The Bessang Pass: An Epic Road Trip In Northern Luzon
Now Luzon may not be the first place that comes to mind when travelling the Philippines but the allure of Sagada brought us this far north and it did not disappoint. In my opinion everyone should add the Bessang Pass road trip which ends in Sagada to their bucket list, especially if you love to drive!
You’ll be winding through the mountain pass high above the clouds with views of the Bessang Natural Park, driving through remote mountain villages and wincing at the amount of rock falls you pass… but hey a little danger adds to the excitement in our opinion.
Read on to find out about our experience of driving the Bessang Pass Road and how you can do it yourself.
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Where Is The Bessang Pass and The Bessang Pass Natural Park?
The Bessang Pass is on the island of Luzon in the Philippines, perhaps not a common touristy island but one well worth a visit.
You can find the Bessang pass between La Union and Sagada, one of the most famous mountain provinces.
The road which gets up to 1500m above sea level is also called the Tagudin–Cervantes–Sabangan Road or the National Route 205 (N205).
It’s also not hard to miss on the map, all the hairpin turns give it away...
How To Get To The Bessang Pass?
For this you’re going to need to hire a car or motorbike as it’s a full day driving to Sagada. If you need to rent a car check out GetRentacar.com
We were lucky that we could borrow a friend's car for the trip, if you do this just make sure you have your driver's license, registration and if needed an international driver's permit.
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The Bessang Pass Road: What To Expect And Our Experience
We had no idea what to expect when driving this insane road, only that it exceeded all expectations.
The beginning was a steep climb winding up the first mountain with multiple rock falls to avoid. Luckily there isn’t too much traffic on the climb, just the occasional scooter or incredibly slow truck.
As we climbed we couldn't help but stare out the window at the stunning natural park below us. Mountains adorned with rice terraces rose high above us and while clouds drifted peacefully below… little did we know the drive was about to get a little more perilous.
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As we reached the peak a thick fog fell over the road making it hard to see a couple of meters in front of us. We pulled over at the Bessang Pass Monument to grab some lunch and wait for the fog to lift. It’s worth noting this is the only place we found to stop to get some lunch and supplies - earlier we did use a locals toilet, but if you can wait there is a toilet for ₽5 here.
After the monument you start your descent which isn’t too bad, just watch out for driver’s cutting corners and ending up on the wrong side of the road.
If you’re heading onto Sagada you’ll need to do another mountain pass, this time the rice terraces will take your breath away and you must stop to admire them.
Unfortunately for us we drove straight into a thunderstorm meaning we were driving through a river uphill, luckily we had an SUV so we felt confident driving on. The final push to Sagada had many sections of unpaved road and we also saw a fresh rock fall due to rain. However, the drive was epic and I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
How Long Did the Bessang Pass Take To Drive
We drove the pass on our road trip from La Union to Segada. Google maps predicted the drive to take 4 hours… well it took us 9!
The Bessang Pass is a small section of this trip so I’d expect just the pass to take less time.
Bessang Pass Natural Park
As you drive look out for the numerous pine forests, which wouldn’t look out of place in Scandinavia. You will also cross the Bessang Creek and Matukbo River both which are breathtaking photo spots and supply the local community with water.
There is a large range of species living in the natural park including snakes, monitor lizard and a multitude of bird species.
Battle Of Bessang Pass
The Pass is famous due to the Battle of Bessang which took place during World War 2. The battle was fought from 9-14 January 1945. The Bessang Pass was part of a triangular defense that guarded the Ifugao-Benguet-Vizcaya boarders.
Bessang Pass Natural Monument
Along the Pass you will find the Bessang Pass Natural Monument. It was built to commemorate the victory by the Filipino soldiers over the Japanese Army in 1945.
The monument reads: "This monument is erected in honor of the 3,400 men killed and wounded who fought gallantly for freedom and peace."
Bessang Pass Natural Park Common Questions
How Much Is Entrance?
There is no fee to enter the natural park or drive on the Bessang Pass.
How Long Does It Take To Drive?
