Palawan holiday in the Philippines
Late availability on these dates: 07 Dec, 14 Dec, 21 Dec, 28 Dec, 31 Dec, 04 Jan, 18 Jan, 01 Feb, 08 Feb
Description of Palawan holiday in the Philippines
This thrilling Palawan holiday takes you to one of the most idyllic islands in the Philippines which, if you know the Philippines, is really saying something.
Palawan is well-established as a gorgeous beach getaway. But on a small group tour led by a local guide you also get a superb introduction to the island’s distinctive culture, as well as a readymade bunch of friendly travelling companions with whom to share the fun.
Beginning in the Philippines’ effervescent capital, Manila, renowned for its delicious street food, you’ll take a 90-minute flight across to Puerto Princesa, or Puerto as the locals know it, the capital of Palawan and the cleanest, greenest city in the country. Depending on your arrival time you’ll take a guided tour of Puerto, with the highlight sure to be watching as the mangroves by the river are illuminated by fireflies when night falls.
But as lovely as Puerto may be, this Palawan holiday aims to immerse you deeply in the island’s magnificent natural beauty. By now familiar with the rest of your group, and your knowledgeable tour leader, you’ll continue on to Sabang, famed for its Subterranean River and the vast limestone cave through which it flows. After exploring this marvel with a local guide you can take another boat tour through the atmospheric mangrove forests – a chance to spot wildlife including some of Palawan’s many species of beautiful butterfly.
Spend a few nights relaxing and sleeping in basic but comfortable cottages set just back from the private San Rafael beach. Here you’ll take a day hike, with a guide, to meet members of the Batak tribal community and learn about their traditional ways of life. Cultural exchange is a hallmark of this trip, whether you’re getting to know Batak people, chatting with market stallholders, or taking a deep dive into Manila street food.
Then it’s on to El Nido, which even by the standards of the Philippines is a knockout. Here among these virgin white sand beaches, limestone cliffs, islands and lagoons teeming with tropical fish, you can snorkel, swim and kayak to your heart’s content, with several days of free time for you to choose your own adventures. Although of course, as your tour leader will accompany the group at all times, they’ll be on hand to offer tips on where to go, what to see, and how to organise it.
Come the end of the week, your holiday in Palawan comes to an end. If you want it to... our partner will be more than happy to help your adventures continue.
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Reviews
1 Reviews of Palawan holiday in the Philippines
Reviewed on 18 Jan 2020 by Raquel Miranda
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Beautiful boat
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Yes used recyclables
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Fantastic 10 out of 10
Responsible Travel
Planet
When you hit the road with us, you leave lighter footprints, invest in local communities, show respect and curiosity for different cultures and traditions, and experience genuine connections with the people you meet along the way.To help reduce the use of plastic water bottles, everyone on this trip is given a refillable flask. Potable water is available in many local restaurants and accommodation at no charge. We have worked with many of our suppliers to provide potable water throughout this trip and our leaders will always point out to our travellers where this is available. By offering this service our travellers save money on buying bottled water and contribute to the overall reduction in plastic waste.
Protecting and preserving the environment is really important to us. On this trip you spend a full day island hopping and snorkelling off stunning El Nido. No plastics are allowed to be brought on any of the boat tours in this area in order to protect the environment and to reduce the use of plastics. We welcome this government initiative and ensure our boat suppliers are adhering to these regulations.
We only work with suppliers who share our values especially with regard to animal welfare, and avidly oppose any exploitative or illegal practices. As a company we work towards promoting the five freedoms that should be available to all animals, wild or domestic: freedom from hunger and thirst, freedom from discomfort, freedom from pain, injury and disease, freedom to express normal behaviour, freedom from fear and distress. We conduct appropriate research to ensure we do not promote, visit or participate in any activities that are failing to uphold these five freedoms. Travelling to the Philippines you can encounter wild animals being used as tourist attractions.
People
We want to “spread the love” when it comes to shopping in local markets. Instead of having the entire group buy their fruit, snacks or souvenirs from one stall holder the leader encourages our travellers to split up and buy from multiple stall holders. This allows many local business owners to benefit directly from our travellers.We encourage our passengers to support local industries by showing them around and explaining the work behind the products sold. Rather than buying souvenirs and keepsakes from hotels, the group would be asked to buy from the places where we take them so that money goes directly to the community. We point out the benefits—price, quality and interaction with their creators, which enriches the shopping experience.
We employ leaders from the Philippines which gives our travellers the best local knowledge and allows them to experience the country through the eyes of an expert. All of our Philippine trips are run by a local operator based in Manila who employs many admin and operations staff, directly benefiting the Philippines’ economy. All staff are paid a fair wage and are provided with ongoing training and career development.
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