Mountain Province Hidden Gems: Maligcong and Sadanga

The Cordillera is our most popular destination and with good reason: the views, traditional culture, natural features and centuries-old rice terraces of the area are truly special. We pioneered adventure tours to Banaue, Batad and Sagada and have shared countless unforgettable experiences with our guests there. Over the years we saw the growing number of tourists in those destinations and while our original Cordillera adventure is a Classic and remains one of the best trips to take in the country, it is no longer uncharted. The change was inevitable. You can't hide great places from people forever.

Instead of impotently yearning for the good old days, we decided to find other places in the Cordillera that were just as remarkable as our original destinations but were still unknown and untouched by tourism. Our explorations led us to the uncharted areas of the Mountain Province. And when we say uncharted we mean it literally: these places cannot be found on maps. Maligcong and Sadanga are the names of the general areas and can be Googled easily, but the villages, waterfalls and rice terraces that we visit on this trip are mysteries to the outside world. On this adventure we hike trails that are rough, narrow and overgrown in sections yet lead to some of the most spectacular sights in the Cordillera. We go to villages where the people are so unaccustomed to outsiders that they treat visitors as special guests and invite us into their homes for food and drink. We travel through a land unchanged by modernity and get a glimpse of what life in the Philippine mountains was like decades ago.

Every mountain, village, waterfall and set of rice terraces in this trip has a local name. We know them all but we won't reveal them here. We're going to try to hide these gems from the crowds for as long as possible. If you appreciate our selfishness in this regard then we would be happy to share these special places with you; just don't be surprised if we ask you to take an oath of secrecy.

Highlights and activities

• Hike to rice terraces, villages and waterfalls that are undiscovered by the outside world.
• Take in the unspoiled beauty of the Mountain Province.
• Experience authentic mountain village culture.
• See the famous Banaue and Hapao rice terraces.

• hiking / trekking

1. no image

   Day 1: Northward

   We take an evening bus from Manila and get some shut-eye while we travel through winding mountain roads. In the morning we will be in Banaue, home of the famous Banaue Rice Terraces.

2. 

   Day 2: Banaue and Bontoc

   We're not in uncharted territory yet. We take in the view of the Banaue Rice Terraces before traveling to Bontoc where we visit a museum of the Cordillera people. In learning how the indigenous people of the area have lived for centuries we whet our appetite for our upcoming journey back in time. In the afternoon we travel to Maligcong and begin our exploration into the unknown.

3. 

   Day 3: Maligcong

   We rise early and hike up a mountain ridge to catch a magnificent sunrise. The ridge overlooks a valley that traps condensation and we watch the sun rise up from a sea of clouds. We have breakfast while witnessing this spectacle then spend the rest of the morning hiking through beautiful mountains, rice terraces and small villages. In the afternoon we travel to Sadanga where our adventure takes us into even more remote areas.

4. 

   Day 4: Sadanga

   Today we hike to a spectacular waterfall and visit three quaint villages that are all situated within mountains and rice terraces. Few outsiders have ever been to these places and visitors are often a big deal for the locals. Expect sudden home invitations and other welcome delays.

5. 

   Day 5: Hapao

   We travel back to Banaue and on to the village of Hapao, believed to have the oldest rice terraces in the country. We hike through the terraces and village and make our way to a hot spring. In the evening we take an overnight bus back to Manila.

6. no image

   Day 6: Arrival in Manila

   At around 4:00AM we arrive at the same bus station where we started our tour.

There are currently no set schedules for this tour. Tell us your preferred date and we'll open that date as a trip departure in which others can join.

Departures are guaranteed once two (2) persons sign up for the trip. If you are the only person to sign up for a scheduled departure, you have the option of getting a full refund, rescheduling to a guaranteed departure, or doing a private tour for an additional USD 240.00.

If you'd like to go on this adventure but there are no dates which suit your schedule, please contact us, and we will set up a group departure date for you. You can also do this trip as a private tour.

Includes

• Land transportation for the duration of the trip.
• Accommodations (twin-sharing).
• Fees associated with the specified activities.
• Guiding service.

Excludes

• Food and beverage.
• Travel insurance.

Price is per person for a minimum group of two (2) persons.

Kindly contact us for information for smaller or larger groups.

• The physical demand of the trip is high, with two days involving four (4) to seven (7) hours of hiking on moderately hilly to steep terrain. If you do not already have a regular exercise routine, it is recommended that you get on one at least one (1) month before the trip. The fitter you are, the more fun you will have!
• Accommodations will be in very basic village homestays that have running water but communal bathrooms.
• You will need a large bag (preferably a backpack) that can hold all of your things for the duration of the trip. You will also need a good pair of hiking shoes and another smaller pack (backpack or shoulder pack). Details on gear requirements and packing recommendations will be sent to you after you have booked your trip.
• Yellow fever vaccination is required for entry to the Philippines if you are coming from a yellow-fever infected country; if you are not, this vaccination is unnecessary. The following vaccinations are recommended:
  • Hepatitis A and B
  • Typhoid
  • Japanese encephalitis
  • Measles, mumps and rubella