Tours & experiences

Tours in Philippines

Small-group tours, day trips, cooking classes and multi-day adventures. Every tour vetted for traveller reviews first.

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Immerse in Culture: Villa Escudero Coconut Plantation Experience

When Sarah from our team visited Villa Escudero, we found ourselves on a working coconut plantation in Laguna province—the kind of place where tourism and genuine agricultural heritage actually coexist. The day centres on a buffalo-cart ride to Labasin Falls, where lunch happens at bamboo tables with water trickling past your feet, followed by a museum wander through the family's antique collection. It's eight to ten hours round-trip from Manila, and it feels properly removed from the city despite the smooth drive.

8 hours – 10 hoursfrom AUD $239

Cebu: Scuba Diving Experience beach entry in Mactan

★ 5.0 (48)

🐠 Water Activities

Philippines

Cebu: Scuba Diving Experience beach entry in Mactan

When Alex from our team tried this Mactan dive, we were geared up and in the water within minutes of arriving at the beach—literally 10 seconds from shore. The whole experience runs about 2 hours and puts you face-to-face with schools of sardines, sea turtles, and a proper rainbow of reef fish. Mactan's a busy, built-up part of Cebu, but this particular spot delivers decent underwater visibility and enough marine life to make it worthwhile. The outfit includes a private pick-up anywhere on the island, all kit, and free underwater shots to prove you actually went down there.

WaterColors - Open Water Diver Certification in Boracay

When Jake from our team got certified in Boracay, he spent four days learning to dive with WaterColors' PADI instructors in one of the world's best beach settings. The course covers everything from pool basics to open water dives, and you'll leave with a globally recognised certification card. Boracay itself is that rare tropical island that lives up to the hype — white sand, calm turquoise water, and a relaxed vibe even with the crowds. You're diving in the Philippines' signature clear waters, spotting reef life and getting genuinely comfortable underwater before heading out to deeper sites.

Cebu Walking Tour — History, Culture & Local Food Experience

When Lily from our BugBitten team ran this three-hour walking tour through Cebu, it felt less like ticking landmarks and more like having a knowledgeable local friend show you around. The tour moves through the city's colonial heart — from Magellan's Cross to Fort San Pedro — with a focus on stories and context rather than rushed pit stops. You'll hop on a colourful jeepney (the local public transport icon), taste food at Carbon Night Market, peek into the Basilica del Santo Niño, and visit the National Museum of the Philippines' Cebu branch. It's pitched as a blend of history, culture, and street food, with the guide's personal connection to the city shaping the whole vibe.

Bohol Full Day Waterfall & Countryside Scooter Tour

When Sarah from our team did this Bohol scooter tour, we got a genuine taste of the island beyond the typical beach resort circuit. The 6–8 hour loop takes you to tucked-away waterfalls, rural villages, and local lunch spots, weaving between mountain roads and paddy fields. You can ride your own scooter, tag along with a guide, or upgrade to a private car if you'd rather not wrangle the bike. It's the kind of day that feels properly adventurous without needing extreme fitness or prior riding chops.

6 hours – 8 hoursfrom AUD $56

Dumaguete Tours in English | Private, Flexible Full Day Tours

★ 5.0 (31)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Philippines

Dumaguete Tours in English | Private, Flexible Full Day Tours

When Ben from our team booked this private tour around Dumaguete, we got a relaxed full-day circuit tailored to our pace—no fixed route, no rushing. James, an American expat who's been in the Philippines since 2019, picks you up in an air-conditioned SUV and adapts the itinerary on the fly based on what you actually want to see, whether that's easy coastal walks, light hikes, or a dip in freshwater spots. It's pitched at first-timers and mixed-ability groups after a stress-free intro to the area, and at around 3,000 pesos per person for a group of four, it's good value for a private experience.

