Philippines – 10 Days
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- Philippines – 10 Days
Days
10
From
AUD$1699
Rating
Days
10
Route
Manila > El Nido
Trip Rating
From
AUD$1699
Trip Overview
If you’re into authentic experiences in the world’s most incredible tropical islands, then this trip to The Philippines is for you.
Route
Manila to El Nido
Stays
9 nights of accommodation
Meals
9x Breakfasts, 5x Lunches, 2x Dinners
Transport
All transport Day 1 to 10. Jeepneys, Filipino trikes, buses, boats & more
Activities
12 included, 1 optional extra over 4 locations
Crew
Route
Manila to El Nido
Stays
Meals
9x Breakfasts, 5x Lunches, 2x Dinners
Transport
All transport Day 1 to 10. Jeepneys, Filipino trikes, buses, boats & more
Activities
12 included, 1 optional extra over 4 locations
Crew
The Philippines is truly an unbeatable destination. We are incredibly proud of this action packed tour as it was the very first destination we ran our trips in! Since then we’ve curated the ultimate 10 day Philippines tour that will see you explore a UNESCO World Heritage Underground River, visit some of the world’s most breaktaking island hopping destinations, cook with locals, climb coconut trees and even stay overnight at a private beach camp. Relax under the stars and snorkel with turtles in Port Barton, float in the crystal clear emerald waters & find yourself in awe of the majestic limestone cliffs in El Nido. This is a bucket list destination that you do not want to miss while you’re in Asia. Did we mention it’s been voted the #1 tour in the Philippines & in Asia? Book now, thank us later!
Have the luxury of exploring stunning tropical islands and your very own private overnight beach camp
Visit a local school in Palawan
Explore the famous UNESCO Underground River by boat
Do a traditional cooking class & enjoy the meal
Do the El Nido Canopy Walk and experience the scenic view
Visit a prison and chat with the inmates
Enjoy the crystal clear waters as you swim and play during island hopping
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrive in Manila! Let's go!
Arrive at any time in Manila and we will meet you at the airport. We take you through the winding streets to our boutique hostel in central Manila. Settle into your accommodation and in the evening join the rest of the group for a delicious welcome meal up on the rooftop terrace and enjoy a few drinks overlooking the Manila skyline.
Accommodation: 4 Bed Dorms - Z Hostel (or similar)
Activities: Welcome Dinner
Optional Extras: N/A
Meals: Dinner
Physical Rating: Low
Day 2 - Palawan here we come!
Palawan here we come! Today we take a short flight to Puerto Princesa in Palawan. We will visit the Iwahig Prison, where the inmates govern themselves and learn new skills such as farming and dancing to Michael Jackson. Truly a bizarre experience! In the evening, we will have dinner in a local restaurant in this coastal city.
Accommodation: Twin/Double Rooms - Canvas Boutique Hotel (or similar)
Activities: Iwahig Prison Visit
Optional Extras: N/A
Meals: Breakfast
Physical Rating: Medium
Day 3: UNESCO Underground River, Port Barton
We have an early start as we head out to the UNESCO Underground River. We explore a portion of the accessible underground river by boat before stopping for lunch. Afterwards, we'll continue on a scenic drive to the remote and stunning Port Barton. Spend the afternoon sipping fresh coconuts on golden sand while listening to some island reggae in the background. Tonight we will sleep in traditional Filipino-style beach bungalows listening to the sound of the ocean.
Accommodation: Twin/Double Rooms - Elsa's Cottages (or similar)
Activities: Underground River
Optional Extras: Massages
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Physical Rating: Medium
Day 4/5: Private Beach Camp! Snorkelling, Waterfall & School Visit
For the next 2 days we get to experience the local island way of life, with our Islander Experience. After breakfast, we join our local guides on their boat for 2 days of exploring islands and the surrounding areas of Port Barton. Snorkel around coral reefs & alongside turtles, shower in jungle waterfalls, explore tiny islands and just take it all in. In the evening we get together around the fire at our very own private beach camp. Perfect! Don’t worry about food either as our local guides will have everything covered with feasts of grilled fish, pork, rice, vegetables and fruit. Tonight you will sleep in tents directly on the beach in paradise.
