Trip at a glance
Michael lands in Manila on Monday 7 December, island-hops south with Julian for two weeks, spends Christmas in Digos, and flies home on Tuesday 29 December.
- Arrival
- Mon 7 Dec, 15:15, Manila NAIA Terminal 3, Thai Airways TG616
- Meeting
- Julian flies Davao to Manila on Sun 6 Dec and meets Michael at Terminal 3
- Route
- Manila, Cebu, Dumaguete, Siquijor, Panglao (Bohol), Siargao, then Davao and Digos
- Christmas
- Mon 21 to Mon 28 Dec at Julian’s in Digos. The leaving date could be changed to the 29th if he wants to.
- Flying home
- Davao to Manila on Mon 28 Dec, a night in Manila, then Thai Airways TG617 to Bangkok on Tue 29 Dec (departs 17:15, Terminal 3). The Davao to Manila date could be changed to the 29th if he wants to.
The route
Fourteen nights over six stops before Digos, so there is room to absorb a disrupted flight or ferry. Times are approximate as of 21 October 2026, so confirm them when booking. Tap a travel line for backup options.
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Mon 7 to Wed 9 December, 2 nights
Manila
Arrive and rest. Intramuros and Fort Santiago, Rizal Park, a Binondo food walk, Makati or BGC. A Grab or taxi from Terminal 3 to the hotel takes 30 to 60 minutes.
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Wed 9 Dec: fly to Cebu, about 1.5 hours
Cebu Pacific, PAL and AirAsia all fly it, with many flights a day.
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Wed 9 to Fri 11 December, 2 nights
Cebu
Cebu City: Basilica del Santo Niño, Magellan’s Cross, Fort San Pedro. A day trip to Moalboal for sardine-run snorkelling, or Kawasan Falls.
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Fri 11 Dec: fast ferry to Dumaguete, 4 to 6 hours
OceanJet or Cokaliong. Backups: a flight (about four a day), or a bus plus short ferry via southern Cebu (6 to 8 hours, the cheapest way).
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Fri 11 to Sun 13 December, 2 nights
Dumaguete
Rizal Boulevard seafront, an Apo Island turtle-snorkelling day trip, Casaroro Falls.
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Sun 13 Dec: fast ferry to Siquijor, about 1 hour
A short crossing from Dumaguete port, with several sailings a day.
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Sun 13 to Tue 15 December, 2 nights
Siquijor
An island loop by tricycle or van: Cambugahay Falls, Salagdoong Beach, Lazi Convent and the old balete tree. Siquijor has two ports, Siquijor Pier and Larena, so pick the hotel with the ferry in mind.
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Tue 15 Dec: fast ferry to Tagbilaran, about 2 hours, then a van to Panglao
OceanJet runs from Siquijor Pier. Apekoptravel sails from Larena Pier at 13:00 for PHP 750. The van or taxi from Tagbilaran to Panglao takes 30 to 45 minutes.
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Tue 15 to Fri 18 December, 3 nights
Panglao, Bohol
Alona Beach and Balicasag Island snorkelling. A mainland day tour takes in the Chocolate Hills, tarsiers and a Loboc River cruise.
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Fri 18 Dec: ferry to Cebu, then a flight to Siargao (a full travel day)
There is no direct link from Bohol to Siargao. Take a morning ferry from Tagbilaran to Cebu, then the Cebu to Siargao flight, which takes a little over an hour. If the ferry runs late, stay a night in Cebu.
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Fri 18 to Mon 21 December, 3 nights
Siargao
The Cloud 9 boardwalk, island hopping (Naked, Daku and Guyam islands), Sugba Lagoon and the Magpupungko tidal pools.
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Mon 21 Dec: direct CebGo flight to Davao, about 1 hour 15 to 1 hour 30
There is effectively one flight a day. The backup is a ferry to Surigao plus a bus, about 12 hours. From Davao airport to Digos takes 1.5 to 2 hours by pre-booked van or Grab, which Julian will arrange.
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Mon 21 to Mon 28 December, 7 nights
Digos, Christmas with Julian
A week at Julian’s. Options include Davao City, a Samal Island day trip and the Mt Apo foothills. He leaves for Manila on Mon 28 Dec. The date could be changed to the 29th if he wants to.
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Mon 28 Dec: fly Davao to Manila
Julian sees Michael off at Davao. Cebu Pacific flights from Davao arrive at Terminal 3, the same terminal as the Thai flight, so there is no terminal change. The date could be changed to the 29th if he wants to.
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Mon 28 to Tue 29 December, 1 night
Manila, then home
Overnight near the airport. On Tuesday 29 December, Thai Airways TG617 leaves Terminal 3 for Bangkok at 17:15, with a connection on to the UK. If he leaves Davao on the 29th instead, this night in Manila is not needed.
Before you fly
Michael needs a UK passport valid to at least 7 June 2027 and a free eTravel registration before both flights, in and out of the Philippines.
- Visa: None needed. UK passport holders can stay 30 days for tourism, and this trip is 22 days. Keep the booking for the 29 Dec flight home to hand as proof of onward travel.
- Arrival eTravel: Register at etravel.gov.ph or in the eGovPH app within 72 hours of landing, so from the afternoon of Fri 4 Dec. Save the QR code on his phone before boarding in Bangkok.
- Departure eTravel: Register again within 72 hours of the flight home, so from the afternoon of Sat 26 Dec.
- Scams: Only use etravel.gov.ph. It is free, and any site that charges is not the official one.
- Cash: Foreign currency over US$10,000 must be declared on arrival or departure.
- Power: Philippine sockets are 220 V, Type A, B or C, so bring a plug adaptor for UK plugs.
- Insurance: Take travel insurance that covers ferries and island activities such as snorkelling.
Source: UK government entry requirements for the Philippines, checked 21 October 2026.
Book these first
These fill up first in the week before Christmas.
- Manila hotel, Sun 6 to Wed 9 Dec (Julian from the 6th, Michael from the 7th)
- Siquijor and Panglao rooms
- Cebu to Siargao flight, Fri 18 Dec
- Siargao to Davao flight, Mon 21 Dec (only about one a day)
- Michael’s Davao to Manila flight on Mon 28 Dec (this could be changed to the 29th if he wants to), and a hotel near the airport that night, ahead of his Thai flight TG617 on Tue 29 Dec
Ferry tickets are usually fine to buy a week or two ahead. For the key flights, pick fares that allow changes.
Weather and the way home
Weather. December is northeast monsoon season, and rough seas can cancel ferries at short notice. Typhoons are less likely but not impossible: Typhoon Odette hit this same region in mid-December 2021. Arriving in Digos on the 21st leaves a few days in hand before Christmas to absorb a delay.
Flying home. Julian sees Michael off at Davao on Mon 28 Dec. Michael flies to Manila, overnights near the airport, and takes Thai Airways TG617 to Bangkok at 17:15 on Tue 29 Dec from Terminal 3. A morning flight from Davao on the 29th is possible, but a delay would risk the connection, so the overnight is the safer option.
What has changed
- 22 Oct 2026 First draft.
- 22 Oct 2026 Noted that the leaving date could be changed to the 29th if he wants to.