Philippines

UNIQUE Family Adventure in the Philippines

From:

£2,385

Duration:

7 days

Date:

22 Feb – 28 Feb 2026

Max People:

15

Min Age:

10+

survival experience - woman opening coconut

The Highlights of our PhilippineS Adventure

Embark on a memorable desert island Philippines adventure, where you’ll not only survive but thrive, learning new skills, embracing the local culture, and creating unforgettable memories in one of the most unique castaway holidays available.

Mango & Cashew trees (seasonal)

Huge talc sand beach surrounded by crystal clear ocean

Swim with whale sharks* (April/May)

Selective Hawaiian sling fishing on the coral reefs

Giant Monitor lizards

Filipino chefs and local primitive cooking techniques

World heritage surrounding attractions to visit

Trip Summary

Looking for a travel experience that brings your family closer together through fun, nature, and adventure? Welcome to your ultimate family survival holiday.

Here’s the plan: We meet you in the breathtaking diving haven of Coron, Palawan. After sipping a fresh coconut and meeting the other families in your new tribe, we set off together on a 90-minute speedboat ride to a pristine, uninhabited desert island—your new home for the next nine days.

For the first five nights, we’ll introduce you and your kids to essential bushcraft and survival skills—from making friction fires to catching fish. This “survival light” phase is designed to be fun, hands-on, and confidence-building. You’ll sleep in cozy expedition hammocks, cook meals over the fire, and enjoy story-filled evenings under the stars. No rum passing—just marshmallows, laughter, and bonding.

Then, it’s time for the real adventure. Your family will move to a new part of the island for a 72-hour survival challenge. With just a few essentials and your new skills, it’s time to build a shelter, find food, and make your own fire and safe drinking water. This part is guided but empowering—perfect for kids and adults to rise to the challenge together.

Finally, after three incredible days, you’ll be “rescued” and return to a beachside hotel in Coron. After the best shower of your life and a celebratory dinner, you’ll leave with unforgettable stories and a stronger family bond.

Ready for an adventure with your tribe?

Day 1

We’ll greet you at the airport and hop on a traditional outrigger boat to our magical desert island. Once ashore, your family will explore, choose a campsite, set up hammocks, and begin building your shelter—your new home for the next nine days.

Day 2

After breakfast, we dive into one of the most essential survival skills—making fire by friction. In the afternoon, it’s time to head to the beach and catch dinner together.

Day 3

Today’s all about island foraging and fishing. You’ll learn how to identify edible plants and fruits, crack open coconuts, and hunt for shellfish. Then it’s time to make a simple handline, catch your own fish, and cook it over the fire—maybe even try spearfishing if you’re feeling adventurous.

Day 4

It’s the final day of training. You’ll gather resources—like mangoes, coconuts, and shellfish—that could help in the days ahead. In the evening, we’ll explore the mindset of survival and prepare mentally for the challenge to come.

Day 5

Survival Phase begins. Your family heads to a new part of the island with minimal gear. It’s time to put your skills to the test and rely on teamwork, creativity, and resilience to thrive.

Day 6

Nothing will look better than the rescue boats arriving in the morning. After a quick 45-minute ride back to Coron, you’ll enjoy a hot shower and a big breakfast with your fellow castaways. That evening, we celebrate with a well-earned survival dinner.

Day 7

The expedition ends with a last breakfast together at the hotel.

SHELTER

Hammock and tarp setup and care
Shelter building
Palm thatching
Machete and knife safety, sharpening and skills

Fire

Fire theory
Friction fire skills (bow drill and hand drill)

Water

Transpiration bags
Solar still
Evaporation techniques
Boiling water in bottles over fire

FOOD

Fishing with hand line
Coconut opening & cream extraction
Tree climbing
Hawaiian sling (hand spear)
Primitive cooking and fish preparation
Trap building
Wild edible identification

OTHER

Psychology discussion and case studies
Astro-navigation

The Island

Discover a breathtaking crescent-shaped island off the northern tip of Palawan—your private slice of paradise and the ultimate backdrop for an unforgettable family escape.

This stunning island features an 800-meter stretch of powdery white sand, calm turquoise waters perfect for swimming and snorkeling, and a lush tropical interior filled with swaying palms and fruit trees like mango, cashew, and starfruit—nature’s snack bar for little explorers.

You’ll share this wild haven with one of the island’s most fascinating residents: the Palawan monitor lizard. Growing up to 2 meters long and weighing in at 70kg, these gentle giants are the second largest lizards in the world and a thrilling sight for kids and grown-ups alike.

What makes this adventure truly unique is its connection to the local culture. Co-run by one of Palawan’s top bushcraft instructors and a talented island chef, you and your family will experience a warm, authentic welcome and a hands-on taste of island life—through food, stories, and skills passed down through generations.

And don’t worry about the bugs—thanks to the island’s favorable conditions, sandflies are virtually nonexistent and mosquitoes keep to the jungle, making it one of the most comfortable tropical experiences around.