Accommodation: Beach Camp (2 Person Tents)
Activities: Island Hopping, Beach Bonfire, Snorkelling, Waterfall Visit, School Visit (seasonal)
Optional Extras: N/A
Meals: 2x Breakfast & 2x Lunch & 1x Dinner
Physical Rating: Medium/High
Day 6: To El Nido, Paradise
After breakfast, take some time to appreciate your spectacular surroundings before we then hop into a van and head up on our way to El Nido. When we arrive you will see why Palawan was named the most beautiful island in the world. Surrounded by islands and towering cliffs, El Nido is a secret paradise we are lucky enough to share. Once you pick your jaws up off the ground, we will check in to the funkiest hostel in Palawan. This slick hostel looks more like a boutique hotel than a backpackers! Settle in, then head to our favourite beach restaurant in the evening for food and fun with your One Life family.
Accommodation: 4 Bed Dorms - Spin Designer Hostel (or similar)
Activities: N/A
Optional Extras: Massage, Beach Clean-up
Meals: Breakfast
Physical Rating: Low
Day 7: El Nido, Filipino Cultural Day
Get ready to immerse yourself in unique Filipino culture! We'll take a short jungle hike to learn about the flora and fauna that grow in the lush rainforest before arriving at our exclusive jungle hut for a fun-filled day. Today's activities range from cooking authentic Filipino food, climbing coconut trees, traditional Filipino stick fighting, coconut shaving, learning Filipino dances and children's games, coconut leaf weaving, and more. Afterwards, you can take the optional zipline and enjoy a relaxing time on the stunning Las Cabanas Beach. It's an exhilarating adventure of flying between two islands over the ocean, followed by a day of relaxation that you're not likely to forget!
Accommodation: 4 Bed Dorms - Spin Designer Hostel (or similar)
Activities: Cultural Day
Optional Extras: Zipline (600/800 PhP) SUP
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Physical Rating: Medium/High
Day 8: El Nido, Island Hopping
This morning we board our boat to take us around all the spectacular, tiny islands in the bay. You will explore the most beautiful islands and the bluest waters you have ever seen. Snorkel with your new friends and feast on the freshly prepared food on board. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Accommodation: 4 Bed Dorms - Spin Designer Hostel (or similar)
Activities: El Nido Island Hopping
Optional Extras: N/A
Meals: Breakfast & Lunch
Physical Rating: Medium/High
Day 9: El Nido Town, Canopy Walk & Massage
Today we do a short canopy walk up to the famous cliffs overlooking El Nido to get the best view of incredible bay and Cadlao Island. After all that exercise, you’ll need some chill-out time! That’s why we include a traditional Filipino massage near the beach to help ease those muscles. Take your time today to relax and enjoy your surroundings.
Accommodation: 4 Bed Dorms - Spin Designer Hostel (or similar)
Activities: Canopy Walk, 1hr Massage
Optional Extras: Additonal Island Hopping Day, Scuba Diving, Boxing Class, Surfing Lesson *subject to availability
Meals: Breakfast
Physical Rating: Medium/High
Day 10: Depart
Sadly all good things must come to an end! You can fly back to Manila from a small airport in El Nido, it’s a little bit more expensive, but it means you won’t have to travel back to Puerto for your flight (use the Air Swift website). If you’re leaving to Puerto Princesa, your guide can book you on one of the vans departing throughout the day.
Accommodation: N/A
Activities: N/A
Optional Extras: N/A
Meals: Breakfast
Physical Rating: N/A
Inclusions
Our crew comprises of award winning tour guides who will make your trip unforgettable. Expertly trained and prepared for every circumstance – they’ll be your new best mate and a fountain of knowledge all wrapped up in one, and will stop at nothing to make your trip life changing.
