Guide to Banaue Attractions

Banaue Attractions

Banaue and Sagada

The wonders of the Grand Cordillera Central mountain ranges in the Northern Philippines hosts a variety of natural and man made attractions, also meet and greet the local tribes of the Ifugaos and the Igorots and get to experience their way of life and enjoy the cool mountain air of this part of ...

Banaue Articles

Get High on the Stairways to Heaven

Banaue

A stairway to heaven.

Just like a song sung by Led Zeppelin. But this time we wont be buying a stairway to heaven, it's not for sale. It's for keeps. Our country's premier pride, the Banaue Rice Terraces.

...

Banaue

A stairway to heaven.

Just like a song sung by Led Zeppelin. But this time we wont be buying a stairway to heaven, it's not for sale. It's for keeps. Our country's premier pride, the Banaue Rice Terraces.

An iconic astounding wonders molded by imagination, determination and perseverance of the Ifugao Tribe in the mountains of Cordillera Region. The terraces were carved by hands blanketing the mountain slopes with muds and rocks as wall, designed to irrigate waters from atop to pass through the man-made canals flowing directly to the rice paddies. A 2000 years old 8th wonders of the world standing high and mighty tru this time.

As I started my journey from Banaue town proper to Batad Saddle point I knew I am starting to breath the fresh, cool, rice-scented air of the terraces that made me shivers. Starting trails are narrow pathways with few staircases, uneven slopes and slippery muds surrounded by luscious green forest. I am feeling the hotness even the weather is quite cloudy. Sweats are flowing from my forehead down to my spine while trekking. Along the trails were clear areas that showcases portions of rice terraces that me me ache for more.

As I went closer, the immensity of the amphitheater terraces begins to reveal its unexplainable beauty. All I can say was WOW. The greatest engineered masterpiece I have ever seen. And I knew it was love at first sight. I fell inlove with its greatness. I fell inlove with the Ifugaos who made this for my eyes and I am still falling inlove with the people who continue in upbriging their culture and inheritance. I felt Home. For a moment I was just staring at it. Immovable.

A tap on my shoulder awaken my thought. It was my local guide. He said: the greatness is just starting. Check your endurance. I realy didn't get what he meant as I come to life.

Later did I understood what he has said. After a while of imagining, we went on anuphill downhill terrain of the terraces. Slippery steps, a foot-thick paddies we were about to cross, an agonizing steep slopes we have to climb, an endless steps on staircases making me feel to give up plus the scorching heat of the sun envelopes our trek. All this energy-drained feeling is substituted by excitement. I have a purpose and duty to do. And i wanted to conquer this wonderful sight. Take hold of its beauty as long as I can. I was more of happy than tired.

Along the way, we mingled with the locals living in the village at the middle part of the terraces. We visited their traditional houses, weaved with them and we were given a chance to pound rice for one family. Pounding was not simple. It took us almost an hour to clean and get the grains for cooking. After that, we were then offered brewed native coffee. Though it is as hot as the weather, I felt reflenished. Not just my thirst but i was reflenished inside. A feeling that i could not totally explain.

I am on my comfort clothes and trekkings sandals. I also brought liters of waters. Beforehand I had set my mind already of the activities that I would be doing and the exhaustion I have to face. For I will be climbing a more or less 5000 feet above sea level rice terraces.

Banaue Rice Terraces is an ancient landscape that needs total protection and support from each individual.

And as to the song Stairway to Heaven says:

And my spirit is crying for leaving

Your stairway lies in the whispering wind

Oooh, It makes me wonder.

I promise to comeback again and again. Dear Home.

Top Banaue Tours

$0 Per Day

The Banaue Rice Terraces

Banaue rice terraces is about 2000 year old mountained carved to become a rice terraces by the indigenous people of Ifugao.The terraces belongs to the 8th wonders of the world, approximately 5000 feet above sea level.Local irrigation of the fields was set up also by the local wherein waters came from the rainforest atop. Numerous things and activities to do now at Banaue such as the traditional sightseeing of the area, visitation to the different tribal or ethnic villages, learning their culture and living with them for a couple of days....Read more

$400 Per Day

Sagada Tour (Banaue + Sagada + Baguio

Private sightseeing tour Introduction:

Private sightseeing tour Introduction:

