Start by checking in online, weighing your luggage, and keeping all onward booking confirmations, visa documents, and baggage receipts accessible offline. From central Lyon, take the Rhônexpress from Part-Dieu to Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport; the journey is about 30 minutes, with services generally running from early morning until late evening. For an international itinerary with several connections, leave the city roughly three hours before your scheduled departure, plus extra time if travelling during the morning rush. A taxi is more convenient with bulky luggage but considerably more expensive; if driving, airport parking should be reserved in advance rather than relying on short-stay spaces.
At Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport, confirm that your baggage is tagged all the way to Puerto Princesa—this may not be possible if your itinerary uses separate tickets. Because the route can involve two or three connections and take approximately 25–35 hours, check each transit airport’s visa and transfer rules before leaving Lyon, particularly if you must collect and recheck luggage. Grab food and water after security, but avoid buying excessive provisions if your connections involve strict liquid or customs controls. Keep a change of clothes, basic medication, chargers, and a toothbrush in your cabin bag.
Your journey from Lyon to Puerto Princesa will likely run overnight and may include a long layover in a major European, Gulf, or Southeast Asian hub. For the cheapest fare, compare the complete itinerary on Google Flights or Skyscanner, then check the airline directly; the lowest price may involve separate tickets and no protected connection. If the layover is especially long, an airport hotel can be worthwhile, but only leave the transit area if you are legally permitted to enter that country and have enough time for immigration and security on return. Expect to arrive tired, so keep the following day’s transfer flexible and do not plan anything demanding immediately after landing.
After the long journey from Lyon, allow roughly 1½–2 hours at Puerto Princesa International Airport for immigration, baggage collection, and exchanging only a small amount of cash. The airport is close to town: a prepaid airport van or tricycle to central Puerto Princesa usually takes 15–25 minutes and costs about ₱150–₱500 depending on the vehicle and your accommodation. If you arrive late, go directly to your hotel, hydrate, and avoid planning anything beyond the waterfront.
Once checked in, take a short tricycle ride to Puerto Princesa Baywalk Park for an easy one-hour stroll beside Honda Bay. It is most pleasant around sunset, when locals gather for snacks and the promenade cools down; grilled seafood and street-food stalls are inexpensive, though the atmosphere is more local and casual than polished. From there, take a tricycle or metered taxi toward Baker’s Hill on Mitra Road—around 20–30 minutes depending on traffic. Wander through the landscaped gardens and pick up boxed hopia, brownies, or other pastries for tomorrow’s road journey. Check the current closing time before leaving, as hours can vary seasonally and the park generally closes in the early evening.
Return to the city centre for dinner at KaLui Restaurant, a well-known seafood-focused Filipino restaurant where bare feet and a relaxed, home-style setting are part of the experience. Budget approximately ₱500–₱1,000 per person, and reserve ahead if possible; dinner typically takes about 1½ hours. Afterward, return to your Puerto Princesa accommodation, buy water and breakfast supplies nearby, and set an early alarm for the northbound transfer to El Nido. Keep your passport, phone charger, and snacks ready tonight—the next day’s shared van commonly leaves around 06:00–07:00.
After the 5–6-hour northbound van ride, aim to arrive in El Nido town around midday. Have your accommodation’s exact address ready, since drivers usually drop passengers near the central transport area rather than directly at every hotel; a short tricycle ride should cost roughly ₱50–₱150 depending on distance and luggage. Once you have left your bags, walk to El Nido Municipal Market for about 45 minutes. It is best earlier in the day, when fruit, grilled snacks, rice meals, and small local stalls are busiest; budget ₱100–₱250 for a simple lunch and refreshments. Keep valuables secure and carry small peso notes, as many vendors do not accept cards.
Arrange a tricycle or shared transfer from town to Nacpan Beach, allowing about 45–60 minutes each way over a partly uneven road. A round-trip tricycle commonly costs around ₱1,200–₱1,800 for the vehicle, so sharing is worthwhile; agree on the return time and price before leaving. Spend roughly three relaxed hours swimming, walking the broad shoreline, and settling beneath the palms. There is usually a modest entrance fee of about ₱50 and a few simple beach eateries, but bring water, sunscreen, and cash. December is generally a good time for the beach, though cloud cover or a passing shower can arrive quickly.
Return to El Nido town before dark and freshen up, then walk along the beachfront to Happiness Beach Bar for dinner and drinks. Expect approximately ₱500–₱1,000 per person, depending on cocktails and shared dishes; the atmosphere is casual and lively, with communal seating and a good place to meet other travelers. Service can slow during the dinner rush, so order drinks and food together. Afterward, keep the evening easy: the main streets are compact and walkable, while short tricycle rides around town typically cost ₱50–₱100.
Take the earliest direct ferry from El Nido Port to Coron Port, allowing roughly 5–6 hours on the water. Arrive at least 45 minutes before departure with your ticket, passport, water, snacks, and motion-sickness medication; the crossing can be rough, and sailings may change with weather. On arrival, take a tricycle to your accommodation in Coron Town—usually 10–15 minutes, around ₱150–₱250 depending on luggage and distance. Keep this afternoon flexible in case the ferry runs late.
After checking in and having a quick lunch, spend about 45 minutes at Coron Public Market, where small stalls sell fruit, grilled snacks, bread, and inexpensive drinks. It is a useful place to buy water and breakfast supplies, though the market is busiest earlier in the day. From there, walk or take a short tricycle ride toward Mount Tapyas; the climb to the viewpoint takes about 30–45 minutes each way, with more than 700 steps. Go slowly in the heat, carry water, and aim for late afternoon when the light over Coron Bay is softer. Allow around 1½ hours altogether.