Come build, cook, explore, and connect—with nature, with the locals, and with each other. This is more than a holiday. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime family adventure.

1 uninhabited private island – the ultima jewel of Busuanga’s bay
5 days of survival training by world-class bushcraft guide
General kit (incl. hammocks, camping gear, machetes, etc.). There are a few essential items that you need to bring.
3 days raw survival
1 night in boutique hotel (shared)
All food and drinks, including welcome dinner and survival banquet
Busuanga / Coron airport group transfer

International & domestic flights
Airport transfers
Visas, if required
Personal travel insurance
Personal kit. You can check out the general kit list here, however, we will be sending you a more detailled version after booking.
Personal expenses

Your safety is our top priority on every island expedition. We choose locations with no dangerous wildlife and provide a full safety briefing before the adventure begins. Our instructors are certified in wilderness first aid, and we operate with informed consent so you’re aware of any potential risks. For more details, please visit our Risk Information page.

Our Philippines expeditions are led by a dynamic duo: a skilled local guide and one of our top international instructors, bringing together deep local knowledge and expert survival training.

In bushcraft, less is more—it’s all about creativity and using what nature provides, from bark-made rope to improvised signal mirrors. That said, come prepared with key items like weather-appropriate clothing, a good knife, a headlamp, and a water container. We’ll take care of the rest, including your hammock and cleaver.

Our expeditions are designed to challenge you just enough to spark real growth—without pushing you to breaking point. That said, about 1 in 30 people choose to leave early. The first five days are “survival lite,” focused on building confidence and resilience. Then comes the real test: a 24h survival phase where hunger, discomfort, and raw nature take center stage. It’s tough—but that’s the point. As one former castaway put it, it’s a true “gratitude reset.”

Children must be at least 10 years old to join, as the experience includes hands-on bushcraft activities, outdoor sleeping, and a 24-hour survival phase designed to challenge and empower.

You may feel hunger like never before and experience real discomfort—but it’s through these moments that true perspective is gained.

When rescue arrives, you’ll be welcomed with fresh fruits and some delicious food. That evening, we celebrate with a tuk-tuk ride into town for a special survival banquet—an unforgettable meal shared with your fellow castaways.

Vegetarian or have other dietary needs? No problem—we’re happy to tailor the menu to suit you.

During training, you’ll sleep in expedition-grade Hennessy Hammocks—complete with mosquito nets for comfort and protection. You’ll also learn how to build your own wilderness shelter for the survival phase, using natural materials and your new skills.

Accommodation on the final night is shared by default. If you’d prefer your own room, you can request one on the booking form, though availability isn’t guaranteed.

We wrap up the journey at the Funny Lion Hotel (or a similar boutique stay) in Coron—a charming spot with a rooftop pool and sweeping island views. It’s so popular, we book rooms a year in advance just to make sure you can experience it.

Check out our other FAQs or contact us here.

When planning your adventure, the first thing to consider is travel time from your home country—followed by any necessary domestic travel. We recommend using FlightConnections to explore your options.

Philippines – One domestic flight required
Fly into Manila (MNL), the capital of the Philippines, which is well-connected with direct flights from cities like London, New York, Toronto, LA, San Francisco, Sydney, and Auckland. From there, you’ll need to book a separate domestic flight to Busuanga/Coron (USU)—the gateway to our island expedition.
Most travellers will need to overnight in Manila before continuing on to Coron the next day. We recommend planning your domestic flight to arrive at Busuanga around 11am, so we can pick you up directly from the airport and begin your journey.

We recommend you download Hopper’ for your phone and enter your dates. They will tell you when the best time to book your flights is before the price creeps up, typically 90 days prior is optimum.

We also love using flight connection maps for finding your best route from where you live.

Google flights is our favourite flight search engines, however, we always recommend booking directly with the airline once you have found your flights as you will have a preferential cancellation policy and better upgrade potential.

Check out our Philippines Travel Guide for more information about the destination or check out our blog for Philippines related articles.

Philippines Travel Guide

Philippines Blog Posts

People love us

“I did the deserted island experience in the Philippines. I can honestly say it was one of the most amazing experiences I have ever done in my life! The level of preparation and training on a one on one bases and as a team was fantastic. My experience was for sure a 10/10 and something I will remember for the rest of my life. If you are looking for an experience that you will never forget then this is for you!”

Ben Eccles

“Incredible experience in the Philippines 2023 🏝 learning from amazing survival instructors with a great group of people. A touch of local culture and food with local guides joining to teach local fishing & cooking techniques. I would highly recommend to anyone looking for an adventure. Very eye opening, learned a lot about myself and got to bond with a great group of people 🙌 bring on the next one Tonga 2024″

Christopher Medcraft

“WHAT AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE!!! Finally we did it, highly recommended. Tom took care of every detail. I’m glad I’ve done this.. it’s a one life experience that I was really looking forward. It was a very good thing to start this adventure with Tom, and have his help and advice. Really nice person, extremely helpful and nice to know”