Tea Factory

Tea tourism has been long-established in Sri Lanka and almost every tea factory offers a tea tour of some sort. The tours don’t take too long and can be done en route whilst you are travelling through the tea country. Your guide can help you pick out a suitable tea factory based on your route or preferences.

Once in the tea factory, you would generally start out in the plantation itself to learn about how tea is cultivated, then visit the factory where ancient machines pre-dating the industrial revolution wither, roll and dry the tea. There is normally a little time at the end of the tour for a tea tasting, either of one specific type of tea or occasionally of the various specialties of that particular factory.

Much like a wine tasting, a traditional tea tasting would involve drinking tea (without milk), swilling it around the mouth to get the taste, and then spitting it out into a spittoon. A few tea factories stick to these traditional methods, although the spittoon method is not so popular these days! Some of the larger tea factories can get extremely crowded with tourists so do be prepared for the fact that this is a very touristic experience, but entrance costs are usually nominal or free, and it’s definitely worth your time to pay a visit, even if only to get a chance to see the antique machines at work. If you would prefer a slightly more private tailored experience, this can be arranged by your travel consultant.

Spice Gardens

Sri Lanka has always been reknowned for its spices. Over 15 different spices call Sri Lanka home and many of them are traded in the international spice market. Cinnamon especially is endemic to Sri Lanka,and highest quality ‘true cinnamon’can be obtained here.

However if a visitor does not know the right places to purchase spices it is very easy to be duped for low quality spices or pay unnecessarily exorbitant prices. Visiting Sri Lanka which is a land of spices, without seeing those spices being grown would indeed be a pity too. So can both both, touring spice plantations and buying the best spices be done at the same time? The answer is –Yes!

Reasons you should visit the Spice Gardens of Sri Lanka:

1. The gardens introduce you to the different spices in Sri Lanka and their uses.

2. They also allow you to see how the spices are grown, harvested and produced.

3. High quality spices, traditional remedies and natural cosmetics made with spices are available for purchase at very fair prices.

4. The Spice Gardens are also quiet, peaceful places to spend some time close to nature.

5. The gardens give a chance to try out amazing aromatic meals complete with the spices that tease your senses are a favourite here as well.

6. The gardens are usually open for visitors, though some may charge a minor entrance fee. So it’s a great way to spend your holiday if you are on a budget.

Not all spices are grown in a single garden, of course, since various climates and soil types are necessary for cultivation of the different spices. Therefore taking a guide or finding a formal tour package with a guide and transport method is a good idea.

gem mines

Sri Lanka is a land famed for producing some of the most stunning jewels in the world, the Blue Bell which adorns the British crown and the ‘Star of India’ being examples.Ratnapura is the place for gem mining in the island, and a visit to this city would enable you to see the process of digging the pits and washing the gravel containing the gems.

Situated in Sri Lanka’s south-east hugging the panoramic Indian Ocean, Yala was designated a wildlife sanctuary in 1900 and was designated a national park in 1938. Ironically, the park was initially used as a hunting ground for the elite under British rule.

This will give you the opportunity to see a variety of precious stone, such as rubies, sapphires, cat’s eyes, alexandrites, aquamarines, tourmalines, spinels, topaz, garnets, amethyst, zircons etc.

Moonstone Mines

Meetiyagoda Sri Lanka is famous for its precious gems and moonstones. Moonstones belong in the semi-precious category but are an important component of the gem business.Meetiyagoda, located between Ambalangoda and Hikkaduwa, is one of the few places where they are found in such high concentrations.

Villagers believe that this piece of land is blessed by the moon.

The moonstone is grey, yet finer versions are blue, and when polished, feels cool and smooth to the touch. At Meetiyagoda, you can see or even go down into the deep, narrow shafts from which the stones are mined. The small visitor centre will provide information related to this stone while the large shop on the premises sells moonstones as well as other stones.

traditional ayurvedic Spa

Ayurveda is an ancient system of medicine and therapies designed to heal and rejuvenate. It's widely used in Sri Lanka for a range of ailments and draws many visitors each year; some stay in clinics and spas for weeks.

Indulge, relax and bask in the restorative therapy of nature as you revitalize your senses and renew your spirit at Traditional ayurvedic Spa

Vegitable and Fruit Markets

Even if you’re not looking to buy a truckload of bananas, these huge wholesale markets in Dambulla/Kandy/Nuwaraeuya offers a fascinating look at the vast range of produce grown in Sri Lanka.

What you see being carted about with manic energy (be careful and stay out of everybody’s way) will be sold in Colombo tomorrow.

These Places provide opportunities for wholesale traders to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, directly from producers and provide facilities for consumers to purchase food items at cheaper prices.

Traditional Wood Carving

Handicraft of woodcarving in Sri Lanka has a long history. The tradition of woodcarving in Sri Lanka is visible at Carving shops. At these Shops, miniature replicas of the low-relief wood carving done by the traditional woodcarvers can be bought at fair prices. The three dimensional carvings of ebony Elephants, Buddha are popular in Sri Lanka. Wood-carved decorative panels are used widely in Sri Lanka in the trade of interior decoration too.

Wood carving is a form of working wood by means of a cutting tool (knife) in one hand or a chisel by two hands or with one hand on a chisel and one hand on a mallet, resulting in a wooden figure or figurine, or in the sculptural ornamentation of a wooden object. The phrase may also refer to the finished product, from individual sculptures to hand-worked mouldings composing part of a tracery.

Batik Gallery

Sri Lanka’s Batik making industry was only established firmly in the last century or so though records show that it was done earlier as well. Nowadays it is a small scale industry that provides job opportunities for many talented artisans.

Many colourful Genuine Batik shops and stalls can be found in Kandy. The shops sell Batik designed clothes (including some beautiful beachwear), wall decorations, table cloths, bed sheets and etc. Most are made of cotton, but some are made of silk.

Gem Gallery

visit a gem and jewellery gallery where you may inspect the dazzling stones at close quarters using a loupe, learning to distinguish quality based on colour, size, luster, and the absence of imperfections. Finally you will see the stones being set in to jewellery.

Come discover a whole world of Gem and jewellery.