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6 trips

Destination
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Australasia
  • Central & South America
  • Europe
  • Middle East & Central Asia
  • North America
  • Polar Regions
  • Travel Around the World
Trip Style
  • Adventure Trips
  • Paid Work
  • Volunteering
  • Learn & Develop
  • Short Trips
  • Close to Home
  • Round The World
  • Perfect for...
  • Independent Adventures
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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 28ā„ƒ to 35ā„ƒ. 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. November 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 are 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

British passport holders can enter the Philippines without a visa for up to 30 days for tourism purposes. You will need to register with the e-travel system before boarding your flight to the Philippines. This is free of charge and can be done through the FCDO page. Please note that you will need to provide proof of return or onward travel. To enter the Philippines, your passport must have an expiry date of at least 6 months after your arrival day.

We recommend staying up to date with FCDO advice before you go travelling, as entry requirements and visa rules can be subject to change.

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.

British passport holders can visit the Philippines for up to 30 days as a tourist without a visa. However, you will need proof of onward or return travel. Please refer to FCDO advice for further details.

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
88
Reviews

Steffanie Watson

Unforgettable trip in paradise!

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…

Mollie Freeston

Great tour with lots of variety in locations and activities. Snorkelling was amazing! Rachael was a fab guide with lots of knowledge of the area!

Amber Louise Sterrow

This was a fantastic tour that summed up the best parts of the Philippines, would highly recommend to any travellers wanting to have a taste of the Philippines with great activities, food and cultural experience. Couldn't have got…

Samantha Harper

Overall the tour was exactly as expected and I had a wonderful time, the itinerary gives an amazing introduction to life in the Philippines and you get to experience some amazing things that if organising your trip alone wouldn't…

Larissa Hackett

I cannot recommend this tour enough. I had the time of my life and met some amazing people along the way. From start to finish everything was so well organised so I didn't have to think about anything... Aileen was our tour guide…

Georgina Eleftheriou

Lots of fun activities and the tour makes it easy to travel around as everything runs smoothly.

Thalia Gillespie

I would highly recommend this tour to other travellers. It's a great way to meet new people and there are a lot of activities included within the price you pay for the tour.

Ockje Burmania

One of the best tours I've been on, I've had so much fun and came back a changed person filled with beautiful memories. I absolutely recommend!

Mollie Stevens

I've always wanted to visit the Philippines but as a solo female traveller I felt apprehensive doing this on my own. I came across this tour online and the itinerary sounded like everything I wanted to do, without the hassle of…

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