Spice gardens charging huge hidden fees, how to avoid.
3 Answers from travellers
To completely avoid the aggressive tourist traps, absolutely skip the massive spice gardens lined up along the A9 highway between Kandy and Matale. They use extreme high pressure tactics to sell tiny bottles of fake herbal oils for hundreds of dollars.
Alternatively, skip the gardens entirely and just visit the central municipal market in Kandy or Matale town. You will see raw, authentic spices being traded by locals at normal prices, which is a fantastic cultural experience.
Instead, visit the National Spice Garden in Matale. It is officially government run. The guides provide a highly educational, honest botanical tour showing you exactly how cinnamon and nutmeg grow naturally, with zero pressure to visit a gift shop.
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