6 hours – 8 hoursfrom AUD $280

★ 5.0 (29)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Philippines

Customize Private Morocco Tours

When Mia from our BugBitten team booked a private Morocco tour, she got exactly what she paid for: a driver, a guide, and a vehicle pointed wherever she wanted to go. Over two days, you're building your own itinerary rather than following a set route — hit Marrakech's souks one afternoon, head into the Atlas Mountains the next, skip the tourist traps entirely if you'd rather explore smaller towns. It's the kind of setup that works brilliantly if you know what you want to see, or if your guide's local knowledge helps you figure it out on the fly. The vehicle stays air-conditioned, water stays cold, and someone else handles the navigation.

Home Cooked Meal with a Filipino Grandma

When Ben from our team joined this Manila home-cooking experience, we stepped into a real kitchen—not a restaurant kitchen—where a Filipino grandma walked us through a multi-course lunch built on decades of family cooking. It's two-and-a-half hours of watching garlic sizzle, tasting dishes that shift across the country's regions, and hearing the stories behind each one. You eat what she makes, sit where her family sits, and leave with a feel for how Filipinos actually feed themselves, not how tourism boards package it.

Manila Chinatown Food Tour Experience and Tasting

When Charlie from our team ran this two-hour food tour through Manila's Binondo district, we were dropped straight into the city's most storied neighbourhood—narrow lanes packed with vendors, shophouses stacked five-high, and the smell of frying oil and fermented beans competing for attention. The tour threads through markets and hole-in-the-wall eateries, hitting seven to ten tastings along the way: think pork-filled dumplings, noodle soups, egg tarts, and the Filipino-Chinese hybrids that make Binondo's kitchen unique. It's the sort of place where history and hunger collide, and you'll need to arrive genuinely empty.

Viva Old Manila! : Intramuros Walking Tour

When Tom from our BugBitten team walked the Viva Old Manila tour through Intramuros, he found himself threading through narrow cobblestone streets and past walls that have actually stood for centuries. The Walled City is a patchwork of Spanish colonial architecture, cramped laneways, and pockets of shade between ochre-coloured buildings. Your DOT-accredited guide steers you through Fort Santiago, San Agustin Church, and plazas that anchor Manila's oldest neighbourhood. It's three hours on foot with plenty of stops, best tackled in early morning before the heat piles on.

Canyoneering Adventure at Kawasan Falls with Exclusive Lunch

When Em from our team ran this canyoneering adventure at Kawasan Falls, we found ourselves rappelling down waterfalls, sliding into natural pools, and jumping off rocks into turquoise water—all within a 4-hour window. The Cebu canyon sits in lush, steep terrain that feels properly remote despite being accessible by public transport. It's a mixed crowd of backpackers and Filipino day-trippers, everyone geared up and buzzing. The real drawcard is lunch at the second waterfall level—a private platform overlooking the cascade where the outfit serves you food no other operator can access. It's social, physical, and genuinely thrilling.

Makati "Pub Crawl & Bar Hopping" Experience

When Alex from our BugBitten team hit Makati's bar scene, it was a properly social three-hour crawl through Downtown's drinking spots — some heritage-heavy, others just damn cool. You'll bounce between walking-distance bars, try local Filipino beers and wines, score crawl-exclusive drink deals and free entry, and actually chat to other travellers doing the same thing. It's pitched for everyone from solo drinkers to small groups, and the host knows how to keep the energy moving. This is Makati's nightlife distilled into one evening.

Beginner Freediving Course (with Bonus Session)

When Mia from our BugBitten team did the Beginner Freediving Course at Freedive Academy Panglao, she discovered what it actually means to dive on a single breath. Over three days, you'll move through pool sessions, classroom theory, and open water work to hit depths around 20 metres safely. The academy runs AIDA, SSI, and Molchanovs certifications — all legit entry points into freediving. Panglao's a laid-back island vibe with decent infrastructure, and you'll be among other curious first-timers keen to learn the discipline behind breath-holding underwater.

Intramuros Walking Tour by Don't Skip Manila | Shore Excursion

When Mia from our BugBitten team joined this walking tour through Intramuros, Manila's walled old city, she found a refreshingly narrative-driven take on the Philippines' colonial past. Rather than the usual sprint between landmarks with a camera, this half-day focuses on storytelling — weaving 400 years of history into less than four hours via a mix of walking, museum stops, and (if numbers allow) a horse-drawn carriage ride through narrow streets lined with Spanish-era architecture. It's the kind of tour that works if you want context, not just a tick-box sightseeing blur.

