Visiting Baguio, Boracay, Puerto Galera, Vigan, Davao, Puerto Princesa, Bohol or Cebu may be tiring to folks who are very familiar with these popular destinations. But there are also other Philippine places that provide as much excitement for both the new and experienced traveler. Here's a narrowed down list of not-as-popular but equally exciting travel destinations:

1. SAGADA, MOUNTAIN PROVINCE. Located in the Cordillera mountains, Sagada is a town clad in pine forests and provides a nice escape from the tropical weather. It used to be visited primarily by adventurous foreign tourists, but in recent years, local tourists have started to flock in to enjoy its wonderful scenery that include rice terraces, waterfalls, huge underground limestone caves, hanging coffins, and yes, even sightings of wild horses. It is also starting to be known for its characteristic restaurants.

2. DONSOL, SORSOGON. There are few places in the world where tourists can easily mingle with the big fish, and Donsol is one of them. What makes Donsol unique is it provides courageous visitors eye-popping close-up sightings of whale sharks - those giant aquatic mammals that can grow as long as 18m and weigh up to 34 tons. Whale sharks roam tropical seas and congregate in Donsol's waters from January to June, most likely due to the abundance of plankton which makes up a considerable portion of its diet. Donsol's visitors have grown 10-fold over the past 20 years mainly due to the opportunity to observe these whale sharks.

3. ALAMINOS, LAGUNA. At the foot of Mt. Makiling, a mystical mountain associated with folklore and local mists is a resort popular for its hot and cold springs. The Hidden Valley Springs in Alaminos showcase a number of these springs that are situated amongst huge fruit trees, tropical shrubs and flowering plants. The pools are connected together by a concrete path, and leads to a waterfall that has cut a gorge down a mountainside. This place provides overnight accommodations and is ideal for visiting the historic provinces of Laguna and Quezon.

4. SABTANG ISLAND, BATANES. Amongst the group of islands in the northernmost part of the Philippines is an island that remains undisturbed and unspoiled. Located southwest of Batan Island, Sabtang Island has intermittent stretches of white sand beaches, steep mountains and deep canyons. The island may be visited from Radiwan port in Ivana or the Ivuhos Island in Barangay Nakanmuan. It was chosen as of the 12 best destinations in the Philippines by the Department of Tourism in the early 1990s.

5. MARABUT, WESTERN SAMAR. For nature lovers and adventurous tourists alike, a little known town in the Visayan province of Samar offers a variety of natural wonders that include caves, waterfalls, well defined rock formations, and a host of endangered species such as the tarsier (world's smallest primate) and rare Philippine birds. Marabut is dominated by towering rock islands and features more than a dozen islets with secluded beach coves and coral gardens. Visitors find it an ideal palce for snorkeling, swimming, scuba diving, and other aqua-sports activities.