Driver already slowing for a Matale spice garden - is this a two-hour oil sales pitch or a real farm
Kandy to Dambulla tomorrow. He said famous spice garden, ten minutes, complimentary tea. Reddit said they lock the door until you buy cinnamon oil at airport prices. Is there a decent one or do we tell him to keep driving.
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4 Answers from travellers
Most roadside "gardens" on the A9 are commission stops. You will get a walk, a massage offer, and a hard sell on oils you can buy in a supermarket for a third. If you actually care, pick a working estate you researched (named farm, reviews that mention you can leave, prices on a board) or visit a town market and smell the real stuff. "Complimentary tea" is the hook.
We did one. Nice plants, 40-minute lecture, then a hut with USD 40 bottles. We bought a tiny cinnamon pack and walked. Driver was sulky. Worth telling him before the turn: no shop, just photos if we stop.
I get a lunch if you buy. That is the economy. You can say no. I will still drive you.
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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