• 12 Breakfast (B)
• 6 Lunch (L)
• 4 Dinner (D)

• Bangkok: A modular trip means fellow travellers will join and leave at various locations. There’ll be some goodbyes, sure, but there’ll also be plenty of hellos with new like-minded travellers.
• Manila: Yes, some departures (see below) visit the Isla Experience Special Stay before visiting El Nido. All other inclusions, meals and locations will remain exactly the same. Here are those departures: – 9th Nov ’24 – 23rd Nov ’24 – 30th Nov ’24 – 12th Apr ’25
• Manila: The Isla Experience Special Stay is in a remote island in the Philippines. You’ll stay in simple beach huts with a bed, fan, mosquito net, towels and bedding. The showers and toilets are in a shared facility that’s separate from your room. There’s free Wi-Fi too, but it can be slow & there are the occasional power cuts. Best part? Almost everything here runs on solar energy! The bar & communal area is equipped with charging ports, water, tea & coffee stations. You can start a drinks tab and pay on departure (but please remember to get cash, no cards are accepted here!). 
• Manila: The facilities are perfect for a digital detox. The islands you’ll be visiting are super remote – so please remember to bring anything you might need – like meds – for 3 nights. You’ll stay in beach campsites and huts with shared bathrooms, and no aircon or internet. But hey, you’ve got plenty of sea breeze and jaw-dropping island views to keep you company. 
• Manila: We recommend that you bring: – We’d recommend a backpack instead of a suitcase (for ease when you’re getting on & off boats).- An overnight bag for when you visit Isla Experience Special Stay on Darocotan Island. 

• Underground River: Cruise through the serene Subterranean River National Park into a kaleidoscope of pointy limestone caves. Don’t miss the chance to watch the 8.2 km long river flow directly into the ocean.
• Port Barton: Wanna get a taste of Grandma’s home-cooked food the Filipino way? Join Nanay Elena for a traditional meal made from locally-grown ingredients.
• Port Barton: Snorkel, swim, and dine – get your ocean fix on this island hopping day trip. You’ll visit two tropical islands, gorge on delicious seafood. And possibly even swim with turtles!
• Port Barton: Want some Filipino keepsakes that you’ll never wanna take off? Here you’ll have the chance to support a local workshop in Port Barton and learn how to make your own rings and bracelets.
• El Nido: Not riding on the colourfully chaotic Jeepney when in the Philippines? Now that should be considered a crime. Hop onto a private Jeepney for a tour of the wonderful beaches and waterfalls.
• El Nido: Take a walk on the perfectly curved Nacpan Beach. Sink your feet into the golden-white sand. Or dip them into the cool water – it’s a feast for your eyes, feet and soul.
• El Nido: Watch the shiny smooth water tearing through the rocky hills of Bulalacao. Don’t forget your swimsuit. This spot is famous for its insta-worthy pictures.
• Port Barton: Cameras at the ready! Be prepared to witness the bewitching beauty of the sunset at Las Cabanas – arguably one of the best sunset spots in the Philippines.
• Island Special Stay: Support the locals with marine conservation, education and their eco garden while you get irresistible beach-side views. Talk about a win-win!
• Island Special Stay: Love sea exploration? You’re going to love this shipwreck site that is just off the coast of our island home. Here, you’ll discover the history and secrets of WWII ships.
• Island Beach Camp: Dive into the brightly colourful world of corals and fishes. It’s an underwater exploration you won’t ever forget!
• Island Beach Camp: Hop on our private boat for a stopover at the white-sand beaches of remote islands. It’s the perfect spot to get bronzed up under the sun.
• Island Beach Camp: Put your bags down at your camp on the beach. Enjoy a sea-side dinner (with a bonfire, of course!). Vibe to local tunes. And end the night stargazing with your crew.
• Island Beach Camp: Put on your swimsuits and dive straight into the cool blue waters of the Turtle Islands. It’s Finding Nemo in real life.
• Island Beach Camp: Explore the underwater life thriving along the white-sand beaches.
• Island Beach Camp: Need to fuel up for some more sea exploration? We’ve got you. Dine on some fresh Filipino food onboard our private boat. Onto the next adventure!
• Island Beach Camp: They come in every shape and size you can imagine. And they’ll keep you wanting more of this geological wonder.
• Island Beach Camp: Test your marine observation skills at a breathtaking reef. Keep your eyes peeled. You might spot the rare ‘sea-cow’, or Dugong if you’re lucky!
• Island Beach Camp: Lay down your footprints (if the tide gods are on our side) on the white sandbar that peeks over the emerald waters.
• Island Beach Camp: Prepared to be absolutely stunned? Visit the crystal blue Kayangan Lake, surrounded by impressive rock formations decorated with green plants.
• Island Beach Camp: Discover the underwater world of blooming corals at the Coral Garden. Clear blue water. Multi-coloured reefs. And a golden opportunity to experience some submarine enigma.

Contiki

Float into the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River by boat, passing from daylight into limestone caverns shaped by water over millennia. Look for sculptural rock formations as the river winds beneath the forested landscape.

