Culture and Cuisine of the Philippines

Upon arrival, transfer from the airport to your hotel for check-in. The rest of the day is free for you to enjoy at your leisure.

• Hotel Description

After breakfast at the hotel, head to Amadeo, Cavite—the coffee capital of the Philippines—about an hour and a half from Manila. Discover the area’s coffee heritage through a tasting experience that follows traditional brewing methods, and learn about sustainable farming and conservation as you tour the coffee farm. Lunch follows at the same venue, with both vegan and non-vegan options available. Afterwards, return to Manila to spend the rest of the day at leisure. (B,L)

• Hotel Description

After breakfast and check-out, transfer to the airport for your domestic flight to Bacolod. Upon arrival, head to the hotel and begin a city tour. Taste local favourites like cansi, a rich, sour beef stew, and Napoleones, a custard-filled pastry. Stop at Manokan Country to try chicken inasal, and if you’re feeling adventurous, sample cuts like isol (chicken butt) or tina-e (chicken intestines). In the afternoon, enjoy a hands-on windchime-making workshop at Handmade Gallery, then finish the day with a farm-to-table dinner at Lanai by Fresh Start. (B,L,D)

• Hotel Description

Explore a unique sustainable experience at 7 Hectares, an organic aquaculture farm. Join a workshop where you'll prepare lunch while learning about the ecosystem of a pond, then enjoy a curated 10-course meal. Afterwards, take a brief tour of Silay City, followed by a workshop on stone art or single-wire art led by a local artist at the Silay City Art Space and Showroom. Wrap up the day with dinner at one of Silay’s ancestral homes. (B,L,D)

• Hotel Description

Bago City, known as the "Home of Historical and Natural Treasures" and the "Rice Granary of Negros Occidental," offers a creative escape. Start with a jewellery-making workshop at Tumadok Crafts Industries, set in the peaceful Bantayan Park. Then, visit the Mailum Organic Village Association, meet local farmers, enjoy a seasonal lunch, and learn to make pinipig (flattened rice crisps) and other local delicacies. If it's planting season, you may even get the chance to plant rice alongside the community. Continue to Fadriga Farm to discover the rare Criollo cacao, one of the world’s most prized varieties. Finish the day with a degustation dinner at Lanai by Fresh Start. (B,L,D)

• Hotel Description

The day is yours to explore the city at your own pace. If you’d like, we can arrange an additional excursion - just reach out to one of our travel specialists for assistance. (B)

• Hotel Description

Engage in community tourism in Sagay with activities led by locals. Begin with a visit to Suyac Island Mangrove Eco-Park, part of the 32,000-hectare Sagay Marine Reserve, known for its century-old mangroves. For lunch at Enting’s, join a young kinilaw (ceviche) master chef to make your own version of this local dish. Continue with a guided trisikad (three-wheeled bike) tour, where knowledgeable local guides share insights about the city. Wrap up with a coffee break and a visit to a local artist’s seaside home, then return to Bacolod City. (B,L)

• Hotel Description

Start your day with a farm-to-cup coffee trail, where the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and a bite of suman (sticky rice snack) set the tone. Choose from easy, intermediate, advanced, or extreme trail options, each offering an inside look at selective harvesting, sugar testing, and bean selection. After the coffee farm tour, visit an organic farm in Murcia for a coffee cupping experience. Return to Bacolod City to end the day with an overnight stay. (B,L)

• Hotel Description

On the final day of your tour around Bacolod, deepen your understanding of the region’s heritage. Explore the heritage houses of Negros Occidental in Talisay and Silay, where culture thrives. Get hands-on by painting Calatrava bags and interacting with local artists. Enjoy lunch in one of Silay’s ancestral homes, followed by visits to significant sites, including Balay ni Tana Dacang, the oldest ancestral home open to the public, and The Ruins, often referred to as the Taj Mahal of the Philippines. Conclude the day with an overnight stay in Bacolod City. (B,L)

• Hotel Description

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your domestic flight to Cebu. Upon arrival, head to your hotel, where you can spend the rest of the day at your leisure. (B)

• Hotel Description

Spend a day at a farm run by the Adlawon community, located in the mountain highlands along the Trancentral Highway. Upon arrival, enjoy a local snack made from farm produce before starting a tour that highlights sustainable farming practices. Depending on the season, you can participate in activities like fruit picking, witnessing the harvest, and tasting tuba (coconut wine). You’ll also have the chance to harvest vegetables for your lunch salad and interact with farm animals. After the tour, prepare your salad with the in-house chef and enjoy your meal. Finally, learn how to weave puso, traditional coconut leaf containers used for cooking rice, shaped like hearts. (B,L)

• Hotel Description

Immerse yourself in the Filipino tradition of slow, rewarding food preparation and consumption. Travel about two hours south to Argao, where you'll visit local brands renowned for their delicious delicacies. Start at a tablea manufacturer to learn how cacao is processed into drinkable chocolate disks. Then, head to a local home that makes torta, a Visayan sponge cake often enjoyed as a snack. Enjoy the perfect pairing of tablea and torta, a delightful combination for your next afternoon "merienda". (B)

• Hotel Description

After breakfast and check-out, transfer to the airport for your flight back to the UK. (B)