Mt. Pulag tour

Mount Pulag

Trek

Luzon highest summit

Situated at Kabayan, Benguet is Luzon's highest peak famous for its dwarf bamboos, mossy oak forests, grassland and of course, the magical sea of clouds. People from all over the country, and even abroad, flock towards Mt. Pulag and bravely do a twilight hike to make it on time and catch a glimpse of the magnificent sunrise only the Cordillera can provide. Despite knowing that not all will get lucky to see the magical morning showcase of this lofty peak, groups still walk its trails because of its unique beauty and cultural importance. Mount Pulag is a national park and, at the same time, an ancestral domain of various tribes; it is interesting to watch the delicate dance both the DENR and the IPs perform to keep this mountain alive and well. A trek here can mean many different things for each individual. However, we do hope that it includes a realization that things are possible despite hardships, that there is wisdom on simplicity and that in spite of our differences, we are all the same people. So breathe positivity in, exhale negativity out. Walk with us!

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MT. PULAG TOUR PACKAGES 2022-2023

Team TRIPinas has been going to Mount Pulag for more than a decade now. We love the northern culture and the mountain so much that we decided to make it more accessible for people to experience this place we call home. We offer tours that can start from Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Baguio city or directly from the ranger station. Our long experience of guiding ensures that your team is well taken care of. Those who wish to experience camp life can stay in tents while the rest may opt to sleep in home-stays for a little more comfort. You can bring your own cook set and prepare your own meals for that legit hiking experience or you can simply prepare your meals at the homestay. Regardless of how much logistics support you need for your Mt. Pulag experience, you can be assured that you'll have a TRIPinas certified local guide with you to make your summit assault a safe, fun and memorable experience of a lifetime.

STORY OF A JOURNEY ABOVE THE CLOUDS

We rode a van to Ambuklao dam. Our driver then took us to the hanging bridge and then to Daclan sulfur springs. I continued taking my selfies until this one guy from the team offered to take my photo. (me: Whaaaat?!?) Your arms can only extend so much, right? Let me have your phone. (me: he's kinda cute. okay, heart stop it. stop! he's just taking your picture not proposing. i'm so fragile, huhu). So anyway, I found out that he's a photographer and that he signed up for this tour because he wanted shots of the sea of clouds. .
Great! Now I have a travel buddy. We were seatmates during the DENR park orientation. He also sat beside me inside the jeepney when we went to the Ranger's station. And then I found out that all of them chose to spend the night at a home-stay. I, wanting to suffer I guess, chose to sleep in a tent. He (who will not be referred to as Mr. QT) gallantly helped me in setting up my tent (because obviously, I don't know how). Actually, the coordinator volunteered first but she's a girl. I mean, come on. Is it wrong to want to be treated like a woman by a gentleman. Indulge me. I just had my heart broken. .
We all shared our meals, swapped stories and asked hundreds of questions to our team lead. She was patient and calm that we all knew we were in good hands for the hike tomorrow. She did a final gear check and repeated important reminders regarding hydration, nutrition and getting ample rest for the night. .
The wake-up call at 12 midnight was brutal. I questioned my sanity while I gingerly put on layers and layers of clothes to keep myself warm and dry for the twilight trek. (me: In what parallel universe is THIS self-therapy? Wheeeeere!?) We marched on a single line and I chose to stay last. Our coordinator was behind me. I think she did that to make sure I don't turn my back and go back to sleep in my tent. .
The walk was long and slow. It felt like I was part of the Death March except that I had five layers of clothes, I was trekking under the rain and I was gasping for air. We stopped at Camp I. Our coordinator asked how everyone was and they all replied "good!". (me: how?). After 10 minutes of rest, we continued our walk. Trekking to Camp II felt like a lifetime. It was soooo long. I was miserable. After about 90 minutes, we finally reached Camp II. I was silently cursing myself. While everyone was asking where the latrines are, I was looking for an excuse to tell my coordinator so she let me go back. I think she read my mind because she said, "You are so much stronger than your excuses. Don't disappoint yourself." Geez. This mind-reading skill is kinda creepy. .
After downing our hot drinks and eating our packed hard-boiled egg and sandwich, we continued our way to the ultimate goal - the summit. It was still dark. Pitch black in fact. My headlamp's batteries were getting weak. I could barely see the trail. Then, splat! I fell flat on my face. The cold mud was a shock to my body. The coordinator helped me up and checked for any injuries. There were none apart from my broken ego. That's when I started to cry. No. I bawled. Like a spoiled baby. "I don't want to be here anymore" ,my mind screamed. But I didn't want to let myself down. So with all the strength I can muster (and with the help of my coordinator's hiking stick), I moved forward. I slipped. Picked up myself. Fell on my knees. Stood up again. This happened over 20 times, it looked absolutely pathetic. But I continued to hike. I kept walking higher and higher until I couldn't go any higher. Finally, the summit marker! It said "Welcome Mount Pulag Summit, 2922 masl". I cried (again!) but this time, they were tears of joy. I was so proud of me! It all felt surreal - me, a (slightly) chubby, (recently) single woman was able to take on the challenge of this Cordillera mountain. Woohoo! .
Mt. Pulag taught me several lessons: that despite the challenges, anything is possible if you put your heart and mind to it, that it pays to surround yourself with positive people.

Placid waters of Ambuklao
Hanging bridge adventure
A visit to the sulfur springs
Blanket of mist over peaks
Celebratory pose at the summit
A march to greet the sun

MOUNT PULAG HIKING GUIDE

An outdoor trip always requires some preparation as well as getting the right information. Make sure to read the essentials below.

GEARS+FOOD+ACCOMMODATION

It is essential to have the right gears and clothes when you want to climb Mt. Pulag. Temperature can go close to the freezing point and it rains almost everyday in the mountain. Without proper equipment, the cold combined with the rain could leave you with hypothermia.
We will provide a list of things to bring when you book.

Meals
For those who don't want to bring their cooking equipments they can cook their own meal at the homestay.

Tent or home-stay?
It is your call but we can arrange both. If you plan to go during the Amihan months choose the homestay.

BEFORE YOU GO

❶ Do we need a medical certificate? Yes. Without this medical certificate the National Park won't let you enter the site. You can either secure it from your doctor or get it on site from the local clinic.
❷ Is it easy or difficult? This trek is a moderate one. On Tripinas scale we would put it at 2.5/5. The trail is easy and never very steep but the weather can be really cold and wet. If you have the right gears/clothes it will be manageable.
❸ Can we camp close to the summit? There is a camp, called "camp 2" but it is has a tight carrying capacity and it often closed without prior notice.
❹ Do we need to reserve? Yes, the national park does not allow visitors without a reservation. TRIPinas will take care of this if you book with us.
❺ Is it true that a foreigner will have to pay more? Unfortunately yes, the national park charges an additional fee for non-Filipino (unless they have an ACR card). This extra fee won't get you any additional service.
❻ Which day of the week should I plan to go? All weekdays are fine, even a tour on a Friday to Saturday and a tour on a Sunday to Monday is enjoyable. But please avoid scheduling your tour on a Saturday to Sunday: on top of the fact that fees are more expensive on Saturday to Sunday, the park is usually fully booked and overcrowded with long waiting and at the end the experience is less good.

● PRICE & INCLUSIONS ●

● ITINERARY ●

● ESSENTIALS ●