Total Philippines

Your adventure begins in Manila. Check in, put your feet up and shake off the journey before meeting your new crew. This evening we grab dinner together, then head into Makati, one of Manila's liveliest areas, to show you some of its best bars. Outrageous dad dancing is likely. A great night is guaranteed.

This morning we take a short flight to Puerto Princesa, where private minivans carry us to unspoilt Port Barton, a small fishing town and our home for the next few days. On the way we stop for lunch with a local family and chat about life in paradise. We check into our beachfront hotel, watch the sunset, cocktail in hand, then head out for dinner.

After breakfast we sail the day away, snorkelling Palawan's rainbow-coloured reefs and swimming with turtles. We land on golden sand beaches for your best Baywatch moment, then stop for lunch in a small fishing village. A few free hours follow, for human pyramids or tan lines. Then we cruise back to Port Barton to explore the town's best bars and restaurants.

After breakfast, our private van takes us to El Nido, the star attraction of Palawan. Good vibes, good times, good beer. We roam the town, do a little shopping and settle into our accommodation before dinner with your new besties. Then the main event: one of the best sunsets in the world, ice-cold beer in hand.

After breakfast we board traditional Banca boats to island hop El Nido's best spots. Crystal-clear lagoons, kayaking with your new best friend, snorkelling the Philippine Sea and sunbathing on golden sand. A dip in the sea cures most hangovers, it's a long-held theory of ours. We stop for a local-style lunch, head back around sunset, then meet up for dinner.

Today we explore El Nido by land. After breakfast, we start with a Mission Impossible-style zipline, zooming from beach to beach as the views get the blood pumping. Then we head to Nacpan Beach, four kilometres of golden sand lined with palm trees so lush you'll question reality. Beach time and an epic sunset follow.

Time for our exclusive Castaway Isla Experience on Daracotan Island. After breakfast, we snorkel shipwrecks, then take a guided tour of the island, home to 88 residents, meeting a local family and learning how tourism helps them. This evening, a cooking demonstration teaches us to eat Filipino-style. We share dinner together, then wind down around the bonfire with beers.

A slow morning and breakfast on our island: snorkel, or stretch out on the beach and top up the tan. Then we catch the ferry to Coron. The afternoon is yours to relax or browse the local shops, and the smoothies are excellent. Recharge, dig out your best outfit, because tonight we're heading out out.

After a big night, breakfast, then we're up and out to sail around Coron. We land on some of the most beautiful beaches in the world and cruise through turquoise lagoons, with lunch on board. Bury someone in the sand, snap those beach shots or hold handstand contests on the seabed, then sail back to freshen up for dinner.

Next stop, Cebu. We catch a short flight across, then it's time to relax in the hotel and unwind after an epic first leg in Palawan. Make the most of the good wifi to scroll back through your photos and make the group chat at home jealous. This evening we head out for drinks together.

We pack up for seaside Moalboal, stopping first for a lechon-style lunch with locals. Bellies full, we visit Simala Church, a Disney castle of a building that's said to be a place where miracles happen. After a walking tour and a short history lesson, we carry on to Moalboal for a free afternoon of coffee, souvenirs or a massage.

Up early after breakfast for some of the best snorkelling in the Philippines. Suncream on, GoPro ready. We explore colourful reefs and swim alongside green sea turtles in their natural home. Later we head back in at a drop-off for the Sardine Run, hundreds of thousands of fish moving as one. Tonight we explore the nightlife.

Wake up, we're going canyoneering. After breakfast we jump off rocks and waterfalls into aqua-blue pools on our way to the turquoise water of Kawasan Falls, with lunch included. Not feeling the jumps? Float down the river instead and bask in the sun at the falls. This evening is lazy, recharging before our next stop.

After breakfast, we head to Cebu airport for a short flight to Caticlan, then a 15-minute boat ride to Boracay, home for three nights. We arrive late afternoon, just in time to explore and catch a Boracay sunset, golden orange melting into lilac. Beers on the beach or a sunset cocktail cruise, then on to the island's best cocktail bars.

A lazy morning: breakfast when you like, a fruit smoothie nearby. The morning and early afternoon are free for the beach, the shops or a postcard home. Late afternoon we go Paraw sailing on a traditional double-outrigger boat to the island's best viewpoints as the sun sets. As the stars come out, we head to dinner and a few beers.

After breakfast, we set sail for a boat party. Dance the day away, then grab a snorkel and mask and jump into tropical water, or chill on a floatie, kayak or paddleboard as you look back on the trip so far. Order two desserts tonight and tell every one of your new friends how much you love them.

After breakfast we fly back to Cebu for the third and final leg of the trip. We're heading further east, and we've saved the best till last: more culture, more island hopping, surfing and our favourite spot of all, Siargao. Use today to rest up and swap stories with the crew.

An early start and a travel morning take us by private transfer and ferry to Bohol, an island many travellers miss. 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 go-go-go day touring Bohol. After breakfast we explore the Chocolate Hills, truffle-shaped mounds 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 a full beach day. We arrive towels in hand, ready to throw ourselves into the waves. Then it gets competitive: volleyball matches and frisbee, beer or piña colada in hand. As the day ends, we watch another Filipino sunset together on our final night in Bohol, because tomorrow it's our favourite place of all.

After breakfast we travel by private van, ferry and flight to Siargao, the teardrop-shaped surf capital of the Philippines. It's a long journey, and so worth it. 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 and sea breeze in your hair. Then 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 and whatever comes next. Twenty-four days of island hopping, surfing, amazing food and Filipino culture. See you on the next one.