- Tour code
PHLADV01
- Start
Manila
- End
Siargao
- Min. age
16 years old
- Group size
Max 6-16 travellers
- Trip style
Explorer
- Trip pace
Active
- Language
English
The trip starts with history, walking the Spanish-era walls of Intramuros in Manila, then heads south to Cebu. There you'll eat lechon, swim with millions of sardines at Moalboal, and spend a day jumping, sliding and ziplining through the turquoise pools of Kawasan Falls.
Siargao is the finale: a surf island with an easygoing rhythm, where you'll island-hop by banca boat, share a boodle lunch served on banana leaves, and have a free day to paddleboard, lie on the beach or catch a wave.
Group dinners open and close the trip, with plenty of room to explore on your own in between. Your Soca Islands Host is with the group from Manila to Siargao, looking after the timings, boats and transfers so you can enjoy the islands.
Why This Journey
With more than 7,600 islands, the Philippines is hard to plan on your own: which islands, which flights, which beaches are worth the effort. This route gives you three very different sides of the country in a week, from colonial Manila to the reefs of Cebu and the surf-town ease of Siargao.
It's built for travelers who like to be in the water as much as on land, and who want a social trip with shared meals and a group to explore with, without every hour filled. Expect sun, salt, good food and a lot of laughing in canyon pools.
Where You'll Stay
Manila (1 night): The Bayleaf Intramuros, inside the walls of Intramuros. Moalboal, Cebu (2 nights): Quo Vadis Dive Resort, on the water near the sardine run. Siargao (3 nights): Siargao Bleu Resort & Spa, in General Luna near Cloud 9. Proposed accommodation (or similar), subject to confirmation. Rooms are based on two people sharing a double room with two beds.
Getting There
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travellers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Fly into Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) and out of Siargao's Sayak Airport (IAO). Arrival and departure airport transfers are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
What you will see and do
Swim with the Moalboal sardine run
Leap, slide and swim through Kawasan's jungle canyon
Island time and surf breaks on Siargao
What's included
All activities mentioned on the itinerary
Accommodations in double rooms
Experienced Soca Islands Host with you throughout the trip
One farewell group activity when possible
Arrival and departure airport transfers
Group transportation
What's excluded
- International flights (travellers arrange their own)
- Travel insurance (required)
- Meals not listed in the itinerary
- Optional activities, such as surfing and paddleboarding on the free day
- Single room supplement (single rooms on request, subject to availability)
- Extra hotel nights before or after the trip
Group itinerary
Touch down in Manila, the country's sprawling capital, and check into your hotel. Once you're settled, a walking tour takes you inside Intramuros, the walled city the Spanish built in the 16th century, to see Fort Santiago, Manila Cathedral and San Agustin Church, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the oldest stone church in the country.
Tonight the group gathers for a welcome dinner, the first of several shared meals and a chance to get to know the people you'll be traveling with.
Fly south to Cebu, the country's oldest city. Lunch is lechon, whole roast pig with crackling skin, the dish Cebu is famous for.
After checking in, head to Moalboal, where millions of sardines swirl in a shimmering shoal just off the shore. Snorkel right into the middle of it, then swap stories over a local dinner.
Badian's Kawasan Falls is today's playground, a string of turquoise pools tumbling through the jungle. Zipline, slide down natural rock chutes, jump into the pools and work through the canyon as a group.
Lunch is beside the falls, and once you're back at the hotel your time is your own for the beach, the shops or a night out.
Fly from Cebu to Siargao, the island that put Philippine surfing on the map. You'll land in the late afternoon with time to settle in and enjoy the view.
If it falls on the right night, join the island's weekly get-together at a local bar, a mixed crowd of islanders, expats and visitors.
Today you'll sample a few of Siargao's islands. Board a traditional banca boat to visit quiet coves, lagoons, reefs and sandbars, and stretch your legs on a private island, where a brief climb leads to a lookout.
Lunch is a boodle feast, laid out on banana leaves and eaten by hand, before more island stops. The evening is free by the pool or out with the group.
No early alarm today. Linger over breakfast (try the ensaymada, a soft, buttery Filipino pastry) and take the day at island pace. Paddleboard through the mangroves or sip fresh buko straight from the coconut at Secret Beach.
At sunset, the group meets at a waterfront spot for the farewell dinner.
Your trip ends today. Say goodbye to the group and your Soca Islands Host, and transfer to Sayak Airport (IAO) for your journey home or onward.
Accommodations
Here's a glimpse of the hotels we selected for this adventure.
The Bayleaf Intramuros
A modern hotel inside the walls of Intramuros, Manila's 16th-century Spanish walled city. Fort Santiago, Manila Cathedral and San Agustin Church are all within walking distance, which puts the Day 1 walking tour right on the doorstep.
Its rooftop restaurant and bar look out over the old walls, the golf course and Manila Bay.
Hotel websiteQuo Vadis Dive Resort
A waterfront resort in Moalboal on Cebu's southwest coast, with many rooms and bungalows within about 20 metres of the water and views across the Tañon Strait. The famous sardine shoal is just offshore along this stretch of coast.
There's a swimming pool with a swim-up bar and a sea-view restaurant, and the resort's dive centre can help with snorkelling gear.
