Somayatra: The Philippines
Destination: Buko Beach Resort
El Nido, Palawan
There are places we travel to and there are places that return us to ourselves.
An 8-day journey into movement, nature, ritual & conscious connection on the island of Palawan.
December 3rd–10th, 2026
An intimate experience for women ready to step outside the familiar & return differently.
Soma: The Body
Yatra: The Journey
Maybe you don't need another vacation.
Maybe you need to get far enough away from the noise of your everyday life to hear yourself again.
To wake with the sun. To move your body because it feels good to be inside of it. Swim in water so blue it doesn't quite look real. Sit around a table with women who were strangers days before.
Breathe, laugh, explore, and rest. Remember what your life feels like when you're actually in it.
This is Somayatra.
Not an escape from your life – a return to it.
Somayatra is a journey through the body and back to the self. We travel not simply to see somewhere new, but to experience ourselves somewhere new.
Through movement, nature, ritual, nourishment, & connection.
Every Somayatra experience is intentionally designed to bring you out of the rhythm you know to discover what else might be possible.
WHY PALAWAN
There is something about an island that asks you to surrender.
From tides, to weather, to slower mornings, from what cannot be controlled.
For eight days, we'll make our home in El Nido, Palawan — surrounded by limestone cliffs, turquoise water, lush jungle and hundreds of islands waiting beyond the shoreline.
Our days will move through adventure and stillness, between exploring outward and journeying inward.
This isn't about checking the Philippines off a list – it's about letting the Philippines move you.
The Experience
Beyond the resort and into Palawan — into hidden beaches, lagoons, limestone cliffs, local culture, and experiences that remind you just how big the world is. Somewhere along the way...you’ll meet yourself there, too.
❋ MoveMorning movement designed to bring you into your body — strength, mobility, yoga and practices that meet the energy of each day.
❋ NourishMeals shared slowly. Tropical mornings. Long dinners. Food as both nourishment and connection.
❋ BreatheBreathwork, meditation and moments of intentional stillness woven throughout the journey.
❋ GatherAround tables. On boats. Barefoot on the beach. In conversations that go somewhere deeper than small talk.
Adventure
Let’s take to the water – a traditional Filipino boat and an entire day moving through some of Palawan's most extraordinary landscapes.
Our private island journey is being intentionally designed to weave together some of the magic of El Nido's iconic routes — with places such as Hidden Beach, Helicopter Island, Small Lagoon, Matinloc Shrine and Cadlao Lagoon shaping the experience.
Swim.
Snorkel.
Explore.
Eat lunch surrounded by the sea.
Lay in the sun.
Jump off the boat because you can.
This is our journey.
Not watching your life happen – being completely inside of it.
What to Expect
A day in Somayatra – Imagine waking up here
You wake naturally to the sounds of the island.
Maybe you make coffee before meeting us for movement.
We breathe. We move. We sweat. Then breakfast.
Some mornings lead us beyond the resort — onto a boat, into the water, through El Nido. Others leave room for absolutely nowhere to be.
A massage. A book by the pool. A walk. A nap without guilt.
Later, we find each other again. Dinner stretches longer than expected. Someone says something that changes the conversation. Someone else makes you laugh until you cry. And eventually you realize: you haven't checked the time in hours.
Not every moment will be planned
Because transformation doesn't only happen inside ceremony, workshops or excursions. Sometimes it happens in the space between them.
There will be room to wander. To sleep. To journal. To explore. To sit beside the ocean and do absolutely nothing. You don't need another itinerary that exhausts you.
Somayatra holds enough structure to invite you deeper — and enough space to let you hear yourself once you get there.
What’s Included
Breathwork + meditation
Curated workshops + rituals
Daily breakfast, lunch, dinner
Private island-hopping experience
Intentional excursions + adventures
Opening and closing experience
Somayatra journal
Transportation for included group experiences
An intentionally intimate group experience
And the pieces we don't put on an itinerary – the conversations, breakthroughs, belly laughs, friendships and moments you'll carry home with you.
Investment
Accommodations are solo occupancy. Your investment includes the complete Somayatra experience outlined above.
Flights to/from the Philippines, travel insurance and personal expenses are not included.
$1,000 non-refundable/non-transferable deposit required for booking. Payment Plans Available
Experience Details
December 3rd – 10th, 2026
Retreat Dates
8 days, 7 nights
Trip Duration
$4,875
Pricing
Buko Beach Resort
Details
For seven nights, we'll call Buko Beach Resort home. A boutique beachfront property tucked into tropical surroundings in El Nido. This isn't a retreat where you disappear into a conference room for eight days. The environment is part of the experience.
Bare feet. Salt water. Warm air. Morning movement. Sunsets. Long conversations over dinner.
Space to actually exhale.
❋ LocationBuko Beach Resort Sítio Lugadia - Barangay Corong Corong
El Nido,Palawan PH
❋ Accommodations8 days 7 nights stay in a private villa
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner throughout your entire stay.
