Where to Stay in Quezon Province: Bangkong Kahoy Valley

Staying at Bangkong Kahoy Valley proved to be one of the most unique and memorable getaways near Manila I’ve been to.

I’ve always wanted to take milky way photos seeing how mesmerizing the night sky can be. Before thinking of the best camera for astrophotography or the technical aspects of how to take milky way photos, there are two crucial factors to consider first: timing and location. This is why we traveled for around four hours to one of the resorts in Quezon province during the beautiful summer month of May and spent a night at Bangkong Kahoy Valley.

Things to Do at Bangkong Kahoy Valley

Nature’s retreat – that is the first thing that came to my mind having reached Bangkong Kahoy Valley. The sight of verdant fields after a long drive from Manila was more than refreshing. Bangkong Kahoy Valley is a 21-hectare property nestled between Mt. Banahaw and Mt. Cristobal.

Bangkong Kahoy literally translates to wooden benches.

Before we got to our agenda of shooting the milky way, we were able to walk around the resort as one member of the staff guided us. As we roamed around, we discovered a number of things you can do at Bangkong Kahoy Valley.

If you’re looking for camping near Manila, Bangkong Kahoy Valley has a fabulous camping area that the entire family can enjoy. Bring your own tent and you’ll save on paying for a room. They also have horseback riding and a zipline facility (though at the time we visited, I think it was not available). A seemingly abandoned, charming gazebo can be found as well.

Camping area at Bangkong Kahoy Valley.

Zipline Facility

Beautifully abandoned gazebo.

Even just getting around Bangkong Kahoy Valley will let you unwind. Far from the hustle of the city, it really felt like tucked away in nature’s sanctuary. You can go bird watching and even enjoy bird photography. The flora and fauna here is also worth mentioning.

What made Bangkong Kahoy Valley an interesting resort in Quezon province is their organic farm. This is where they harvest the food that they serve at their restaurant. Grown from their own mushroom houses, go try their mushroom burger if available.

Bangkong Kahoy Accommodation

Bangkong Kahoy Valley has different accommodations from villa to pavilion. But what’s unique to them are their open-air cottages, yes you read that right! Open – rooms with open doors and windows. This is where our group stayed during our visit.

Bangkong Kahoy Valley open-air cottages.

Honestly, I was worried at first because I didn’t know what to expect. We’re almost in the middle of the wilderness and everything was open? But it turned out to be a really cool experience – literally and figuratively. Note that the cottages don’t even have a fan and you’d understand why. With the elevation Bangkong Kahoy Valley has, it was freezing cold at night even during summer. It was a struggle to take a bath in the morning because of the really cold waters.

Bangkong Kahoy Valley Rates (As of October 2020)

• Miguel’s Cottage – PHP3,000/night
  2 Bedrooms, 1 Bathroom, Good for 7 Persons
• Terresa’s Cottege – PHP2,500/night
  2 Bedrooms, 1 Bathroom, Good for 4 Persons
• Jan’s Villa– PHP3,500/night
  1 Bathroom, Good for 4 Persons
• Pavilion – PHP5,000/night
  2 Queen Size Beds, 2 Double Deck, 1 Common Bathroom, Good for 8 Persons

How to Shoot the Milky Way

Now, the real agenda – shooting the milky way. Fujifilm Philippines partnered with Experience Philippines for an overnight trip in Bangkong Kahoy Valley to facilitate a milky way shoot. I had tried joining a Fujifilm photography event before in Corregidor led by one of my favorite street photographers Rommel Bundalian. This time, the milky way shoot was led by no less than Win Magsino, also one of my favorite landscape photographers.

Best Place and Time to See the Milky Way

The best time to see and photograph the milk way in the Philippines is between the months of March and May. The sky should be clear, without clouds and more importantly, without light pollution. This is why people travel to far-flung destinations like Bangkong Kahoy Valley when trying to capture the milk way, to get rid of pollution. It’s also better to shoot without the moonlight, during a new moon or the first lunar phase.

At the destination, to find the exact position of the milky way, install astrophotography apps like PhotoPills. It’s also import to check the venue to see how your group will be able to set up. Remember, your shooting during the wee hours and you only have a flashlight in a pitch black surrounding. Win, our leader, did inspect our location during the day.

Basic Camera Settings for Astrophotography

To start with the camera setting, note that you have to shoot in manual mode with raw format. Aperture should be at your lens’ widest (f2.8 or wider). Shutter speed at 25 seconds. Recommended ISO to play around is between 1600 to 3200 especially for beginners. I remember Win setting his ISO at only 100 because he already knew his tweaks in post processing. He was already confident shooting with the number but if you’re not, and you haven’t experimented before, you can comfortably begin with the recommended settings. White balance can be set to just auto. It’s also very import to turn off long exposure noise reduction. And oh, tripod is a must!

After setting up, the most exciting part begins! Remember to focus your camera on the brightest star in the sky. Try playing around with the numbers based from the recommended settings to get your best milky way shot.

Overall Experience

Shooting the milky way at Bangkong Kahoy Valley was definitely an experience I’d never forget. I can still recall waking up past midnight, preparing our gears, and lightly trekking in the middle of wilderness with a freezing cold atmosphere. Because the event was re-scheduled, it accidentally became a birthday shoot for me. I was hesitant at first to join because I’d be spending my birthday away which I really seldom do. But I have no regrets, just happy memories. It was a fun batch as well.

Milky Way Shoot with Fujifilm Philippines and Experience Philippines

Indeed, the darkest nights produce the brightest stars. Maybe the universe wanted to gift me with a stunning milky way. And no words will be able to describe how awe I was. Ad Astra per Aspera.

How to Get to Bangkong Kahoy Valley

From Manila, take SLEX and exit at Sto.Tomas. Travel along Maharlika Highway to San Pablo. About 100 meters from MERALCO San Pablo main branch, turn left to Dolores. Look for Dolores church. From the church, turn left and then right going up the mountain, Bangkong Kahoy Valley is around 7 km away.

Bangkong Kahoy Valley

Address: Brgy. Kinabuhayan, Dolores, Quezon
Contact No.: (0906) 438-1410
E-mail: bkvalley@gmail.com
Page: https://www.facebook.com/bangkongkahoy/

Looking for other resorts in Quezon province? Check Dalampasigan Resort and Catanauan Cove.