ATOK ADVENTURE

Since Baguio City was busy celebrating Panagbenga Festival (Flower Festival), my friends and I decided to go to Atok, Benguet. A 1-2 hours drive from Baguio City which is about 30 kilometers away.

Our purpose was to watch the sunrise and avoid the chaotic traffic in Baguio City.

TARGET SPOT:
Mt. Timbak
Atok Groto
Rose Cabbage Farm

So here are some guidlines from the Tourist Head of Atok Benguet in case you want to visit the place:

(1) First thing we did was to contact the Tourism Head of Atok to ask for assistance. We called her and she was very responsive , she gave us all the details that we needed.

If you will use waze application to be in Atok just put Saint Paul’s Academy of Sayangan, Ayok , Benguet because by just putting Atok on waze would lead you to the other side of Atok.

Other option if you dont have a private vehicle is by commuting via van or bus going to SAGADA at Dangwa terminal near center mall because these public transportations pass by Atok. Just ask the driver to drop you there.

Once you see Atok Benguet Municipal Hall meaning you are near with your adventure.

(2) Halsema highway is known to have sharp curves, so if ever you have motion sickness be sure to take proper medicines and always be hydrated.

(3) Worried about tour guide & fees? Don’t be because it wouldn’t cost that much.

Here are the fees:
Tour Guide - 500 pesos/ 5pax (not bad right?)
4x4 car - 1000 pesos

(4) Be ready with your thermal clothes (thermal jackets, bonnets, and gloves) because the temperature sometimes drop to as low as 8 degrees Celsius.

(5) Trekking / Hiking will be expected, always watch your steps.

(6)Feel the moment and enjoy the view.

Let the Journey begin..

We left Baguio City at 3am to catch up with the Sunrise in Mt. Timbak Atok, Benguet. We used my friend’s car for our own convinience but the Tourism Head said that when we reach Atok another ride will be needed , 4x4 ride for the tour because the car may not be able to climb up the moutain.

Waze were all set. And we’re on our way La Trinidad to Atok.

Views were amazing as we passed by the Zigzag road of Halsema .Though we were a bit nervous of its high creeks!

It’s already 5am and we still haven’t reached our destination and the sun was starting to appear in the horizon but still we enjoy the beautiful view- one is the majestic Mt. Pulag’s peak.

And finally after more than 2 hours of drive we finally reached Atok and the first thing we did was meet and greet with the barangay captain , Hon. Leo Cawaing and our own tourist guide Sir Alwin. 5:30 am.

The Barangay captain provided a spot for parking for our car then we headed straight to the barangay hall for registration before we start the tour. We hopped on Sir Alwin’s car then headed to our first destination.

Mt. Timbak

Mt. Timbak was 20-35 minutes drive from the Atok proper. We were so afraid that we won’t be able to reach the destination before sunrise.

The road to Mt Timbak was a one-way road and was very steep , your tour guide must be skilled enough to drive the tough road.

And then we reached the parking area, the car wouldn’t be able to drive to the peak so we need to trek to the top.

The views were getting more beautiful and amazing as we trekked to the top. It was tiring but seeing the flowers , plants and the clouds would make us want to go further to the top to see what’s the prize.

Basically, Mt. Timbak is a farm of potato, radish, flowering plants, carrots and etc. So while hiking we passed by a lot of vegetables and flowers.

We started to get tired but we’re only halfway to the top. Sir Alwin said that it would only take 20 minutes to reach the top but maybe because we had a lot of stop overs for picture taking it took us 30 minutes to reach the peak.

So tired but the sun was up and we think we wouldn’t able to see the sunrise anymore!

I asked her to hide because I was taking a good shot but she did this ! Epic fail haha!!!

We’re almost at the peak yay!

And finally......

Spectacular sunrise over mountains.

My first ever sunrise at the peak of a mountain.
❤️❤️❤️❤️😍

I wanted to make a heart with her but instead she gave me a peace sign !! Haha so much! Epic !

Jumpshot with the gang. We deserved this! We were so tired and we don’t have water to drink, but still selfie goes on.

The smell of the grass and the mountain made me feel alive.. ohh i’m inlove with flowers.

One last jump with the gang and we’re ready to go!

The Groto

Approximately 20 minutes from the Mt. Timbak we’ve reached the Groto. At first look it seems boring but definitely things gets exciting as we continue.

Such a lovely view on our way to the Groto!

The white rocks you see is not actually a rock-it’s a tomb stone, it’s part of the Cordilleran culture to let the remains of their love ones be buried beside their house, hill or anywhere they wanted or their late relative’s requested to be buried.

After 5 minutes of walk, we’ve reached the Groto and behind it were giant rock formations which you can climb on.

Thank you Papa God you always keep us safe.

We continue to climb till we reached the top of the rock.

This is sir Alwin our super kind Tour Guide who never stop thinking about our safety and how we can get a perfect picture hehe !

And because i’m a hard headed girl I tried to climb to the peak of the rock!!

And I climbed to the edge for my “ epic life threatening” photo !

It was worth the climb, but deep inside me was so afraid that I might die in a snap.

I can’t breathe this was so beautiful ❤️ I am beautiful. Haha kidding!! Our tour guide even taught us where to pose to get great photos. He’s very helpful.

I asked my friends to climb so they can also see the view. At first they were afraid but sir Alwin assisted them to the top.

Obligatory selfie with the gang. ❤️

We were astonished by the view! But it was so risky to climb the rock. In just one slip and you’re dead.

I feel so blessed to have a chance to be here. And I thank God he had created this world beautifully.

Superb!! I asked them to do the jumpshot but they spanked me.

This was beyond beautiful.

For free you can have all these superb photos. Come and visit Atok Groto ❤️

Northern Blossom Farm

^{Where Rose Cabbage is.}

Bound to our last destination was Rose Cabbage farm (10 minutes from the Groto) is a private farm so your visit would pay a price.

First thing we did was REGISTRATION and we payed for 100 pesos each but it comes with a separate tour guide.

You can also find a wide variety of flowers in their farm but their tourist attraction is their rose cabbage.

Here are some of my photos with the beautiful flowers:

The tour guide gave information in each flower but I really can’t digest it anymore because I felt tired with the long travel and trekking plus it’s getting hot already. And notice I changed my shirt 3x because of sweat.

And here was the main reason why we went to this farm...

ROSE CABBAGE