I recently went on the North Philippines Explorer trip and had an amazing time, in no small part thanks to my guide, Aimee. I was the only person on the trip, and she was absolutely outstanding throughout — knowledgeable, informative, friendly, funny, endlessly patient, and nothing was ever too much trouble. She consistently went above and beyond to ensure I had the best possible experience and never once made me feel awkward or uncomfortable travelling alone. I cannot praise her, the driver or the local guides, highly enough. It was fascinating to learn more about the culture, history, and people of the Philippines from those with such passion and insight.
The itinerary itself was excellent. Visiting the UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the historic churches and Vigan, was incredibly interesting, while the spectacular scenery — especially the stunning rice terraces — made the trip truly unforgettable. The food and hotels were also very good throughout, although personally I felt that one night in Sagada would probably have been sufficient. Overall, the trip was extremely enjoyable and very well put together.
My disappointment relates to the final day of the tour. One of the key highlights of the trip, and for some people likely the highlight, is the climb to Mount Pinatubo. What Explore fail to make clear in the trip notes or itinerary is that this excursion is entirely dependent on obtaining a permit, and that obtaining this permit is not guaranteed.
Unfortunately, in my case, the permit could not be secured. While I appreciate this is ultimately outside Explore’s control, what is absolutely within their control is how this is communicated to customers — and in my view Explore handled this poorly. This key piece of information was not communicated in advance and was instead left to the local guide to explain only after my arrival in Manila. That is unfair on both travellers and the guide.
The alternative excursion offered — visiting hot springs and spa treatments involving being buried in sand and a mud treatment — was pleasant enough, but it was not remotely comparable to the expected Mount Pinatubo trek.
Had this possibility been made clear before booking, along with details of the potential alternatives, travellers could at least make a fully informed decision about whether the trip was still right for them. Given that Explore clearly know that permits are sometimes not always granted, this should be prominently and transparently highlighted in the trip details rather than being left for the local guide to deal with on arrival. Missing out on Mount Pinatubo was genuinely disappointing, but the greater disappointment was not being informed beforehand that this was a genuine possibility.
That said I still had a fantastic trip — and that is overwhelmingly thanks to Aimee. Being the only traveller on the tour could easily have felt uncomfortable or isolating, but thanks to her warmth, humour, professionalism, and constant enthusiasm, it never did. She made the experience feel personal, engaging, and special from beginning to end, and she handled the disappointment around Mount Pinatubo with great professionalism despite being put in a very difficult position by Explore. She is an exceptional guide and a huge credit to the company. The local guides throughout the trip were also excellent, and they deserve enormous recognition for how memorable and enjoyable they made the tour.
Trip April 26
