The Banaue Rice Terraces

The rice terraces of the Philippine Cordilleras, famously around Banaue and Batad, are one of the great achievements of ancient agriculture, vast amphitheatres of terracing carved by hand into the steep mountainsides by the Ifugao people, traditionally said to be two thousand years old though several researchers date them much later, and still farmed today. Rising like giant green staircases into the clouds, and said to stretch halfway to the sky, the terraces are a breathtaking fusion of nature, culture and human ingenuity. The UNESCO World Heritage listing covers five clusters including Batad and Bangaan in Banaue municipality - the famous roadside viewpoint terraces at Banaue town sit outside the inscription but remain a Philippine National Cultural Treasure.

What you'll find

• The Banaue viewpoints - the sweeping views over the amphitheatre of terraces.
• The Batad terraces - the spectacular amphitheatre and its village.
• The Ifugao culture - the living farming traditions of the terraces.
• The trekking - the walks among the terraces and to waterfalls.

When to go

The terraces are greenest just before harvest, around March to May, and again after the second planting, with October to November also good; the exact green-and-gold cycle varies. Mornings are clearest before the mountain cloud builds.

What to expect

It is remote, a long overnight bus from Manila, and the finest terraces at Batad require a further drive and a hike to reach. The mountains are often misty, hiding the views. The terraces are labour-intensive to farm, and some have been abandoned as young people leave, a real conservation concern. The effort, though, rewards you with an unforgettable landscape.

Nearby

The town of Sagada and the wider Cordillera mountains are within the region.

Key facts