Hotel websiteSiargao Bleu Resort & Spa
A resort on Tourism Road in Catangnan, General Luna, a few minutes from the Cloud 9 surf break and the cafés and bars of the island's main strip.
It is built around what the resort describes as the largest pool on Siargao, with floating villas opening onto the water, and the Bleu Steak & Seafoods Restaurant serves from breakfast through dinner.
Rooms are 34 m² (366 ft²), with two single beds.
Hotel websiteRooms
You'll stay at Trip Hotel.
- Included
Shared double
Shared with the person you book with, or a fellow traveller of the same sex.
- +$1,387 per person
Single room
A room to yourself, subject to availability.
Room prices are per person for the Apr 18, 2027 departure and can differ on other dates. You choose your room when you book.
Tour FAQS
Fly into Ninoy Aquino International Airport, Manila (MNL), and out of Sayak Airport, Siargao (IAO).
Proposed accommodation is The Bayleaf Intramuros in Manila, Quo Vadis Dive Resort in Moalboal and Siargao Bleu Resort & Spa on Siargao (or similar hotels), subject to confirmation.
International Flights Not Included. International airfare to and from the destination is not included in the package price. Travellers are responsible for arranging their own flights and ensuring their arrival and departure align with the trip itinerary. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
Yes. Arrival and departure airport transfers are included. Please share your confirmed flight details with Soca Islands so we can coordinate applicable arrival and departure arrangements.
7 breakfasts, 4 lunches and 3 dinners are included, as described in the itinerary. Other meals are at your own cost.
Extra nights can be requested, subject to hotel availability; contact our Customer Experience team for a quote.
There are no scheduled activities on the final day, so feel free to book your departure at your own convenience.
We recommend arriving before 3 pm on Day 1 to make it in time for the welcome event. But don’t worry no matter when you land, we’ll have an airport transfer ready for you.
Please Refer to your government’s travel advice or consult your local consulate. Remember, passport and visa requirements can change, so make sure to stay updated.
Excluding alcohol, we suggest budgeting around USD $40.00 per day for extras.
While we’re not medical professionals, we want to help you prepare for a safe and healthy adventure. Here are some tips:
- Consult with a healthcare professional: Schedule an appointment with your travel nurse or doctor at least eight weeks before your adventure to get any necessary vaccines or medications.
- Up-to-date medical advice:
- US residents: Check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
- UK residents: Visit the NHS Fit For Travel website.
- Australian residents: Refer to the Smart Traveler Health website.
3. Government travel advice:
- US residents: Consult the US Department of State Travel Advice.
- UK residents: Check the FCDO Travel Advice.
- Australian residents: Visit the Smart Traveler website.
4. Medication tips: If you take prescription medication, bring enough to last the entire trip, plus a few extra days in case of delays. Carry a copy of your prescription in case you need to visit a clinic abroad.
We hope this helps you prepare for a safe and enjoyable adventure.
Please keep in mind that our itinerary, activities, and hotels might change. These adjustments could happen with little notice due to factors like availability, weather conditions, seasonal shifts, or other circumstances beyond our control. Rest assured, we always aim to minimise any impact on your experience. Occasionally, we may tweak the itinerary to try out fresh ideas and keep the adventure exciting.
We believe solo travelers shouldn’t have to pay extra to explore the world. That’s why our group trips are designed around shared accommodation and do not include a single supplement. Solo travelers joining our group trips are paired in twin or multi-share rooms with another traveler of the same sex for the duration of the trip.
Some of our Independent trips are structured differently. For these itineraries, solo travelers will need to book at the single occupancy rate.
Tips are not included in the cost of this tour. Remember, tipping is entirely at your discretion and based on what you feel comfortable with.
Would you like to learn more or customise our The Philippines Trip trip?
Have questions about accommodations, accessibility, group preferences, or dietary needs? Complete the form below and our team will get back to you shortly.
Similar trips
The Philippines Trip 8 days, 7 nights
- Travel dates:
Apr 18 – 25, 20278 days · Trip Hotel16 spots remaining$4,198$3,778 USDper person, sharing a room · single room +$1,387Early bird: 10% off the first 3 placesTaken off at checkout while places last.$300 today, then 3 monthly payments of about $1,160Or save 5% when you pay in full (the trip price only, not add-ons)
- Travel dates:
May 16 – 23, 20278 days · Trip Hotel16 spots remaining$4,198$3,778 USDper person, sharing a room · single room +$1,387Early bird: 10% off the first 3 placesTaken off at checkout while places last.$300 today, then 4 monthly payments of about $870Or save 5% when you pay in full (the trip price only, not add-ons)
- Travel dates:
Jun 6 – 13, 20278 days · Trip Hotel16 spots remaining$4,198$3,778 USDper person, sharing a room · single room +$1,387Early bird: 10% off the first 3 placesTaken off at checkout while places last.$300 today, then 5 monthly payments of about $696Or save 5% when you pay in full (the trip price only, not add-ons)
Your impact
With this purchase you are supporting local guides, drivers, hosts, accommodations and businesses.
Secure your spot
Trips 90 days or more away need just a $300 deposit per person. Between 60 and 89 days, it's 50% at booking.
Flexible payment plan
Pay the balance in equal monthly payments. Everything is due 60 days before departure, so trips departing sooner are paid in full at booking.