Banaue Rice Terraces. The amazing Eighth Wonder of the World, has been functioning as rice paddy terraces for the Igorot tribes living in the rugged North. These steps were carved out of mountains in prehistoric times using sheer brawn. With their fierce culture, even now the Igorots tend to the terraces and perform ancient rituals linked to the cosmic force that inspired their farming ancestors to build this sustainable technology—a truly original feat of engineering. The climate is cold owing to high altitude, and walking into the mist is almost like hearing breathy whispers from beyond. People are always coming to trek its cool trails. Maybe to fathom this 2,000-year old enigma. Or perhaps to meditate on the ancient belief that in trekking these stairways to heaven, they live out their own legend.
Tour Duration:
5 Days
Tour Type:
Transport Based
Tour Price:
Price Per Person USD $300.00

Tour Highlights:

DAY 00

0900pm Estimate time of departure from Manila to Banaue

06:00am Estimate time of arrival at Banaue

06:15am Breakfast at Greenview Restaurant

07:00am Roving tour around Banaue Town

07:45am Stop over at BANAUE VIEWPOINT for picture Taking

08:15am Estimate time of departure Banaue to Sagada

11:00am Estimate time of arrival at Sagada

11:30am Check-in

12:00am Lunch at Salt & Pepper or Yoghurt House

01:00pm Proceed to Lumiang Cave and Sumaguing Cave for normal caving

05:00pm Estimated time of return from the cave

05:30pm Back to hotel

07:00pm Dinner

05:00am Wake-up call. Breakfast

06:00am Proceed to Kiltepan for Sunrise Viewing (Optional)

07:00am Head back to Lodging

07:30am Breakfast

08:30am Start of Bomod-Ok Falls Trek

12:30am Lunch at Rock Inn Farm

01:30pm Visit the Orange Orchard at Rock-Inn Farm

03:00pm Visit Sagada weaving and Pottery

04:00pm St. Mary’s Church and Echo Valley.

05:00pm Head back to lodge

07:00pm Dinner and Rest

06:00am Wake up call and breakfast

07:30am Check out. Departure Sagada to Baguio

12:30pm Estimated time of arrival at La Trinidad, Baguio City

Lunch.

01::30pm Visit Strawberry Farm. Souvenir hunting and buy Presents

0300pm Estimated time of departure Baguio to Manila

09:00pm Estimated time of arrival at Manila.
Tour Inclusions:

•Roundtrip aircondition Van.

•3days/2nights stay at Kanip-Aw Lodge, Shamrock Tavern, Churya-a (whichever is available)

•Sidetrip in BANAUE RICE TERRACES (viewpoint)

•2 Days Tour at Kiltepan, Echo Valley, St Mary’s Church, Big Falls (BOMOD-OK Falls), Pottery •House, Sagada Weaving, –Sumaguing Cave and Rock inn/Orange Farm

•Tour Guide Fee except at Sumaguing Cave which amounts to Php 150/person (minimum of 4 pax) •and Php 400/person for Cave Connection ( Lumiang Cave to Sumaguing Cave)

•If time still permits us permits Optional tour at Ganduyan Museum and Lake danum (depend on road and weather condition )

•Entrance Fees and Permits

Note: we can change the lodging if you want another hotel.
Tour Exclusions:

Meals and other personal expenses.

***This Itinerary is just a guide for the tour participants and may change due to weather conditions, traveling pace, etc.***

$117 Per Day

North of the Phils Tour, cost P5500.00 /person duration 4 days /3 nights

This tour start at Banaue..... located in Luzon .... Travelling time from Manila is approx 10-12 hours via land. Tours include a visit to majestic rice terraces which was hand crafted by the natives long time ago... water falls also are abundant in this mountain top destination...

After an overnight stay at Banaue the tour is followed by a visit to Sagada... 4-5 hours drive to reach another mountain to see caves of different sizes , Echo Valley and hanging coffins..

That symbolizes old ways of respecting their dead relatives...

After an overnight stay at Banaue the tour is followed by a visit to Sagada... 4-5 hours drive to reach another mountain to see caves of different sizes , Echo Valley and hanging coffins..

That symbolizes old ways of respecting their dead relatives...

Last leg of this loop tour is a visit to Baguio City to complete the itinerary....

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