Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters

Take your next trip with Atlas Obscura!

Our small-group adventures are inspired by our Atlas of the world's most fascinating places, the stories behind them, and the people who bring them to life.

Visit Adventures
Trips Highlight
Puglia Italy - Matera
Italy • 8 days, 7 nights
Southern Italy: Castles, Caves & Coastal Treasures in Puglia
from
Turkmenistan Gates of Hell Darvaza crater
Turkmenistan • 10 days, 9 nights
Turkmenistan & the Gates of Hell
from
View all trips
Top Destinations
Latest Places
Most Popular Places Random Place Lists Itineraries
Add a Place
Download the App
Top Destinations
View All Destinations »

Countries

  • Australia
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • India
  • Italy
  • Japan

Cities

  • Amsterdam
  • Barcelona
  • Beijing
  • Berlin
  • Boston
  • Budapest
  • Chicago
  • London
  • Los Angeles
  • Mexico City
  • Montreal
  • Moscow
  • New Orleans
  • New York City
  • Paris
  • Philadelphia
  • Rome
  • San Francisco
  • Seattle
  • Stockholm
  • Tokyo
  • Toronto
  • Vienna
  • Washington, D.C.
Latest Places
View All Places »
Pinal Airpark
Note the chrysanthemum crests.
Hachiman Bridge
Clarendon War Memorial.
Clarendon War Memorial
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
This fried chicken is one of Bangkok’s most famous.
Gai Tord Jae Kee
Chefs Aruss Lerlerstkull and Atcharaporn Kiatthanawat lean into regional traditions.
Charmgang
The khao soi at Gedhawa comes with a rich, coconutty broth.
Gedhawa
At Nai Mong Hoi Thod, the oyster omelet is worth waiting for.
Nai Mong Hoi Thod
In this deceptively simple dish, top-quality ingredients are paramount.
Kor Panich
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
Haleakalā National Park’s summit region, shrouded in the pre-dawn fog.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
4 days ago
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.
5 days ago
Podcast: Finding ‘The Great Gatsby’ in Louisville
6 days ago
Here’s which treats you can safely lug home without risking a fine.
Dear Atlas: What International Food Can I Legally Bring Into the U.S.?
7 days ago

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the Philippines Sagada Lumiang Cave
AO Edited

Lumiang Cave

This burial cave houses around 100 ancient coffins, neatly stacked to form a massive wall.

Sagada, Philippines

Added By
Max Cortesi
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
Lumiang Cave   Jonald Dimaano
Lumiang Cave   Jonald Dimaano
Lumiang Cave   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Lumiang Cave   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Lumiang Cave   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Lumiang Cave   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Lumiang Cave   Max Cortesi / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The Lumiang Cave is home to 100 ancient coffins. Stacked one on top of the other, these coffins form an eye-catching wall at the entrance of the cave that rises nine layers high. It has been estimated that the oldest coffins are around 500 years old. 

The coffins were placed at the entrance to protect them from the elements, but in the same token, so they could receive daylight that wards off evil spirits that may disturb these souls’ eternal rest. The coffins are very strange, as they are quite small for a full-grown adult. It's believed the corpses were laid in the coffins in a fetal position. It was done so that the deceased could exit this life the same as they entered.

Most of the coffins are designed from a hollowed-out section of a tree trunk, with a lid firmly secured to the coffin by means of a rudimentary, but effective latch. A few others are thinner and longer, and consist of wooden planks nailed together. Some coffins display a rather plain design, while others exhibit stylized carvings of lizards, which symbolize longevity and fertility. 

The tradition of entombing the dead in caves is still alive today among the Applai people, a sub-group of the widespread Igorot ethnic group that is responsible for the signature hanging coffins of Sagada. However, it's a costly burial, as custom dictates that chickens, pigs, and carabaos be sacrificed during the funeral ceremony in a number that is consonant with the status of the deceased. 

Going deeper inside the Lumiang Cave leads to the Sumaguing Cave. This is a two to four hour spelunking hike that will require one to be reasonably brave and fit. To complete the hike, visitors will have to do some beginner-level rock climbing and rappelling, navigate underground pools, and squeeze through narrow vertical and horizontal openings.   

Related Tags

Caves Nature Death Burial Places Ecosystems

Know Before You Go

A mere 10-minute walk from Sagada heading towards Ambasing. The path to Lumiang Cave includes several signposts. A guide is necessary for venturing further inside the cave and connecting with Sumaguing Cave.

Community Contributors

Added By

Max Cortesi

Edited By

tzarkaiser, Osage

  • tzarkaiser
  • Osage

Published

September 22, 2020

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://wayph.com/cave-connection-spelunking-at-sumaguing-and-lumiang-caves-in-sagada/
Lumiang Cave
South Rd
Sagada, 2619
Philippines
17.068969, 120.903553
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Kaman-utek Blue Soil

Bontoc, Philippines

miles away

Hanging Coffins of Sagada

Sagada, Philippines

miles away

Ganga Caves

Bontoc, Philippines

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Sagada

Sagada

Philippines

Places 2

Nearby Places

Kaman-utek Blue Soil

Bontoc, Philippines

miles away

Hanging Coffins of Sagada

Sagada, Philippines

miles away

Ganga Caves

Bontoc, Philippines

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Sagada

Sagada

Philippines

Places 2

Related Places

  • Cape Flattery

    Neah Bay, Washington

    Cape Flattery

    At the most northwestern point of the contiguous United States lies a trail leading through an ancient forest to stunning cliff-side vistas and massive oceanside caves.

  • Lacy’s Caves

    Penrith, England

    Lacy's Caves

    A series of idealized caves carved to entertain guests.

  • Grutas del Palacio

    Flores, Uruguay

    Grutas del Palacio

    This wonderful rock formation constitutes the first geopark in Uruguay.

  • Benagil Caves

    Lagoa, Portugal

    Benagil Caves

    Perhaps the most spectacular grotto along the Algarve coastline.

  • Chinhoyi Caves

    Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe

    Chinhoyi Caves

    The stunningly blue waters of these beautiful caves also have a violent past.

  • Moqui Cave

    Kanab, Utah

    Moqui Cave

    This ancient cave is home to a museum, bar, and is filled with fluorescent minerals.

  • The Fugaku Wind Cave.

    Narusawa, Japan

    Fugaku Wind Cave

    One in a pair of subterranean caves created by an ancient eruption of Mount Fuji.

  • View on Halvikhallen from the bay at Fårøya.

    Hellvik, Norway

    Halvikhula

    The largest cave in Northern Europe.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.