Philippines Cultural Discovery
The mountainous provinces of the Cordillera in Northern Luzon, Philippines, are perfect for trekking. This is the territory of former headhunting tribes - the Ifugao, the Bontoc, the Kalinga - who were also master hydro engineers who constructed the world's first and most impressive rice terraces over 2000 years ago - consdiered by many to be the eighth Wonder of the World.
The launch pad for trekking in the lands of the Ifugao is Banaue, a hill station located about 10 hours drive north of Manila passing through the dramatic Mountainous centre of Luzon, the largest of the Philippines' 7007 islands. Here every mountain has been carved into tumbling rice terraces almost to the peaks, creating an extraordinary landscape unlike anywhere else in the world.
The shortest trek is a 2 days/ 1 night itinerary from the picturesque village of Banaue, spending one night in an Ifugao tribal village. However we strongly suggest a 3 day/2 night itinerary or longer, sleeping nights in 2 different Ifugao villages. For the more adventurous, we can arrange up to 6 days/5 nights trekking in remote villages, perhaps with a climb to the peak of Mt. Amuyao, the 3rd highest mountain in the Philippines.
The mountainous province of the Cordillera is the perfect land for trekking. Old head hunter tribe territory, it is also the site of the gigantic rice terraces, in Banaue and all around, claimed to be the eighth wonder of the world. Come into an out-of-age trekking with an unforgetable scenery !
Day 1 : Manila / Banaue - Departure from Manila to Banaue by private airconditioned car with driver (10 hrs. trip) crossing the agricultural plains of Central Luzon, then Sierra Madre and its arid mountains. Arrive in Banaue in the afternoon and check in at Fairview Inn. Visit the handicraft market, if time permits. Dinner and overnight Fairview Inn.
Day 3: Cambulo / Batad - Trek to Batad and its amphitheatre styled terraces, which are among the most beautiful in the area (2h30 hike split into 1h30 short uphill/downhill and 1h descent). Picnic lunch and swim at Batad waterfalls (1h down, 1h back up). Back to the village for a peaceful dinner and overnight.
Day 4 : Batad / Banga-an Banaue - Breakfast in the village. Trek from Batad to Banga-an, by the "mountain crest trail" (3h up and down). Lunch in a restaurant in Banga-an overlooking the rice terraces. After visiting the village, jeepney back to Banaue. Dinner and overnight at Fairview Inn.