Small-Group Weekend Hiking Tour to Banaue-Ifugao from Manila
Overview
Available languages
96 hours
Mobile ticket
Enjoy this weekend hiking group tour to the land of the Ifugao. Ifugao is the name of the region and the people famous for the Banaue rice terraces that stand out among other terraced crop paddies in the world because of their magnitude and beauty. But the grandeur of the Ifugao province extends far beyond Banaue. This 4 day guided adventure with a small group of maximum 7 travelers, takes you through the stunning scenery of mountains, rice terraces, and forests and stops at native communities along the way. You interact with the fascinating Ifugaos and get a deep appreciation of their culture by making a village your home one night.
Additional Info
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Children must be accompanied by an adult
A maximum of 7 people per booking
Minimum age is 12 years
The physical demand of the trip is very high, with each day involving six (6) to seven (7) hours of hiking on moderately hilly to steep terrain
You will need to carry a backpack with two (2) days worth of clothes, though you have the option of hiring a porter
Accommodations will be in very basic village inns that have running water but communal bathrooms
Packing guide will be sent post booking
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.<br>If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.<br>If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
What To Expect
Travel to Banaue
Banaue
The group assembles in Manila in the evening and you get some shut-eye while you travel through winding mountain roads. When you wake up you will be in Banaue, home of the famous rice terraces, often referred to as the eighth wonder of the world.
Cambulo and Batad
Accommodations
Batad, accommodations are basic. A villager’s house converted into an inn with private rooms but shared bathrooms.
Banaue Rice Terraces Hiking Tours
Before starting the hike you will ride a tricycle (motorcycle with side car) and visit the Banaue Rice Terraces view deck.
Your trek through the Ifugao mountains begins at the town of Kinaking. You stop by the Banaue Rice Terraces view deck on the way there. You hike 4 hours to Cambulo, the first Ifugao village. The rice terraces of Cambulo are characterized by their pyramid-like appearance, with the terraces cut almost 360 degrees around the mountains.
Batad Rice Terraces
From Cambulo it is another 3-hour hike to Batad, famous for its amphitheater of rice terraces. The night is spent at a village inn with a spectacular view of the terraces.
Bangaan
In the morning you hike 3 hours to visit Tappiyah waterfalls and explore the village and rice terraces of Batad. After lunch, you hike 3 hours to Bangaan, the final village of your adventure. On the way, you pass through more rice paddies and see picturesque villages and rice terraces in the distance. you reach Bangaan in mid-afternoon and drive back to Banaue to get some well-deserved food and booze before catching your evening bus to Manila.
Arrival in Manila
Manila
At around 3am you arrive at the same bus station where your trip started.
What‘s Included
One night accommodation in village inn
Professional guide
Group tour open to other travelers
1 breakfast
All land transportation for the duration of the trip
All fees associated with the specified activities
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Other food and beverage.
Travel insurance.
Personal trekking gear (backpack, hiking shoes/boots, etc.
Tips to restaurant waiters, local guides, etc. are not expected but appreciated.
Options
Group tour
Immerse yourself in the land and culture of the Ifugao. Trek from Banaue and visit four different Ifugao villages. Hike through spectacular rice terraces, mountains and waterfalls.
Batad Hillside Inn
Reviews
31 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Trekking and fun
dominicw117,,Feb 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our time in Banaue / Ifugao was highly recommended. Our guide Marvin was very helpful and informative. The hike through the valley and to the waterfall was enchanting. The rice breeds are very nice, unfortunately it was not yet harvest time. The accommodation was charming and the food there was very warm. A villager had a birthday and we were warmly invited to end the night with them. The next morning we hiked to Ifugao with a stop at a local restaurant and a museum where we could learn more about you culture. Our expectations were exceeded!
Wonderful experience!
235nalas,,Feb 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had a wonderful trek! The terraces were just beautiful - it was incredible to be in the presence of these structures that were carved by hand 2000 years ago! Marvin was a truly excellent guide - very knowledgeable (and I had a lot of questions!), and very encouraging when I had to face my fears on the hike. The trek is honestly very manageable even if you aren't too active in your daily life, and guides like Marvin help to create an empowering experience even if you face some challenges. Besides, the views make it all worth it :) In addition to the hike, I learned a lot about how rice is cultivated and harvested in Ifugao province, and also about the cultures of the people who live there. I definitely recommend visiting the Banaue Museum before you return to Manila, if you have the time. As a solo traveler, I felt very safe on my entire journey - from the bus station in Manila to the tricycle rides in Banaue, all along the trek, and in my homestay. It was also great to meet other travelers along the way.
