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Philippines Trips & Tours

The Philippines Boat in Coron Asia
Download Philippines Key Facts

Island-hop to your heart’s content in the Philippines! Unwind on the endless sandy stretches and dive into crystal-clear waters filled with stunning sea creatures. Escape to secret islands and party at beach bars on our Philippines tours. When you’re not dancing the night away, canyoneering waterfalls or snorkelling over shipwrecks, there’s even more excitement waiting. Whatever kind of experience you’re searching for on a gap year, you’ll find the answer on our Philippines trips!

Read more in our Philippines Travel Guide.

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Philippines Facts

Capital City

Manila

Currency

Philippine Peso (PHP)

Language

Filipino and English

Dialling Code

+63

Plug Type

A, B and C

Philippines Highlights

Aerial shot of rocky grey cliffs covered in green jungle with bright turquoise waters and traditional boats

El Nido

If you've ever wondered what paradise on Earth looks like, it's this. Rugged limestone cliffs covered in wilderness. Pearly white beaches backed by palm trees. Secret lagoons and shimmering pools of bright sapphire. Even more stunning in person on our Philippines tours, El Nido promises views so beautiful, it almost feels unreal.

Sun shining on blue ocean with long stretch of golden sand and lots of palm trees on island with little bays in the distance

Port Barton

Home to the Philippines' finest sunsets and sandy stretches, it's only a matter of time before Port Barton becomes your new favourite place. Who can resist the heavenly beaches and little islands dotted along the bay? Enjoy the island's easy pace, while feasting on the delicious seafood, relaxing at a beach bar, and listening to some live music.

Traditional Filipino boat sailing through bright turquoise waters with a cloudy blue sky in the distance

Philippines Island-Hopping

Ever wanted to stay on a private island? Our Philippines group tours make this fantasy a reality, as you spend the evenings stargazing on secluded beaches and wake up in paradise. Enjoy the ocean all to yourselves and discover endless beauty while island-hopping. It's a once-in-a-lifetime moment you need to experience.

Aerial shot of tall grey cliffs covered in green flora and surrounded by light coral reef and dark ocean

Coron

Adventure calls in Coron, with historic wreck diving spots and tropical marine life on offer. This breathtaking bay is home to some of the best snorkelling on the planet! After an incredible day spent exploring the ocean and spotting green sea turtles in the wild, celebrate with an epic night out in town.

Bright turquoise river leading into small waterfall and surrounded by tropical green jungle

Kawasan Falls

Reconnect with nature inside Kawasan Falls, one of the most popular day trip activities in Cebu. Famed for its bright turquoise waters, rugged cliffs and surrounding jungle, it's the definition of heavenly. More than a breathtaking setting to kick back in, adventure is around every corner - especially if you go canyoneering!

Little boat gliding over bright sapphire waters into a grey cave covered in emerald jungle

Puerto Princesa National Park

Flowing from the mountain rivers to the sea, Puerto Princesa National Park has one of the most staggering cave systems on Earth. Only reachable by boat, it's like entering a whole new world as you float along the waters. The ancient rock formations here will make your jaw drop, and if you look closely, you may spot some sleepy wildlife.

Green sea turtle swimming in bright ocean in Moalboal

The Coral Triangle

Curious about what makes the Philippines such an iconic snorkelling destination? This island country is located inside the Coral Triangle, which many say is like the Amazon Rainforest but for ocean animals. Home to more coral species than anywhere else on Earth, and six of the world's seven sea turtle species, it's an experience that's pure magic.

Tropical striped fish swimming by orange coral reef with lots of little fish above

Moalboal

Picture millions of little fish racing past you, while you snorkel under the sea in crystal-clear waters. This natural phenomenon is world-famous in Moalboal, and if you'd like to tick it off your bucket list, our trips to the Philippines make it possible. When you return to shore, vibrant beach bars and tasty local restaurants await.

Philippines Travel Advice

Clear turquoise waters with green algae and surrounding grey cliffs with green shrubbery, Philippines

Climate & Weather

The Philippines is an island-hopping destination, with over 7,000 islands in its territory. All of these islands are tropical and experience high temperatures and humidity year-round. While the Philippines' dry season lasts from December to May, its lush wet season falls from June to November. Rain showers in the Philippines typically come in short and sharp spells.

Average annual temperatures are generally consistent, ranging between 28℃ to 35℃. January is the coolest month, whereas May is the warmest.

Aerial shot of little stretch of white sand and pastel aqua waters with traditional Filipino boat in the water, Philippines

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit the Philippines is unique to each traveller. December to February is the most popular time to travel in the Philippines - thanks to the favourable weather conditions. For travellers looking to save on flights, either March to May or September to October may be great options.

