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Heeloya
The Heeloya experience places you in the middle of a village setting so pristine, it’ll transport...
Peoples
Max Capacity
Private car
Transport
Half Board
Meal Plan
The Heeloya experience places you in the middle of a village setting so pristine, it’ll transport you to a different time altogether. Located in historic Kandy at the foothill of the Knuckles Mountain, this remote village allows you to absorb first-hand the refreshing simplicity of the village-folk, far from the reach of mass tourism and modernization. Comprising a relaxed mountain walk that winds through a stretch of nature that is untouched while offering a rare look at life in these parts, the experience culminates in an intimate experience of Heeloya village.
The walk through the rural countryside, led by a veteran guide and a villager, runs through swathes of pine forest, upcountry tea estates, gurgling streams, patches of jungle, breathtaking waterfalls, terraced rice fields, and domestic spice gardens. The option of an invigorating dip in a freshwater stream originating from the Knuckles Mountain range is a highlight of the light trek.
The village in sight, you’ll see life unfolding at a leisurely pace. Step into the working spice, paddy and tea fields, which support the livelihood of the village-folk even today. The people are warm and hospitable here. You’ll get to interact closely with them and gain their perspectives. Visit a real home in this mountainside village, and take in an authentic home-cooked meal and even help them cook it if you like. Village fare is simple but flavourful and nutritious.
Village life is centered around age-old tradition and includes the use of animals to assist farming work; the practice of toddy-tapping and beekeeping which brings the villagers additional income; and locally-made handicrafts as well as traditional dances which help sustain them further. This immersive experience is packed full of authentic interactions and activities from the rural central highlands of the island.
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Even the name sounds exotic, foreign, mysterious. Does it seem like this little island nation
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What to Know Before you trvel
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Knowledge and expertise can make your holiday more canker free and fun filled.
Sri Lanka is a tropical island. Therefore, breathable cotton clothing would be ideal. White is considered a clean, pure colour especially when visiting religious sites. Ideally a pair of sturdy sneakers for treks would do whilst a pair of comfy flip flops would do for excursions and sandals would be perfect for the beach or for a casual walk.
Get permission from the proper people before visiting a sacred place. This might be a caretaker, holy person, elder, or the governing agency affiliated with the site. Be aware that even after attaining permission from a governing agency you may be offending indigenous people who may not have jurisdiction over their own sacred sites.
Exchange rates fluctuate constantly throughout the week as currencies are actively traded. This pushes the price up and down, similar to other assets such as gold or stocks. The market price of a currency – how many U.S. dollars it takes to buy a Canadian dollar for example – is different than the rate you will receive from your bank when you exchange currency. Here's how exchange rates work, and how to figure out if you are getting a good deal. For the more advanced investor, you might want to check out
01.A person may bring any sum of money in foreign currencies into Sri Lanka. This sum could be in TCs, Bank drafts or currency notes. However, if the total of such sum exceeds US$ 15,000, such sum should be declared to the Sri Lanka Customs.
02. If a person wishes to take out from Sri Lanka any sum in exceeds of US$ 5000 in currency notes out of the sum brought in as per (1) above, such person should declare the entirety of the sum brought in, even if it is less than US$ 15,000.
Contact Us
It is with great delight that we inform you that Experience Sri Lanka has commenced operations once more!
In the past two months, we’re certain you would have faced immense difficulty in being unable to conduct your business and family lives as normal. We hope this finds you safe and sound.
As the entire globe slowly emerges from the current health crisis, it is heartening to see the measures that have been taken by the Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) as well as the country’s major travel companies. We’ve described in detail how Experience Sri Lanka ensures safe tours during this period, in a shared link “ Health and Safety Procedures & Guidelines “ We would appreciate it if you can go through the brief procedures and guidelines and get back to us if there are any clarifications required.
A lot of effort has been put in country-wide, from the airports, transportation facilities, hotels, tourist sites, police and forces, medical personnel, sites and attractions, to tour operators and travel agencies, to ensure the country can be opened to the outside world in a safe manner, to display the island’s distinct charm once more. Travel has tremendous potential to heal lives, as it can revive the livelihoods of our country’s people while lifting the spirits of all our guests to the island. Therefore, we’re taking our responsibility even more seriously.
We look forward in delivering a healthy & safe travel plans and tours!
KEY POINTS TO NOTE
No minimum number of days is required for a stay.
All facilities of the hotel would be made available to the guests.
No restrictive quarantine required.
Tourists may visit up to 14 approved tourist sites under the safety of a bio-bubble.
Tourists must stay at a certified ‘Safe and Secure’ Level 1 hotel for upto 14 days of their stay.
Pay for PCR Tests ( 40 USD per PCR test depending on the number of days of the stay) when applying for visa online and for insurance (12 USD) with one month cover of 50,000 USD.
Currently no exceptions would be made for vaccinations taken; all safety protocols should be adhered to regardless.
