AAP organizes more drive-tour caravans for this summer
Since 2010, AAP Travel, a division of the Automobile Association Philippines (AAP), has been providing the best travel experience to its members and friends through DriveTour Caravans, a highly specialized tour that enables participants to discover and explore local destinations in the convenience of their own motor vehicles while traveling with a guided convoy.
Each AAP Travel Drive-Tour Caravan has a theme and is coorganized with the Department of Tourism (DOT) regional office, the local government officials of the destination and their tourism office, resorts, restaurants and hotels and a sponsor such as Petron or Caltex and AAP's official ambulance partner, Aeromed.
The arrangements are facilitated by the contacts in the tourism industry maintained by Mina Gabor, the former Secretary of Tourism who now heads AAP Travel as an AAP board member.
The provincial governors and mayors along the route or at the final destination usually host lunch, dinner or snacks for the caravan participants.
For instance, when we motored to Laoag, Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos hosted dinner for the caravan participants at the Malacañang Palace of the North.
Caravan participants get to taste the native delicacies and fruits of the region aside from shop for its special products.
By the end of December 2015, AAP Travel had successfully organized eleven DriveTour Caravans to a variety of destinations such as a Fly-Drive to Bacolod and Iloilo, a CruiseDrive to Mindoro and road trips to the Ilocos region, SubicClark, Banawe, Laguna, Cavite and Batangas.
For 2016, AAP Travel has prepared three Drive-Tour Caravans: a Fly-Drive to Batanes during the Labor Day weekend, a motoring convoy to BaguioBenguet in May and a Fly-Drive to Bohol in July.
The details of the BaguioBenguet and Bohol trips have not been finalized yet, but be- low is a description of the Batanes journey as prepared by AAP Travel.
Fly-Drive to Batanes
AAP Travel is preparing for its Batanes Fly-Drive Caravan scheduled on April 29 to May 2, 2016. The event, themed "Initial Impressions," is open to both AAP members and nonmembers.
To promote local tourism, AAP Travel has been hosting drive-tour caravans, in which participants go on an organized trip with their own motor vehicles in a convoy. This time, however, as its title suggests, the Batanes Fly-Drive Caravan will involve not only driving, but traveling by air as well.
On Day 1, April 29 (Friday), participants will fly from Manila to Basco, Batanes, where a welcome reception will be held. They will then transfer to Basco Central, for a Thanksgiving Mass at the Santo Domingo Cathedral, Batanes' oldest church (1783), followed by breakfast before checking into the Batanes Resort or Batanes Seaside (Main or Annex).
Next, guests will have a North Batan Island Tour that includes the Chawa View Deck; Mt. Carmen Chapel; BascoWeather Station; Fundacion Pacita Batanes Nature Lodge; the Dipnaysuhuan Japanese Tunnel, built during World War II; and Valugan Boulder Beach.
After lunch at the Pension Ivatan Hometel and Restaurant, participants will discover the flora and fauna of Batanes as they drive to the foot of Mt. Iraya, the highest peak of the island, and go on a nature walk to Nakamaya Burial Grounds. They will then resume driving to Vayang Rolling Hills, Naidi Hills Lighthouse and transfer to the Batanes Octagon Bed and Dine, where they will have a "Dinner by the Sea" and stay for the night.
On Day 2, April 30 (Friday) the Honesty Coffee Shop in Port Ivana and the nearby San Jose de Ivana Church will be the destinations.
Next, guests will board the Faluwa boat for Sabtang Island for a welcome reception at the Sabtang Municipal Hall. After breakfast at the Centro, participants will each check-in to their homestay.
An "Island Discovery" tour of Sabtang, Sumnanga and Nakanmuan follows to explore the villages and their coves, see the stone houses, and witness the locals' fish drying techniques.
The next stop will be Morong Beach (Nakabuang Arch) for a picnic lunch before proceeding to Savidug for a walking tour of the village's ancestral stone houses and ruins. They will then proceed to the Chavayan Village, to make vakul, an Ivatan headdress made of abaca fiber. Participants will then gather abung (mussels) before joining the Ivatan Cooking Challenge.
After visiting the famous Chamantad Tinyan Viewpoint for photo-ops, they will enjoy an Ivatan Fiesta Dinner before heading to their respective homestays for the night.
On Day 3, May 1 (Sunday), guests will drive from Sabtang to Ivana and have breakfast in Kadpidal before visiting the House of Dakay, the oldest house in Batanes (1887.)
Next stop is Uyugan for a welcome reception and passport-stamping at the Municipal Hall grounds plus a walking tour of the Song Song Ruins and the Alapad Rock Formation.
After lunch at the Racuh a Payaman, which is also known as Batanes' "Marlboro Country," participants will visit the Diuran Fishing Village, the Mahatao Church (San Carlos Borromeo Church) and Library, and the Mahatao Shelter Port.
In the evening, a Fellowship Dinner and Awarding Ceremony will be held for the participants.
Finally, on the fourth and last day, May 2 (Monday), participants will fly back to Manila.
AAP members can join this awesome four-day Batanes FlyDrive Caravan for P30,000 (single), P28,000 (twin), or P26,000 (triple) per person.
Non-members can also participate for only P33,000 (single), P30,800 (twin), or P28,600 (triple) per person.
Ticket prices are inclusive of roundtrip airfare via AirswiftCharter, four days, three nights room accommodation, full board meals, roundtrip airport transfer, North and South Batan and SabtangIsland Tour, boat transfer, fees and taxes, guided tours, souvenir items and travel insurance.
For more information, please visit www.aaptravel.com.ph /view-caravan, call (632) 5510014, or email info@aaptra vel@yahoo.com.ph.