Philippines West Classic 10 Day Tour
Philippines West Classic 10 Day Tour
Philippines West Classic 10 Day Tour
10 Days Starting in Manila and ending in El Nido
Visiting: Manila, Z Hostel, Puerto Princesa, Port Barton, Palawan, El Nido
Tour operator:
Tour code:
10DPAT
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
6 - 22
Age range:
18-45
Special diets catered:
Vegans, Meat, Vegetarians, Others: On Request
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
One Life Adventures is a premium youth operator, specialising in trips for travellers aged 18-45 years inclusive (at the time of travel). The Philippines is truly an unbeatable destination, if you’re into authentic experiences in the world’s most incredible tropical islands, then this is the trip for you. We are incredibly proud of this action packed tour as it was the very first destination we ran our trips in! Since then, we’ve curated the ultimate 10 day Philippines tour that will see you explore a UNESCO World Heritage Underground River, visit some of the world’s most breathtaking island hopping destinations, cook with locals, climb coconut trees and even stay overnight at a private beach camp. Relax under the stars and snorkel with turtles in Port Barton, float in the crystal clear emerald waters & find yourself in awe of the majestic limestone cliffs in El Nido. This is a bucket list destination that you do not want to miss while you’re in Asia. Did we mention it’s been voted the #1 tour in the Philippines & in Asia? Book now, thank us later!
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrive In Manila! Let's Go!
Location: Manila, Z Hostel
Accommodation: Hostel
Accommodation Name: Z Hostel, Makati
Meals Included: Dinner
Arrive at any time in Manila and we will meet you at the airport. We take you through the winding streets to our boutique hostel in central Manila. Settle into your accommodation and in the evening join the rest of the group for a delicious welcome meal up on the rooftop terrace and enjoy a few drinks overlooking the Manila skyline.
Day 2 : Palawan Here We Come!
Location: Puerto Princesa
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Twin/Double Rooms - Canvas Boutique Hotel (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
We are heading to Palawan! Start your day with a leisurely breakfast, then take a short flight to Puerto Princesa. You'll have some free time to enjoy a refreshing swim in the pool, a relaxing massage or simply unwind. In the evening, we will dine at a local restaurant in this charming coastal city.
Day 3 : Unesco Underground River, Port Barton
Location: Port Barton
Accommodation: Hostel
Accommodation Name: Twin/Double Rooms - Elsa's Cottages (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
We have an early start as we head out to the UNESCO Underground River. We explore a portion of the accessible underground river by boat before stopping for lunch. Afterwards, we'll continue on a scenic drive to the remote and stunning Port Barton. Spend the afternoon sipping fresh coconuts on golden sand while listening to some island reggae in the background. Tonight we will sleep in traditional Filipino-style beach bungalows listening to the sound of the ocean.
Day 4 : Private Beach Camp! Snorkelling, Waterfall & School Visit
Location: Palawan
Accommodation: Camp, Homestay, Homestay
Accommodation Name: Private Beach Camp (2 Person Tents)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
For the next 2 days we get to experience the local island way of life, with our Islander Experience. After breakfast, we join our local guides on their boat for 2 days of exploring islands and the surrounding areas of Port Barton.
Your first stop will be making a special visit to one of four local schools, where you'll have the chance to interact with the students and see firsthand the impact of your support. We encourage guests to bring school supplies, which can either be pre-brought or purchased the day before in Puerto Princesa. Guests can also make monetary donations that will go towards things like building kitchens, canteens, and sporting equipment. If the school is on holiday or it's a weekend, we'll visit the local day care center instead. Please note the school visit may take place on day 4 or day 5.
In the evening we get together around the fire at our very own private beach camp. Perfect! Don’t worry about food either as our local guides will have everything covered with feasts of grilled fish, pork, rice, vegetables and fruit. In the evening you will sleep in tents directly on the beach in paradise.
Day 5 : Beach Camp, More Snorkelling, Waterfalls & Fun
Location: Port Barton
Accommodation: Hostel, Hotel
Accommodation Name: Twin/Double Rooms - Elsa's Cottages (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Today's day two of your island hopping adventures. You'll continue to enjoy snorkelling around coral reefs & alongside turtles, shower in jungle waterfalls, exploring tiny islands and just taking it all in.
