Delve Deep: Philippines

Pack your bags cos we’re swapping big city vibes for the island paradise of Palawan! Pristine beaches, rugged mountains, serene lagoons. This place is gonna blow your MIND. You’ll get your first glimpse of it from the plane window as we touch down in Puerto Princesa. Feeling peckish? We’ll stop off at an oceanside restaurant for a delish local lunch before continuing onwards to Port Barton – a seriously pretty pearl-farming town and our base for the next two nights. Drop your stuff at the hotel and hit Port Barton Beach to watch the sky turn into a million different shades of pink and orange as the sun sets over the Pacific Ocean. This is what you came for.

Slap on the sunscreen and grab your sunnies. We’re spending the whole day on the water during a private boat tour – hopping between tiny tropical islands, kaleidoscopic coral reefs and silky sandbars. Wanna snorkel alongside turtles? How about bathing on your own deserted beach? Or spotting starfish in the shallows? Today’s the day. We’ll also tuck into a delish local lunch *wipes drools from chin*. When we get back to Port Barton, the evening’s all yours. Our suggestion? Head to a local beach club for mocktails, burgers and another spectacular sunset.

After a lazy morning chilling in Port Barton, we’ll relocate up the coast to a BEAUT remote beach. Always wondered what it would be like to be stranded in paradise? Here's your chance. Tonight, you’ll be snoozing in bell tents right on the sand (don’t worry, you’ll get a roll mat) with the ocean as your lullaby. But first: there’s an afternoon of swimming and an included group BBQ dinner on the cards. Tums full and spirits high, settle down around the cosy bonfire with your trip mates. Don’t want this magical evening to end? Sing your hearts out with a karaoke sesh beneath the stars. Memories = made.

Start your day off right with a relaxing sea swim before we pack up camp and make tracks for our next stop: El Nido. This coastal gem sits in northern Palawan and it is STUNNING. We’re talking: powder-soft sand coves, swaying coconut palms, islands surrounded by emerald waters. En route, we’ll make a pitstop in Taytay where we’ll get our history hats on at Fort Santa Isabel. Delve deep into the region’s past, discovering heaps of facts about its indigenous people and the country’s Spanish colonisation. Then: onwards to El Nido where the rest of the day is yours. Enjoy a lil downtime at the hotel (you deserve it). Pick up some souvenirs along the town’s bustling main street. Or opt for an optional trip to Las Cabanas Beach to soak up its dramatic limestone cliffs and jaw-dropping sunsets. Need local dinner recs for this eve? Your Trip Leader’s got the deets.

Here's a morning to just do you. Need a lie-in after yesterday’s journey? You got it. You could also get horizontal beneath a palm tree on Corong Corong Beach. Or head to a local cafe to sip coffee and watch the world go by. Fancy something a lil more active? Conquer your fear of heights with an out-of-this-world optional canopy experience in the jungle. Or hop on a local tricycle to the El Nido zipline where you’ll fly above the treetops and over the sparkling sea. Later, we’ll round up the group for an awesome AF activity: a trip to Lio Beach. Take your pick of local beachside eateries for lunch before spending the afternoon strolling (or snoozing) on the sand. And if things couldn’t get even MORE idyllic, we’ll finish the day off with a sunset yoga and meditation sesh right on the beach. Namaste!

You’re gonna want to go big at breakfast today. Why? Cos we’ve got another island-hopping trip on the cards! The scenery around El Nido is RIDICULOUSLY breathtaking. Insert: sun-bleached sandy beaches on Simizu Island, shimmering turquoise water at the Big Lagoon and the dreamy Secret Lagoon that’s only accessible through a tiny opening through limestone cliffs. We’ll also make a pitstop at jaw-dropping Seven Commando Beach (named after the seven soldiers once stranded on it shores) AND gorge on another tasty included lunch. Don’t say we never treat you. Hearts and camera rolls full, we’ll return to land for a chill evening in El Nido. Need dinner recs? Seek out some fresh seafood (think prawns, squid and crab) or order up a bowl of steaming kaaldas – a local soup featuring pork, papaya and ginger. YUM.

It’s time to wave goodbye to enchanting El Nido *tries not to cry*. Luckily, we’re swapping it for the equally as dreamy Coron – known for its shipwrecks, shimmering lagoons and countless soft-sand beaches. FYI, the ferry there is looooong, so you’ll wanna stock up on snacks and make sure your phone’s got some juice. If it’s sunny, claim a spot on the top deck, grab a cold one and soak up those rays. When we reach the idyllic archipelago of Coron, grab the gang and head to the nearest beach bar for a few bevvies and general good times.

Ready to dive straight into this incredible island oasis? We thought so. Pull on some comfy shoes and climb 210 metres to the summit of Mt Tapyas for INSANE views of Coron Bay. Or glide through wrecked WWII Japanese warships home to turtles, rays and reef sharks on an optional beginner’s scuba diving experience. Prefer to keep things chilled? Swap thrilling ocean adventures for a soothing spa day at the Maquinit Hot Springs. Later: catch up with your new travel besties at our final group dinner, and watch the sun set in paradise one last time.

You’ve swum in the lagoons, soaked up all the views, practiced your downward dog on the sand. Now all that’s left to do is swap TikTok handles with your travel fam and say your goodbyes. Not quite ready for the fun to be over? Hang around Palawan for more epic diving adventures. Or tick another South East Asian gem of your travel wishlist. Thailand. Vietnam. Cambodia. All the above?