A Culinary Expedition Through the Philippineswith Chef Matthew Astorga

Upon arrival at Cebu-Mactan International Airport, meet your English-speaking guide and transfer to your hotel. 1500H: Standard hotel check-in time. Check in and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. Overnight: Bai Hotel Cebu

Meals: Nil

Breakfast at the hotel. 1000H: Pick-up from the hotel lobby. Depart Cebu and travel approximately 3–4 hours to Moalboal and Dolphin House Resort. Upon arrival, check in, freshen up and enjoy the remainder of the afternoon and evening at leisure by the beach. Overnight: Dolphin house resort

Meals: B

Breakfast at the resort. 0700H: Pick-up from the resort lobby to begin today’s excursion. Travel to spectacular Kawasan Falls in Badian, one of Cebu’s best-known natural attractions. Surrounded by lush tropical vegetation, the falls consist of three main cascades with clear turquoise pools. The first waterfall rises more than 40 metres above a deep swimming basin, while the second is broader and approximately 20 metres high. The smaller third tier offers another scenic setting along the river. Enjoy the Kawasan Falls canyoneering experience, followed by a family-style Filipino home-cooked lunch featuring traditional local dishes and fresh native ingredients. After the tour, transfer back to the resort. Overnight Stay: Dolphin House Resort or similar

Meals: B,L

Breakfast at the resort. 0800H: Pick-up from the resort lobby. Set out on a snorkeling adventure in Moalboal, one of Cebu’s best-known marine areas. Experience the famous Sardine Run, where millions of sardines move together in enormous formations just offshore, before continuing in search of sea turtles in their natural habitat. Enjoy the colourful reefs and abundant marine life before returning to the resort. Later, freshen up and visit the local market. Afterwards, continue to a seafood “Paluto” restaurant, where fresh ingredients can be selected and prepared to order. Paluto is a Filipino dining tradition meaning “to have it cooked" Later on, transfer back to the resort. Overnight: Dolphin house resort or similar

Meals: B,L

Breakfast at the resort. 0700H: Pick-up from the resort lobby. Depart Moalboal and travel to Simala Church in Sibonga, also known as the Monastery of the Holy Eucharist. Founded in 1997 by the Marian Monks of Eucharistic Adoration, the shrine is an important place of pilgrimage and prayer in Cebu. Following the visit, continue to Cebu Airport for your flight to El Nido, Palawan. 1850H: Flight from Cebu to El Nido via Cebu Pacific. 2035H: Arrive in El Nido. Meet your resort representative on arrival and transfer to the hotel for check-in. Overnight: Charlie’s El Nido or similar

Meals: B

Breakfast at the hotel. 0900H: Pick-up from the resort lobby. Proceed to the Local Organic Farm Tour & Cooking Class, with approximately 4–6 hours allowed for the excursion. Explore a 100% organic farm in El Nido, taste fresh tropical fruits, meet farm animals and experience traditional farming practices, including working with a carabao. Continue with a hands-on Filipino cooking class using fresh produce from the farm. Prepare local dishes before sitting down to enjoy your meal accompanied by fresh coconut juice. The farm and cooking experience itself lasts approximately three hours, including around one hour touring the farm and two hours cooking and dining. After the tour, transfer back to the hotel. Overnight: Charlie’s El Nido or similar

Meals: B,L

Breakfast at the hotel. 0730H: Pick-up from the resort lobby. Set out on an approximately 5–6 hour fishing experience with local fishermen. Learn traditional fishing techniques used by Palawan’s coastal communities and try your hand at catching local species such as grouper, snapper and sea bream. Lunch will be served either onboard the boat or on one of El Nido’s beautiful beaches, depending on the day’s arrangements. After the tour, transfer back to the hotel. Overnight: Charlie’s El Nido or similar

Meals: B,L

Breakfast at the resort. 1000H: Pick-up from the resort lobby. Depart El Nido and travel approximately 3–4 hours to Port Barton. Upon arrival, check in and take some time to freshen up. The remainder of the day is at leisure to relax at the resort or explore Port Barton independently. Overnight: Holiday Suites port Barton or similar.

Meals: B

Breakfast at the resort. 0800H: Pick-up from the resort lobby. Set out on Port Barton Island Hopping Tour A for a full day exploring some of the area's most beautiful marine sites. Snorkel at Twin Reef and Fantastic Reef, known for colourful coral and tropical fish. Continue to Exotic Island and Turtle Spot, where there may be opportunities to swim alongside sea turtles in their natural environment. Visit Peña Plata or Giligan’s Island, before continuing to a sandbar/starfish site to see starfish resting in the shallow waters. The day combines snorkeling, swimming and time relaxing amongst Port Barton’s islands. After the tour, transfer back to the resort. Overnight: Holiday Suites port Barton or similar.

Meals: B,L

Breakfast at the resort. 0900H: Pick-up from the resort lobby. Depart Port Barton and travel approximately 3–4 hours to Puerto Princesa. 1500H: Standard hotel check-in time. After check-in, freshen up and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure to relax or explore independently. Overnight: The funny lion puerto princesa or similar

Meals: B

Breakfast at the resort. 0800H: Pick-up from the resort lobby. Proceed to the Puerto Princesa Underground River for your cruise and lunch. Journey by boat through the remarkable subterranean river and cave system, surrounded by dramatic limestone formations, stalactites and stalagmites. During the cruise, learn about the cave’s geology, ecosystem and wildlife, including the bats and swiftlets that inhabit the area. The Puerto Princesa Underground River is recognised as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Following the tour, transfer back to the hotel. Overnight:The Funny Lion Puerto Princesa or similar.

Meals: B,L

Breakfast at the hotel. 1200H: Standard check-out time. TBA: Pick-up from the hotel lobby and transfer to Puerto Princesa Airport. 1245H: Flight from Puerto Princesa to Manila via Cebu Pacific. 1425H: Arrive in Manila. Upon arrival, transfer to the international airport for your onward flight home. End of the trip to the Philippines.

Meals: B