Tour Overview
| Duration | 9 Days / 8 Nights |
|---|---|
| Country | Philippines — Palawan Island, the Last Ecological Frontier |
| Route | Puerto Princesa → Port Barton → El Nido → Puerto Princesa |
| Price | From US$870 per person (group tour) |
Data source: asiaodysseytravel.com — AOT-PHG-003 9 Days Palawan Island Group Tour
Days 1-2: Puerto Princesa — Underground River & Honda Bay
- Arrive Puerto Princesa (PPS). Honda Bay island hopping: Starfish Island (orange and blue starfish dotting the shallows), Cowrie Island (beach lunch, massages, floating bar), Luli Island (the disappearing sandbar)
- Puerto Princesa Subterranean River (UNESCO World Heritage, New 7 Wonders of Nature) — 8.2km underground river, a 45-minute paddle boat journey through chambers of stalactites, stalagmites, and the 60m-high Cathedral chamber. The experience of floating through absolute darkness in an underground river, bats overhead, with only a flashlight illuminating formations that took 23 million years to grow — it’s humbling and unforgettable
Days 3-4: Port Barton — Palawan’s Best-Kept Secret
- Van transfer to Port Barton (4 hours). A fishing village with a golden sand beach, no ATMs, limited Wi-Fi — pure unplugged paradise
- Island hopping to German Island, Exotic Island, Fantastic Island. Turtle snorkeling (almost guaranteed at the turtle sanctuary), giant clams (1m+), healthy coral gardens. The community-managed marine sanctuary means the reef life is thriving
- Pamuayan Waterfall trek through rice paddies. The 15m waterfall and deep swimming hole attract local kids who’ll show you the best jumping spots
- Evenings: Sunset from the beach, dinner at a local eatery (fresh catch of the day, grilled and served with garlic rice and calamansi), bonfire on the beach under a sky bright with stars (no light pollution = Milky Way visible)
Days 5-8: El Nido — Bacuit Archipelago
- Van transfer to El Nido (4 hours). The final approach reveals the first glimpse of the Bacuit Archipelago — jagged limestone karsts punching out of turquoise water
- Tour A: Big Lagoon (kayak through the narrow entrance into emerald water, 200m cliffs on both sides), Secret Lagoon (swim through a keyhole into a hidden cove), Shimizu Island (best snorkeling + barbecue lunch), 7 Commando Beach (swing under the palm tree)
- Tour C: Helicopter Island (turtle snorkeling), Hidden Beach (enclosed cove — nature’s infinity pool), Matinloc Shrine (200-step climb, best panorama in El Nido), Secret Beach (swim through a keyhole opening — “The Beach” novel inspiration), Tapiutan Island (golden sand, dramatic cliffs)
- Nacpan Beach — A 4km stretch of golden sand 45 minutes north of El Nido. Twin beaches (Nacpan and Calitang) joined by a sandbar, viewed from a hilltop that’s become one of Palawan’s most iconic photographs. Far less crowded than El Nido’s tour beaches. Swim in the warm water, eat fresh seafood (the shrimp here is legendary), watch the sun sink into the South China Sea
- Final afternoon: Las Cabanas Beach zipline (750m from a hilltop to a small island over the water), last El Nido sunset, farewell dinner of kinilaw, grilled tuna jaw, and San Miguel
Day 9: Return to Puerto Princesa & Departure
- Van transfer back to Puerto Princesa (5-6 hours). Last chance to soak in the Palawan scenery — rice paddies, coconut plantations, the Sulu Sea on the horizon
- Depart from Puerto Princesa International Airport
Palawan: where the underground meets the sea, where limestone karsts guard hidden lagoons, and where the pace of life slows to the rhythm of the tide. This is the Last Frontier — and it lives up to the name.
What’s Included
- 8 nights twin-share, all tours and activities, English-speaking guide, B=8, L=5, snorkeling gear, all entrance fees and environmental permits, land transfers, airport transfers
