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For most people from the UK, The Philippines is quite an undiscovered country. Many favour the Southeast Asian countries of Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam on a round the world trip, but The Philippines doesn't have quite the same tourism infrastructure as Indo-China, and for this reason it can make a very different break. The country is an archipelago of over 2,000 different islands with a wide variety of cultures and a mixture of languages. It's probably best explored on an extended trip, as travelling around so many islands can take some time. If you're considering a trip to Thailand for a month or more, then it may be worth booking a forward ticket from Bangkok to Manila. Take a look at flights to Thailand (starting at £345 from Heathrow to Bangkok) from Dialaflight. Here are some of the best island escapes to be found in the archipelago.

Boracay
Living up to its billing as the jewel of The Philippines' many islands, Boracay is one of the most perfect retreats of the archipelago. Located to the northwest of Panay, the highlights of the island are the two stretches of White Beach and Bulabog Beach line the west and east shorelines, which have earned the island the accolade of being the world's top beach resort twice during in the 1990s. Like many Asian island escapes, Boracay can boast a heady mix of sun, beaches and night life. On the weekend, the island gets packed with young Filippinos looking for a dose of hedonism. In the daytime, sailing, windsurfing and kitesurfing are all very popular, particularly at Bulagbog.

Malapascua
Located at the northern tip of Cebu, Malapascua is one of the most peaceful and serene escapes to be found in The Philippines. It's location in the Visayan Sea means it is very well sheltered by other islands, and consequently the waters around Malapascua are often perfectly calm. The main pull of Malapascua is diving in the surrounding coral reefs. It's particularly famous for having an abundance of Thresher Sharks and Manta Rays on an underwater plateau, and if you're lucky you'll spot one of these shy creatures on a dive. It's a particularly underdeveloped island, and electricity is switched off between 10 PM and 8 AM. The Filippino national sport is cock fighting, and here there seem to be an overwhelming amount of them making a racket during the early morning, although the quieten down in the daytime and evening - just take some earplugs if you don't want to be woken up too early.

Bohol
This larger island is located just to the East of Cebu, and is home to some of the most interesting day trips to be found in The Philippines. While most tourists choose to get accommodation in Alona Beach on the smaller Panglao Island, the day trip to Bohol is where the real highlights lie. You can hire a care with a driver for around 1,500 pesos (£18) then ask the driver to take you to wherever you want to go, although they will normally suggest things too. A tour itinerary can include a visit to a Tarsier zoo, a river cruise, 'The Church of Immaculate Conception' (one of the oldest Spanish churches in the country), various caves and The Chocolate Hills, an extraordinary range of sudden bumps in the landscape that stretch on for miles, and one of the most famous landmarks in the country.

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