Arrange a round-trip tricycle or shared transfer from town to Maquinit Hot Spring, roughly 30–40 minutes south of Coron Town. The mangrove-fringed pools are most enjoyable toward sunset, but confirm the day’s opening hours locally because access and closing times can vary; budget approximately ₱300–₱500 for entry and transport if sharing. Spend about two hours including the ride, then return to town for dinner at Trattoria Altrov’é. Expect around ₱500–₱1,000 per person for Italian-style dishes. Reserve or arrive early if possible, as the small dining room can fill in the evening, and keep your ferry and onward-flight confirmations ready in case weather disrupts tomorrow’s plans.
Leave central Coron roughly two hours before your Francisco B. Reyes Airport flight. Confirm your airline’s baggage allowance and terminal information the night before; domestic flights to Manila usually take about 1 hour 20 minutes, but weather delays are possible. At Ninoy Aquino International Airport, allow a generous connection—ideally 4–6 hours, especially if your international ticket is separate. You may need to collect and re-check baggage, change terminals, and pay for a shuttle or taxi between terminals.
For the Manila–Islamabad journey, check whether your bags are tagged through to Islamabad International Airport; do not assume this when combining separate tickets. Keep your passport, Pakistani entry documents, onward booking, and some Philippine pesos accessible during the connection. The full journey commonly takes 8–14 hours with a Middle Eastern connection, so treat today as a transit day rather than planning anything in Islamabad before arrival.
From Islamabad International Airport, use a pre-arranged hotel car or a reputable ride-hailing service; the drive to central Islamabad is usually 45–75 minutes, depending on traffic and your accommodation’s location. Check in, leave your main luggage, and go directly to Monal Restaurant in the Margalla Hills only if you still have the energy and the restaurant is accepting late arrivals. The uphill drive takes time, but the city lights from the terrace are the payoff; budget around PKR 2,000–4,000 per person for Pakistani dishes and allow about 1½ hours. Confirm current opening hours and road access before setting out, as hill roads can close in poor weather.
Start early at Faisal Mosque, ideally around 8:00, before the sun becomes strong and tour groups arrive. The mosque grounds are generally accessible outside prayer closures, and modest clothing is essential; women may be asked to cover their heads, while shoes must be removed before entering prayer areas. Spend about an hour taking in the unusual tent-like architecture and the quiet Margalla foothill setting. From there, use a Careem or InDrive car to Daman-e-Koh—allow roughly 25–40 minutes depending on traffic and the hill road. The viewpoint usually works best in clear morning weather; budget around PKR 800–1,500 for the uphill ride, and keep small snacks and water with you. Monkeys are common, so do not feed them or leave food exposed.
Continue downhill to Saidpur Village, about 15–20 minutes by car from Daman-e-Koh. Wander through the restored stone lanes, small shrines, and hillside viewpoints rather than treating it as a quick photo stop. Allow around 1½ hours, with comfortable shoes for uneven paving. The cafés here are pleasant for tea, but prices are higher than in central Islamabad; a drink or light snack is typically PKR 300–800. Keep your visit respectful around religious sites, and expect some areas to be quieter during prayer times.
From Saidpur Village, take a car toward Shakarparian, allowing 20–30 minutes. Visit Lok Virsa Heritage Museum for a well-organized look at Pakistan’s regional textiles, costumes, musical instruments, woodwork, and folk traditions. Plan roughly 1½ hours; confirm the day’s opening status before leaving, as museum schedules can change, and carry cash for the modest entrance fee, commonly around PKR 300–500 for foreign visitors. The surrounding Shakarparian area is greener and less hectic than Blue Area, making it a good place to slow down after the museum.
Finish in Blue Area at Savour Foods, a straightforward local favorite known for chicken pulao, rice, and simple sides. From Lok Virsa, the drive is usually 15–25 minutes, though evening traffic can stretch this considerably. Expect a busy, informal setting and a meal of about PKR 500–1,000 per person; go slightly before the main dinner rush if you want a shorter queue. Afterward, return to your hotel by Careem or InDrive and prepare for tomorrow’s airport transfer—keep your passport, boarding pass, and any checked-baggage details together, and allow at least three hours before an international departure from Islamabad International Airport.
Leave your accommodation in Islamabad about four hours before the scheduled international departure: allow 30–60 minutes for the taxi to Islamabad International Airport, plus check-in, security, and possible queues. Use a pre-booked ride or Careem rather than relying on a street taxi, and keep your passport, French/Schengen documentation, boarding passes, and baggage receipts together. For a connecting itinerary, check whether your bags are tagged through to Lyon–Saint-Exupéry; on separate tickets, leave a much larger buffer and confirm transit-visa requirements for the connection airport. A realistic total journey is 13–20 hours, often via Doha, Dubai, Istanbul, or Frankfurt, so carry water, a light layer, and offline copies of every booking.
Depending on the connection and time difference, you may reach Lyon–Saint-Exupéry Airport late on December 15 or the following morning. After immigration and baggage collection, follow signs for Rhônexpress: the tram reaches Part-Dieu in roughly 30 minutes and is generally the easiest option into central Lyon, though a taxi is more practical if you arrive after the last service or have bulky luggage. If someone is collecting you by car, use the airport’s short-stay pickup area rather than waiting at the terminal curb. For a late arrival, go straight to your accommodation and postpone any city plans until rested; if you have several hours before onward plans, Part-Dieu has lockers, cafés, and frequent local transport connections.