Bus luggage scams and seeing wild elephants on rural routes to Kandy
3 Answers from travellers
The luggage fee is NOT a scam. It is standard CTB public bus policy. Local buses do not have luggage compartments. If your bag takes up a physical seat or blocks the aisle, the conductor legally charges you for an extra passenger seat. As for elephants, you will not see them on the main Colombo-Kandy highway, as it is too urbanized.
If you take the bus from Kandy towards Dambulla/Habarana later on, you absolutely will see wild elephants crossing the road from the bus window.
If you keep your bag on your lap the entire ride, they cannot charge you anything.
Scam Watch: kandy
TukTuk or tour drivers take you to "gem museums" or "government-certified" gem shops. They receive huge commissions (up to 40%) on anything you buy. Prices are inflated 3-10x the actual value.
Men approach tourists near Temple of the Tooth offering to be guides. After the tour, they demand large "donations" or guide fees (5000-10000 LKR).
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