This protected national park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognised for its exceptional karst scenery and underground river system. The quiet passage through the cave offers a striking contrast to Palawan’s sunlit beaches.

Explore Port Barton’s islands by private boat, stopping to swim, snorkel over lively reefs and spend time on white-sand shores. A locally prepared seafood meal adds a distinctly coastal flavour to the outing.

Keep watch for sea turtles, which may appear in these waters, and take in the shallow-water scenery around a starfish sandbar. Wildlife sightings depend on conditions, but the mix of reef, beach and open sea makes this a full day of marine exploration.

Make your own ring or bracelet at a local workshop in Port Barton. Learn the hands-on steps behind a small piece of jewellery and create a keepsake with a more personal story than a shop-bought souvenir.

The workshop is also an opportunity to support local makers and spend time with a creative community activity away from the beach. Take home something you made yourself as a reminder of your time in Palawan.

Visit Kayangan Lake on Coron Island, where clear blue-green water lies among steep limestone formations and dense tropical greenery. Take in the contrast between the still inland water and the open sea explored elsewhere on the marine safari.

The lake is one of Coron’s most recognisable natural sights. Its rocky setting gives the visit a different character from a beach or reef stop, showcasing the dramatic limestone terrain that defines this part of Palawan.

Snorkel at Coral Garden in the Coron area, looking down into clear water at varied coral shapes and reef fish. This dedicated underwater stop offers time to observe details that are easy to miss from the boat.

Coral habitats support a rich network of marine life, making the reef more than a colourful backdrop. Sea conditions determine the precise experience, but the focus is on exploring Palawan’s underwater environment at an unhurried pace.

Meet your fellow travellers over a welcome dinner in Puerto Princesa, Palawan’s coastal capital. Share introductions around the table and get a first taste of Filipino flavours.

Continue the gathering at a tiki bar with Filipino music, where the warm evening air sets an easygoing tone for the island journey. Cocktails are available, but the itinerary does not specify that drinks are included.

Join Nanay Elena for a traditional Filipino meal in the Port Barton area. Sit down to home-style cooking made with locally grown, fresh ingredients rather than a standard restaurant lunch.

The visit offers a personal introduction to the generosity of Filipino food culture: dishes prepared to be shared and enjoyed together. It is a chance to connect with a local host while tasting the everyday flavours behind Palawan’s coastal food scene.

Ride a colourful private jeepney around El Nido, visiting Lio Beach, Bulalacao Waterfalls and the long, curving sands of Nacpan Beach. Walk Lio’s wooden footpath, see water cascading through rocky terrain and enjoy time beside the sea.

The tour also takes in sunset at Las Cabanas, a viewpoint known for its west-facing coastal outlook. Travelling by jeepney brings a recognisably Filipino mode of transport to a varied day of Palawan scenery.

Spend time with the local community at the Isla Experience island stay, learning about its marine conservation, education and eco-garden initiatives. The visit connects Palawan’s coastal scenery with the people working to care for it.

Snorkel in clear water and gather for a beachside dinner and bonfire beside rustic huts. The simple setting puts island life in focus while offering insight into the community projects supported by this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience.

Snorkel above a shipwreck site just off the coast of the Isla Experience island stay. Look through clear water at a vessel resting beneath the surface while exploring the marine life around it.

The site introduces the World War II maritime history associated with the waters of northern Palawan. It is a different kind of reef encounter: part underwater discovery, part glimpse into the events that left ships on the seabed.

Island-hop by private boat through remote waters between El Nido and Coron, visiting reefs, secluded beaches and sandbars. Snorkel among corals and fish, and look out for turtles or rays where conditions allow.

Spend evenings at rustic beach camps, with seaside dinners, a campfire, music and dark skies suited to stargazing. This multi-day marine safari visits numerous islands; specific stops depend on weather and sea conditions and are confirmed aboard the boat.

Snorkel in the blue waters around the Turtle Islands and examine the marine life along white-sand shores. Reef fish and corals provide plenty to observe beneath the surface, while turtle sightings remain a possibility rather than a guarantee.

The marine safari also explores striking coastal rock formations, revealing another side of Palawan’s island landscape. The exact route is shaped by weather and sea conditions, keeping the focus on safe, rewarding places to explore.

Explore a fringing reef on the marine safari, watching for fish among the corals and keeping an eye out for larger animals. Giant groupers may be seen, while a dugong sighting would be especially fortunate.

Visit a white sandbar above emerald water when the tide and sea conditions permit. Its exposed sand and shallow surroundings offer a vivid view of the changing seascape. Wildlife and sandbar access cannot be guaranteed.

Choose a scuba dive among Coron’s shipwrecks, an optional experience for travellers who want to explore beneath the snorkelling sites. The area is known internationally for Japanese vessels sunk during World War II; the dive site available will depend on local arrangements and conditions.

These wrecks bring together wartime maritime history and marine life in one underwater setting. This activity is at additional cost and bookable on tour, subject to availability and applicable diving requirements.