Through the Chocolate Hills to Bohol
Country: Philippines
Styles: Nature,Scenic,Local colour
Tour type: Add-on - If you're planning a holiday in one of our destinations in Southeast Asia and want to get more from your holiday, an add-on tour is for you. Get a feel for the country's culture and experience some amazing sites of interest.
A 6 day Philippine Journey to Bohol.
Situated in the heart of southern Philippines, Bohol is a throbbing island province with rolling terrains of hills, crystal springs, verdant rivers and beaches. And while natural beauty is the heart of the land, its very soul is its rich history, replete with ancestral homes and centuries-old churches. The country's tenth largest island, Bohol is situated at the heart of Visayas province. West of Bohol is Cebu, and to the east is Leyte. Along its coastline are the numerous isles of Panglao, Pamilacan, Cabilao, Jao, Mahanay and Lapinin, which are excellent dive spots. However, beneath the rustic harms of Bohol lie a thousand and one adventures just waiting to unfold. The site of the 1565 blood compact between Rajah Sikatuna and Miguel Lopez de Legaspi, Bohol's historicity is evident in the province's relaxed, laid-back pace. Excavations in ancient burial grounds reveal artefacts dating back to China's Tang dynasty. Indeed, the province already had strong trading ties with the Chinese long before the Spanish set foot in the country. Every year, the compact between the Muslim chief and the Spanish conqueror is celebrated through the Sandugo Festival in June. All year-round, the province's museums and churches attest to the province's rich heritage and culture. The Chocolate Hills is but one of the many natural wonders to be found in Bohol. The province is the home of the world's smallest monkey, the tarsier. The size of a fist, the tarsier lives in hills of Corella, some ten kilometres from Tagbilaran. Other exotic flora and fauna can be found amongst the forest of Bohol. Bohol's various mountainous and water formations also serve as a natural playground for the adventurous tourist. One can cruise the rivers, hike up the hills, swim the deep waters, or just stroll down the avenues. Bohol is just waiting to surprise you.
Day by day guide
Day 1
Arrival Bohol. After your flight from Manila you arrive in Bohol where you will be met & greeted by our representative and transferred to the Alona Palm Resort. Check in. Guests will be given time to relax and spend some leisure time. An afternoon city tour of Tagbilaran will be taken on the island's public transport - the tricycle. The tour includes visits to St. Joseph Cathedral originally built 1767; the Spanish built Provincial Capitol Building, Carlos P. Garcia (CPG) Museum, ancestral houses and antique shops. You will also be taken shopping for Boholano delicacies and souvenirs. Dinner will be taken at the Bohol Bee Farm, an organic farm that sits on a cliff with very charming surroundings. The restaurant serves delightful meals with ingredients straight from the garden. Return to the resort and overnight.
Day 2
Full-day Chocolate Hills Tour with Loboc River Cruise lunch. Breakfast in the resort. Take a leisurely drive through scenic countryside of thick nipa palms, coconut plantations, and rice fields to the Chocolate Hills. Go up to the highest point to view the 1,268 haycock hills with heights ranging from 40-120 meters. During the summer, the dome shaped grass covered limestone hills dry up and turn brown transforming the area into rows and rows of chocolate 'kisses'. Drive down to Loboc River, and board the raft. Enjoy a typical Boholano country lunch while cruising the Loboc River. Enjoy the lush green landscape slowly sliding along your table. Life along the river side goes on as it must have done for centuries, with children swimming, people passing by in small bankas or canoes. On certain points along the trip, daring kids climb in a large coconut tree overhanging the river, and jump in the water very close to the floating restaurant. After lunch, visit the Tarsier in their habitat in the town of Corelia. Upon arrival, guests will be treated to fresh coconut juice drink before proceeding on foot to see this incredible, beautiful creature, the oldest living mammal on the planet. The tarsier is smaller than a little girl's fist; its saucer-round eyes make up a third of its face, and its tail is longerthan its body. It's nothing you've seen anywhere in the world. You want to cuddle it and fondle it (but you are forbidden to touch it), to coo and whisper gooey gibberish to it. Return to the resort and overnight.
Day 3
Full-day Island Pamilacan Marine Life Tour Early morning departure from the resort for dolphin watching. Each guest will bring packed breakfast. Board motorized outrigger boats and cruise towards Pamilacan Island, having one of the richest marine life teeming in its waters. A spotter will spot dolphins and possibly some whales cruising, spraying, thrashing and shooting up into the air before dramatically landing on the water and creating huge volumes of sprays. Proceed to the island where you can enjoy swimming and snorkelling. A picnic lunch will be prepared. Return to the resort and overnight.
Day 4
Breakfast in the resort. Full day at leisure in the resort. You may try some diving, or exploring the island further by renting a motorcycle. Grab a map, and have precious encounters with the locals, and the landscapes. Overnight.
Day 5
Breakfast in the resort. Optional motorcycle ride. Grab a map, and have precious encounters with the locals, and the landscapes. Overnight.
Day 6
Return or onward journey. Breakfast in the resort. Extend your stay or transfer to the airport for onward journey.
Price from £795 per person sharing a twin/double room.
Included in your holiday price
- Meals as described
- Road transport by 4x4 or car
- Flights from Manila-Bohol-Manila
- English speaking guide
