16 Days Philippines Discovery with Siargao — Self-Launched
16 days · Philippines
Do You Travel charges £2,790
No-markup version: ~£1,255 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A DIY version of Do You Travel's 16-day Manila → Palawan → Coron → Cebu → Siargao island-hopper. You'll cover the same headline experiences — Intramuros by bamboo bike, the Puerto Princesa Underground River, Port Barton's turtles, El Nido's lagoons, Coron's Kayangan and Barracuda Lakes, Oslob whale sharks, Kawasan Falls canyoneering and Siargao's island trio — but booking each hop, tour and guesthouse yourself. Domestic flights and ferries are the big logistical pieces, and the Philippines runs on tricycles, bangka boats and shared shuttles. Costs are rough per-person estimates for the 2026 shoulder season; solo travellers in dorms will land near the lower end, private rooms the upper.
Day-by-day
Land in Manila — Makati base and rooftop beers
Manila
Fly into NAIA and take a Grab (ride-hailing, ~£4-6) or the airport shuttle to a hostel in Makati or nearby Poblacion — hostels here run £8-14 for a dorm, £25-35 for a private double. Settle in, then walk the neighbourhood: Poblacion's street food stalls (isaw, sisig, halo-halo) and a rooftop bar for a skyline beer. Do a quick data-SIM top-up at the airport or a convenience store (Globe/Smart tourist SIM ~£8 for 30GB).
🚌Grab from airport ~£5
🛏Hostel dorm in Makati/Poblacion, £8-14
- →Grab transfer from NAIA
- →Poblacion street food crawl
- →Rooftop bar sunset drink
Intramuros by bamboo bike and Manila Bay sunset
Manila
Book the Bambike Ecotours 'Intramuros Experience' directly (bambike.com, ~£22-25 for the 2-hour sunset ride, 5 km, easy) — the same outfit the tour uses. Ride past Fort Santiago, San Agustin Church and the walled-city gates with a local guide. Afterwards head to a rooftop near the bay for sunset over Manila Bay — The Bayleaf's Sky Deck is free to enter with a drink (~£6). Evening back in Poblacion.
🚌Grab around town ~£4
🛏Hostel dorm in Makati/Poblacion, £8-14
- →Bambike Ecotours Intramuros sunset ride (~£23)
- →Fort Santiago and San Agustin Church
- →Manila Bay sunset drink (~£6)
Fly Manila to Puerto Princesa, Palawan
Puerto Princesa
Morning flight from NAIA to Puerto Princesa (Cebu Pacific or AirAsia, booked 4-8 weeks out for ~£35-55 one-way with cabin bag). Land, then tricycle or a shared van to a guesthouse in the city centre (~£10-18 dorm, £22-30 private). Afternoon wander to the Baywalk and Plaza Cuartel, and sort your Underground River permit for tomorrow at the official tourist office if you haven't pre-booked online.
🚌Flight ~£45, tricycle ~£2
🛏Guesthouse in Puerto Princesa, £10-18
- →Domestic flight Manila–Puerto Princesa
- →Baywalk stroll
- →Arrange Underground River permit
Puerto Princesa Underground River by bamboo raft
Puerto Princesa
Pre-book the Underground River tour through the city tourist office or a local agency (~£22-28 including permit, van to Sabang and the boat). A bangka takes you to the cave mouth and a paddle-powered bamboo raft carries you into the karst caverns with a headset audio guide. Lunch at a Sabang beach canteen (~£5). Back by late afternoon — mangrove paddle or a beach swim if you've energy left.
🚌Included in tour, ~£25 total
🛏Guesthouse in Puerto Princesa, £10-18
- →Puerto Princesa Underground River tour with bamboo raft
- →Sabang beach time
Shared van to Port Barton — turtles and hammocks
Port Barton
Book a shared van from Puerto Princesa to Port Barton (~3.5-4 hrs, £6-9) — leave by 8am. Port Barton is the low-key antidote to El Nido: sandy lanes, cheap beachfront guesthouses (£10-20 dorm, £25-35 private). Afternoon join a local bangka for turtle snorkelling (~£12-15 for 2-3 hrs) with a boatman from the beach, or just swim off the main beach and eat grilled fish at a beach shack.
