15 Days / 14 Nights in the Philippines
Featuring Manila and the Intramuros, Bacolor in Pampanga, Banga- village and the Banaue Rice Terraces, Vingan a World Heritage township, fascinating Sagada and some treasures of Palawan

The island of Luzon, the northernmost large island of the Philippines, presents a most representative picture of the country. For this program the most interesting and accessible examples of the islands natural history, cultural heritage, Spanish history, its cuisine and its tropical natural beauty have been included from central and northern Luzon. We also visit the northern section of Palawan island described in a leading travel magazine as having "incredibly beautiful natural seascapes and landscapes. One of the most bio-diverse (terrestrial and marine) islands in the Philippines...The Island has had a Biosphere Reserve status since early 1990s, showing local interest for conservation and sustainable development".

Of the hundred or so indigenous upland groups of the Philippine Islands, ten continue to live in the Central Cordillera region of Luzon and of the these the Ifugaos, of Ifugao Province, are one of four wet rice farming groups who developed elaborate rice terraces in the hilly country they occupy. After successfully using their terracing techniques for over 2000 years these Banaue Rice Terraces were been given a World Heritage status in 1995. Filipinos consider the terraces so unique they have named them the "Eight wonder of the World" and they were recognized a World Heritage site in 1995.

It was the widely spoken language of the Luzon, Tagalog tribe that became the basis for the Filipino language of today throughout the country. English, often with a strong influence of American idioms, is also used in education, media, commerce and the government.

A second ethnic group, the Batak Tribe will be met on Palawan island located south of Luzon. This small community are believed to be the oldest inhabitants of the Philippines, who still live as cave dwellers, hunting in the forest with blowguns. On our three days here we also explore several aspects of the local landscape diversity ranging from wildlife at the mouth of the long subterranean St Paul's River (a World Heritage site) to spotting the swiftlets on the cliffs at El Nido.

Islam arrived and became well established in the southern Philippine islands in the 13th C but there was a mass conversion particularly in Luzon to Roman Catholicism after the Spaniard arrived in the 16th C. The first Spanish settlement was in Cebu, one of the 7000 plus Philippine islands south of Luzon in 1565, but the capital became established in Manila Bay six years later. The British had but a short period of indefinite control of Manila in the mid 1700s and were forced to return control to the Spanish in 1764.

Three hundred years of Spanish rule has left its imprint on many parts of the island particularly in the Intramuros in Manila and the colonial port town of Vingan . A most significant cultural treasure Vingan is the only town to have been saved from the ravages of war and it has been classified as a World Heritage Cultural site. However the Intramuros, the city `within the wall' and the original 16th C settlement, suffered dramatically during the Second World War and has since undergone some restoration to maintain its essentially Spanish-era character with a minimum of modernisation.

From a geological point of view, much of the Philippines, and particularly Luzon, sits in a precarious, unstable position particularly in terms of volcanic activity and earthquakes. In northern Palawan coastal limestone dominates much of the scenery.

Mount Pinatubo is among the highest of many volcanic peaks on Luzon. Pinatubo erupted in 1991 in an eruption ten times larger that that of Mount St Helens and it threatened the lives of a million people. The ash (lahar) from the eruption buried crops, caused roofs to collapse and many years after the eruption heavy rain causes the lahar deposits to come came cascading down the slopes.

Our travel begins and ends in Manila and tracks by road to the northern end of Luzon sampling sites along the way. We then fly via for the last part of the program on the island of Palawan. The group will be accompanies by and Odyssey Travel program leader and an English speaking Filipino guide.

Itinerary at a Glance /Site & # Nights
Ex Australia to Manila -2, Pampanga,-1, Banaue -3, Sagada -1, Baguio -1, Vigan -1, Laoag -1, Puerto Princesa -1, Sabang -2. El Nino -1. Program ends after a flight from El Nido to Manila where participants board their homeward flight to Australia or New Zealand.

Program Includes:

• Return economy class international airfare.
• Departure taxes applicable to the itinerary.
• 14 nights hotel accommodation in en-suite share twin rooms.
• Meals as indicated.
• All transfers and transportation in comfortable modern coach.
• All sightseeing including entrance fees.
• Odyssey Program Leader for the duration of the program.
• Services of an English speaking guide.
• Comprehensive travel insurance.
• Service charges and gratuities.
• Detailed program information booklet.

Program Excludes:

• Items of a personal nature, such as telephone calls and laundry