Northern Roundtour

This town is among hundreds of towns and villages, which have been devastated by Mt. Pinatubo's eruption in June 1993. Tour the village and visit the Basilica, which is now 3/4 buried in Lahar. See the remaining roofs of houses covered by Lahar. Mt. Pinatubo's wrath continues to wreak havoc on the lives of the villagers every year as the monsoon rains carry Lahar from the bowels of Mt. Pinatubo adding more layers of Lahar. Townsfolk have adapted to nature' wrath by building houses on stilts which are several meters high.

Baguio is the summer capital of the Philippines and the gateway to the Cordillera, in the province of Benguet, 1,500 kms high up in the Cordillera Mountains. It is approximately 4 hours’ drive through the countryside, ascending up through zigzagging roads of Benguet.

Visit Burnham Park, Mines View Park, Camp John Hay, Baguio Cathedral, Tam-Awan Village with reconstructed Ifugao and Kalinga huts and also a venue for art exhibits and workshops, Woodcarver’s Village, Saint Louis Filigree Shop.

Stops can be made at Bell Church were on request you get your fortune told by one of the priests. These scenic drive along the Halsema mountain highway give you breathtaking views of the vegetable terraces farmed by Benguet tribes; you will also see the breathtaking scenery of the tiny villages in the valleys down below. On to the Mountain Trail.

Explore this quaint little town with its towering pine trees, hanging coffins, subterranean caves used as burial grounds by the natives, eminent limestone cliffs and nearby scenic falls. Other stunning destinations are Bomod-ok and Bokong Falls, Danom Lake and Weaving Shops. Hike through simple trails which lead to some picturesque summits.

Drive along winding mountain trail onto Bontoc. Bontoc is the mountain province's capital and crossroads. Visit the Bontoc Museum, which was founded by the Belgian sisters who have been active in the area for decades. It consists of four well laid out rooms featuring artifacts and old photos plus a group of traditional houses.

The spectacle is breathtaking. Whole chains of mountains terraced from top to bottom for the cultivation of rice sculptured and curved from the steep mountain side by the Ifugaos with their bare hands and crude stone implements centuries ago.

Batad Terraces is shaped as an amphitheater and has served as means of survival to the Ifugao people in terms of farming and agriculture. It is said to be the most magnificent of all the rice terraces in the Ifugao province, although it takes more effort to climb up a hill to view this amazing man-made wonder that is carved steeply along the side of the mountain.

A traditional village nestled in a panoramic valley of terraces. A 20-minute walk in a descending trail permits a closer look of the Ifugao world. Walk around and mingle with the friendly natives and visit a typical home to see their life ways. See a typical Ifugao Village where most people here still live the lifestyle of their ancestors long gone. Stop at the viewpoint of the oldest rice terraces known as the “8th Wonders of the World” and estimated to be more than 2,000 years old. On the way back to the hotel, visit the museum.