Jun 17, 20222 min read

Make a list in visiting to LAKE HOLON, a hidden gem of T'boli , South Cotabato Philippines

The mystifying and scenic view of Lake unfolds tribes history that makes it one of a kind and must-visit. Holon is a T'boli word which means "Deep water", it is sanctified by the tribe as it was a stronghold protecting its beauty.

What to do?

Lake Holon offers a lot of activities including;

trekking
swimming
kayaking in the lake
horseback riding and
cultural immersion with the locals in the indigenous community.

How to get to Lake Holon?

There are different ways to get to Lake Holon in South Cotabato. General Santos is the nearest commercial airport.

From General Santos:

From the airport, head to Bulaong Terminal. Travel time is 30-45 minutes. From the terminal, ride a bus bound for Marbel in Koronodal City. Travel time is 1-1.5 hour, and fare is around P120 per person.

From Marbel:

ride a van bound for Tboli and get off at the tourism office. Travel time is 45 minutes to 1 hour, and fare is P80 per person.

From Davao:

Head to the terminal in G-Mall or SM City Davao. From there, ride a van bound for Marbel. Travel time is 4 hours, fare is around P300 per person. From Marbel, you can follow the same instruction as above.

Trek to Lake Holon:

Register at the Tboli Tourism Office and pay the necessary fees. From the tourism office, ride a habal-habal to the jump-off point for one of the two trails that lead to Lake Holon, Kule Trail or Salacafe Trail, which are both located in the same barangay. Travel time is 1.1.5 hour either way.

Once you arrive at the jump-off point, you need to attend a short orientation about do’s and don’ts and what you can expect on your visit.

Things to bring

Here are the things you should bring:

Tent. You can also rent a tent at the tourism office.
Bring your own food & water, cookware, and utensils.
Jacket because it gets really cold at night.
Dry bag to waterproof your items, in case it rains.
Other essentials such as flashlight, powerbank, and full batteries for your camera.
Garbage bag. you need to bring all your essentials, you are responsible for it.

Budget and expenses

Fees/rates Tourism office fees:
Entrance fee: P100 per person
Environment fee: P50 per person

Campsite

Ground rental at campsite (where you will pitch tents): P100Transport / trekkingHabal-habal from tourism site to jump-off point:
Kule: P550
Salacafe: P400