While the Philippines is famous for white sand beaches and palm trees, a few hours North of Manila lies a great secret; Stunning forest and mountain landscapes, and the 8th wonder of the world: rice fields which span as far as the eye can see!
We start our journey in Banaue, where shortly after stepping from the night bus, you are handed your hiking stick and led up and down steep stairs and along rice fields for hours!! But who can complain with views like this!!
The Batad Rice Terraces are considered to be the 8th wonder of the world, and I can see why; Over 2000 years old, it's unimaginable that something so magnificent and expansive was carved into the mountain side by hand!!
And here, marching on with our sticks, is where we began to feel like hobbits on their journey to Isengard; climbing up the beautiful hills, scaling massive steps and crossing villages to reach our goal: the massive Tappiyah waterfall!
The views were amazing throughout this challenging hike, and the waterfall was totally worth the tough journey.. but I'd be lying if I said the way back wasn't a struggle involving me pouring litres and litres of water over my head to make it home!! 😝😝
With stunning views in every direction, challenging hikes, and natural hot springs, Banaue was definitely a highlight for me during my time in the Philippines! I was lucky to stay at Tony's Family Homestay, where I felt so welcome, was fed a crazy amount of amazing food (vego friendly too 💜) and had the best trekking guides in Banaue: Tony's sons! The view from the front door alone was unlike anything else; a panoramic scene of rice terraces lightly covered by mist, surrounding a massive and steep drop! Definitely recommend this homestay to everyone!
After briefly resting our legs, the hobbits continued on to Sagada; a gorgeous mountain town surrounded by pine forests, caves, rivers, and the mysterious hanging coffins!
The hiking here is amazing! But like Banaue, it can be challenging, and as we found out, always muddy!! Get a group together to split the cost of a guide to take you through the forest and past the hanging coffins, but be warned: a "forest walk" means trekking on your hands and knees through mud, rivers and pitch black caves for hours!! But that don't mean you won't have an unforgettable time!
The hanging coffins are an intriguing sight in Sagada; once the traditional way of "burying" people, the coffins remain suspended on cliff faces, to give us a glimpse of the old practice while following the forest trails.
And if you're up for an early morning trek, join one of the famous sunrise hikes in Sagada, where you will be taken up nearby mountains, finishing the journey on foot through the darkness, before being greeted by the rising sun and left in awe of your surroundings and the view!! Again, there will be mud!! 😝 🌞
For caving, trekking, eating, exploring town or just relaxing in the fresh forest air, Sagada had it all, and the cooler climate made it a great break from the hot weather of Manila! Walking through the pine forests felt like I was in a fairytale, and the small town, more local vibe of Sagada made it feel so homely and lovely that I never wanted to leave!
Sagada and Banaue are 100% worth the trip from Manila, especially while fewer tourists come this way! Incredible views aside, it's also a great place to escape the chaos of the city and enjoy a cooler climate. This area was one of my favorite places in the Philippines, and if you love hiking and the fresh mountain air like I do, you can definitely spend a long time here!!
Have you visited the 8th Wonder of the World in Banaue? Did you leave Sagada covered in mud like I did? Let me know below!
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