From La Union to Sagada the drive took us 9 hours.
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Is It Safe?
Of course with everything you need to extend caution, this is a mountain road with numerous hairpin turns and rockfalls. Consider you experience driving as well as your confidence.
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Where Can I Stop On The Bessang Pass?
The best place to stop is at the Natural Monument. Here you will find a series of shops, viewing platforms and a toilet. Apart from this there are very few places to stop, we saw a handful of local stores.
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Best Places To Stay Sagada
Sagada Mountain Province holds a special place in our hearts. We truly found a home away from home here and loved our time spent in the mountains and above the clouds. There are lots of accommodation options and we recommend you find somewhere that is walkable to the tourist information centre where you’ll register and sort tours. One of Sagada’s rules is you have to use their local transport to get to the attractions meaning a local hotel or hostel is vital.
We use Booking.com and HostelWorld for all of our stays around the world!
Below is a list of top accommodations we recommend for Sagada Mountain Province:
Top Things To Do In Sagada
There’s so much to do in Sagada especially if you enjoy hiking. You could easily spend a week here exploring every nook and cranny and learning about the unique culture of the elders in the village. Here’s our top picks:
Top Pick: Marlboro Sea Of Clouds
Worth the early morning wake up, you can experience the famous sea of clouds on top of Marlboro Hill.
Can’t Miss: Sumaguing Cave
Go spelunking in one of The Philippines biggest caves, see different rock formations, subterranean rivers and explore the underground world of Sagada.
Best Waterfall: Bomod-ok Falls
Something still on our list as it was closed due to a burial ceremony when we visited. We were told this is the best waterfall in Sagada by our guide and host.
Off The Beaten Track: Bessang Pass
Fancy an adventure? Why not drive the Bessang Pass to or from Sagada. A winding mountain road with incredible views which is slightly nail-biting.
Other Things To Do In Sagada
Echo Valley Paytokan Walking Tour
Pongas Falls
Lumiang Cave
Essential Travel Items You Need
 | Lifestraw - Filtered Water Bottle Allowing you to fill up water whenever and wherever with peace of mind plus you’re helping the environment! |
 | Jungle Formula - High Deet Mosquito Spray The weak sprays will not work! Make sure to bring a high deet percentage spray made for the tropics. We also use Mosquito Wipes. |
 | Water Shoes - Lightweight with Protection Stay protected from Sea Urchins with these, also useful for snorkelling, waterfall hikes and more. We also love our Microfibre Towels and Dry Bag. |
 | Universal Travel Adaptor With Multiple USBs Life while travelling will never be the same again! Charge multiple devices all at once in any country... game changer. |
Top Tips For Travelling The Philippines
If you’re visiting the Philippines here are our top travel tips:
Book flights in advance - they can become expensive if you leave it last minute… oh and check your luggage allowance to skip expensive check in fees at the airport. Don't forget your Apple Airtags to track your bags
Agree on taxi prices upfront - when getting into a tuk-tuk, tricycle or taxi, make sure you agree on a price or they have a meter, so many tourists get ripped off with a huge price tag at the end of the ride.
Take it slow - don't feel the need to see all the islands, we recommend picking a few and doing them properly. See the island in full, find some locals and sing Karaoke..
Embrace the chaos and get stuck in, the locals are friendly and love to help and share information about their home!
For a checklist of what's needed to pack for your trip, read: How to Pack for Backpacking to South East Asia: Backpacking Essentials and Accessories
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Final Thoughts on The Bessang Pass
We loved this road trip through North Luzon. It may not be the easiest to get to but if you're heading to Sagada we recommend adding this to your itinerary if you love to drive. Just be warned it is a long time in the car but you will see some epic views.
Travel Tools To Help You Plan
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Thank you for reading and enjoy your Philippine adventure. Reach out to us over on Instagram @KateandMikesTravels. We always love to hear from people who read our blogs!
For our Filipino friends: Maraming salamat sa pag babasa, hangang sa susunod nating pag kikita, mamimiss namin kayo, mabuhay ang pilipinas! Salamat
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