4 hours – 5 hoursfrom AUD $117

Banaue-Hapao Rice Terraces (Car Rental W/ Manila Tourist Driver)

★ 5.0 (16)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Philippines

Banaue-Hapao Rice Terraces (Car Rental W/ Manila Tourist Driver)

When Mia from our BugBitten team hired a private car and driver for three days to the Banaue-Hapao rice terraces, we got a straightforward way to see the northern Philippines highlands without wrestling with public transport. You're looking at a self-driven itinerary (fuel and tolls on you) through mountain passes to those iconic stepped paddies that rise like geometric stairways across the valleys. The driver handles navigation and knows the region; you book your own beds and meals along the way. It's comfort-focused but requires decent fitness and a tolerance for long stretches in a vehicle—the roads aren't exactly smooth sailing.

Whale Shark Watching & Tumalog Falls & Kawasan Falls

When Charlie from our team ran this 14-hour loop through south Cebu, it stacked three distinct experiences into one long day: whale shark snorkelling in Oslob, a quick dip at Tumalog Falls, then the main event—three-tiered Kawasan Falls accessible via canyoneering. The route feels properly constructed, with a private van and local guides handling logistics across the Badian region. You're looking at a full-on itinerary that rewards early starts and solid fitness, mixing open-water swimming with waterfall exploration in what's genuinely some of Cebu's most scenic territory.

14 hoursfrom AUD $762

Full Day Shark Watching and Canyoneering in Cebu

★ 5.0 (15)

🏔 Adventure & Sports

Philippines

Full Day Shark Watching and Canyoneering in Cebu

When Sarah from our team booked this full-day adventure in southern Cebu, she got two thrills for one outing: shark watching and canyoneering, run by a local family who treat you like relatives rather than tourists. You're picked up in a private vehicle, taken to the spots, fed proper home-cooked lunch, and kitted out with snorkelling gear and safety equipment throughout. It's eight hours of genuine Philippine hospitality mixed with actual adrenaline — the kind of day that sticks because it doesn't feel like a polished tour operation.

Open Water Course (PADI)

When Mia from our BugBitten team did the PADI Open Water course in the Philippines, she went in a complete beginner and came out qualified to dive independently. Over two days, you'll learn the fundamentals in confined water, then head out for open-water dives where it actually counts. The Philippines is one of the world's top dive destinations — warm, clear, teeming with reef life — and you'll be surrounded by other keen learners and experienced instructors. By day two, you're underwater with your own certification card in hand.

Full-Day Historical Heritage Guided Tour of Tacloban and Palo

When Sarah from our team ran this tour around Tacloban and Palo, it wound through three chapters of Leyte's story: the Pacific theatre in World War II, the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, and the everyday life of the Waraynon people. The region carries weight—bombed airfields, rebuilt communities, memorials—and the locals who guide you aren't selling nostalgia; they're sharing how their families endured and moved forward. Over six to seven hours (including drive time between sites), you'll move between open-air historical landmarks and town streets where recovery is still visible in the architecture. The group tends to be a mix of history buffs and visitors drawn to real stories rather than polished narratives.

6 hours – 7 hoursfrom AUD $72

Manila Night Market Experience with Local Guide

★ 5.0 (12)

🍜 Food & Cooking

Philippines

Manila Night Market Experience with Local Guide

When Noah from our team ran this Manila night market tour, we got the real pulse of Divisoria — one of the city's oldest and most chaotic commercial hubs. You start near the market itself, then wade through the dense stalls where vendors flog everything from knock-off electronics to homeware, before pivoting to the surrounding streets for street food. A tuk-tuk ride's included, which is essential given the compressed geography and foot traffic. Two hours feels snug but moves you through the key beats: market orientation, the sensory overload of the stalls, and tasting Filipino street classics like fish balls and isaw. It's peak Manila energy — loud, crowded, genuine.

