About this experience
Reached on a half-day hike through verdant forests and hills, Heeloya is a solitary agricultural village tucked deep in the Central Highlands above Kandy. With little contact with the outside world, it is almost entirely self-sustaining — food comes from the paddy fields, home-grown vegetable gardens, farm animals and the nearby river, while villagers grow their own spices and herbs and keep alive crafts such as toddy tapping and bee-keeping. Even justice here is settled by the village head rather than the central courts.
On arrival you'll meet the village elder, who shares the traditions that shape daily life, before a farmer leads you into the paddy fields to explain the step-cultivation method that makes the most of the sloping land. You'll also visit the fruit orchards and vegetable gardens, helping to harvest fresh produce for an authentic Sri Lankan village lunch.
