Guide to Lake Holon Hiking and Camping | South Cotabato
Lake Holon, with its picture-perfect backdrop and spectacular natural features carved by Mother Nature over millions of years, is without a doubt one of Mindanao's, if not the Philippines', most beautiful destinations.
Lake Holon At-a-Glance
Mount Holon, an active volcano, is found inside the crater of Mount Mélébingóy. The peak is also known as Mount Parker, after an American general who led an expedition to examine the mountain after observing it from a plane in 1934.
The crater lake (Lake Holon) was formed by the last reported eruption of Mount Parker on January 4, 1641. While Mount Parker has a total elevation of 1,784 meters, you do not need to trek to the highest point when visiting Lake Holon. You will just climb to another peak at approximately 1,540 meters where you will have an unobstructed view of Lake Holon before descending for about half an hour to the lake itself.
How Long Does it Take to Reach Lake Holon
There are two ways that lead to Lake Holon. These are the Salacafe and Kule trails.
The Salacafe trail, albeit longer at over 9 kilometers, is easier because it mostly follows a gently sloped terrain and only requires 3 to 4 hours before you reach the lake. The shorter but more difficult Kule route, which is around 7.5 kilometers long, features a sharp ascent, and takes about five or six hours on average to arrive to Lake Holon. The Kule Trail is preferable since it offers a more picturesque experience, as it goes through a natural viewing platform of Mount Parker. From there, you can enjoy gazing at the expansive view of Lake Holon.
Salacafe vs Kule Trail Breakdown
• Longer layout (>9 Kilometers)
• Generous jungle/forest canopy
• Highly beginner-friendly pace
• Shorter layout (~7.5 Kilometers)
• Exquisite scenic viewpoints
• Includes prime Crater Lake Overlooks
Don’t worry, the trail is never boring and will keep your curiosity piqued as it winds its way through a corn plantation, a dense forest, and a variety of plants and trees, including pitcher plants, coffee plants, abaca trees, and century-old trees.
After descending from the view deck and into the lake itself, you still need to take a 5-minute boat ride to the campsite, which is a spacious, grassy lot surrounded by water.
What to Expect in Lake Holon
As one would expect for a weekend, the Lake Holon campground was packed with campers, giving the impression of a small Vikings-era town in the middle of the woods (thankfully, without Halloween's Jason Vorhees).
Despite the crowd, one can easily find a quiet spot to admire the picturesque scenery of Lake Holon. The sheer beauty of the lake would easily lull you into quiet contemplation. Sounds like what a nature retreat should be.
As the sun rises and sets, it casts a mystical glow over the lake and the verdant mountains of Mount Parker, reflecting the sky above like a mirror. If you spend all day taking in the breathtaking scenery of the lake, you won't want to leave.
If you're looking for a more secluded experience, consider visiting during the weekdays when there are fewer crowds. However, regardless of when you visit, make sure to follow the camping guidelines. Quiet down, turn off the lights at 10 o'clock, and tidy up as you go.
Activities in Lake Holon
Other than enjoying the best of nature, you can also enjoy other activities such as kayaking and swimming. A refreshing dip in Lake Holon, widely recognized as one of the Philippines' purest bodies of water, is sure to relax you and give you a one-of-a-kind experience, as you soak in the breathtaking scenery of Mount Mélébingóy’s verdant ridges.
There is also a designated spot in the camping area where you can sit on a platform and dip your legs into the water for some kind of fish spa experience.
Hiking and Camping Fees
Before proceeding to the jump-off, you need to register and pay an entrance fee of 100 pesos and an environmental fee of 50 pesos at the Tourism Office.
Hiring a tour guide is required when hiking to Lake Holon. This not only gives locals extra income, but it also guarantees your safety. A tour guide’s fee is 800 pesos for guests of up to 5 persons.
Quick Expenses Matrix
| Item Component | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Registration / Entrance Fee | ₱100 |
| Environmental Fee | ₱50 |
| Mandatory Tour Guide | ₱800 / group (up to 5 pax) |
| Tent Rental at Site | ₱300 – 350 |
| Campsite Ground Rental | ₱100 |
| Horse Rental Transfer (per way) | ₱500 |
| Local Porter Services | ₱30 / kg |
| Habal-habal Transit (from Tourism Office) | ₱640 |
If you don’t have any camping equipment, you can also rent a tent for 300-350 pesos depending on size per night plus a 100 pesos ground rental at the campsite.
Porters are also available to carry your stuff and are paid 30 pesos per kilo. Too tired to hike all the way to Lake Holon? You can ride a horse for 500 pesos per way.
The habal-habal ride from the Tourism Office to the jump-off area in Kule is 640 pesos for up to 2 passengers.