WaterColors - PADI Scuba Diver Certification in Boracay

When Alex from our team did the PADI Scuba Diver Certification with WaterColors in Boracay, we got the full beginner's course over two days in one of the Philippines' most famous beach spots. The instructors walk you through theory, confined water practice, and open water dives, sticking closely to PADI standards. Boracay itself is packed with tourists and water sports operators, but the reef here still has plenty to see — colourful fish, coral, the usual tropical setup. You leave with a card that lets you dive independently up to 18 metres anywhere in the world.

Exclusive Super Ultimate tour for 2 pax

When Charlie from our BugBitten team booked the Super Ultimate Tour in Coron, we got a solid hit-list of the region's standout spots packed into a 5–8 hour run. The tour hits Kayangan Lake (gin-clear and stunning), Barracuda Lake, Twin Lagoon, a reef snorkel at Siete Pecados, and the Skeleton Wreck, finishing with lunch at Malwawey Beach. You're with a licensed guide on a local boat with mask and snorkel gear supplied, plus hotel transfer both ways. It's the kind of day where you'll see why Coron's reputation for tropical beauty holds up—though it's busy, and you'll need reasonable fitness and a decent stomach for boat time.

5 hours – 8 hoursfrom AUD $345

★ 5.0 (11)

🍜 Food & Cooking

Philippines

Bohol Chocolate Making and Farm Tour

When Mia from our BugBitten team ran this tour in Bohol, she got the full cacao-to-chocolate rundown with her hands genuinely dirty. You're on a working farm learning how locals grow, harvest, and ferment cacao, tasting the raw fruit straight off the tree, then roasting and tempering your own block to take home. The operation feels genuine—no theme-park polish, just farmers showing you what they actually do. The 5–6 hour pace gives you time to absorb the process without feeling rushed, and the mix of education, taste, and making something tangible works well for families and anyone curious about where chocolate really comes from.

5 hours – 6 hoursfrom AUD $138

Kawasan Canyoneering Adventure Package from Cebu

★ 5.0 (11)

🏔 Adventure & Sports

Philippines

Kawasan Canyoneering Adventure Package from Cebu

When Em from our team tackled the Kawasan canyoneering package, we found ourselves clambering through limestone canyons, rappelling down waterfalls, and jumping into emerald pools just outside Cebu city. It's a full-on 10-hour day that demands serious fitness and nerve—this isn't a gentle nature walk. The vibe is pure adrenaline: you're swimming through narrow gorges, scaling wet rock faces, and trusting your harness over dizzying drops. Hotel pickups bracket the day, and you'll get a solid lunch halfway through, but don't expect creature comforts. This is for people who genuinely want their heart rate up.

10 hoursfrom AUD $241

Makati's Top Rated Rooftop & Cocktail Bars

★ 5.0 (10)

🍹 Nightlife

Philippines

Makati's Top Rated Rooftop & Cocktail Bars

When Em from our team hit this Makati rooftop and cocktail bar crawl, she found herself in the thick of Manila's buzzing nightlife scene. You'll kick off with a potent local welcome drink, then bar-hop through three of the district's most popular rooftop spots sampling local beers and craft cocktails. The vibe is loose and social—guides steer you through drinking games (optional, but there's a prize on offer) before wrapping up around midnight at a proper dance club. It's three hours of the kind of night Manila does well: warm hosts, good company, and no shortage of noise and movement.

Puerto Princesa: 3D2N Tours + Hotel

When Jake from our team did this 3D2N Puerto Princesa package, it hit the sweet spot between activity and downtime. You're based in town for three days with two nights' accommodation sorted, airport transfers handled, and a guide steering you toward the headline act: the Underground River, a limestone cave system you explore by boat. The city itself is quiet, coastal, and feels properly removed from the usual tourist rush. This isn't a packed itinerary—it's structured enough that you're not left wondering what to do, but loose enough that you can actually breathe.

Manila Guided: Tondo Manila, Binondo and Intramuros Tour

When Lily from our team ran this three-hour Manila tour, she threaded through three drastically different neighbourhoods — the colonial fortress of Intramuros, the bustling Chinese markets of Binondo, and the gritty waterfront sprawl of Tondo. It's a proper crash course in Manila's layers: Spanish heritage, immigrant enterprise, and working-class reality all within a few kilometres. You'll hop on a jeepney and tuk-tuk, walk narrow alleys, and stop for street food (which you buy yourself). The guide does the heavy lifting on context; the city does the rest.