We’ve packed a full itinerary so you can see the best in your 10 days. Not only that, we’ve personally tried and tested all of the accommodation, transport and meals included on this trip to be sure you’re receiving a quality experience.
Group
Maximum group size 22 people (average 16 people)
Stays
Transport
Crew
Meals
9 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 2 Dinners
Activities
- Overnight Camping On Private Island
- Island Hopping On One Life Exclusive Boat
- School Visit
- Waterfalls & Beaches
- Snorkelling With Turtles
- Unesco Underground River
- Cultural Experiences
- Cooking Class
- Island Hopping In El Nido
- Prison Visit
- Massage
- Canopy Walk To Famous View Point
Optional Activities: Yoga, Ziplining, Additonal Island Hopping Day, Scuba Diving, Boxing Class, Surfing Lesson *subject to availability
Night Stays
We have handpicked accommodation throughout the Philippines which fit with the vibe of our trips and our fellow travellers. We only put our guests in places that we have personally stayed in and loved! This is why when we stay in hostels, these are no ordinary hostels. No 8-bed dorms with old creaky beds in sight!
You will find large comfy beds, spotless and stylish interiors, aircon, personal lights and sockets to charge your devices. These are boutique hostels with a maximum of 4 per room (upgrades available), plus camping on a secluded beach!
4 Bed & Twin/Double Rooms
Unique Beach Camping
Upgrades Available
FAQs
Before you set out with us on the trip of a lifetime, we want to go over a few things. The Philippines is an amazing country with so much to offer, but like with most Southeast Asian countries things sometimes don’t go according to plan. This is why we may have to slightly alter the itinerary if we need to. One Life is committed to giving you the best possible experience, so if we need to change something we’ll make sure we’ll replace it with something equally awesome!
What is the age range of the tour?
All One Life Adventures tours have an 18 years+ requirement. Once you’re over 18, as long as you have a sense of adventure, are excited by our activities and are young at heart, we would love to have you onboard!
Does the tour take us back to Manila?
How much spending money do you recommend for this tour?
Can you get private rooms on this tour instead of dorms?
Can I bring a 25kg suitcase?
I want to go diving in El Nido, is there the option to do it while on the tour?
Does it matter what time I arrive on day 1 in order to be picked up from the airport?
You can arrive at any time on day 1, but if you arrive after 3pm your tour guide won’t be able to personally collect you. Instead they will arrange your car and meet you at the hostel for your first night.
Can you cater for my dietary requirements on this trip?
Yes, we can cater for most dietary requirements. Please notify us prior to arriving on day 1 so we can arrange this for you.
I haven’t ever camped before. Can you tell me more about the beach camping?
Sleeping in a tent on the beach will be one of the most unique and incredible things you will get to experience. It is a private beach with a purpose-built shelter to protect you from the weather. Each tent comes with a mattress, pillow & sheet and can fit 2 people. There is nothing like waking up on a deserted island, watching the sunrise and going for a morning swim.
Can I get picked up from the airport if I arrive before day 1?
Unfortunately we only offer airport pick ups on day 1 of the tour, but we include very easy and straightforward instructions in your welcome pack to help you on getting from the airport to the first hostel.
I want to bring some camera equipment on tour, are there safe places like lockers in the accommodation?
There are lockers/safes in most locations but not all, we recommend bringing a padlock for your bag like you would when travelling in a normal situation anyway for that extra peace of mind.
Should I bring hiking shoes?
There is a little walking involved in the Philippines but not much. Sandals and some trainers/running shoes would be fine.
Can we swim with whale sharks on the tour?
The main opportunity to swim with whale sharks in the Philippines is located in Cebu which is a different island to Palawan where we visit on tour. While we don’t support or include whale shark swimming on tour, there are ethical opportunities within the Philippines & should you travel further around the country once the tour has finished your guide can help advise you on the best places to do so.
Where do we spend the first night of the tour?
We stay at the award winning Z Hostel in Makati.
Where should I fly into?
Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL).
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Deposits from $300 AUD
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