7-day Northern Philippines tour: Banaue, Batad, Sagada private

The rice terraces are 2,000 years old and carved by hand into near-vertical mountainsides.

A 7-day private tour from Manila through the mountain villages of Banaue, Batad and Sagada in the northern Philippines, with your own driver and guide leading hikes through UNESCO-listed rice terraces, cave systems and highland peaks. Transport, lodging at local guesthouses, and selected meals are included. You set the pace at each stop and the itinerary accommodates dietary needs.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arriving in Banaue

• Visit Banaue Rice Terraces
• Overnight at Dad's Place lodge

Day 2: Hike in Hapao

• Hike Hapao Rice Terraces
• Visit Hapao hot spring
• Overnight at Dad's Place lodge

Day 3: Hike the Rice Terraces at Batad

• Hike Batad Rice Terraces
• Visit Batad waterfall
• Overnight at Dad's Place lodge

Day 4: Sagada Tour

• Visit Sagada Pottery
• See Hanging Coffins of Sagada
• Explore Sumaguing Cave
• Overnight at Saint Joseph Resthouse

Day 5: Sagada Trekking Experience

• Hike Marlboro Hills
• Visit Blue Soil Slopes
• Trek to Bomod-ok Falls
• Overnight at Saint Joseph Resthouse

Day 6: Relax in Baguio City

• Explore Baguio City
• Overnight at G1 Lodge Design Hotel

Day 7: Back to Manila

• Travel back to Manila

The experience

This is a private tour, which means your group travels alone with a driver and English-speaking guide for all seven days. You're not on a schedule that waits for other travelers or moves faster than you want to go. The route starts in Manila and heads north into the Cordillera mountains, where the Banaue Rice Terraces rise in thousands of stepped levels carved into the slopes over two millennia by the Ifugao people. The terraces are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the first two days let you explore them on foot and see how the villages that maintain them still work.

Days three and four take you to Batad, where another set of ancient terraces drops away in concentric rings, and to Sagada, a highland town where the itinerary includes visits to Sumaguing Cave (one of more than a hundred caves beneath the town), a pottery workshop run by Kankanaey artisans, and the hanging coffins that reflect the indigenous burial tradition. Day five is a trekking day in Sagada: Marlboro Hills offers a 360-degree view of the mountain ranges and is known for sunrise watching, and Bomod-ok Falls is a 200-foot cascade you reach by an easy walk. Day six brings you down to Baguio City, the summer capital, for a day of rest before the return to Manila on day seven.

Lodging is at Dad's Place lodge and restaurant in Banaue and Batad, and Saint Joseph Resthouse in Sagada. Breakfast is included on days two and three in Banaue. Lunch is included on days four and five in Sagada. All transport between towns is in an air-conditioned vehicle, and bottled water is provided throughout. The operator can accommodate vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and other dietary needs if you note them at booking.

What’s included

• Private transportation with your own driver and guide for all seven days.
• air-conditioned vehicle between towns.
• lodging at Dad's Place in Banaue and Batad, and Saint Joseph Resthouse in Sagada.
• breakfast on days two and three in Banaue.
• lunch on days four and five in Sagada.
• bottled water throughout the tour.
• accommodation in Baguio City on day six.
• an English-speaking guide for the entire journey.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 03:00

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 to 80 years) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 35 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 13 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by Travel Time Philippines

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you're traveling as a small group or family and want to move at your own pace through the mountains without waiting for other travelers or keeping to a fixed schedule. The private guide and driver stay with you for all seven days, so you control how long you spend at each site and can ask questions as you go.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

1 verified traveler review

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

How old are the Banaue Rice Terraces and who built them?

The Banaue Rice Terraces are approximately 2,000 years old, carved into the mountainside by the indigenous Ifugao people over centuries. They cover about 10,360 square kilometers of steep terrain in hand-carved terraces that resemble mazes, and they are still maintained and farmed by the communities that live there.

What will I actually do on the hikes during this tour?

You'll hike through the rice terraces themselves on days two and three, including a 30-45 minute walk to a hot spring in the Hapao area. On day five in Sagada, you trek to Marlboro Hills (the highest peak in the area with panoramic mountain views) and walk to Bomod-ok Falls, a 200-foot waterfall with an easy approach trail. The hikes are graded as suitable for all fitness levels.

What is included in the price and what do I need to arrange separately?

The tour includes private transport with your own driver and guide, lodging at local guesthouses for all seven nights, breakfast on days two and three, lunch on days four and five, bottled water throughout, and an air-conditioned vehicle. Dinner is not included, so you'll eat at restaurants in the towns. All transport between Manila and the mountain villages, and between each stop, is arranged for you.

Can I see the hanging coffins and caves in Sagada?

Yes. Sumaguing Cave, the largest cave in Sagada, is part of the itinerary on day four. The cave contains natural stone formations and is one of more than a hundred caves beneath the town. The hanging coffins, which reflect the Kankanaey belief that placing the deceased higher brings them closer to heaven and the ancestors, are also visited as part of the Sagada tour experience.

Is this tour suitable for families with children?

The tour is designed for adventure seekers and families with children, and it is suitable for all physical fitness levels. However, the operator does not recommend it for travelers with spinal injuries, back problems, or poor cardiovascular health. The minimum age is 18. If you have concerns about a specific family member's fitness or health, contact the operator before booking.

What happens if the weather is bad during the week?

The experience requires good weather for the hikes and cave visits. If the tour is canceled due to poor weather, the operator will offer you a different date or a full refund.