El Nido Private Tour D with Lunch

When Mia from our BugBitten team ran Tour D in El Nido, we found ourselves on a genuinely quiet stretch of the Palawan coast. This seven-hour loop steers clear of the crowded island circuits — you're hitting Paradise Beach, Nat Nat, and paddling into Cadlao Lagoon instead of jostling with tour groups at the usual spots. It's a boat-and-snorkel day with lagoon kayaking mixed in, the kind of outing where you actually see the water clearly and can hear yourself think. Fewer tourists means more breathing room, though "peaceful" does depend on when you book.

Makati : Pubcrawl Midget boxing rooftop music and gogo clubs

When Alex from our team ran this Makati pub crawl, we hit rooftop bars, live music venues, and clubs across Manila's most electric district in 3–4 hours. The tour strings together admission to several spots — midget boxing rings, gogo clubs, and rooftop spots with city views — in a neighbourhood that doesn't sleep. It's loud, unapologetic, and pulls a mixed crowd of tourists and locals who want to see what Makati's nightlife actually looks like after dark.

3 hours – 4 hoursfrom AUD $49

Private Half-Day Shore Excursion in Manila

★ 5.0 (9)

🚌 Day Trips & Sightseeing

Philippines

Private Half-Day Shore Excursion in Manila

When Noah from our BugBitten team ran this half-day Manila tour, we got a solid primer on the city's colonial landmarks and wartime history. The private format meant we moved at our own pace through the American Cemetery, St Agustín Church, and other key spots that shaped the city's character. Four hours is tight but enough to hit the essentials without feeling rushed, though Manila's traffic and heat mean you'll spend some time in the car between stops. It's the kind of tour that works best if you're docking briefly or want a curator's overview rather than deep-dive exploration.

Ulap Surf

When Lily from our team paddled out with Ulap Surf in the Philippines, she found a straightforward two-hour lesson that strips away the hype and focuses on getting beginners upright on a board. The vibe here is local and unpretentious—you're not paying for lifestyle branding, but for solid instruction, soft-top kit, and a safety rundown that actually matters. The crew keeps groups manageable and throws in photos and a completion certificate, which is a nice touch. It's a spot where the ocean does most of the talking, and your fitness level needs to match the commitment.

Intramuros Walking Tour: Explore the Manila's Walled City|Private

When Mia from our BugBitten team ran the Intramuros walking tour, she got a crash course in four centuries of Philippine history packed into three and a half hours. Intramuros is Manila's walled old city—a neighbourhood of stone churches, Spanish colonial architecture, and layered stories. The tour threads from pre-colonial times through Spanish rule, American occupation, Japanese wartime presence, and into post-war Manila. It's the kind of dense historical narrative that works because you're moving through the actual places where these events unfolded, not sitting in a classroom.

Cebu Airport Private Car Transfer Service to Cebu City Hotel

When Lily from our BugBitten team landed in Cebu, she grabbed a private car transfer straight to her hotel instead of battling the airport taxi queue. The driver knew the routes cold, monitored her flight in real time, and pulled up exactly when she walked out — no waiting around, no shared minivan stops. The air-conditioned car cuts through Cebu City traffic in 1–2 hours depending on your destination. It's the no-fuss option if you want to skip the usual airport chaos and arrive fresh.

1 hour – 2 hoursfrom AUD $28

El Nido to Coron Group Palawan Expedition 3D2N all inclusive

★ 5.0 (8)

🐠 Water Activities

Philippines

El Nido to Coron Group Palawan Expedition 3D2N all inclusive

When Jake from our team booked this 3-day, 2-night expedition between El Nido and Coron, he found himself on a proper island-hopping venture across Palawan's quieter corners. You're talking remote lagoons, fringing reefs, and beach huts with a hammock-friendly vibe — the kind of trip where you actually see stars at night because there's no light pollution for kilometres. The all-inclusive model means meals, snorkel gear, and drinks are sorted, so you're not hunting for cafés on tiny islands. It draws a mix of backpackers and couples after a slice of untouched Palawan without the El Nido crowds.