As a predominantly Christian country, it's common to start celebrating Christmas as early as September. One popular celebration in Cebu is the Sinulog Festival: a vibrant fiesta with street parades, held at the end of January. 

Aerial shot of turquoise ocean with traditional Filipino boats, algae in the water and surrounding grey cliffs, Philippines

Customs & Culture

The Philippines is a warm and welcoming country, offering a melting pot of a variety of cultures. The party scene is incredible here, with colourful festivals and celebrations held throughout the year. No trips to the Philippines are complete without trying karaoke here - which is a favourite pastime among friends and family!

One popular tradition is "Bayanihan", which means to help others without expecting anything in return. Punctuality is generally relaxed in the Philippines. For guidance on cultural customs, your trip leader on our Philippines tours will help you out.

Red and blue british passports

Passports & Visas

Entry requirements and visa regulations are different for every destination and your purpose of travel. We recommend staying updated on the latest official information before you go travelling. Your passport should be undamaged and have enough blank pages for stamps and visas. Many countries require your passport to have at least 6 months of validity beyond the date of entry.

For more information and resources regarding entry requirements, check out our Visa Advice page.

Secluded beach with palm trees and still waters with a boat, light blue skies with pink sunset clouds, Philippines

Health & Safety

At Gap 360, your safety and well-being are our top priorities. From the moment your trip is confirmed until you arrive back home, you'll have access to a 24/7 emergency contact number for any urgent issues. For anything non-urgent, our friendly team is also available during office hours to help.

We strongly recommend checking the Philippines FCDO advice, as it’s regularly updated with the latest safety and travel information and you can even sign up for email alerts to stay informed of any changes. In addition, you can check the FCDO general travel advice for British nationals abroad.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are 7,641 islands in the Philippines, which are generally clustered into three main groups: Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao. The Philippines is home to thousands of tiny secret islands, which makes island-hopping an incredible activity to do here!

Filipino and English are the official languages of the Philippines, however, over 120 languages are spoken throughout the country.

At Gap 360, our biggest priority is ensuring that travellers feel safe and supported on their adventures abroad. Before your departure on our Philippines tours, you will have access to our health and safety information with advice for your travels and country fact-files for the Philippines. You’ll also have access to a 24/7 emergency support number, operated by our UK-based team, to assist you while you're travelling. We always encourage travellers to do their own research before visiting a destination, or if you have any questions, we are just a message or phone call away.

The Philippines’ rainy season typically lasts from June to November, with July to August being its wettest months.

Gap 360 has partnered with Masta and Nomad Clinics, one of the UK’s largest networks of private travel clinics. Through Masta, you can arrange a Travel Telephone Consultation, an in-person Consultation, and book your vaccinations at your nearest clinic.

Flights to the Philippines from the UK typically take around 16-18 hours, and will typically include at least one stopover.

Philippines Trip Reviews

4.9
Rating
98
Reviews

Erin Pritchard

I loved this tour, our guide was great and so was our group. Met some friends for life. We have done so much over 10 days it has been well worth the price.

Amy Milne

Amazing

Natasha R

I joined the 10-day Philippines adventure tour with the lovely tour guide Jonathan. Throughout the trip from start to finish I felt included and safe with the whole experience! The range of activities, along with free time made the…

Lucy H

I would 100% recommend this tour to anyone wanting to see all the best bits of Philippines. We visited some absolutely stunning places and swam in some of the bluest water you will ever see! The included activities were all top…

Austen Dawson

This was one of the most amazing tours I've done, the Philippines was so beautiful and the tour taking us to islands that are so amazing, with bright blue waters and sandy beaches nothing would put a damper on your time while you…

Daniel Walmsley

I thought the tour was very well organised. We had an excellent tour guide. An amazing two weeks.

Siena Smith

Had a great time on this trip, perfect mixture of chill and activities and some fantastic boat days with beautiful snorkelling and food.

Gigi Takhar

I had an amazing time on the 13-day Philippines tour and made so many great memories. It was so well organised and the activities were all great. My leader Marek was brilliant! He made our experience so memorable. He's so…

Katherine Ward

Incredible tour and I fully recommend the 14 day tour to everyone - pass island is worth it entirely and the crew there and in Port Barton in particular were amazing. The tour was well paced, relaxed and very fun. Thanks to Sheena…

Louise Gardo

Such unique and amazing experiences! The private islands are pure paradise! The type of places you only dream of visiting it is so stunning! We got to visit a local school who did a performance for us that was truly special!…

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