Trails of Matale invite you to walk, listen and share a meal, discovering village life lived in rhythm with nature.
Trails of Matale is a signature village walk we have developed in the outskirts of Matale, located perfectly in the middle of the cultural triangle and Kandy, making this an ideal enroute experience which also helps to break the drive into two. Our team recently tried out this experience on a familiarization trip and we thought it’s the perfect time to feature it on this month’s newsletter.
The guidebooks will probably feature Matale for the (in)famous spice gardens but that is for the people who like to read and fall into tourist traps. Since that’s not what we are after, let’s throw away the guidebooks and join a villager who will take us through his village, hidden away from the main roads and where real life happens. Apart from the village guide, your main tour guide will also accompany you on the walk to help out with translations where necessary. To reduce the carbon footprint, this walk will be done without a backup vehicle which can be arranged only if absolutely necessary.
While many of the usual village tours will have things set up with a script, this one has nothing scripted. As you walk along, you will only see what you are lucky to see on the day. This is one of the most raw and authentic experiences you can get. Imagine walking through paddy fields with the villagers going about their daily faming activities, stunning views with the Knuckles Mountain range in the distance, a river flowing through the village with a gentle breeze cooling you off, birds chirping away as you walk along, the aromas of natural spice trees such as pepper, cinnamon, cloves and even coffee. Yes, it sounds unreal but good things does happen to those who wander off the beaten path.
As you slowly walk along while listening to the stories and folklore of the village guide, take a minute to breath in the fresh air and be thankful that such luxuries still exist. This easy walk goes for about 3-5 KMs and the duration will be around 1-2 hours depending on the pace you want to do it.
At the end of the walk, you will be treated with a feast like Rice and Curry lunch, served in the traditional style on a lotus/banana leaf and it’s Eat all you can! Likewise, a few traditional sweets will be served for dessert. If you are a fan of unscripted encounters with locals, this is for you!
For more information on how to incorporate this experience in our itineraries, please get in touch with us on sales.srilanka@khiri.com.