Imagine waking up every morning to the sound of waves breaking on soft sand, of birds chirping and cock-a-doodle-do-ing, and feeling warm island breezes rustling your bug net, which is all that separates you from a pristine, private beach. Your only task for the entire day is to board a boat. You don't know where it's headed and you don't know where you'll be sleeping that night. What you do know is that there will be three amazing meals, made with the freshest seafood and local ingredients, and that you're sharing the journey with 22 amazing people from around the world.

That's what it's like to travel with Tao Philippines.

I could go on and on praising Tao. The five days we spent with them were some of the most fun, most memorable experiences we've had in the last seven months.

The biggest "hats off" has to be for the way that Tao has figured out how to attract the right kinds of customers. A disclaimer on their website and brief application ensures that only free-spirited, fun-loving adventurers are welcome. What would have been a great experience anyway was even more incredible thanks to the company on board. We consider ourselves very lucky to have been among our group! 

In summary, we boarded one of Tao's traditional-style boats in Coron and traveled to El Nido over the course of five days. 

Each day, we'd stop at remote beaches and reefs to swim, explore and snorkel. Then, we'd gather together on the boat to eat a fabulous fresh seafood lunch and inevitably drink a few icy beers. 

In the evenings, we'd drop anchor at a beach camp and bring our night bags to shore with us. We set up sleeping pads, pillows, a light sheet and bug net, then slept in open-air huts, usually looking out to the ocean. 

Before going to sleep, we'd eat another delicious (and huge) meal and sit around drinking, chatting, playing cards or singing karaoke with local islanders.  

The trip was planned by the crew as we went, choosing locations where we stopped and slept based on weather, timing and crowd requests. 

On our favorite night, the third of four, we arrived at the Tao Farm, the company's home base, which sits on one of the small islands near El Nido. As we stepped onto the shore, we were told we'd be getting beachfront massages, the cost of which was already covered in what we'd paid. I laid there in a state of total bliss, listening to waves gently breaking on the sand and palm branches rustling against each other overhead. 

After my massage, feeling as relaxed as is humanly possible without being dead, Andy walked up to me and asked, "did you see the puppies?"

I mean, come on. A beautiful beach with free massages and puppies?! What else could you want?? (For me, the answer is nothing.)

Another unique experience we had thanks to Tao was the traditional full pig roast on our final night. Although preparations began earlier in the trip, when we picked up the pig, alive and well, from another island. Some of the guys on the boat dubbed him Gunther. Screw what they say about not naming your food!

Once we arrived in El Nido, we took much needed showers, ate a lot of pizza and hung out some more with our new fellow boat people. We also took a break from taking photos. 

Hopefully it goes without saying but, if you're going to be in Palawan, Philippines, go on a Tao trip. Just do it. You'll love it, we promise. 

To learn more about the company and their wonderful mission, check out their website.