaxed local  lunch on the beach. The remainder of the day is free to relax in town, at your hotel or hop on a scooter or in a tuktuk (called  tricycles, or "trikes" for short) to a nearby beach.
  • Day 6: If you’re up for a challenge (and an early wake-up), meet a local guide for a guided hike up the jagged rocks of Taraw Cliff. After 30-45 minutes of somewhat intense climbing, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of Bacuit Bay and its karst limestone formations. Or, opt to sleep in and enjoy a relaxed morning before a day of independent exploration. Choose to hop on another boat to explore more islets and beaches, or rent a motorbike or grab a trike to Nacpan Beach, one of Palawan’s most beautiful beaches, just 30 minutes out of town. Grab an early dinner and get a good night’s sleep - a new journey begins tomorrow!

Linapacan Islands
  • Day 7: After breakfast, head to the harbor and step aboard a traditional Filipino bangka boat with a group of 18 other travelers for three days cruising from Palawan to the island of Coron. Over the next 72 hours, you’ll visit uninhabited islands and sandbars in the Linapacan archipelago, sleep in raised traditional beach huts called bahay kubo, snorkel in some of the world’s most pristine reefs, and make new friends as you share freshly prepared Filipino meals together, in what will undoubtedly be one of your most memorable travel experiences of your life. Following an active day of swimming and sunshine, fall asleep under a mosquito net to the sound of the waves and the coconut trees outside the door of your simple, but clean and comfortable, beach hut. (Don’t forget to peek up at the sky before bed - you may see more stars than you ever have before). 
  • Day 8: Wake up to what feels like a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of real life, grab a coffee and stroll the empty white sand beach before breakfast. After kayaking back to the boat, set sail again, hopping between islands - some larger and covered in tropical jungle and others barely-there bars of sand poking through the glowing blue water. Jump off the boat with fins and snorkels, taking in the colorful coral, schools of parrotfish and tiny clown fish, as you make your way to shore. Enjoy a freshly made lunch on the boat and maybe join a game of beach volleyball with your boatmates before the sun starts to set and you cruise to your next camp for the night. 
  • Day 9: There’s a chance that by now, you’ve fully embraced the simplicity of island life and are starting to feel fully present in the moment, the scenery, and the experience - something that can be difficult to do in everyday life. Today your excursion will likely take you to a remote island with a tiny local village that consists of a little school, one shop, a church and a basketball court. Meet a few of the curious kiddos and see what life is like living somewhere that’s hours from large shops and services. You may want to join the boat crew for a game of basketball before hopping back on the boat and cruising into your last camp. Enjoy a final group dinner and possibly a beach bonfire before sleeping peacefully in the silence of the island. 
​
Coron
  • Day 10: There's a bittersweet feeling on the last day of something you know will stay with you. 
    Wake up with the sun in your raised beach hut and enjoy breakfast with the group before cruising away from camp and to your final island stop. Spend the afternoon squeezing in a few final games of volleyball, spotting trigger fish and moray eels, and hanging with a family of friendly island pigs before the channel crossing to Coron. Back in civilization, say goodbye to your boatmates and crew before checking into your hotel and indulging in a hot shower and a nap in the plush bed. If you have extra energy, hike up the 720 stairs of Mt. Tapyas to reach a small peak with the best sunset view in Coron Town before sitting down to dinner in bustling Coron Town. 

Siargao
  • Day 11: After a good night’s sleep, meet a private driver who will take you to Coron’s small airport for a one-stop flight to the island of Siargao, located in the westernmost point of the country. Widely considered the surfing capital of the Philippines (and often deemed the next Bali - quite the accolade in Southeast Asia), this naturally beautiful island is home to all of the laidback energy, healthy food, cheap massages and cool people that surf destinations attract. Check in to your hotel, get settled and head to General Luna (often referred to as GL) for loads of delicious dinner options.
  • Day 12: Wake up in one of the most beautiful and relaxed islands in the Philippines before hopping on a scooter or in a trike to the notorious Cloud 9 surf break. This area has become famous for its approachability - with waves for all levels, it’s a near perfect spot for beginner surfers. Meet your private surf instructor and head out for an hour lesson. If you’re feeling impressed with your newfound skills, you may want to keep the board after the lesson to practice on your own… or just grab a tropical smoothie bowl and relax on the palm-covered shoreline. 
  • Day 13: Today is yours to relax and breathe in the island energy or explore some of the best sites. You may want to visit a couple of the best beaches, check out the Magpupungko Rock Pools (tides are best between 10-2), see the Coconut Plantation View Point or jump off the platform at the picturesque Maasin River. Before dinner, head into GL early for a pre-travel full body massage at one of the local day spas. Enjoy your final Filipino dinner and fall asleep to the sound of waves on this tear-drop shaped island in the Philippine Sea.
  • Day 14: Following breakfast, check out of your hotel and meet your private transfer to the one-room airport terminal. Step out to the tarmac and on to your flight to either Manila or Cebu to connect to your international flight home.  
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Pricing & Inclusions


