Getting from Banaue rice terraces to Batad on foot

Hi, We’re planning to spend 3 nights (4 days) in the Banaue area. We’ve booked 1 night in Banaue, 1 in Batad, and the 3rd back in Banaue. We’d like to get from one village to the other on our own (tricycle + hiking). Does that sound doable? Where can we find a hiking route so we don’t get lost (is Maps.me enough?)? The 2-day trek offered by guides is a bit tough and, above all, too expensive for us (83 €/person). Thanks for your feedback and experiences!

Attached is a map I made a few years ago. Back then, we often hiked in the mountains on our own. However, on the trails, the few travelers we met had a guide. Let me know if you'd like more details. Have a great day!

https://voyageforum.com/v.f?post=9271146;search_string=carte%20de%20randonnee%20sur%20Batad

Really helpful, thanks so much! I read that it’s a 9-hour drive from Manila to Banaue, but also 9 hours from Baguio to Banaue... that seems odd to me. Can you confirm? If so, is it possible to arrange private transport from Baguio, and roughly how much would it cost?

Indeed, Manila to central Banaue is about 370 km, and you should count on around 9 hours more or less—the express bus partly takes the E1 highway. Unless I'm mistaken, Baguio to central Banaue via Bontoc is roughly 190 km along the Haselma mountain road and also very long. Average speeds are low by bus; for example, a Banaue-Bontoc trip of about 50 km took us two hours including stops. A Sagada to Baguio bus ride took 6 hours including stops. I’m not too familiar with private transport in the mountainous area—I’ve always used the bus or jeepney. From Manila, it’s developing, I think, but at what cost? The topic has already been discussed on VF in the past. Many travelers prioritize the Batad rice terraces and don’t linger much. Others move on from Banaue to Bontoc, then Sagada... Personally, we once did a loop—Banaue one way, then Bontoc and Sagada, and returned via Baguio—taking our time🙂🙂 We enjoyed it. Have a good evening.

Hello,

The 2-day trek offered by the guides is a bit tough and especially too expensive for us (83 €/person)

Wow, prices have really gone up! That’s true, our trip was back in 2013😄. Back then, the 3-day trek (with 2 nights in a homestay) cost us around 30 €/person. We took the overnight bus from Manila. When we arrived in Banaue at dawn, there was already a crowd of guides offering treks right outside the bus. We went to the nearest place for breakfast, and the owner asked if we wanted a guide. We said yes, and a guide came to our table to chat. He explained his route, we talked a bit, he seemed really nice, and we agreed on the price. After finishing breakfast, we set off right away with him, carrying just a small bag and leaving our big backpacks with the breakfast place owner.

It was PERFECT—the guide was super friendly, and it was definitely worth it! On the last day, we went straight from Batad to catch the bus in the late afternoon. We arrived in Manila very early the next morning to connect with a domestic flight at noon😛

It's true that once we're there, we'll find something cheaper. But still, that's a lot of walking hours... Guides are nice and they help us learn a lot, but my husband doesn't speak English, so it's frustrating for him and exhausting for me to have to translate constantly! That's why we often manage on our own... Thanks for sharing your experience.