100% customisable travel idea
In the Philippines Three of the world’s most beautiful beaches from your bungalow
Philippines - Manila - Palawan
Palawan, the world’s most beautiful island
In flip-flops and by banca
Three stop overs to discover one of the world’s most beautiful islands. In Sabang to begin with, there is a wide white-sand beach lined with coconut palms, and an emerald-green river winding through a maze of limestone formations. Your bungalow sits right there, facing the sea. You’ll explore it by banca beneath vaults bristling with stalactites, all the way to the sea. On the private Flower Island, a tiny coral islet off the coast of Palawan, you’ll find the very essence of a deserted island: long stretches of fine sandy beaches and turquoise waters teeming with colourful fish. You’ll set down your bags in one of the ten bamboo bungalows at the edge of the tropical forest. Far from the world, with a “no news, no shoes” atmosphere. You’ll finally arrive at El Nido at your overwater bungalow, with your feet in the water, in a private cove facing the lagoon. When the fishermen haul in their lines in the early morning from their slender outrigger canoes fitted with bamboo floats, after a night spent hunting squid, you’ll have the privilege of being alone before the bay and its sugarloaf hills, set on an unbelievably blue sea, crowned with jungle, and the dark cliffs where white-billed hornbills squawk. And soon, the beach comes alive, with a boho-chic vibe that recalls Thailand twenty years ago. Seafood restaurants, massage parlours and beach bars are run by expats who have fallen under the spell of the world’s most beautiful island; fishermen sell their daily catch at auction.
Itinerary
100% customisable for you
Night on board, arrival the next day.
Arrive in late morning. Meet and greet at the airport and private transfer to your hotel, which is located in the old residential neighbourhood, where you will be welcomed by our local representative and stay for two nights. Five wooden houses share 34 elegant, spacious and bright rooms in the heart of a lush garden. Hidden behind palm trees and dense vegetation is a beautiful swimming pool that is perfect for relaxation.
On your itinerary - Private tour of the Spanish colonial district, Intramuros, with a private guide. In the heart of one of the world's most populous cities, away from the main roads and buildings, the old Spanish city is an oasis of calm. Of the seven churches in the Spanish city, which was razed by American bombing intended to dislodge the Japanese who had retreated there during the Pacific War, only two remain: San Agustin, with its 16th-century corrugated iron roof cloister, and the cathedral. You’ll also visit the central market in Quiapo, where a colourful crowd jostles between the stalls.
Private transfer to the airport and flight to Puerto Princesa. Private transfer (two hours' drive) to Sabang, where you will stay for three nights in a bungalow facing the sea, on a beautiful golden sandy beach lined with coconut trees.
See and do - Chill out on the white sand, among the corals and mangroves, and discover the interior of the country on a walk through the jungle, with its cashew plantations, corrugated iron bush churches and rice fields ploughed at a slow pace by carabaos, the native buffalo.
On your itinerary - Puerto Princesa Underground River National Park - spectacular karst landscape, primary forests, and one of the most impressive cave systems in the world. You will travel five miles (eight kilometres) along the underground river in a banca boat under limestone vaults bristling with stalactites until you reach the sea - the darkness and silence is broken only by the cries of bats, which gives the place a unique atmosphere.
Private transfer (six hours by road, one hour by boat) to Flower Island, and stay for two nights in your beach bungalow, which sits between tropical forest and white sand.
The long beaches and warm waters teem with fish, making Flower Island the quintessential desert island. A footpath allows you to walk around the island in 20 minutes. There is no television or internet, just a bamboo bungalow on the edge of a tropical forest, facing the turquoise sea.
On your itinerary - A visit to a pearl farm. Exceptional biodiversity, rich plankton and clean waters all contribute to making the Philippines one of the world's leading producers of natural pearls. The world's leading jewellers compete for the gems produced here, in the intimacy of a shell and at the heart of a miraculously preserved ecosystem.
Private transfer (two hours by road, one hour by boat) and stay for four nights at your hotel, which is a bungalow on stilts, right by the water's edge, and in a private cove facing the lagoon. It blends seamlessly into its idyllic surroundings.
North of Palawan, between limestone cliffs and the Bacuit archipelago, with lagoons and strips of fine sand bordered by crystal-clear waters, El Nido is a breathtakingly beautiful, preserved wonder of the Philippines. It is also a marine sanctuary for whales, dolphins, manta rays and sea turtles. The itinerary seems obvious against the backdrop of blue skies and sea, intense green palm trees and golden sand. After swimming, choose between the hammock and the deckchair, snorkelling, kayaking or windsurfing.
See and do - Island hopping by banca: beach bars, deckchairs and white sand on the islands of Dilumacad, Entalula and Pangulasian; and for a wilder experience, stop off at Vigan Island (better known as Snake Island) for its long strip of white sand winding between two islets. Don't miss Nacpan, which is reputed to be the most beautiful beach in the area. You can also attend a Mass in Tagalog at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi.
Transfer by boat to El Nido Airport, flight to Manila and international return flight. Overnight on board, arriving the next day.
À la carte
This suggested itinerary can be customisable down to the smallest detail, including duration, stops and content. An à la carte menu of experiences is also available to create a journey that reflects who you are.
WITH A FEW EXTRA DAYS, DIVE INTO THE VISAYAS
Apo Island, a volcanic island covered in dense vegetation and surrounded by turquoise waters, offers some of the most beautiful underwater scenery in the Philippines. Whether with a scuba tank or a mask and snorkel, it’s a real festival for the eyes! From the most discreet to the most impressive, 80% of Southeast Asia’s marine wildlife can be found in the waters of the Visayas archipelago. From pygmy seahorses to hammerhead sharks, they’re all here.
Why visit Philippines with Voyageurs du monde?
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