Boutique
  • 3 hotel nights in Bohol: Bohol Beach Club, Bathala Resort, or equivalent
  • 3 hotel nights in Palawan: The Funny Lion, Maligaya Beach Bungalows, or equivalent
  • 3-night all-inclusive boat expedition in the Linapacan Islands
  • 1 hotel night in Coron: The Funny Lion or equivalent
  • 3 hotel nights in Siargao: The Village Siargao, Kalima Villas, or equivalent
  • Private airport arrival & departure transfers
  • Direct flight from Panglao, Bohol to El Nido
  • 1-stop flight from Coron to Siargao
  • Private nature and culture tour in Bohol 
  • Private boat excursion to El Nido’s most famous bays and beaches
  • Private surf lesson at Cloud 9 in Siargao
  • Traditional Filipino massage
  • Curated destination mini-guide
  • Trip preparation & support

​Exclusions
  • International flights to the Philippines
  • Meals & activities not listed above
  • Travel insurance

Boutique Pricing
  • From $3,194 per person

​*Pricing based on double occupancy and is subject to change based on travel dates and number of travelers. ​
Luxury Boutique
  • 3 hotel nights in Bohol: Amorita Resort, Amarela Resort, or equivalent
  • 3 hotel nights in Palawan: Buko Beach Resort, Morgan Villas, or equivalent
  • 3-night all-inclusive boat expedition in the Linapacan Islands
  • 1 hotel night in Coron: Zuri Resort or equivalent
  • 3 hotel nights in Siargao: Tanaw Villas, Manao Villas, or equivalent
  • Private airport arrival & departure transfers
  • Direct flight from Panglao, Bohol to El Nido
  • 1-stop flight from Coron to Siargao
  • Private nature and culture tour in Bohol 
  • Private boat excursion to El Nido’s most famous bays and beaches
  • Private surf lesson at Cloud 9 in Siargao
  • Traditional Filipino massage
  • Curated destination mini-guide
  • Trip preparation & support

​
Exclusions
  • International flights to The Philippines
  • Meals & activities not listed above
  • Travel insurance
​
Boutique Luxury Pricing
  • From $3,897 per person

​*Pricing based on double occupancy and is subject to change based on travel dates and number of travelers.​

Optional add-on adventures

  • Extra night on Coron for a private island hopping tour
  • 3 nights in Cebu for Kawasan canyoneering and sardine run 
  • 3 night island hop from Bohol to Siquijor for a more off-the-beaten path island experience
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​This Designed Trip was developed based on our personal travels, with local contacts, favorite hotels and authentic activities that we've experienced first-hand.
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FAQs

​WHAT IS A DESIGNED TRIP?
A Designed Trip is a pre-designed travel plan based on our personal, first-hand travel experiences in each destination. As they are pre-designed, our Designed Trips have been created as a turnkey travel option and can be booked and delivered in as little as one week. ​
CAN I MAKE ANY CHANGES TO A DESIGNED TRIP?
Absolutely! Pre-designed doesn’t mean there isn’t any flexibility. Whether you want to shorten or lengthen your trip, switch out a destination or change an activity, let us know. If, however, you want a trip built around your specific desires, a Custom Trip might be more appropriate. We can help you decide, so get in touch.
​HOW LONG DOES THE PROCESS TAKE?
Once you’ve selected your Designed Trip and chosen between a Boutique, Luxury Boutique or Luxury experience, your trip can be booked and delivered in as little as one week. If you would like to make some changes to your trip, such as including an alternative activity, shortening or lengthening your trip, then this can take a bit longer.
HOW DO I KNOW HOW MUCH MY DESIGNED TRIP WILL COST?
Once you have decided on your Designed Trip, your dates, and any adjustments we will provide a personalized itinerary and pricing for your trip. We have included base pricing on each Designed Trip page to give you an idea as to what the final cost might be, but prices can fluctuate depending on time of year and any personalization. Get in touch and we can help.
If you have any other questions, feel free to check out more FAQs or send us an email.

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