Northern Blossom: A Floral Paradise in the Clouds

When I began college as a Tourism student, I was focused on balancing school and work, leaving little time for travel. One day, a colleague shared his stories as usual as a tour guide before and suggested that I travel since I'm a tourism student. This suggestion hit and inspired me to make a promise: I would plan a trip at the end of every school year as a reward for my hard work. Traveling became a commitment to explore, learn, and grow—something I had always wanted.

My first trip was to Baguio in June 2023, with a side tour of Northern Blossom Flower Farm. I went with a friend and booked a 3D2N Baguio + Northern Blossom package with Graciey’s Adventure.

Our first stop was Northern Blossom, located in Atok, Benguet and is one of the most memorable places I’ve ever been to. But every time I share my experience, I never forget to mention what I went through before actually getting there.

Since the farm sits at the top of a mountain, the journey up was quite a challenge. The winding roads made me feel dizzy as if we were endlessly circling our way to the top. But despite the dizzying ride, the breathtaking view that awaited us made it all worth it.

The moment we stepped out of the van, we were hit by an icy chill. It was so cold that we started shivering, and each word we spoke came out in a visible mist which is something rare to experience in the Philippines. It was truly a moment to remember.

My friend and I had planned our outfits to match the dreamy atmosphere of Northern Blossom, expecting a picturesque backdrop for our photos. But as we changed into our dresses, we couldn’t help but second-guess and laugh at our decision. "Was this really the right outfit for this freezing weather?".

Before entering the farm, our tour guide gave us a quick orientation. That’s when they mentioned that Atok, Benguet is the second-highest municipality in the country. It once held the title of the highest, but that crown now belongs to Tinoc, Ifugao. Still, its high elevation explains why it was unbelievably cold.

When we entered the farm, I was surprised by how huge it was. I knew it was big, but it still exceeded my expectations. We started by following a tour guide through each section of the farm, but since we were enjoying ourselves and taking our time capturing photos, we fell behind and eventually lost the group. The Northern Blossom Flower Farm felt like a dream, and I believe we came at the perfect time, as the flowers were in full bloom and looked absolutely stunning. If you’re like me and my friend, who loves having mini photoshoots, you will definitely love this place!

One thing that surprised me was that the farm extends from the top downwards (pababa), as I initially thought it was just a flat, straight field. Just this month, someone asked me if the farm was accessible for their grandma. I said yes—they can still enjoy the beautiful view from the top, but I wouldn’t recommend going down deeper into the farm, as some areas are rocky and could be challenging to climb back up, especially for elders. Even my friend and I were gasping for breath as we climbed back up, especially with the sun's rays making it even more exhausting and that moment we can no longer feel the cold we when we started. I still wanted to go further down, but my friend stopped me since she could no longer continue and was already thinking about the effort needed to climb back up. The farther you go down, the less accessible the farm becomes as well.

Luckily, once we climbed back up, we found a small cafeteria that sells breakfast. Through the travel agency we booked with, we were able to claim our free coffee and bread, which was a perfect treat after the tiring climb.

Overall, I truly love the place—it’s a floral paradise, especially in the early morning when the flowers seem to touch the clouds before sunrise. The breathtaking scenery, the vibrant blooms, and the cool mountain breeze make it a dream destination for nature lovers and photography enthusiasts. I would love to go back, if not for the dizzying ride getting there, as I easily get motion sickness in vehicles. But despite that, the beauty of Northern Blossom Flower Farm makes the journey absolutely worth it and is something to highlight.