Expedition to Palawan: Ati & Batak Tribes 2026

Deep within the emerald forests of Palawan and across the shores of Boracay, ancient cultures thrive. From January 11-19, 2026, Mzungu Expeditions invites adventurous travelers to embark on a transformative 9-day journey that bridges modern life with traditions stretching back thousands of years. This carefully curated expedition combines intimate encounters with the Batak tribe in Palawan's northern jungles and the Ati people of Boracay and Panay with participation in the legendary Ati-Atihan Festival, known as the "mother of all Philippine festivals." Far from typical tourist trails, this immersive experience offers respectful cultural exchange, UNESCO World Heritage natural wonders, and the rare privilege of learning directly from indigenous communities who serve as living guardians of ancestral knowledge. Whether you're a cultural anthropology enthusiast, responsible traveler, or simply seeking authentic connections beyond resort beaches, this expedition delivers profound insights into the Philippines' indigenous heart.

Confirmed Dates, Duration, and Expedition Logistics

Schedule Overview

Travel Dates: January 11-19, 2026 (Sunday to Monday)

Duration: 9 days / 8 nights

Group Size: 6 to 12 participants (small group ensures intimate cultural exchanges)

Starting Point: Puerto Princesa, Palawan

Ending Point: Manila or Kalibo, depending on flight arrangements​

Cost and What's Included

Price per Person (based on double occupancy):

• 11-12 participants: $3,590 USD
• Smaller groups: Pricing adjusts based on final participant count​

Included:

• All accommodations (4-star hotels and resorts)
• All meals as specified in itinerary (breakfast, lunch, dinner on most days)
• All ground transportation in the Philippines
• Professional English-speaking guide throughout
• Entry fees to Puerto Princesa Underground River (UNESCO site)
• Village visits and cultural performances by Batak and Ati tribes
• Ati-Atihan Festival participation
• Boat transfers and domestic ferry tickets
• Token gifts to tribal communities​

Not Included:

• International flights to/from Philippines
• Domestic flight Puerto Princesa to Manila (day 1)
• Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
• Personal expenses and tips
• Alcoholic beverages beyond what's included​

Day-by-Day Expedition Highlights

Day 1: January 11, 2026 – Arrival in Puerto Princesa

Participants arrive independently in Puerto Princesa, Palawan by late afternoon or evening. The expedition officially begins with a welcome dinner at Princesa Garden Island Resort & Spa, where the guide will brief the group on the upcoming journey and cultural protocols for tribal visits.​

Day 2: January 12, 2026 – Batak Tribe Immersion

The expedition's first cultural encounter begins with a 1.5-hour trek through lush jungle terrain, crossing multiple rivers to reach a traditional Batak village. This semi-nomadic indigenous group, numbering only about 300-500 individuals, represents one of approximately 70 indigenous communities in the Philippines.​

Cultural Highlights:

• Welcome ceremony by community leaders in traditional attire
• Demonstration of traditional hunting techniques using handmade weapons
• Performance of ritual dances and sounds used to honor nature spirits
• Learn about Batak animistic belief system (panyaen malicious spirits and divata benevolent spirits)
• Observe traditional crafts including weaving and tool-making
• Direct interaction with tribe members about their semi-sedentary lifestyle​

The Batak were once fully nomadic but government policies forced settlement into small villages. Despite this, they maintain spiritual forest connections and regularly venture into the jungle for harvests that hold both economic and sacred significance. Their animistic worldview sees spirits residing in all nature, with shamans undergoing spiritual possession to communicate with the divine and heal community members.​

Day 3: January 13, 2026 – Puerto Princesa Underground River

The expedition transitions from cultural immersion to natural wonder with a visit to the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature. Travelers journey by boat to the national park entrance, then switch to canoes for a mystical voyage through the 8.2-kilometer underground river system featuring spectacular rock formations, cathedral-like chambers, and unique cave ecosystems.​

Days 4-6: January 14-16, 2026 – Boracay Island

The group travels to world-famous Boracay Island, balancing the expedition's cultural focus with opportunities to experience Boracay's legendary white sand beaches, turquoise waters, and vibrant island atmosphere. Accommodations at Savoy Hotel Boracay Newcoast provide comfort while the expedition prepares for upcoming Ati tribe encounters.​

