Nestled among the spectacular Zambales Mountains around 87 kilometres from Philippines' capital Manila, Mt Pinatubo is an active stratovolcano with a rather tumultuous history. In 1991, it was the centre of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recent history, displacing thousands of people and throwing out pyroclastics and clouds of ash that reached as far as Vietnam. What was left behind, though, has become one of the Philippines prime tourist draws, with plenty of people arriving to take the 4x4 drive and relatively easy hike through its otherworldly landscapes to reach the volcano’s vast crater. Passing through towering pinnacles, hanging valleys and canyons, dramatically eroded by the rain, the reward when you reach the top is the vast blue stretch of Pinatubo Lake complete with sandy beach, its tranquil waters regularly topped up by the annual monsoon.

This is also a great area to learn more about the Philippines’ indigenous tribes. After the 1991 eruption, when it was safe to return to the lands, the Aetas Tribe were awarded ancestral land ownership over the majority of the area – popping by a village to discover more about their culture and way of life is a must!