Uncharted Philippines | The Way We Travel

The Journey

Whoever said It's not about the destination; it's about the journey, must not have been going anywhere fantastic. With all the great places to go to in the Philippines, we at Uncharted won't take you to a place unless it is jaw-droppingly spectacular. However, it is true that the journey plays a huge part in the total experience and often makes the trip.

First, most of our destinations cannot be accessed without sweat. All of our trips involve hiking, and on some, you will need to carry overnight or even multi-day supplies on your back. The difficulty level of each trip (explained below) takes pack load into account. At times we also need to take unusual transportation, such as the kuliglig, a cart drawn by a small tractor. You will almost certainly get to ride a jeepney or a tricycle and, on coastal adventures, an outrigger boat.

Second, the paths (whether on land or water) leading to our destinations are often almost as spectacular as the destinations themselves. We choose trails and waterways that are scenic and showcase the best of an area. And you will never have to worry about crowds ruining the atmosphere because we carefully avoid heavily trafficked tourist routes and travel in small groups of 10 or less.

Third, the degree of fun of an adventure trip is largely determined by the mode of travel. Why ride to a place when you can hike, climb, bike or kayak to get there? And the feeling you get when you arrive at a place after having earned it is incomparable. We would never drive you directly to a destination even if we could.

Finally, since our trips are designed to showcase the best of an area and not just a single place, each of our journeys is a series of destinations. On an Uncharted Philippines adventure, the distinction between getting there and being there is often blurred and everything is simply remembered as one unbelievable experience.

Transportation

We use chartered vehicles for most of our trips. These include vans, jeeps and outrigger boats. When traveling long distances as a group, we usually use public transport such as buses and ferries. Sometimes when we want to spoil ourselves, we use private vehicles, but this is rare. We do not fly as a group, and airfare is never included in trip packages. At the start of each trip, we designate an urbanized and easily accessible place as our meeting point, and at the end of our adventure, drop you off at an equally accessible place. This gives you the most flexibility with your travel itinerary before and after your Uncharted adventure.

Physical Challenge

Physical exertion is an integral part of every Uncharted adventure. Getting to the most spectacular spots almost always requires some work, and we also believe that the best way to commune with earth and water is to mix some of your sweat with it. That said, our trips are designed to be taken by everyone with an adventurous spirit, and you don't need to be especially athletic or fit to be able to enjoy them. Even our most physically demanding adventures can be accomplished by any non-handicapped individual who is in reasonably good health. Attitude is definitely more important than physical fitness on all of our adventures.

Each trip description has a Physical Challenge meter that indicates its level of difficulty, as well as the one of the following descriptors:

Low: Hikes will last for no more than two (2) hours on any given day. Terrain will be mostly flat or rolling with very short steep areas. Special activities (described in the next section) will take no more than two (2) hours. There will be days of leisurely sightseeing with very minimal physical activity. If you can walk around the mall all day carrying shopping bags, then you can do this trip.

Moderate: Hikes and special activities will last from two (2) to four (4) hours per day, and all days will involve some amount of physical exertion. You will need to carry a small daypack with water, snacks, rain jacket, and swimsuit. Terrain will be rolling and may have several steep inclines. If you engage in a sport or vigorous activity for at least two (2) hours every week, then you can do this trip.

High: Hikes and special activities will take at least three (3) hours per day for consecutive days. You may be required to carry an overnight backpack on at least one of the hikes (estimated pack weight around 20 pounds). Most of the trails will be winding up and down mountains. If you can run 5 kilometers in under 40 minutes, then you can do this trip.

Intense: You will be carrying your accommodations on your back (estimated pack weight around 35 pounds) while trekking all day over mountainous terrain. Intense adventures are mountain climbing trips, and there are usually no special activities other than rewarding your exhausted body at the end of the day with tons of food and some well deserved drinks. If you are accustomed to backpacking trips, then you should have no problem. We do recommend that you go on a regular exercise program a month before your trip.

Accommodations

We strive to give you an authentic, non-touristy experience and thus try our best to avoid highly developed areas. Hotels, therefore, are not on our regular menu. We spend most of our nights at small inns and quaint cottages for rent. At times, we also stay in the homes of villagers, in tents, and under the stars in hammocks. Accommodations are detailed in the trip itineraries, and every adventure description has an icon that tells you at a glance what to expect.

Comfort: As cushy as it gets on an Uncharted adventure. You will sleep at an inn or cottage. Your room will have its own bathroom. If you are doing a private tour you will have your own room and if you are on a group tour you will have the option of getting your own room at additional cost.

Standard: You will stay at an inn, homestay or hostel with common bathrooms.

Roughing It: You will sleep in a tent or hammock under the stars. Bathrooms will probably not be available. Yes, this is as awesome as it gets!

Activities

Uncharted adventures focus on the appreciation of places rather than on doing thrill activities. The purpose of all our special activities is to let you experience our destinations to the fullest; the pounding of your heart is only a bonus. Our activities, therefore, are integral to our adventures and the cost of doing them is already included in the total trip price.

Here is a legend of the things we do:

: 4x4 off-roading
: mountain biking
: camping
: caving / spelunking
: hiking / trekking
: kayaking / rafting
: rock climbing
: scuba diving
: snorkeling

Linking Up Adventures

Each of our trips takes 1 to 7 days, with the majority taking 4 to 6 days. We realize that you may have other travel plans within the region, and these short, area-specific adventures are easy to fit into your larger itinerary. However, should you wish to experience more of the Philippines the Uncharted way, each of our adventures is easily combined with the others. This makes it easy for you to link up two, three or even four Uncharted adventures for an awesome Philippine vacation.