Spectacular views
alisonsA4416FQ,,Feb 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great trip! Instructions were very clear and helpful — first bus from Manila-Banaue ran 10pm-7am, and our guide, Jody, was right there when we got off. He was fantastic — very helpful and friendly, answered questions, figured out some logistics when we had a couple of challenges along the way. The hike is not technically tricky but does involve going up and down stone stairs that might be a bit wet and therefore a bit slippery with no railings and a drop to one side, and we met someone and heard more stories of people who discovered they had a bit of a phobia with that, so be warned! The views are truly stunning if you’re up for it. As an additional note, the bus back to Manila runs 6pm-3am, and we ended up booking a hotel room for that night even though it meant getting there at 3:30am. We thought it was totally worth it to get a bit more sleep and a shower before facing the day!
Embrace the adventure -- it is a memorable hike!
mlupus1888,,Jan 31, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our feedback is glowing. Marvin was an excellent guide: friendly, nimble and very organised. Our guide was also able to accommodate requests that we had during the tour, too -- to go to a restaurant we wanted to try, to slot in a visit to the museum -- on the fly. Everything worked like clockwork. The company accommodated our request to see Sagada (for spelunking, i.e. traversing a 2-3h cave connection) on the third day, rather than to do more hiking. They are very responsive by email and willing to tailor your trip. For the tour itself, it is an adventure tour. You see lots and leave with a better understanding of the place off the tourist route. However, that comes at the cost of sleeping on the bus there/back and enduring a few hours of steep hikes and rudimentary sleeping/showering. Pack lightly as you carry your own bag. The food is a perk if you like simple home-cooked meals and local flavours. Embrace all that, and it will be a memorable trip. One more note: spending a night in Batat is brilliant—you get a different view of the famed terraces in the evening and then the next morning. Also, if the weather is bad, you have two shots at seeing them. The museum in Banaue was also great for the context of the indigenous traditions.
Rice terraces- a must!
saclaudia,,Aug 13, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Incredibly awesome!! All the trekking through the mountains, forests, waterfalls, seeing all the rice terraces, talking to locals, with Jody, our local gide, explaining us every detail! I highly recommend, if you ever go to the Phillipines!! And ask for Jody, you won't be disappointed!! The Phillipines are not only Manila and the beach resorts! The rice terraces are really a must!!
Wonderful experience
annakristens,,Jul 24, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I had an excellent time on the three day hike from Banaue through the ifugao villages. Our guide Jody was excellent and very friendly; the hike was difficult but well worth it with the fantastic views. It would have been very hard for someone with a fear of heights as the path was so narrow next to steep drops, but as it was I loved it. It was a challenge but definitely worth it.
Fantastic hike in the rice terraces of Banaue and Batad
Regina M,,Apr 15, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Although the bus ride to Banaue is very long and arduous (it was not 9 but over 10 hours!), I would recommend this tour to anyone who is interested in and enjoys nature, physical challenges, culture and adventure. Hiking between the rice terraces over narrow walls and stairs in the middle of the green rice fields is a very special experience, bathing in the Tappiya waterfall is a real treat and spending the night in Batad is an immersion in the world of the Ifugao. This tour was one of the absolute highlights of our trip, not least thanks to our very committed, attentive and competent guide, Jody. He answered our numerous questions happily and comprehensively and shared a lot of his knowledge with us. We also had a lot of fun together. We couldn't have wished for better company!
The terraces an my guide Marvin were remarkable.
UllaMaija L,,Feb 25, 2024
- Review from Viator
5.00The most memorable moment was actually to see the rice terrace open up infront of you. Hiking there made an impression.
Amazing experience
Ditte S,,Feb 10, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We went hiking in the mountains and it was such a great experience. Super organized and we had the best guide Jody. It’s such a different experience from what else you see in the Philippines - we really enjoyed our time up in the mountains
Great experience and views
Sophie B,,Jan 15, 2024
- Review from Viator
4.00It was such a great and unusual experience, and even better than I imagined. As a hiker, this was pretty moderate level of difficulty, but also a bit challenging due to some slippery parts because it rained when we were there. But the views are amazing and the food we ate in the different villages was always good. Jody, our guide, was really considerate and told and showed us all he know about the history and making of rice. If I could, I would definitely do it again. The only thing that bothered me, is that one breakfast should have been included, but it wasn't.
From US$270.00
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Operated by Uncharted Philippines