“Discovery in Luxury in Style"

Day 1 - ARRIVAL IN MANILA
MANILA is the gateway to the 7,107 islands of the Philippines and is the historical centre of government and industry. The city is a delightful mix of the old and the new – from ancient Spanish churches to gleaming highrise structures, quaint street stalls and modern shopping malls, historical landmarks to pulsating nightlife. In Manila every corner is a discovery. Be welcomed with leis made of sampaguita, the national flower of the Philippines, its essential oils used in many French perfumeries.

Transfer to THE SOFITEL PHILIPPINE PLAZA.
Afternoon free to relax, and in the evening, at the poolside, enjoy a showcase of Philippine cultural dances while having a barbecue dinner.

Day 2 - THE OLD & MODERN MANILA TOUR
Breakfast in the hotel.
Morning: Take the one of a kind INTRAMUROS TOUR, where artist CARLOS CELDRAN takes you to a walking tour of the old walled city to Intramuros. Guests will be transferred to Intramuros, the old walled Spanish city of Manila, Built by the Spaniard Miguel Lopez de Legaspi in 1571, the city walls once protected the most important homes, buildings, churches, and hospitals from attacks by the Chinese, Dutch, and Portuguese. Since its destruction during World War II, Intramuros has stood as a silent memorial to the glory that Manila once had. Carlos Celdran will animatedly narrate to you the history of the Philippines in the most unique way. Walk around a selection of Intramuros' most stunning structures and take in a humorous analysis of Philippine art, culture, and society from Pre‐Hispanic Manila until the present. Ironically irreverent yet informative, and certainly the most unique city tour you will ever take in your life!!

Lunch at Ilustrado Restaurant within the colonial ambiance of Intramuros is the renowned Ilustrado Restaurant. Once an aristocratic Spanish era house, now converted to a restaurant featuring the best of Filipino ‐ Spanish cuisine.
Afternoon visit to the bizarre Chinese Cemetery and the Lechon factory in La Loma, en route Makati City, the financial district of Manila. Witness the contrast of the old world Manila against the cosmopolitan district of Makati City. See the Philippines’ first international airport which is now the Filipinas Heritage Library.

Dinner at Kamayan, where food is eaten the Filipino way – with the hands!
Overnight at the hotel.

Day 3 - MANILA – PAMPANGA
Breakfast in the hotel.
Depart from your hotel for Pampanga via airconditioned coach, through the NorthExpressway. En route, stop by the town of BACOLOR in Pampanga. This town is among hundreds of towns and villages, which have been devastated by Mt. Pinatubo's eruption in June 1993. Tour the village by jeepney and visit the Basilica, which is now 3/4 buried in Lahar. See the remaining roofs of houses covered by Lahar. Mt. Pinatubo's wrath continues to wreak havoc on the lives of the villagers every year as the monsoon rains carry Lahar from the bowels of Mt. Pinatubo adding more layers of Lahar. Townsfolk have adapted to nature' wrath by building houses on stilts which are several meters high. Proceed to visit Betis Church in Guagua, a must visit church in Pampanga, the centuries‐old Betis Church in Guagua is nicknamed the "Sistine chapel of the Philippines" because of its wall ceiling murals. It is the second oldest church in Pampanga and one of the 26 churches declared by the National Museum as national cultural treasures. Not far from the Betis Church lies Betis Crafts, one of the country's best furniture explorers.

Lunch at “Bale Dutung” the residence / restaurant of artist & writer Claude Tayag for a homestyle Kapampangan feast. The entire house is a showroom for Tayag’s creative and artistic talent. Mr. and Mrs. Claude Tayag will serve you personally with simple Kapampangan dishes artistically presented. They will also entertain you with the history of Bale Dutung. The meal ends with a simple Paradiso dessert made of smoked ube (taro), camote (sweet potato) and macapuno (sweet coconut jelly) on sweet carabao milk pastillas.

Afternoon visit of Pampanga specialty shops, on the way to Abe’s Farm. Savor an afternoon at leisure at a
countryside villa of restaurateur Larry Cruz at the foothills of Mt. Arayat. Try the local “hilot” or Filipino massage. Evening buffet dinner of more special Kapampangan and Filipino cuisine.

Overnight at The Resthouse. Experience a warm, Filipino hospitality with comfortable and charming facilities.

Day 4 - BANAUE
Breakfast at the hotel.
The gateway to Banaue is through the evergreen provinces of Nueva Ecija and Nueva Viscaya. In San Jose City, a short stop in a restaurant by a rice farm for lunch. Resume drive to Banaue, stop at Dalton Pass, a historical landmark at Sta. Fe, Nueva Viscaya, passing by Bagabag, where picturesque mountains and rivers start to ascend to the Ifugao land. Arrive in Banaue late in the afternoon. Check‐in at the Banaue Hotel.
Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 5 - BANAUE
Breakfast at the hotel.
Departure by private local jeepney for the tour of the rice terraces and its villages. Proceed to Banga‐an village, a traditional village nestled in a panoramic valley of terraces. A 20‐minute walk in a descending trail permits a closer look of the Ifugao world. Walk around and mingle with the friendly natives and visit a typical home to see their life ways. Stop at the viewpoint of the oldest rice terraces known as the “8th Wonder of the World” and estimated to be more than 2,000 years old. On the way back to the hotel, visit the museum. Late lunch at the Hotel before an afternoon walking  tour of the surroundings – Tam‐An, Poitan, Matanglang & Bocos Villages – past traditional Ifugao houses and views of the terraces.
Dinner with show and overnight at Banaue Hotel.                                                                                                                

Day 6 - BATAD
Breakfast at the hotel.
Take a jeepney to the most spectacular amphi‐theater terraces are right in Batad, with a village that sits in the middle rather incongruously. Trek is quite arduous, ( optional)with some steep paths. Hike to the 30meter high Tappia Waterfalls with lunch at Rita’s Inn.
Dinner and overnight at the Banaue Hotel.

