Banaue, Philippines
The Banaue rice paddies are intricately terraced structures dug out from the steep sided mountains of the Cordillera in northern Luzon. This is a World Heritage Site and the terraces are spread across several valleys. It is thought the terraces date back at least 2000 years and are an excellent irrigation system for the rice paddies.
People walking through this area have to become accustomed to walking on the rims of the terraces. Sometimes there are concrete paths and in other place walkers will hop from rock to rock. In amongst the terraces are fascinating examples of irrigation such as pipes made from bamboo which service the terrace network.
The Batad terraces are considered the best and descend around a thousand feet or more. The walk out of the terraces contours round forests and the rice terraces and is very scenic. A classic two day walk takes in Batad, Pula and Cambulo, whilst the terraces at Hapao are really beautiful and are laid out like patchwork. The Banaue terraces are a 7-10 hour journey from Manila and a stunning sight as well as a unique place to walk in Asia.
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