Day 7: January 17, 2026 – Ati Tribe Village Visit

On Boracay and neighboring Panay Island, participants meet the Ati people, Negrito descendants who migrated to the Philippines approximately 45,000 years ago during the Paleolithic period. Distinguished by darker skin and round eyes compared to later Malay settlers, the Ati were the original inhabitants of these islands.​

Village Experience:

• Welcome performance by Ati children
• Tour of the 2-hectare walled village housing about 200 Ati people
• Visit 30 houses plus community facilities (school, clinic, chapel, ceremonial site)
• Explore the Ati Heritage Center museum showcasing historical artifacts
• Learn about Ati expertise in herbal medicine and hunting
• Observe traditional fishing and farming techniques
• Preparation and context for participating in Ati-Atihan Festival​

The Ati maintain animistic beliefs with nature spirits guarding water, sky, and mountains. This village visit provides crucial cultural context for understanding the deeper meanings behind the Ati-Atihan Festival the following day.

Day 8: January 18, 2026 – Ati-Atihan Festival

The expedition culminates in participating in the Ati-Atihan Festival in Kalibo, Aklan, one of the Philippines' most vibrant and historically significant celebrations. Dating back to 1212 (some sources say 1212, others the 13th century), this festival commemorates two pivotal events: the peaceful land treaty between Malay settlers and indigenous Ati people, and the veneration of Santo Niño (the Child Jesus).​

Festival Legend:

When fair-skinned Malay refugees from Borneo arrived on Panay Island in the 13th century, they negotiated with the local Ati tribe to purchase valley land. When the Ati later suffered crop failure, the Malays shared their harvest. In gratitude, the Ati held a celebration with songs and dances. The Malays painted their faces black in honor of their Ati neighbors and joined the festivities, establishing a tradition of cross-cultural unity that continues 800+ years later.​

Festival Experience:

• Street dancing in tribal costume
• Rhythmic drumming and chanting ("Hala Bira! Pwera Pasma!")
• Face painting and traditional adornment
• Witness massive parades with competing groups
• Experience the syncretic blend of indigenous and Catholic traditions
• Immerse in the most colorful, rhythm-filled celebration in Philippine culture​

Day 9: January 19, 2026 – Departure

The expedition concludes with transfers to Manila or Kalibo for international flights home, carrying memories and cultural insights that transcend typical tourism.​

The Batak People: Guardians of Palawan's Forests

The Batak tribe represents one of the Philippines' most endangered indigenous groups, with population estimates ranging from 300 to 500 individuals concentrated in northern and central Palawan. Descended from early human migrations from mainland Asia thousands of years ago, the Batak have inhabited Palawan's forests since time immemorial.​

Traditional Lifestyle:

• Semi-sedentary existence balancing village life with forest forays
• Subsistence through cultivation, gathering, hunting, and fishing
• Animistic spiritual beliefs with shamans serving as intermediaries with spirit world
• Traditional crafts including basket weaving, hunting tool creation
• Deep knowledge of forest ecology and herbal medicine​

Contemporary Challenges:

Government resettlement policies transformed the Batak from fully nomadic to village-dwelling, though they maintain strong forest connections. While gaining access to education and healthcare, the Batak face threats to traditional culture from modernization, land encroachment, and declining population numbers. This expedition provides direct financial support to the community while fostering cross-cultural understanding.​

The Ati People: First Inhabitants of the Visayas

The Ati (also called Aeta or Ayta) belong to Negrito ethnic groups, among the oldest continuous populations in the Philippines with genetic links to the first humans to inhabit Southeast Asia 45,000+ years ago. On Boracay and Panay, the Ati were the original inhabitants before Austronesian-speaking peoples arrived approximately 5,000 years ago.​

Cultural Identity:

• Distinctive physical features (darker skin, tightly curled hair, shorter stature)
• Animistic religion with nature spirit veneration
• Traditional semi-nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle
• Expertise in herbal medicine and forest knowledge
• Complex relationship with land rights and modernization​

The 2-hectare Ati village on Boracay represents efforts to preserve cultural identity while adapting to contemporary pressures, providing education and healthcare while maintaining traditional beliefs and practices.