🚌Shared van ~£8
🛏Beachfront guesthouse in Port Barton, £10-20
- →Shared van Puerto Princesa–Port Barton
- →Turtle snorkelling by bangka (~£13)
- →Beach sunset
Port Barton to El Nido via coastal road
El Nido
Take the shared van up the coast to El Nido (~3.5-4 hrs, £8-12) — often arranged the night before with your guesthouse. Arrive by early afternoon to El Nido town or Corong-Corong and check into a hostel or guesthouse (£10-18 dorm, £30-45 private). Sort tomorrow's island-hopping ticket, then walk to Las Cabanas Beach for sunset and a drink.
🚌Shared van ~£10
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in El Nido, £10-18
- →Shared van Port Barton–El Nido
- →Las Cabanas Beach sunset
- →Book island hopping for tomorrow
El Nido island hopping — lagoons and Seven Commandos
El Nido
Book a shared bangka island-hopping tour (Tour A or C, £18-25 through any El Nido agency or GetYourGuide/Klook). Expect the Big Lagoon or Small Lagoon on Miniloc, Shimizu Island beach time, and snorkelling at Seven Commandos Beach where sea turtles often pop up. Grilled fish and rice lunch on the beach is included. Back by 4-5pm — shower, then eat at a town grill house (~£6).
🚌Bangka included in tour
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in El Nido, £10-18
- →Shared island-hopping tour (~£21)
- →Big/Small Lagoon kayaking
- →Seven Commandos Beach snorkelling
El Nido free day — waterfalls or second island tour
El Nido
Flex day. Options: hire a tricycle to Nagkalit-kalit Falls and the hot-ish springs (~£8 return), add a second island-hopping day to see the other lagoon circuit (~£21), or rent a scooter (~£7/day) and head north to Nacpan Beach's 4 km sand strip with a lunch shack stop (~£5). Evening: El Nido town's bars along the beach road.
🚌Scooter hire ~£7
🛏Hostel/guesthouse in El Nido, £10-18
- →Scooter to Nacpan Beach or Nagkalit-kalit Falls
- →Optional second island tour
- →Beach dinner
Fast ferry El Nido to Coron
Coron
Take the fast ferry (Montenegro Lines or Jomalia, ~3.5-4 hrs, £25-32) — book online a few days ahead, morning sailings fill up. Arrive Coron Town and check into a guesthouse (£10-18 dorm, £25-40 private). Afternoon: climb Mt Tapyas' 700-plus steps for sunset views over the bay (free), then eat at a local eatery near the market (~£5).
🚌Ferry ~£28
🛏Guesthouse in Coron Town, £10-18
- →Fast ferry El Nido–Coron (~£28)
- →Mt Tapyas sunset climb
Coron's lakes and coral — Kayangan, Barracuda, Siete Pecados
Coron
Join a shared 'Super Ultimate' or Kayangan-focused boat tour (~£22-30 with agency, or Klook/GetYourGuide). Kayangan Lake's brackish water and karst views, the thermocline layers of Barracuda Lake, snorkelling at Siete Pecados Marine Park, and lunch on a beach with an ocean view. Back by late afternoon — calm evening, seafood dinner near the port (~£7).
🚌Boat included, tricycle ~£1
🛏Guesthouse in Coron Town, £10-18
- →Shared Coron island-hopping tour (~£26)
- →Kayangan Lake and Barracuda Lake
- →Siete Pecados snorkelling
Fly Coron (Busuanga) to Cebu
Cebu
Short flight from Francisco Reyes Airport (Busuanga) to Cebu via Cebu Pacific or Philippine Airlines (~£45-65, sometimes via Manila — check schedules early). Land at Mactan, take a Grab or MyBus into Cebu City (~£4-6) and check into a hostel (£8-14 dorm). Easy afternoon: Magellan's Cross, Basilica del Santo Niño, and lechon for dinner at a local spot (~£6).