Please note - activities on day 4 and 5 may alternate depending on each departure.
Day 6 : To El Nido, Paradise
Location: El Nido, Port Barton
Accommodation: Hostel
Accommodation Name: 4 Bed Dorms - Spin Designer Hostel (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
After breakfast, take some time to appreciate your spectacular surroundings before we then hop into a van and head up on our way to El Nido. When we arrive you will see why Palawan was named the most beautiful island in the world. Surrounded by islands and towering cliffs, El Nido is a secret paradise we are lucky enough to share. Once you pick your jaws up off the ground, we will check in to the funkiest hostel in Palawan. This slick hostel looks more like a boutique hotel than a backpackers! Settle in, then head to our favourite beach restaurant in the evening for food and fun with your One Life family.
Day 7 : El Nido, Filipino Cultural Day
Location: El Nido
Accommodation: Hostel
Accommodation Name: 4 Bed Dorms - Spin Designer Hostel (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Get ready to immerse yourself in unique Filipino culture! We'll take a short jungle hike to learn about the flora and fauna that grow in the lush rainforest before arriving at our exclusive jungle hut for a fun-filled day. Today's activities range from cooking authentic Filipino food, climbing coconut trees, traditional Filipino stick fighting, coconut shaving, learning Filipino dances and children's games, coconut leaf weaving, and more. Afterwards, you can take the optional zipline and enjoy a relaxing time on the stunning Las Cabanas Beach. It's an exhilarating adventure of flying between two islands over the ocean, followed by a day of relaxation that you're not likely to forget!
Day 8 : El Nido, Island Hopping
Location: El Nido
Accommodation: Hostel
Accommodation Name: 4 Bed Dorms - Spin Designer Hostel (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
This morning we board our boat to take us around all the spectacular, tiny islands in the bay. You will explore the most beautiful islands and the bluest waters you have ever seen. Snorkel with your new friends and feast on the freshly prepared food on board. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Day 9 : El Nido Town, Canopy Walk & Massage
Location: El Nido
Accommodation: Hostel
Accommodation Name: 4 Bed Dorms - Spin Designer Hostel (or similar)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today we do a short canopy walk up to the famous cliffs overlooking El Nido to get the best view of incredible bay and Cadlao Island. After all that exercise, you’ll need some chill-out time! That’s why we include a traditional Filipino massage near the beach to help ease those muscles. Take your time today to relax and enjoy your surroundings.
Day 10 — Good Bye!
Location: Puerto Princesa
Meals Included: Breakfast
Sadly, all good things must come to an end! On the final day of your tour, you will have an included private van transfer back to Puerto Princesa. The van departs from Spin at 7 AM.
Please note, guests flying out of Puerto Princesa should not book a flight before 3 PM to ensure ample time for the transfer.
If you prefer to fly back to Manila from the small airport in El Nido, you can use the Air Swift website to book your flight. Though a bit more expensive, this option allows you to avoid travelling back to Puerto Princesa for your flight.
What's Included
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Accommodation
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Airport Transfers at Destination
Only on day 1
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All Domestic Transportation (including internal flights)
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Entrance Fees
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Free Wi-Fi at Accommodation
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Fully Guided
What's Not Included
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Country Entry Visas
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Drinks with Meals
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International Travel
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Tipping and Gratuities
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Travel Insurance
Mode of Transport
All transport Day 1 to 10. Jeepneys, Filipino trikes, buses, boats & more
Accommodation
9 nights of accommodation
Check out our Q&As
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Should I bring hiking shoes?
There is a little walking involved in the Philippines but not much. Sandals and some trainers/running shoes would be fine.
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Does it matter what time I arrive on day 1 in order to be picked up from the airport?
You can arrive at any time on day 1, but if you arrive after 3pm your tour guide won’t be able to personally collect you. Instead they will arrange your car and meet you at the hostel for your first night.
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Can you get private rooms on this tour instead of dorms?
Absolutely. Before you select your date on the “book now” page, you can choose the Double/Twin Share or Single Upgrade option to have your own room. If you haven’t paid for this at the time of booking but want to request an upgrade, please let us know as soon as possible so we can check availability.
