About the Tour
"The Philippines is ground zero for the American experience in the Pacific. As America’s only colony — a spoil of the Spanish-American War — the Philippines was home before the war not only to thousands of American servicemen, but also employees of companies like Ford, General Electric, and Delmonte. But the quiet life in the tropics ended with the outbreak of the war.
The following four years would witness some of the war’s greatest battles, from the fall of Bataan in the dark early days of the war to the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest naval fight of the war - one that ultimately doomed the Imperial Japanese Navy. Few fights, however, would rival the 29-day battle to liberate Manila, a violent urban brawl that claimed an estimated 100,000 civilian lives. The story of the war in the Philippines is one dominated by larger-than-life personalities, from Douglas MacArthur to Japanese General Tomoyuki Yamashita, not to mention the thousands of American troops and civilians forced to suffer atrocities like the Bataan Death March as well as endure years in horrific prisoner of war and internment camps, like Santo Tomas — all waiting and praying for MacArthur to fulfill his solemn three-word promise: 'I shall return.'"
-Written by James Scott, best-selling author and historian
Program Pricing
Price per person based on Double Occupancy
$9,799 $9,299*
Price per person based on Single Occupancy
$11,499 $10,999*
*$239 per person taxes and fees are additional.
Full Tour Itinerary
February 9, 2026
Arrive in Manila
Enjoy your trans-Pacific flight into the Philippines and settle in country at the Sheraton Manila Airport to rest up for the start of the tour the next day.
Accommodations: Sheraton Manila Airport
Day 1: February 10, 2026
Journey to Bataan
Welcome Breakfast with the group / Transfer to Bataan / Reception, Lecture and Welcome dinner at La Jolla Beach Resort
Accommodations: La Jolla Beach Resort (B, L, D)
Day 2: February 11, 2026
Bataan Death March
One-kilometer symbolic walk of the Bataan Death March / Visit the Kilometer Marker Zero at Mariveles / Mount Mariveles / Mt. Samat Shrine / Bataan WWII Museum / Battle of the Pockets
Accommodations: La Jolla Beach Resort (B, L)
Day 3: February 12, 2026
Clark Field
Fort Stotsenburg Gates / Clark Field Museum and Theater / East Kamikaze Airfield / Bamban Museum of History / Japanese Naval HQ Tunnels
Accommodations: Clark Marriott Hotel (B)
Day 4: February 13, 2026
Cabanatuan
Last Bataan Death March Marker / Capas National Shirine / Camp O'Donnel POW Camp / Cabanatuan Memorial
Accommodations: Clark Marriott Hotel (B, L, R, Lecture)
Day 5: February 14, 2026
Baguio
Transfer to Baguio / US High Commissioner's summer residence / Special Presentation: HONOR: The Legacy of Jose Abad Santos and lecture by author and Filipino historian, Desiree Benipayo
Accommodations: Baguio Country Club (B, L, Movie & Lecture)
Day 6: February 15, 2026
Baguio
Philippine Military Academy / Museum Cordillera and Mansion / Camp John Hay
Accommodations: Baguio Country Club (B, L, D)
Day 7: February 16, 2026
Lingayen
Transfer to Lingayen / Lingayen Provincial Capitol and Veteran's Park / Arrive Manila
Accommodations: The Manila Hotel (B, L)
Day 8: February 17, 2026
Corregidor
Ferry to Corregidor / All day touring of the island's defensive structures / Malinta Tunnel
Accommodations: The Manila Hotel (B, L)
Day 9: February 18, 2026
Manila
Santo Tomas internment camp / De La Salle University / US Embassy tour
Accommodations: The Manila Hotel (B, L, D)
Day 10: February 19, 2026
Battle of Manila Commemoration Events
81st anniversary of the Battle of Manila Commemoration at Memorare Manila / Intromuras / Fort Santiago / Group lunch at Bayleaf Hotel with members of the US Embassy, Philippines WWII Memorial and Foundation, and Manila American Cemetery superintendent / Manila American Cemetery / Commemorative concert
Accommodations: The Manila Hotel (B, L)
Day 11: February 20, 2026
Leyte
Group flight to Leyte / Visit landing beaches Palo, Tolosa and Dulag / MacArthur Leyte Landing Memorial and National Park
Accommodations: The Oriental Leyte (B, L, Lecture, D)
Day 12: February 21, 2026
Leyte
Capoocan / Breakneck Ridge / Tacloban
Accommodations: The Oriental Leyte (B, L)
Day 13: February 22, 2026
Farewell to the Philippines
Morning at leisure in Leyte / Group flight to Manila / Optional walking tour of Manila / Farewell Reception and panel discussion in the MacArthur Suite at the Manila hotel. Panelists: James Scott, Desiree Benipayo, Dr. Ricardo Jose, a US Embassy Representative, Ryan Blum, superintendent of the Manila American Cemetery, and Tony Feredo, Corregidor expert and Philippine’s WWII Memorial and Foundation.
Accommodations: The Manila Hotel (B, R)
Day 14: February 23, 2026
Departures
Morning flights from Manila Airport.
(B)
Program Inclusions
- Daily touring with expert historian and author James M. Scott
- Full-time logistical tour manager
- Expert local battlefield guides and special guests throughout the itinerary
- Roundtrip Airport Transfers (when arriving and departing on scheduled group tour dates)
- Group roundtrip air Manila to Leyte
- One night pre-tour accommodation at Sheraton Manila Airport Hotel
- Two nights at the historic La Jolla Luxury Beach Resort in Bataan
- Two nights at the Clark Marriott Hotel, the only five-star hotel north of Manila
- Five nights at The Manila Hotel, site of General Douglas MacArthur’s pre-war apartment
- Two nights at the Baguio Country Club
- Two nights at the Oriental Leyte Hotel
- Personal listening devices on all included touring
- 13 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 3 receptions, and 4 dinners
- Beer, wine, and soft drinks with included lunches and dinner
- Informative map book including useful maps and archival images to be used throughout your journey
- Personalized luggage tags and customized name badge
For tour questions or for more information, the Travel Sales Team is available
Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Central.
Call: 1-877-813-3329 x 257
Email: travel@nationalww2museum.org