The Quiet Path: How to Hike Alone in the Philippines

Most people hike to escape the noise.
But what if the trail is just as loud?

In the Philippines, hiking is popular. Too popular.
You expect silence. You find a crowd.
You wanted to meet nature. Instead, you met 300 strangers taking selfies at the summit.

Still, I keep hiking. But I do it differently.

I hike to be alone.
To think clearly.
To listen... not to people, but to the world itself.

Here’s what I’ve learned.

1. Go When No One Else Goes

Most people hike on weekends. So I don’t.
Most people hike in summer. So I wait.
Most people wake up late. I start before sunrise.

Solitude is not a secret. It’s just unpopular.
The fewer people who want a time slot, the more valuable it is to you.

2. Skip the Famous Trails

If you see a mountain on Instagram every day, avoid it.
Mt. Pulag? Beautiful, yes. But crowded.
It’s not a trail anymore... it’s a fucking queue.

Instead, ask the locals. Go offline.
There are thousands of unnamed peaks in this country.
Most are better than the ones in the brochures. They just don’t have hashtags.

3. Your Guide Can Be a Gatekeeper

Some trails require a guide. That’s fine.
But choose your guide like you’d choose a friend.

A good guide won’t take you where everyone else goes.
A great one will lead you where no one goes.
They don’t just protect your safety. They protect your silence.

4. Solitude Is a Skill

You don’t need to be alone to feel peace.
You need to be present.

Sometimes, the trail is noisy.
People laugh. Music plays. Phones ring.
But you can still tune in to the wind, the trees, your breath.

Solitude isn’t always about distance.
It’s about attention.

5. Safety First, Always

Never hike alone without a plan.
Always tell someone where you’re going.
Bring the right gear. Hire a guide when needed.

Freedom is not the same as recklessness.
There’s no point in finding peace if you don’t come back.

Final Thought

Solitude is rare because few people look for it.
It takes effort to wake early, to hike further, to say no to the easy trail.

But when you find it. That quiet space, just you and the sky...
Everything slows down.
You breathe deeper.
You think better.
You remember who you are.

And that, to me, is the real summit.