🚌Flight ~£55, Grab ~£5
🛏Hostel in Cebu City, £8-14
- →Domestic flight Busuanga–Cebu
- →Magellan's Cross and Santo Niño Basilica
- →Cebu lechon dinner
Oslob whale sharks and Kawasan Falls canyoneering
Cebu (South)
Book a combined south-Cebu day trip through a local agency or Klook (~£55-75) — they pick up pre-dawn from Cebu City. Snorkel with whale sharks at Oslob (allow ~£22 entrance/snorkel if booked separately), then transfer to Badian for Kawasan Falls canyoneering: 3-4 hrs of swimming, cliff jumps and natural pools with guides and a riverside lunch. Back in the city by nightfall — an aggressive but doable day, and worth having the transport sorted.
🚌Private/shared van in tour ~£65 total
🛏Hostel in Cebu City, £8-14
- →Oslob whale shark snorkelling
- →Kawasan Falls canyoneering (~£65 combined)
- →Coastal drive south Cebu
Fly Cebu to Siargao
Siargao
Morning flight Cebu to Sayak Airport (~£40-60, 1 hr) or the slower route via Surigao ferry if you're saving money. Shared van from Sayak to General Luna (~45 min, £3-4). Check into a beach hostel — the Siargao options (White Banana Beach Club style) run £10-18 dorm, £30-45 private and are packed with solo travellers. Afternoon swim at Cloud 9, then sunset drinks on the beach road.
🚌Flight ~£50, van ~£4
🛏Beach hostel in General Luna, £10-18
- →Flight Cebu–Siargao
- →Cloud 9 boardwalk and beach
- →Tourism Road sunset
Siargao island hopping — Naked, Daku, Guyam, Corregidor
Siargao
Book the classic three/four-island bangka tour through any General Luna agency (~£22-28, or £15-20 on the cheap if you join a boatman directly at the pier). Naked Island's sandbar, Daku Island's palm-shaded beach for lunch, Guyam's tiny postcard cay, and the deeper snorkelling off Corregidor (Pansukian). Back by 4pm for a mojito at a beach bar.
🚌Boat tour included, tricycle ~£2
🛏Beach hostel in General Luna, £10-18
- →Four-island boat tour (~£25)
- →Snorkelling and beach time
- →Beach bar sunset
Siargao free day — Magpupungko, caves, surf
Siargao
Rent a scooter (~£7/day) and drive north to the Magpupungko Tide Pools (entrance ~£2) — check the tide tables, they only appear at low tide. On the way back, stop at Tayangban Cave Pool (~£3 including a guide) and Tak Tak Falls (~£1). Alternatively book a beginner surf lesson at Cloud 9 or Jacking Horse (~£15-20) if the swell suits. Last-night bar hop along Tourism Road — it gets going around 11pm.
🚌Scooter ~£7
🛏Beach hostel in General Luna, £10-18
- →Scooter to Magpupungko Tide Pools
- →Tayangban Cave Pool
- →Optional surf lesson (~£18)
- →Tourism Road nightlife
Last swim and fly out from Sayak
Siargao
Slow morning — a final swim, coffee at a Cloud 9 café (~£4), and pack. Shared van back to Sayak Airport (~£4) for your onward flight, usually via Cebu or Manila. If you're extending, General Luna agencies sell onward boat/van tickets to Surigao for the ferry route back to Cebu.
🚌Van to airport ~£4, onward flight not included
🛏Travel day — no accommodation needed
- →Final beach morning
- →Shared van to Sayak Airport
Self-launched vs. Do You Travel
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Do You Travel | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,255 | £2,790 |
| Duration | 16 days | 16 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,535 per person (55%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Do You Travel-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,255
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does 16 Days Philippines Discovery with Siargao — Self-Launched cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,255 per person for 16 days in Philippines. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Do You Travel?+
Yes — Do You Travel charges around £2,790 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,255 — a saving of roughly £1,535 (55%) per person.
How long is the Philippines trip?+
This itinerary runs 16 days, covering 16 day-by-day stops through Philippines.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, beaches, backpacker trip through Philippines, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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