Responsible Tourism and Cultural Protocols

Before the Expedition

• Research Batak and Ati cultures to approach encounters with informed respect
• Prepare appropriate clothing (modest, suitable for jungle trekking)
• Ensure travel insurance covers adventure activities
• Book international flights with flexible policies
• Obtain any required vaccinations and medications​

During Tribal Visits

• Always ask permission before photographing people or sacred sites
• Follow guide's instructions regarding gift-giving and cultural protocols
• Engage with genuine curiosity and humility, not as spectators
• Support local crafts by purchasing directly from artisans
• Respect that not all aspects of culture are for outsider viewing​

Environmental Responsibility

• Leave no trace in pristine forest environments
• Use reef-safe sunscreen in marine areas
• Minimize single-use plastics
• Support local conservation initiatives
• Respect wildlife and natural habitats​

Practical Travel Information

Getting to Puerto Princesa

International Connections:

• Fly into Manila (Ninoy Aquino International Airport)
• Domestic connection Manila to Puerto Princesa (approximately 1.5 hours)
• Arrival January 11 or early January 12 works for expedition start​

Physical Requirements

• Moderate fitness level required for 1.5-hour jungle trek to Batak village
• Ability to cross rivers and hike uneven terrain
• Comfort with rustic conditions during village visits
• Willingness to participate in festival activities​

What to Pack

• Lightweight, quick-dry clothing for trekking
• Water shoes or sandals for river crossings
• Rain jacket and sun protection
• Insect repellent and basic first aid
• Camera with extra batteries
• Respectful clothing for cultural ceremonies
• Small gifts for tribal communities (coordinate with organizer)​

Call to Action: Journey Beyond Tourism

The Expedition to Palawan: Ati & Batak Tribes 2026 offers more than a vacation. It delivers transformation through authentic cultural exchange, rare access to indigenous communities, and participation in living traditions that connect us to humanity's deepest roots. From January 11-19, join a small group of conscious travelers on a journey that honors ancestral wisdom while supporting communities fighting to preserve their heritage.

Spaces are limited to 6-12 participants to ensure meaningful interactions and minimize cultural impact. Register now through Mzungu Expeditions to secure your place on this extraordinary expedition. When you trek through Palawan's forests to meet Batak elders, when Ati children welcome you with songs, when you paint your face and dance at Ati-Atihan Festival, you'll understand that the greatest journeys aren't measured in miles but in connections forged across cultures and time.

The tribes are waiting. The festival drums are calling. Your expedition begins now.

Verified Information at a Glance

Event Category: Cultural immersion expedition and indigenous tribe experience

Official Name: Expedition to the Philippines 2026: Palawan Island, the Ati and Batak Tribes​

Dates: January 11-19, 2026 (Sunday to Monday)​

Duration: 9 days / 8 nights​

Organizer: Mzungu Expeditions​

Group Size: 6-12 participants (small group format)​

Cost: $3,590 USD per person (based on 11-12 participants, double occupancy)​

Primary Locations:

• Puerto Princesa, Palawan (Days 1-3)
• Boracay Island (Days 4-7)
• Kalibo/Aklan, Panay (Day 8)

Key Experiences:

• Batak Tribe village visit (Day 2, January 12)
• Puerto Princesa Underground River UNESCO site (Day 3, January 13)
• Ati Tribe village experience (Day 7, January 17)
• Ati-Atihan Festival participation (Day 8, January 18)​

Accommodations:

• Princesa Garden Island Resort & Spa 4* (Palawan)
• Savoy Hotel Boracay Newcoast 4* (Boracay)​

Included: All meals (most days), accommodations, ground transportation, professional guide, tribal visit fees, UNESCO entry, festival participation​

Physical Requirements: Moderate fitness for 1.5-hour jungle trek crossing rivers​

Starting Point: Puerto Princesa, Palawan (arrive Jan 11 or early Jan 12)​

All dates, pricing, itinerary details, and cultural program information confirmed through official Mzungu Expeditions expedition page.​