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Does the tour take us back to Manila?
The tour finishes in El Nido on Day 10. You can either fly directly out of El Nido with the airline Air Swift. Otherwise, we do cover your public transportation back to Puerto Princesa which is a 6 hour journey. If you would like to fly from Puerto, please make sure that you have booked a flight after 3pm, so that we can get you there in time for check in.
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I want to go diving in El Nido, is there the option to do it while on the tour?
Since dive boats usually head out early in the day and there’s only one free afternoon in El Nido, you would need to miss an included activity to participate in a diving trip. However there’s usually at least a few people from every tour who have a few days to spare at the end of the trip who stay in El Nido to go diving.
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What is the age range of this tour?
We have an age range of 18 – 45 years of age. Most of our guests are aged between 21-35 years old are looking to experience our adventurous “flashpacking” style of travel. Our tours are perfect for people of different backgrounds to share travel experiences with like-minded fellow travellers.
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Is free Wi-Fi available in the accommodation used?
WiFi is available in all accommodation except the overnight beach camp and the cottages in Port Barton
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I haven’t ever camped before. Can you tell me more about the beach camping?
Sleeping in a tent on the beach will be one of the most unique and incredible things you will get to experience. It is a private beach with a purpose-built shelter to protect you from the weather. Each tent comes with a mattress, pillow & sheet and can fit 2 people. There is nothing like waking up on a deserted island, watching the sunrise and going for a morning swim.
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How much spending money do you recommend for this tour?
We recommend a minimum of $300 AUD for the full ten days, but it depends on what kind of spender you are. We include a spending guide in your welcome pack. You can withdraw from ATMs at various points throughout the tour, but we recommend withdrawing plenty of cash in Manila since you cannot rely on the ATMs in Palawan.
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I want to bring some camera equipment on tour, are there safe places like lockers in the accommodation?
There are lockers/safes in most locations but not all, we recommend bringing a padlock for your bag like you would when travelling in a normal situation anyway for that extra peace of mind.
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Where do we spend the first night of the tour?
We stay at the award winning Z Hostel in Makati.
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Can you cater for my dietary requirements on this trip?
Yes, we can cater for most dietary requirements. Please notify us prior to arriving on day 1 so we can arrange this for you.
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Can we swim with whale sharks on the tour?
The main opportunity to swim with whale sharks in the Philippines is located in Cebu, which is a different island to Palawan, where we visit on tour. While we don’t support or include whale shark swimming on tour, there are ethical opportunities within the Philippines & should you travel further around the country once the tour has finished your guide can help advise you on the best places to do so.
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Can I bring a 25kg suitcase?
Please note that we have a 20kg limit on checked luggage on our domestic flight from Manila to Palawan, if you need to add extra at the airport you can do so but it can be very costly. We would recommend bringing a suitcase or backpack that weighs under 20kg.
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Can I get picked up from the airport if I arrive before day 1?
Unfortunately we only offer airport pick ups on day 1 of the tour, but we include very easy and straightforward instructions in your welcome pack to help you on getting from the airport to the first hostel.
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Where should I fly into?
Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL).
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How big are your group sizes?
Our groups are capped at 22 people maximum.
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Do I have to have travel insurance to come on a tour?
Travel insurance on all One Life Adventures trips is compulsory and we will check for it on tour, if you do not have travel insurance when you arrive on your tour you will not be able to continue without purchasing it.
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What's the general age range on your tours?
We have an age range of 18 – 45 years of age. Most of our guests are aged between 21-35 years old are looking to experience our adventurous “flashpacking” style of travel. Our tours are perfect for people of different backgrounds to share travel experiences with like-minded fellow travellers.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Yes, we do. We cannot guarantee single sex rooming arrangements in multi-share accommodation (e.g. shared dormitory hostels), but twin share rooms will always be single sex.
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Free Date Changes
One Life Adventures allows you to make 2 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 60 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
One Life Adventures allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform one life adventures, 60 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
One Life Adventures requires a minimum deposit of 200 AUD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of one life adventures charges.
Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.