Oslob Whale Shark Watching + Kawasan Falls Day Tour

When Lily from our team did this Cebu combo, we kicked off before dawn at Oslob for whale shark encounters—swimming alongside these massive creatures in their natural feeding grounds. The morning's genuinely thrilling, though you're in a boat with plenty of other tourists doing the same thing. After lunch we headed inland to Kawasan Falls in Badian, trekking through jungle to a proper three-tiered waterfall with pools deep enough for a decent swim. The whole day's a solid 14 hours door-to-door, mixing water time with a bit of walking. Breakfast and lunch included, plus snorkel gear and private transport, so you're sorted logistics-wise.

14 hoursfrom AUD $191

Snorkeling at San Vicente with speed boat

★ 5.0 (8)

🐠 Water Activities

Philippines

Snorkeling at San Vicente with speed boat

When Ben from our BugBitten team hit San Vicente Point early, the speedboat kicked up spray as we headed into a marine sanctuary thick with coral and fish. Two hours of snorkeling in shallow, colourful reef—the kind where you're spotting parrotfish and anemones without needing to dive deep. It's a straightforward morning run from the Philippines, popular with day-trippers and cruise passengers, but the reef does hold its own if you go early and the light's right.

Makati Rooftop Bar Hopping with Guided

When Lily from our BugBitten team ran this Makati rooftop crawl, she hit 3–4 bars across the city's skyline in three hours, each stop lasting about half an hour. You're moving between venues at night—taking in the sprawl of Manila's lights whilst the guide points out neighbourhoods, landmarks, and what makes each view tick. It's a solid way to clock Makati's nightlife geography without getting lost, and you get a welcome drink and some decent photo ops thrown in. Fair dinkum for a night out if you're after a guided take on the city's higher vantage points.

Dumaguete: Twin Lakes Balinsasayao nature adventure and city tour

When Ben from our team ran this Dumaguete tour, we hiked out to Balinsasayao's twin freshwater lakes tucked into Negros Oriental's forested interior. The 4–8 hour experience pairs a guided walk through lush pathways with time at the water's edge, where you can wade in and let small fish nibble your feet—a quirky highlight that breaks up the hiking. It's a slice of proper nature just outside the city's bustle, with native birds and quiet forest canopy the whole way. Moderate fitness is a genuine prerequisite; this isn't a casual stroll.

4 hours – 8 hoursfrom AUD $105

Kawasan Falls Canyoneering Tour from Moalboal

★ 5.0 (8)

🏔 Adventure & Sports

Philippines

Kawasan Falls Canyoneering Tour from Moalboal

When Ben from our team ran the Kawasan Falls canyoneering tour out of Moalboal, it was the kind of day that leaves you soaked, grinning, and genuinely knackered. You're based in a quiet coastal town, driven to Badian to suit up in helmet and life jacket, then walked straight into a river gorge flanked by three tiers of falls. The guide steers you through boulder-hopping, shallow pool swims, and water-slide moments carved into bedrock. Seven hours start-to-finish, with a local lunch break halfway. It's proper physical — not a stroll — but the payoff is wading through your own slice of Philippine jungle without the tourist crowds.

Manila Night Market and Street Food Experience

When Charlie from our BugBitten team ran this Manila night market tour, we rolled through Divisoria's packed vendor stalls in a tuk-tuk, then wound through Binondo's colonial-era streets toward Chinatown's neon-lit Ongpin Street. The two-hour loop hits the Jones Bridge for skyline views over the Pasig River, finishes with a quieter riverside ride, and gives you genuine Manila after dark—chaotic markets, street-food chaos, and the odd moment of calm. It's the city's night pulse compressed into a compact ride, best for those who like organised chaos and don't mind the heat or crowds.

2 hoursfrom AUD $91

Some tours listed with Viator, a Tripadvisor company. Prices and availability confirmed at checkout.