❋ FlightsDestination Airport: Manila, Philippines (MNL) then domestic flight via AirSWIFT straight to El Nido (ENI)
Private transportation is provided to the retreat center
Valid passport is required
❋ Not IncludedFlights to/from Philippines
El Nido hotel stay on December 2nd (group rate provided at suggested hotel)
Additional excursions, spa services, groceries, etc.
This is for the woman who
knows there is more to her life than full she can make it. The woman who takes care of everyone. Who is capable. Independent. Driven.
Who has created a life she is grateful for and still occasionally wonders –
When did I stop feeling completely inside of it?
You don't need to arrive burnt out. You don't need to be healing from something. You don't need to be at a crossroads. You don't need to practice yoga every day or know anything about breathwork.
You simply need a willingness to step outside what's familiar.
To be seen. To participate. To get curious.
To let yourself experience something without needing to know exactly what you'll get from it first.
This is not –
A fitness retreat. A yoga retreat. A party trip. A week of workshops inside a resort. A perfectly curated Instagram vacation.
And it's certainly not eight days of being told how to become a better version of yourself.
You don't need another version of yourself.
Somayatra is an invitation to experience the woman who's already there when you give her enough space to emerge.
The Return
The most important part of the journey isn’t arriving – It's returning.
Returning to your routines with a different relationship to them. Returning to your body having actually inhabited it. Returning to your relationships after remembering what connection feels like.
Returning to the same life – perhaps seeing it differently.
You may arrive in Palawan as strangers.
You'll leave having witnessed pieces of one another most people never get to see and somewhere over those eight days, my hope is that you witness something in yourself, too.
A return to yourself through movement, nature & ritual.
Meet Your Host
Mel Clark
Movement coach. Breathwork facilitator. Community builder. Retreat host.
“I created Somayatra because some of the greatest transformations in my own life haven't happened when I was trying to change myself.
They've happened when I stepped outside of what was familiar.
When I traveled.
When I moved my body.
When I sat in ceremony.
When I gathered with people willing to have real conversations.
When I gave myself enough space to actually hear what was underneath all the noise.
Somayatra is my way of creating that space for other women.
I won't be standing at the front asking you to journey somewhere I'm unwilling to go.
I'll be in it with you.
Next Steps
To join us please complete our application. Spaces are reserved on a first-come, thoughtfully reviewed basis; priority is given to applicants whose intentions align with the retreat’s theme.
Early applications receive priority consideration. Our team will reply within 2-3 business days with next steps, including deposit and arrival information.
Application
Once accepted into the retreat you will receive an invoice for your deposit and remaining balance. Payment methods are outlined within your invoice. The remaining balance is due by the specified deadline.
All payments are non-refundable or transferable under our cancellation policy — please review the terms at time of booking for details.
Deposit
Leading up to our retreat our team will reach out to begin the pre retreat process. This includes our intake questionnaire, welcome packet containing travel information, itinerary, checklists, and more.
A group WhatsApp chat and call will be organized leading up to our departure on this journey together.
Pre Retreat
retreat
reconnect
rediscover
re –
Things to know and frequently asked questions
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This retreat is intentionally small and intimate. This retreat is open to a maximum of 8 women.
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No. Practices will be offered with options and are designed to meet you where you are.
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No. In fact, arriving alone is part of the magic for many women. You won't be navigating the week alone once you're here.
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Absolutely — intentionally.
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We will be starting Thursday December 3rd and ending on Thursday December 10th, 2026
We ask that you arrive to El Nido no later than Wednesday December 2nd to travel as a complete group to the retreat center on the 3rd.
Hotel recommendations will be provided for the night of the 2nd.
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By applying for participation in this retreat, you acknowledge & agree to the following cancellations policy:
All payments, including the deposit & any additional payments made toward the retreat, are fully non-refundable & non-transferrable.
We understand that unexpected events can arise that may affect your plans. Our non-refundable policy is essential, as funds are allocated in advance to secure the retreat’s key elements—property bookings, transportation, chefs, meals & other logistics— which are committed well in advance to create the best possible experience.
By applying, you confirm your understanding & acceptance of these terms, which are designed to ensure fairness & transparency for all participants & organizers. Thank you for your commitment & understanding.
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While travel insurance is not required, we highly recommend it as our retreats are non-refundable.
Travel insurance can provide coverage for unexpected trip cancellations, medical emergencies, lost luggage, and travel delays. It may also include emergency evacuations and 24/7 assistance while traveling.
Some plans cover adventure activities or offer a Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) option for added flexibility.
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Breakfast, lunch, and dinner will be provided on site. Meals are shared in a group setting and prepared with care and intention.
Dietary restrictions are accommodated.
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This is a non-alcoholic retreat as we aim to keep the experience energy aligned, respectful, and intentional.