For other services such as cooking your food, you can coordinate beforehand with your guide so you can pass by the local market and ask someone to cook it for you.
There is a bathroom and a toilet in the camping area where you can also take a shower with fees ranging from 5 pesos to 30 pesos (for shower).
Things to Bring
You need to bring all the items required to enjoy a hassle-free hiking and camping trip. These includes the following:
Hiking Shoes
Windbreaker and waterproof jackets
Raincover for your backpack and drybag
Lightweight shirts, shorts and pants
Extra clothes and socks (Ziplocked)
Tent, cooking stove, utensils, sleeping bag, toiletries and a blanket
Drinking water and trail food
Camping food (preferably easy to cook ones)
Other items: power bank, head lamp, book and camera
Garbage bag to store all your trash
Remember to always take nothing but picture, leave nothing but footprints and kill nothing but time.
Also, if you want to carry less stuff, you can hire a porter to take some of your things or rent a tent and cooking stove from your tour provider if you don’t have any camping equipment.
How to Get to T’boli Town and Lake Holon Jump-off
General Santos City has the closest airport to T'boli, South Cotabato. Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific Air provide many weekly flights from Manila to General Santos City.
From General Santos, take a bus headed for Koronadal or Marbel from the GenSan Bus Terminal. When you arrive in Marbel, take the UV Express (passenger vans) to T'boli. The whole journey time is approximately 2 hours.
Upon arriving at T'boli Town, proceed to the Municipal Tourism Office to register and hire guides or porters for your Lake Holon hike. It is also here where you can also charter a habal-habal (motorbike) ride going to the jump-off in Barangay Salacafe.
The one and a half hour habal-habal ride to the jump-off was a very difficult but fun part. Once the motorcycle ran out of concrete roads, it was all bumpy and dirt trails from there on. As the habal-habal driver expertly navigates the steep path at speeds of roughly 60–80 kph, you'll need to learn the art of repositioning your butt on the seat on the go to maintain forward momentum. But on one hand, this is also one of the most exciting parts of the trip to Lake Holon.
Upon arrival at the jump-off place of Kule, visitors are asked to proceed to the "Big House" for an orientation on the many do's and don’ts in the mountain.
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This orientation place is an attraction in itself. Traditional T'boli houses like this, known as the T'boli Gono Bong ("Big House"), feature distinctive T'boli architectural features such the absence of walls and the use of cogon grass for roofing. These houses serve as ceremonial centers for their respective communities.
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These days, other than being the orientation place, the Gono Bong also serves as a homestay for guests.
🗓️ Suggested 2D1N Lake Holon Itinerary
Transit from General Santos to T'boli / Complete Tourism Office Registration / Bumpy Habal-Habal ride to Kule / Traverse Kule Trail to the View Deck / Savor Sunset over the Crater / Boat ride to Campsite
Catch Sunrise reflections / Morning Kayaking & Swimming / Indulge in the natural Fish Spa / Decamp and return via the gentle Salacafe Trail / Travel back to General Santos
Things to Know Before You Go
Topical Regional Clusters
Consider extending your SOCCSKSARGEN expedition across these nearby hot spots:
The Lake Holon Experience Checklist
✓ Reach the Kule View Deck✓ Witness morning mist break over the crater
✓ Overnight camp under an unpolluted sky
✓ Kayak cleanly across the lake
✓ Swim safely in the purest waters of the lake
✓ Board a traditional native wooden boat
✓ Sleep inside a traditional Gono Bong after your Lake Holon camping
✓ Spot endemic pitcher plants deep in the canopy
✓ Trade narratives with indigenous T'boli guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Without reservation. Its pristine isolation, cultural weight, and mirror-smooth emerald caldera make it one of the absolute premier wilderness treks in the Philippines.
Salacafe trail is highly approachable for beginners due to its gentle slopes. Kule presents steep, muddy root matrices that require basic stamina, but it remains heavily manageable if paired with a local porter.
Temperatures can drop sharply between midnight and dawn down to 14°C–16°C. Packing a thermal sheet, structured sleeping bag, and a robust windbreaker jacket is vital.
Yes, accredited guides are strictly mandatory per local T'boli conservation ordinances. Tents and basic cooking utensils are readily available for rent via the local tourism center.
Nomadic Experiences Take
I've hiked many mountains across the Philippines, yet few places have lingered in my memory like Lake Holon. It isn't the country's tallest summit or its most difficult trek. What makes it unforgettable is the reward: waking up beside one of the Philippines' cleanest crater lakes, surrounded by the ancestral land of the T'boli people. Lake Holon isn't just a hike—it's one of the country's finest wilderness experiences.