Day 7 - BANAUE ‐ BAGUIO
Early morning breakfast at the hotel & departure for Baguio. En route, stop at Bontoc Museum and Sagada where lunch is taken at the famed Masferre Lodge or Yoghurt House.
Arrival in Bagiuo early evening. Dinner and overnight at THE MANOR, CAMP JOHN HAY.

Day 8 - BAGUIO – VIGAN
Breakfast in the hotel.
Morning drive through the city of Baguio, before proceeding on a 5‐hour journey to Vigan. Upon arrival, check in and lunch at VILLA ANGELA HERITAGE HOUSE or Vigan Plaza Hotel. Vigan, earlier known as " Ciudad Fernandina" from 1758 to late 19th century, is the oldest surviving Spanish colonial city in the country. It has auspiciously escaped the bombs of World War II unlike its sister cities, Manila and Cebu. How and why it has survived the wrath of war is a fascinating story on its own. Vigan brings images of antiquated houses, cobbled narrow streets, calesas and friendly faces peering out of large windows; a place where "time stood still". Yet, despite all the romantic images this place provokes, much is still unfamiliar about Vigan. Today, Vigan was recently included in the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage List in December 1999 and converted into a component city last January 21, 2001.
Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at Vigan Plaza Hotel or Villa Angela Heritage House.

Day 9 - VIGAN – LAOAG ‐ MANILA
Breakfast in the resort.
Morning walking tour of this quaint town until departure for Laoag. Arrival at Fort Ilocandia, where group will
have late lunch and enough time for leisure. Departure mid‐afternoon for a tour of Paoay Church and its placid lake, the undulating sand dunes until transfer to airport for flight back to Manila.
Upon arrival in Manila, transfer to hotel. Dinner and overnight. THE SOFITEL PHILIPPINE PLAZA

Day 10 - MANILA – EL NIDO
Breakfast in the hotel.
Transfer to airport for flight to El Nido. Transfer by boat to Lagen Island Resort. El Nido is a municipality located at the northwestern tip of the province of Palawan in the Philippines. It is about 430 kilometers southwest of Manila, and about 238 kilometers northwest of Puerto Princesa, Palawan’s capital.

El Nido is bordered by the Linapacan Strait in the north, the Sulu Sea in the east, and the South China Sea in the west. The Municipality of El Nido is composed of 18 barangays (villages) covering a total land area of 50,000 hectares. Its population of 27,000 people, is a mix of native Palaweños, with a heavy presence of migrants from other parts of the Philippines.

El Nido is named after the edible nests of Swiftlets (Collocalia Fuciphaga) found in the crevices of its limestone cliffs. These nests, “nido” in Spanish, are the main ingredient for the gourmet nido soup.El Nido is considered as a showcase of Palawan’s geology and diverse wildlife. Its majestic limestone cliffs stand guard over clear waters, with hundreds of species of tropical fishes and corals, and three species of endangered sea turtles. El Nido’s forests are host to more than 100 species of birds, a large number of which are endemic to Palawan. Upon arrival in the resort, guests are free to enjoy their resort‐programmed activities like island‐hopping, visit to the small and big lagoon, cave exploration, diving, snorkeling, etc.
Lunch and dinner at the resort. El Nido Lagen Resort
Overnight.

Day 11 & 12 - EL NIDO
Day free for more activities on the islands and resort.
Overnight.

Day 13 - EL NIDO – MANILA
Breakfast & lunch.
Transfer to airport for flight back to Manila. Upon arrival, transfer to hotel and check in. Day is free for individual shopping or other optional activities. Evening dinner at “La Cocina de Tita Moning”, the only place in Metro Manila where you can walk into an actual ancestral home, filled with priceless works of art and memorabilia, and re‐live one of Manila's most elegant eras ‐ complete with the heirloom recipes, doting staff, and family collections of china, glassware and silverware.
The “restaurant” is a highly personal one, and every member of the Legarda Family and Staff looks forward to sharing with the group their unique heritage.
Return to the hotel and overnight. THE SOFITEL PHILIPPINE PLAZA

Day 14 -MANILA ‐ OWARD JOURNEY
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to airport for onward flight flight

From: $5902 per person twin share ex Manila

Includes:
Accommodations in “jewel” hotels and resorts with breakfast

• Sofitel Philippine Plaza in Manila
• Banaue Hotel in Banaue
• The Manor in Camp John Hay, Baguio
• Villa Angela Heritage House or Vigan Plaza Hotel in Vigan
• El Nido Lagen Island Resort in Palawan