Banaue Rice Terraces 3-Day Hiking Tour from Manila
This is the trip that bundles everything: the overnight bus from Manila both ways, transport inside the valleys, a local guide, homestay nights, the fees collected at each barrier, and your meals. Three walking days take you from Awan Igid to Cambulo, across to Batad and Tappiya Falls, and out through Bangaan.
- Length3 days
- In the terracesThree trekking days: 4-5 hours to Cambulo, 4-5 hours to Batad and Tappiya, 2-3 hours to Anaba and Bangaan
- PickupOhayami Trans terminal, Sampaloc, Manila
- Run inEnglish and Tagalog
- CancellationFree cancellation up to 24 hours before
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure
Everything in one fare
Round-trip bus, in-valley transport, guide, homestay nights, entrance fees and meals — the only trip here that bundles all six.
Two village nights on the trail
Cambulo on the first night with a bonfire, Batad on the second, both reachable on foot alone.
Tappiya Falls on day two
The hour down to the waterfall and the swim at the bottom, before the climb back up to the village.
A genuine 24-hour refund
Half the trips on this route need three to six days’ notice. This one does not.
What the three days actually look like
You board a night bus in Sampaloc at nine in the evening and wake in Banaue at seven, which is when day one starts rather than ends. Breakfast, then the trek begins from Awan Igid towards Pula and on to Cambulo — four to five hours on terrace walls with the valley opening below you.
Day two crosses to Batad, the amphitheatre cluster that carries the World Heritage listing, and drops to Tappiya Waterfalls for a swim before the climb back up to the village. Day three is shorter: Anaba village, then Bangaan with its traditional Ifugao houses, and back to Banaue for the evening bus.
- Night one — Overnight bus from Manila, departing 21:00 or 22:00
- Day one, 07:00 — Arrive Banaue, breakfast, meet your guide
- Day one, morning — Trek Awan Igid to Pula, then Cambulo (4–5 hours)
- Day one, evening — Bonfire and a village night in Cambulo
- Day two — Cambulo to Batad, then down to Tappiya Falls (4–5 hours)
- Day three — Anaba and Bangaan, then the 17:00 or 18:00 bus south
What is in the fare, and what is not
In the price
- ✓ Round-trip bus ticket from Manila
- ✓ Transportation within Banaue
- ✓ Local guide
- ✓ Accommodation in a homestay, lodge or inn
- ✓ Entrance fees
- ✓ Meals
Not in the price
- ✗ Personal expenses
- ✗ Tipping
The meals line is what sets this trip apart. Most itineraries into these valleys cover breakfast and leave the rest to you; this one covers meals outright, alongside the entrance fees collected at each barrier. What you carry cash for is personal spending and tips.
Who it suits, and who should choose differently
Book this one if…
- First-time visitors who want one fare and no loose ends
- Walkers of moderate fitness — the ground is uneven, not technical
- Anyone whose dates might move, because of the 24-hour window
- Travellers who want village nights rather than a hotel in town
Book something else if…
- You cannot manage four to five hours of walking on consecutive days — the private van trip does far less of it
- You want a second province in the same week — the four-day Sagada trip adds one
- You need a private group; this one is shared
Where it starts
At the Ohayami Trans terminal on Fajardo Street in Sampaloc, Manila. Your night travel begins on the date you book, departing at nine or ten in the evening, and arrival in Banaue the following morning is what the operator counts as day one.
Getting to the terminal is a straightforward taxi or rideshare from anywhere in Metro Manila. Getting there covers both terminals and the road.
Know before you go
- Shoes with grip matter most. Terrace walls are narrow, uneven and often wet, and the descent tires people more than the distance.
- Bring cash in small notes. There are no card machines once you leave Banaue town, and tips are not included.
- Signal drops below the saddle. Download maps and tell people at home you will be out of contact for a day or two.
- Extra hiking can be arranged. The operator will add trekking sites on day three for an additional guide fee, if you ask in advance.
- Not suitable for some travellers. The listing rules out back problems, mobility impairments, heart problems and respiratory issues.
What travellers said
The hospitality of the people and the trekking through the Banaue Rice Terraces were the two things I will remember. Our guide Herson went out of his way to make us feel at home. It made our visit to the terraces unforgettable.
Maia · Couple, Australia · July 2026
A brilliant few days trekking the terraces with Herzon. The views were remarkable, the accommodation was lovely and the whole thing was perfectly organised by Josephine.
Samuel · Friends, United Kingdom · June 2026
Hiking from village to village through the fields is what makes this trip. The organisation was thorough, and Josephine helped us extend the trip with guides and places to stay. Our guide Mullins was excellent, and made it fun for the children with games along the way.
Tatsiana · Family, United States · June 2026
The route is genuinely challenging — walking the edges of the rice fields, steps up to the tops of the mountains — but the guide adjusted it to what I could do and kept an eye on me the whole way. The accommodation along the route is comfortable and the food is very good.
Jerome · Solo traveller, France · June 2026
My guide Mulin was kind, helpful and funny, and taught me a great deal about life here. He organised extra activities and made sure I was comfortable throughout. Thanks also to Josephine and her husband for organising it end to end.
Josef · Solo traveller, Germany · May 2026
Can I cancel a Banaue Rice Terraces tour for free?
That depends entirely on which trip you book, and the spread here is wide. Six of the these trips refund in full 24 hours before departure, two need three days' notice, two need six days, and one is non-refundable for any reason. Every card and every table row prints the window for that specific trip.
What should I bring?
Shoes with real grip matter more than anything else, because the walls are wet and uneven. Add a rain layer, insect repellent, a warm top for the evenings, cash in small notes and a swimsuit for Tappiya Falls. Several operators also list a torch and a power bank, since village electricity is limited.
Where do I sleep on a multi-day trek?
In village homestays and small inns, mostly in Batad, Cambulo or Banaue town. Rooms are simple — a bed, a shared bathroom, cold water in some places — and that is part of what people come for. Every multi-day trip here includes the nights in its fare.
Can I swim at Tappiya Falls?
Yes, and most trips give you time to. The pool at the bottom is deep and cold, and the walk down from Batad village takes about an hour on a rough path with the return climb harder than the descent. Bring a swimsuit and a dry bag.
Other ways into the terraces
- Banaue Rice Terraces and Sagada 4-Day Tour from Manila — 4-day, Sagada + Banaue, From $285
- Private Banaue Rice Terraces and Batad Tour, Max 6 Travellers — 3-day private van, From $650
- Banaue Rice Terraces Tours — every trip, walked and driven