Private Banaue Rice Terraces and Batad Tour, Max 6 Travellers
Six travellers at most, one air-conditioned van, and a Department of Tourism accredited guide for three days. A driver collects you across Metro Manila before six, and day two is a private jeepney to the Batad saddle, the walk down into the amphitheatre and the hike out to Tappiya Waterfall.
- Length3 days
- In the terracesA full day at Batad and Tappiya Falls on day 2; days 1 and 3 are 10-hour drives
- Group sizeUp to 6
- PickupHotels in Makati, Ortigas, Taguig, Quezon City and Pasay
- Run inEnglish
- PrivateYour group only
- CancellationNon-refundable once booked
Non-refundable once booked — check your dates first
Six travellers, one van
A private air-conditioned vehicle with an English-speaking driver for the whole three days, capped at six people.
A Department of Tourism accredited guide
Accreditation is stated on the listing, which is unusual on this route.
A private jeepney to the Batad saddle
Not a shared ride negotiated on the morning — the vehicle is yours.
Five-star from thirty-three travellers
The highest rating on this route with real volume behind it.
Read this before you book
This fare is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. Cancel or ask for an amendment and the amount you paid is not returned. It is an excellent trip with a five-star record — book it only on dates you are certain of. If your plans might move, the three-day trek refunds in full at 24 hours.
Every other reassurance here is real. That one is not, and burying it under the booking button would be the wrong way to sell a $650 fare.
What you are paying for
Not walking, mostly. A driver collects you from a hotel in Makati, Ortigas, Taguig, Quezon City or Pasay between half five and six in the morning, and the 420 kilometres north happen in a vehicle nobody else is sharing. Day two is a private jeepney up to the Batad saddle, the walk down into the amphitheatre and the hike out to Tappiya Waterfall.
You sleep in a Banaue homestay on the first night and in Batad village itself on the second, both in private rooms. Breakfast is served both mornings, the second of them overlooking the terraces.
- Day one, 05:30 — Hotel pickup across Metro Manila
- Day one — The 420 km drive north (9–10 hours)
- Day one, evening — Private room in a Banaue homestay
- Day two, 07:00 — Breakfast over the terraces, then a private jeepney
- Day two — Down into Batad, then the hike to Tappiya Waterfall
- Day two, night — A private room in Batad village
- Day three — Batad to Banaue, then the drive back to Manila
What is in the fare, and what is not
In the price
- ✓ Round-trip private air-conditioned van with an English-speaking driver, maximum 6 people
- ✓ Two nights' accommodation
- ✓ Private jeepney ride to Batad
- ✓ English-speaking guide
- ✓ Department of Tourism accredited local guide
- ✓ Breakfast on both mornings
Not in the price
- ✗ Gratuities
- ✗ Lunches and dinners
Both breakfasts are covered; lunches and dinners are not, and neither are gratuities. On a private trip where the same driver and guide are with you for three days, budgeting for tips is worth doing before you leave.
This is not the tour for everyone
Book this one if…
- Small parties — families or friends — who want the vehicle to themselves
- Travellers with fixed dates and no chance of change
- Anyone who wants far less walking than a trekking itinerary asks
- Visitors who want an accredited guide rather than whoever is available
Book something else if…
- Your dates might move — nothing is refunded, ever
- You are travelling on a budget: this is more than twice the cheapest fare here
- You want to walk between villages and sleep on the trail — the three-day trek does that
Where it starts
At your own hotel, if you are staying in Makati, Ortigas, Taguig, Quezon City or Pasay. Pickup runs between 05:30 and 06:00, and the operator arranges it directly with you. Outside those areas you will need to reach one of them the night before.
Know before you go
- The fare is non-refundable. Stated by the operator on its own listing, for any reason and any amendment.
- It is still a 10-hour drive. A private van is more comfortable than a bus, not faster. The road is the road.
- Day two involves real walking. The descent into Batad and the hike to Tappiya are on foot, whatever vehicle brought you.
- Service animals are welcome. Stated on the listing, which few on this route are.
- Not wheelchair accessible. The village is reached by footpath along terrace walls with no vehicle access.
What travellers said
This is a part of the Philippines that should not be missed. The eight-hour drive from Manila is a trek in itself, but once you see the Banaue Rice Terraces you realise it is worth it. Our guide Jonathon was extremely knowledgeable and personally invested in the place.
Allan · Family, Philippines · February 2026
Like seeing the Ifugao terraces with your best mates. Small group, private van, and the whole thing handled for us from the Manila pickup onwards.
Jeff · Group of friends, Australia · October 2024
We enjoyed this a lot — riding on top of a jeepney like a local, Tappiya Waterfalls, and the Banaue Rice Terraces at both Batad and Banaue. My feedback would be that it needs to give more detail up front and be a little better organised.
Fiona · Couple, reviewed on the listing · April 2024
A great visit to the terraces. JP was an excellent guide and driver, and we spent one day with a second local guide as well. The ride is long and winding up in the mountains — if you get car sick, bring something for it.
Sarah · Couple, reviewed on the listing · November 2019
Which Banaue tours are non-refundable?
One is: the three-day private van trip capped at six travellers states on its own listing that the fare cannot be refunded or changed for any reason. It is an excellent trip with a five-star record, but only book it on dates you are certain of. Its detail page leads with that rather than burying it.
Can I book a Banaue Rice Terraces tour for a private group?
Yes — many of the trips here run as private departures where only your own party travels. They range from a three-day guided trek beginning in Banaue to a private air-conditioned van from Manila with a Department of Tourism accredited guide.
How do I get from Banaue to Batad?
By jeepney or tricycle to the Batad saddle, about twelve kilometres and roughly 45 minutes on a rough mountain road, then on foot down into the village. The walk from the saddle to the viewpoint takes about 45 minutes down and closer to an hour back up. Guided trips arrange the vehicle for you.
Are the tours wheelchair accessible?
No. Every listing states that it is not wheelchair accessible, and the terrain makes that unavoidable — the villages are reached by footpath along terrace walls. Two operators do state that service animals are welcome.
Do I need to tip?
No trip includes tips and none expects them, but they are common and appreciated after a long trekking day. Travellers frequently name their guides afterwards, which tells you something about how the relationship goes. Carry small notes, since there are no card machines in the villages.
Other ways into the terraces
- Banaue Rice Terraces 3-Day Hiking Tour from Manila — 3-day trek, from Manila, From $295
- Banaue Rice Terraces and Sagada 4-Day Tour from Manila — 4-day, Sagada + Banaue, From $285
- Banaue Rice Terraces Tours — every trip, walked and driven