Thursday 6th April – Manila

• Guests arrive at their own leisure and check into the Garden Lotus Hotel in the Ermita part of Metro Manila (optional airport pickup for extra charge)
• Alas the Hobbit House of Manila is now closed, but we meet the group at 6pm in the lobby for dinner at the Swagman Hotel
• Drinks in Ermita
• Overnight at Lotus Garden Hotel

Friday 7th April – Angeles – Good Friday!

Morning

• At 5.30 am we join our private air-conditioned vehicle for the rest of our journey, a 2-hour drive to the San Fernando Area of Pampanga, stopping for breakfast on the way.
• On arrival we head straight out for the Cutud Lenten Rites Festival, one of the biggest and most spectacular festivals in the Philippines. The action starts with a live action “show”, where Jesus is captured and taken to the crucifixion site. This goes on until around 3pm, with us arranging press passes so that our group can capture prime photos.

Afternoon

• Our AC bus will be well positioned for a cool place to grab water and a picnic lunch!
• Following the end of proceedings, we head to Angeles City to check into the Scorebirds Hotel, one of the most deluxe hotels in the city boasting the biggest swimming pool – amongst other luxuries.
• Angeles City is a former US military base but is equally infamous as a city of sin and the culinary capital of the country; we head out for dinner, followed by the legendary Angeles Walking Street Bar Crawl
• Overnight at Scorebirds.

Saturday 8th April – Baguio

Morning

• After the early start of the previous day, we take this morning a bit more leisurely: breakfast by the pool before setting off on the next part of the adventure
• We now set off for the four-hour drive to Baguio, known as the summer capital of the Philippines due to its much cooler climate (you may even need a jacket at night). On the way we stop for a Filipino-style lunch.
• We drop our bags at the hotel and head for a walking tour of the city, stopping for some liquid refreshments before we start to get weird.

Afternoon

• The Philippines is not only famous for its religious devotees but also how very superstitious they are, so we go local by heading out on a genuine ghost-hunting tour.
• We aim for sunset in the clouds at a wonderful cafe we know that offers stunning views
• For dinner we have a traditional Filipino favorite – “boodle fight” – followed by drinks near our hotel
• Overnight at Wyndham Hotel

Sunday 9th April – Sagada

Morning

• We get up early for the 5-6 hour drive to Sagada – one of the most famous places in the Philippines – stopping on the way for scenic photos

Afternoon

• Lunch stop on the way to Sagada
• On arrival, we check into our rural homestay for a freshen-up before heading into Sagada
• After being met by our local guide we head out for a day of hiking around this historic city, with the main focus being on witnessing and picturing the Hanging Coffins, which are unique to this part of the Philippines. Our local guide will give a full explanation and answer any questions we might have
• Dinner in Sagada at the famous Yoghurt House (it serves more than just yoghurt)
• We finish the night drinking locally-made wine up in our beautiful mountain homestay

Monday 10th April – Currimao

Morning

• Choose between breakfast or a lie-in at the guesthouse before we head off for the next part of our trip: the 5-6 drive to the beach paradise of Currimao. This is one of the most scenic journeys we take, with us making lots of picture stops to see the rice terraces and mountain scenery

Afternoon

• We stop off in Vigan for some of its famous street food, as well as look at its colonial era churches and streets
• Early evening arrival at Playa Resort, where we will have a chance to relax after the long drive and kick back by the pool
• We head for dinner at one of our favorite BBQ restaurants in the Philippines!
• We spend the evening drinking rum by the sea!
• Overnight in Currimao

Tuesday 11th April – La Union

Morning

• We take the morning to relax on our beach before heading off for the day.
• We now do a city tour of Batac. Batac is one of those weird cities that, as the birthplace of a dictator, still hold said dictator in very high regard, hence the “home of great leaders”. We visit the frankly crazy Marcos Museum about Ferdinand and Emelda, as well as checking out a few other choice places such as the Marcos University and Malacanang of the North, the former home of the Marcos family. Unfortunately, his embalmed body is no longer here, but it is fascinating nonetheless.

Afternoon

• Street food lunch in Batac, with there being a wonderful street famous for its local sausages and empanadas
• For those so inclined, we offer ATV driving on the Sand Dunes of Loag (extra charge)
• We then take the next part of our journey: the 4-hour journey to the surfing beach town of Urbiztondo in La Union
• Our beachside huts are located on a very private beach, so make the most of it with our hosts putting on a BBQ for us!
• Overnight in La Union

Wednesday 12th April – Manila

Morning

• We start early for the final part of our journey –  the 4-5 hours back to Manila

Afternoon

• On arrival, we check back into the Garden Lotus Hotel where we have lunch before heading back out
• Manila might well be the centre of wealth, business and government in the Philippines, but it is very much a tale of two cities, with the slums that culminate in the rubbish collectors of Smokey Mountain living in abject poverty. We take a very sobering slum tour of Manila with our local guides, who will give a very in-depth explanation about their lives
• Following the visit to the slums we take a short drive that almost takes us to another universe by visiting the Manila Hotel – the oldest and most deluxe hotel in the city – that also happens to serve great coffee and cocktails
• We head for a last-night dinner in Burgos Street followed by a trip to Ringside bar to watch midget boxing, capping off a truly extreme day in the Philippines!
• Overnight at Garden Lotus Hotel

Thursday 13th April – Manila

• End of tour, with YPT able to offer further transport services, or for those heading onto the next part of the trip, transfer to the airport.
• We are currently looking at adding an extension to this tour. Watch this space!

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