Best Philippines tours and tour companies for 2021
Get to know the Philippines and its Instagram-worthy destinations with these top tours and companies.
We’re reader-supported and may be paid when you visit links to partner sites. We don’t compare all products in the market, but we’re working on it!
The Philippines offers everything from active breaks to beach lounging. Whichever your style, we’ve handpicked the top tour experts and recommended select tours to suit your travel needs.
Our 4 favourite Philippines tour companies
1. G Adventures
Hiking, islands, history and city life, G Adventures offers it all on small group tours that focus on eco friendliness and giving back to the community.
- Best for: Eco enthusiasts and adventure lovers
- Cost: Mid-range
- Our favourite itinerary: The Philippines Palawan Adventure takes you to some of the most beautiful spots on the Philippine island of Palawan such as Puerto Princesa and El Nido, allowing time for exploration and relaxation.
2. Intrepid
Be led by an expert Intrepid guide on a tour that focuses on connecting with locals, travelling responsibly and designing tours that balance your time well.
- Best for: Adventure travellers
- Cost: Mid-range
- Our favourite itinerary: The Philippines Discovery tour allows you to explore the northern Philippines by hiking and trekking through the most picturesque regions on Luzon Island.
3. Uncharted Philippines
Specialising in taking travellers to more off-the-beaten-path destinations, Uncharted Philippines destinations are geared at active and adventurous travellers seeking the exceptional.
- Best for: Active travellers
- Cost: Budget
- Our favourite itinerary: In 6 days you can see less visited towns on the Mountain Province Hidden Gems tour by venturing into uncharted territory for hikes and epic sunrises.
4. Explore!
Explore! is an all-rounder and crowd pleaser, catering to travellers of every kind with small group, private tours, self-guided and custom-made tours. Tours are active, cultural and historical.
- Best for: Gen Y and discovery
- Cost: Mid-range
- Our favourite itinerary: See the mountains and beaches on this North Philippines Explorer + Bohol Beach Extension tour that includes historic sites, a volcano and natural wonders.
Other tour companies that offer tours in the Philippines
- Bamba Experience
- Wanderlands Travel
- Free & Easy Traveler
- Viator
Top 3 Philippines tour companies for:
Island hopping
- Bamba Experience: The name says it all – Bamba Experience is all about the experiences you have travelling. It has a focus on adventure and water activities in the Philippines with tours dedicated to kayaking, diving and canoeing.
- Wanderlands Travel: Though Wanderlands Travel only offers one Philippines tour, we think it’s one of the best out there that covers all of the most beautiful islands in one trip.
- G Adventures: G Adventures leads small groups to some of the Philippines’ most picturesque islands like Cebu and Palawan while giving back to the locals and communities.
Whale sharks
- Bamba Experience: This company focuses on creating tours that help you live in the moment with incredible experiences, so it has included swimming with whale sharks in Donsol.
- Free & Easy Traveler: Group tours for millennials are affordable and include all of the top experiences in a destination, such as swimming with whale sharks in Donsol.
- Wanderlands Travel: Wanderlands Travel has tours in tropical destinations that focus on culture, fun and adventure is each place including swimming with whale sharks in Cebu.
Hiking and trekking
- Intrepid Travel: Intrepid leads small group tours on hiking trips to the Philippines’ best natural landscape destinations.
- Uncharted Philippines: Get off the beaten track on a hiking tour in northern Philippines.
- Bamba Experience: Bamba offers a wide variety of nature and adventure tours that incorporate outdoor activities. For the more active adventurers it also features an Ifugao Mountain Adventure which features a 10+ hour trek across 3 days.
Wildlife
- G Adventures: Marine-based activities pepper G Adventures’ touring activities, providing you with the chance to get up-close-and-personal with its underwater wildlife.
- Bamba Experience: Much of the Philippines wildlife is underwater with incredible diving opportunities which Bamba Experience offers on tours.
- Viator: Viator has one of the largest selections of wildlife and marine life tours for one to multi-day trips from destinations across the Philippines.
Popular Philippines tour routes
Palawan: Puerto Princesa and El Nido
Palawan has consistently been named one of the most beautiful islands in the world with waters multiple shades of blue and green, top diving sites and one of the world’s seven natural wonders.
Most Palawan tours start in Manila with a quick flight to Puerto Princesa and all stop in El Nido, some venturing further to explore additional islands just off the coast.
Northern Philippines: Manila, Batad/Banaue
The Northern Philippines shows off the country’s diversity. Luzon Island is where all of the magic is, such as the UNESCO World Heritage rice fields where many hike through, the mega city of Manila, waterfalls and more.
