transportation
All questions

Spice gardens in Sri Lanka - which ones are genuine vs tourist traps?

Seen by 4,040 travellers
Jump to the accepted answer
O
Omar Bakir90820 rep2

Every driver seems to want to stop at a spice garden. How do I know which ones are authentic and not just overpriced tourist shops?

35

3 Answers from travellers

Accepted Answer

Most roadside 'spice gardens' are tourist traps with high-pressure sales. If you want a genuine experience, visit a working spice plantation like those around Matale or Kandy that supply exporters. Or ask a local guesthouse owner to take you to a small family spice garden where they actually grow and process for local use. You can buy good quality spices in supermarkets or dedicated shops in Colombo (like at Good Market) without the tour.

40
S
Sunil Jayawardena591690 rep1

Avoiding the driver-recommended ones then. Will ask at our guesthouse.

35
O
Omar Bakir90820 rep2

The ones attached to big hotels or on the main tourist routes are usually the worst. Small village ones are better but hard to find without local connections.

11
D
Dilki Gunaratne504960 rep1

You must be logged in to post an answer.

Log In to Answer
Browse all questions