Philippines Island Experience

Welcome to the Philippines and your first day in paradise. Check in, put your feet up and shake off the flight before meeting your new crew. This evening we grab dinner together, then head out for our first night out as a group. Piña colada, anyone? Fifteen days of island hopping start right here.

Bring your appetite. This morning we share a lechon-style lunch with locals, then visit the striking Simala Church, said to be a place where miracles happen, for a walking tour, some history and our first group photo. We carry on to Moalboal for a free afternoon: coffee, souvenirs or a well-earned massage. You're on holiday, after all.

Sunscreen on, snorkel on, straight in. This morning we explore colourful coral reefs and swim alongside sea turtles in their natural home. Next comes Moalboal's legendary Sardine Run, hundreds of thousands of fish moving as one giant shimmering school. Breakfast is included today. Tonight we dry off, swap the best photos and dance the night away.

How do you feel about heights? Today we face them head-on. After breakfast, we go canyoneering, jumping off waterfalls and cliffs into aqua-blue water, ending at the turquoise pools of Kawasan Falls, with lunch included. Not a jumper? Float down the river instead and bask in the sun. Tonight is lazy, a chance to recharge before moving on.

After breakfast we leave Moalboal for the airport, take a short flight to Caticlan, then a boat across to Boracay, our home for three nights. We arrive late afternoon, just in time for a famous Boracay sunset, golden orange melting into lilac, with a beer or cocktail on the beach. After that, one of the island's best cocktail bars is probably calling.

A properly lazy morning: breakfast, a fruit smoothie and some vitamin sea. The morning and early afternoon are yours to explore, whether that's sunbathing or browsing local shops for souvenirs. Later, we go Paraw sailing, gliding across the water to the island's best viewpoints as the sun goes down. As the stars come out, we head to dinner together.

After breakfast, we set sail for an island-hopping boat party. Dance the day away, take on the worm challenge and jump into tropical water whenever the music needs a break. Grab a snorkel, lie out on the floaties and sip a cocktail or two. It's our last day in Boracay, so we're making it count.

After breakfast we fly back to Cebu, ready for the second half of the trip as we head further east. Think bigger sunsets, more culture and more island hopping, building all the way to the surf spots of Siargao. Use today to rest, swap stories with the crew and get excited for what's next.

An early start and a travel morning take us by private transfer and ferry to Bohol, an island most people have never heard of. You'll be glad we showed you. We reach the hotel in the early afternoon. The beach is two minutes away and there's a pool for an obligatory group swimming gala.

A big day of nature, wildlife and adventure. After breakfast we explore the Chocolate Hills, a landscape still something of a mystery to locals. Then we meet the tiny tarsiers and learn how locals protect them. Lunch is a river cruise on the Loboc, with folk music and dance, and we finish by planting trees to protect Bohol's biodiversity.

After breakfast it's time for a proper beach day. We arrive towels in hand, ready to throw ourselves into the waves. Then things get competitive: volleyball matches, frisbee, diving contests and serious sunbathing, beer or piña colada in hand. As the day ends, we watch one more Filipino sunset together on our final night in Bohol.

Drum roll, please. After breakfast we travel by private van, ferry and flight to Siargao, the teardrop-shaped surf capital of the Philippines. We've saved the best till last. Once we land, there's time to unpack, wander the local area and get our first taste of Siargao's laid-back island magic.

Shakas in the air. After breakfast we hit the waves for a surf lesson with patient local instructors who'll get us up on the boards. We can't promise you'll stand for more than five seconds, but the whole crew will be cheering. Afterwards, the afternoon is yours: read, swim, play volleyball or just lie on the sand.

Our final full day, and we're going out with a bang. After breakfast we set off island hopping, snorkelling and hunting for Nemo, Dory and friends, with lunch along the way. Once the sun has done its work, we head back to base to get ready for our final night out. Don't be sad it's over. Be happy it happened.

After one last breakfast, it's checkout day. Whether you're heading home or exploring more of the Philippines, your Local Legend will help with onward travel. We've island hopped, learnt to surf, eaten amazing food and discovered so much about Filipino culture. Wherever you're going next, have the best time and send us a postcard.