Northern Philippines from G Adventures
The Northern Philippines on a Shoestring tour gives travellers the advantage of travelling on a budget as well as taking time in each destination visited on Luzon Island so that they can discover the culture in depth in remote villages such as Banaue and the ever-busy Manila.
- Tour company: G Adventures
- Best for: Travellers on a budget
- Length of tour: 8 days
Central Visayas: Cebu, Bohol and Boracay
Cebu is a large island where you experience city life, waterfalls and go diving with whale sharks. The islands surrounding and close to Cebu such as Bohol hold some of the best wildlife in the country and natural Chocolate Hills, while Boracay is the ultimate beach destination.
Central Visayas from G Adventures
This tour is ideal for travellers wanting to go island hopping, to see as much as possible and to do it all on a budget. Visit some of the Philippines’ best islands such as Cebu, Bohol, Boracay and more for adventure and relaxation.
- Tour company: G Adventures
- Best for: Travellers on a budget and with limited time
- Length of tour: 10 days
How long do I need in the Philippines?
The answer varies for all travellers depending on what you want: hiking, beaches, diving, island hopping or a combination of everything.
Our best advice is to spend a minimum of 5 days as this allows you to explore the highlights of 1-2 destinations.
A week and a half lets you explore these destinations more in depth, or add a third destination.
Two weeks gives you ample time to get active in the north and see a couple of the islands.
If you really want to see a large chunk of the Philippines, plan to spend a minimum of 3 weeks to a month.
Top 5-day tour
Top 10-day tour
Top 2-week long tour
Top 14+ day tour
Northern Philippines & Islands on a Shoestring from G Adventures
See the true diversity of the Philippines on this 17-day tour that will take you to the picturesque hills of the north and to the waters of multiple islands for more scenic sites, wildlife, island hopping and to places that are often not visited by tours.
- Tour company: G Adventures
- Best for: Philippines highlights
- Places visited: Manila, Baguio, Sagada, Batad, Banaue, Siquijor, Bohol, Panglao, Cebu City, Moalboal
Latest Philippines tours, flights and travel deals
Deal
Philippines flights from $526 each way
Available on flights from December 2021 - April 2022. Sample fare is Sydney-Manila with Cebu Pacific.
Deal
Up to 20% off Philippines stays
Available on select travel dates when you book a minimum of 3 nights stay. T&Cs apply.
Deal
Asia flights from $763 return
Available on flights from January - June 2022 to destinations including Singapore, Manila, Tokyo, Bangkok, Phuket, Delhi and more. Sample fare is South-Seoul with Jetstar.
Deal
Worldwide flights from $310 return
Available on select flight dates from January - August 2022. Destinations include Philippines, Hong Kong, Japan, Hawaii, Singapore, New Zealand, Fiji and more. Sample fare is Perth-Bali with Jetstar.
More guides on Finder
-
Best Portfolio Trackers of 2021
Crypto portfolio trackers are a must to stay on top of your crypto investments. Here’s our list of the standout trackers to consider with pros and cons for each.
-
Best enterprise password managers for 2021
Enterprise password managers are an essential cybersecurity tool. We compare the top 5 so you don’t have to.
-
8 picture-perfect Cairns resorts to book for 2021
Lose yourself in the top accommodation tropical north Queensland has to offer.
-
Best places to visit in the Northern Territory in 2021
Unique cultural experiences and picturesque natural wonders await in these six destinations. Plus, our top picks on the territory's best camp sites.
-
Best places to visit in South Australia
Discover tourist hotspots like Adelaide and Kangaroo Valley and best kept secrets such as the Yorke Peninsula and Mount Gambier on your next trip around South Australia.
-
7 travel companies where your deposit lasts a lifetime (or at least a long time)
Lock in your next adventure today with a tour deposit that you can use towards another date or a different destination if you need to change your plans later.
-
Top 10 eco-friendly hotels and resorts in Vietnam for 2021
Find out our top picks of eco-friendly accommodation in Vietnam and what you need to know for a more sustainable holiday.
-
Top 6 eco-friendly accommodation options in the Whitsundays for 2021
From cabins and wildlife retreats to idyllic private islands, there are many eco-friendly resorts in the Whitsundays for a sustainable vacation.
-
Best places to go in the Philippines
Enjoy island escapes, historic towns and all the lechon you can handle.
-
Top travel destinations and travel trends for 2020
The trending destinations and travel habits to look out for in the new year.
Ask an Expert
