Outdoors
Banaue Rice Terraces Walk Hike
You walk down into Batad, where stone-walled rice terraces form an amphitheatre around the village, then walk through the terraces and up and down concrete steps to Tappiya Falls. Batad is one of the five clusters of the UNESCO-listed Rice Terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras.
- Where
- Ifugao, Philippines
- Time
- About 1 hour each way (20-40 minutes down to Batad, then about 30 minutes to Tappiya Falls)
The route
Batad rice terraces: from the road end down to Batad village and on to Tappiya Falls.
From Banaue it is about 15 km on a rough road to the Batad road end (Saddle Point), by a daily public jeepney or a hired tricycle. From there you walk into the village.
When to go
Wikivoyage gives the hiking season as the dry season, November to May.
Before you go
- Ask at the Municipal Tourism Office in Banaue about guides and local fees before you set off.
- The public jeepney back to Banaue leaves in the morning, so plan to stay overnight in Batad or arrange a tricycle.
- Carry plenty of water: many terrace slopes have no shade.
What to bring
- Shoes with grip that you have already worn in
- At least 1.5 litres of water
- Food you will actually want to eat
- A warm or waterproof layer
- The route, saved offline
- Sun cream and a hat
Getting ready for it
If your longest walk lately is under two hours, do a few longer walks first, ideally with some climbing and the pack you will carry.
Step-ups and lunges twice a week make the descents much easier on your knees.
Staying safe
- Heat and exhaustion on the exposed terrace climbs, especially on the walk back up to the road.
- Tell someone your route and when you expect to be back.
- Turn around if the weather turns or the footing gets sketchy. The trail will still be there.
Route details checked September 30, 2026 against en.wikivoyage.org, en.wikivoyage.org and en.wikipedia.org. Rules and closures change, so check before you go.
