Manila is the obvious place to start. After a couple of days exploring the capital, head north to the mountanous Cordillera region, stoping in Banawe to se the world famous reice terraces, and laidback Sagada to enjoy the cool mountain air. Form Noth Luzon, head back through Manila nd and continue south by bus to Souteast Luzon's Bicol region. This is the Philippines' adventure capital, with surfing, wakeboarding, volcano climbing and diving. Around Legaspi you can experience whale sharks of Donsol or climb part of the way up Mt. Mayon Volcano.

Proceeding south , cross the san Bernardino Strait to the rugged easternVisayan islands of Samar and Leyt. Stop of in Imelda Marcos's town, Tacloban, for some great food and World War II experience at nearby Red Beach. use Tacloban as a base to explore Sohoto caves and Natuaral Bridge National Park before catching a boat to the Visayan capital Cebu City. Board a ferry to Bohol, with its famous tree-dwelling tarsiers and Chocolate Hills , plus the diving wonderlands of Panglao Island.

Adventurous travellers will want to make their way to Ubay, near Anda, and returna ferry to Southern Leyte, where ferries head south to Mindanao. In addition, Mindanao features legendary surfing in siargao and superb diving, island hopping and outdoor activities on Camiguin Island. If you dont want to visit Mindanao, you could head from Bohol to Negros, then follow the beautiful rugged coastlines of Negros and neighbouring Panay north all the way to Boracay for a few days of well-deserved tropical indulgence on the Philippines' most hippest and beautiful island.