Overview
Tucked into the northwest coast of Luzon, Laoag is the gateway to Ilocos Norte, one of the Philippines' most rewarding yet least crowded regions. Think baroque churches carved from coral stone, wind-swept sand dunes, turquoise coves and a slower, more authentic pace than Manila or Cebu. For UK travellers after somewhere genuinely different, flights to Laoag open the door to a part of the Philippines that still feels like a discovery.
Best time to fly to Laoag
The dry season, from November to May, is the best time to fly to Laoag, with December to February offering the coolest, most comfortable temperatures for sightseeing and beach days. March to May turns hot and humid, while June to October brings the southwest monsoon and a real risk of typhoons sweeping across northern Luzon, so it's worth avoiding peak typhoon months if your dates are flexible. Use the price charts on this page to see how fares shift across the year before you commit to dates.
Airlines and routes
There are no direct flights to Laoag from the UK, so every journey runs via Manila. From London and other major UK airports, the usual route is a long-haul leg with carriers such as Qatar Airways (via Doha), Emirates or Etihad (via Dubai or Abu Dhabi), Cathay Pacific (via Hong Kong) or Singapore Airlines (via Singapore), followed by a short domestic hop to Laoag International Airport with Philippine Airlines or Cebu Pacific. All told, expect total journey times of around 16-20 hours depending on connection times, with the Manila-Laoag leg itself taking roughly an hour.
Things to do in Laoag
Ilocos Norte rewards a few days of exploring well beyond the airport. Highlights within easy reach of the city include:
- Paoay Church: a UNESCO World Heritage-listed 18th-century church with striking coral-stone buttresses and Javanese-influenced design.
- Sinking Bell Tower: Laoag's own leaning landmark, slowly settling into the soft coastal soil since the 1600s.
- La Paz Sand Dunes: dramatic desert-like dunes where you can ride a 4x4 or try sandboarding at sunset.
- Bangui Bay Windmills: a row of coastal wind turbines against the sea that makes for one of the region's most photographed scenes.
- Kapurpurawan Rock Formation: wind-carved white limestone cliffs near Burgos, a short drive up the coast.
At Laoag International Airport (LAO)
Laoag International Airport sits around 5km from the city centre, so transfers are quick. Taxis and pre-arranged vans wait outside arrivals, and tricycles are a cheap, characterful option for short hops into town. There's no rail link, but given the short distance, a taxi transfer typically takes no more than 15-20 minutes.
Top tips for finding cheap flights to Laoag
- Book your international leg and domestic connection together where possible, and check the When to book chart above to see how far ahead fares typically firm up.
- Flying midweek, rather than Friday or Sunday, often brings the fare down on both the long-haul and domestic sectors.
- Stay flexible on dates if you can - shifting by even a few days either side of school holidays can make a noticeable difference.
- Compare Middle Eastern and Asian hub carriers rather than fixating on one airline, since the best-value routing to Manila changes throughout the year.
Travel essentials
UK passport holders can enter the Philippines visa-free for stays of up to 30 days, provided your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your arrival date and you hold an onward or return ticket. The currency is the Philippine Peso, though most UK travellers find it easiest to budget in pounds before converting on arrival or withdrawing pesos from ATMs in Laoag. No special vaccinations are mandatory for UK travellers, though it's worth checking current NHS travel health advice before you go, and standard travel insurance is strongly recommended given the region's typhoon season.
