Classic Boracay Escape
Manila → Boracay
Fly into Manila, then straight to the powder-white sand of White Beach. Sunset sailing, island hopping and the buzziest nightlife in the country.
Planning a Philippines trip from a blank page is daunting — 7,000+ islands, dozens of ferries, and a dry season that shifts region by region. So we've done the heavy lifting: each itinerary below is a real, sensible route you can steal, open in the planner, and reshape into your own.
How to use these ideas
1
Pick an idea
Browse the cards below and find a trip that matches your time, budget and vibe.
2
Open in the route builder
One tap loads the full route with live transport, costs and stays you can book.
3
Make it yours
Add or drop stops, shift dates, swap a beach for a dive — until it fits you perfectly.
El Nido Island Hopping
Manila → El Nido, Palawan → Coron, Palawan
The bucket-list Palawan run — Big & Small Lagoon kayaking in El Nido, then a ferry to Coron for WWII wreck dives and the surreal Kayangan Lake.
Siargao Surf & Chill
Cebu → Siargao
Warm up with Kawasan canyoneering in Cebu, then ride the famous Cloud 9 swell, scoot to palm-lined lagoons and live the Siargao island pace.
Visayas Island Loop
Cebu → Bohol (Panglao) → Siquijor → Dumaguete
Whale sharks and canyoneering in Cebu, Chocolate Hills and tarsiers in Bohol, mystical Siquijor, and the diving hub of Dumaguete — all by fast ferry.
Best of the Philippines
Manila → Cebu → Bohol (Panglao) → Boracay
The four headline destinations in one loop — capital culture, Cebu adventures, Bohol nature and a Boracay beach finale. The perfect first Philippines tour.
Palawan In-Depth
Puerto Princesa → El Nido, Palawan → Coron, Palawan
Start at the Puerto Princesa Underground River, drive up to El Nido for the lagoons, then ferry to Coron — the full length of the world’s best island.
Budgets are rough per-person guidance (transport + a mid-range stay + a few tours). Open any idea in the route builder to see live, data-backed costs and book each leg.
Choose by how long you have
The single biggest factor in a good Philippines trip is not cramming too much in. Match your route to your days.
Got 1 week?
Keep it to one region and two or three stops so you spend time on beaches, not in transit. Think Palawan (El Nido + Coron) or Cebu + Bohol.
Build a 1-week route →Got 2 weeks?
The sweet spot. Pair two regions — a classic is Palawan plus the Visayas, or add Siargao for surf. Four to five islands is comfortable.
Plan a multi-city trip →Got 3 weeks+?
Go deep. Chain Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao, or slow-travel one region and add off-beat islands like Camiguin, Romblon or Batanes.
Explore all destinations →Or choose by your kind of trip
Whatever you're into, there's an island for it. Pick a vibe and dive into the matching tours.
Beach & chill
White sand, lagoons and sunsets — Boracay, El Nido, Siquijor.
Diving
Thresher sharks, sardines and WWII wrecks — Malapascua, Moalboal, Coron.
Surf & adventure
Barrels, waterfalls and volcanoes — Siargao, Kawasan, Camiguin.
Culture & food
Heritage towns and local flavours — Vigan, Cebu, Bohol.
Itinerary tips that save days
Two islands per week, max. It's tempting to cram in five, but transfers eat days. Slower trips almost always feel better.
Fly the long legs. Short hops by ferry, long jumps by plane. Compare both with our ferry vs flight tool.
Time it right. Check the best time to visit for your islands — surf and dry seasons differ by region.
Book stays early in peak. Dec–May and Holy Week sell out on the headline islands. Lock in your stays ahead.
Itinerary questions, answered
How many islands can I realistically see in 2 weeks?
Comfortably four to five. A great two-week trip pairs two regions — for example Palawan (El Nido and Coron) with the central Visayas (Cebu and Bohol), or add Siargao for surf. Trying to fit in more usually means spending your holiday in transit rather than on the beach.
What is the best route for a first-timer?
A classic crowd-pleaser is Cebu to Bohol to Siquijor, or Palawan's El Nido and Coron, both of which deliver the postcard beaches and lagoons people picture. They are well connected, easy to book and forgiving if your plans shift. Open any idea below in the route builder to see it laid out.
Any off-the-beaten-path ideas?
Yes — swap a headline island for somewhere quieter. Try Romblon (marble island and empty beaches), Camiguin (volcanoes and waterfalls), Siquijor (mystical and laid-back), or Batanes (dramatic northern landscapes). They take a little more effort to reach, which is exactly why they stay peaceful.
How do I customise one of these itineraries?
Open any trip idea in the route builder, then add or remove stops, change the dates and number of travellers, and swap activities. Costs and transport update live, so you can tweak until the trip fits your time and budget, then book each leg.
Ready to make it real?
Turn any idea into a bookable trip with live transport, costs and stays — or chain multiple cities your way.