This is an adventure tour of Banaue, Sagada plus the Heritage City of Vigan. A panorama of 2000 year old terraces carved into a mountain side of Ifugao province by ancestors of this indigenous people. They are well known engineers and wood carvers creating this wonders for thousands of years. You go further inland to stay overnight at enchanting Sagada for mountain views, hanging coffins and spelunking at Sumaging and Lumiang burial cave. At the fourth day, you will go west beyond the mountains into the Coastal Heritage City of Vigan to enjoy the wonders of the northern lowlands
Tour Duration: 5D/4N
Pick up time: 03:00 AM or earlier
Highlights:
1. Drive up the Cordillera Mountains into Banaue.
2. Panoramic view of World’s famous Rice Terraces at the viewpoint.
3. Optional: Batad, Bangaan, and Hapao.
4. Overnight stay in Sagada for optional Cave Spelunking and Hanging Coffin visit
5. Visit the coastal Heritage City of Vigan and tour the west parts of Northern Philippines
DAY 1 – MANILA-BANAUE
03:00 AM - Departing Manila for Banaue via TPLEX highway, Nueva Ecija, and Nueva Vizcaya. Catch more sleep in our vans with reclining seats as we take you there. Wake up for breakfast (own expense) at Solano then drive up into the Cordillera mountains into Banaue.
There is a stopover at a scenic lookout point called Dalton Pass. It has a historical WWII Battle that took place there. It’s the meeting point of two great mountain ranges. There is also an optional stop over at the General Yamashita Surrender Site at Kiangan. Late afternoon arrival into Banaue.
Overnight in Banaue.
DAY 2 – BANAUE OPTIONAL TOURS
A. BATAD: With a good physical level expect some rough narrow tracks that can be achieved in a short time. Marvel at the Batad amphitheater terraces from the village view point and see a 2000 year old terrace that climbs up a mountain side up to a 70 degree angle.
TAPPIYA WATERFALLS: after Batad there can be a long hike to see a 70 meter fall. A natural pool is formed at its bottom suitable for a cool swim (properly attired) It’s a further trek from Batad for a total of 3 hours.
B. BANGA-AN VILLAGE: Instead of Batad, Banga-an showcases a typical Ifugao community. After viewing the terraces from the roadside, stone steps lead downward to this village through the terraced slopes. You are rewarded with spectacular views of this village and its surrounding rice terraces close up.
C. HAPAO: This tour is considered to be more like a road side rice terraces tour going the opposite direction of Batad. It includes a short walk down into rice paddies along the road side. There are scenic views of rice terraces too.
Return to Banaue for overnight.
DAY 3 – BANAUE – SAGADA
Depart for Sagada after breakfast it will be a 3 hour drive towards picturesque sceneries with a stopover at the view point (4800 feet) then onto the Bayyo rice terraces then a stopover at the Bontoc Tribal Museum with artifacts and unique pictures of the Bontoc tribes. At Sagada there are ancient burial cliffs of mummified bodies at Sugong Eco-valley. You can hire a local English speaking guide and visit these sights together with the Lumiyang burial cave which houses more than 100 coffins stacked up in the entrance. Many of them have images carved on them to symbolize fertility and long life. You then enter the Sumaging cave known for its rock formations and impressive stalactite chambers. If there is still time you may visit Lake Danum or Bumod-ok falls.
Overnight in Sagada.
Day 4 – SAGADA – VIGAN
Today will be an early departure from Sagada for a six hour journey going to Vigan. This route takes us through four big mountains and passes through a major “up in the sky” Besang Pass battle ground of World War II and come out in the coastal province of Ilocos Sur. Your journey has started from the east side of the Cordillera Mountains and come out in the west. A smooth highway dotted with Spanish colonial churches in every town brings you up north to Vigan City, our heritage from the past, our treasure today. It is an antique historical City settled first by Chinese traders then later turned into the capital of the Ilocos Region during the Spanish period.
There are many sites to see in Vigan, examples are: Calle Crisologo, Syquia Mansion, Pagburnayan Jar Factory and Kalesa Tour around the City. Dinner can be at a local native restaurant called the Hidden Garden.
Overnight in Vigan.
DAY 5 – VIGAN - MANILA
Before returning to Manila, explore Calle Crisologo at dawn, when the street is empty and all the shops and restaurant are closed, at this hour you can experience a quiet Calle Crisologo with none of the hustle and bustle of tourists and shop keepers, sidewalks, stripped bare of colorful wares then return back towards Manila. There will be a short stopover at the huge heritage church of Sta. Maria. Late afternoon arrival into Manila
NOTE: Timing and itinerary is subject to change due to weather, traffic conditions and unforeseen circumstances
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