The 4 Sri Lanka Garden Tours That Earn Their Ticket

1.Ella : Cooking class with amazing Spice Garden Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 239 reviews · 4 hours · from $32Our pick

Spend four hours with Ella Nine Arch Spice Garden, starting with a guided walk among more than 100 spice and medicinal plants. Then cook rice, curries, sambol, banana chips, and papadam with local instructors such as Sam, Senaka, or Nalini. Vegetarian and vegan options are available.

“We had a really nice evening. The tour through the garden was interesting! We learned a lot of new things. The cookworkshop was also really nice. The cook was a really good teacher and verg kind, and the food was really tasteful! There were two other couples and it was nice to meet each other! We definitely can recommend to take this workshop”

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2.Organic Cooking Class with Garden Visit by Sinhagiri

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 65 reviews · from $28Best value

At Green Hut Nature Resort in Sigiriya, you’ll pick garden vegetables, cook an authentic Sri Lankan rice-and-curry meal with an experienced local housewife, and eat your finished dish. This relaxed three-hour class starts at 4:00 pm and takes no more than five people.

“It is a very nice experience to cook with a local who knows Sri-Lankan cooking, especially when you like the food. It's a great traditional kitchen and everything is clean and wel prepared. The tour through the garden is a bit thin since the garden was not really wel kept jet. I would absolutely recommend the course although its a bit expensive.”

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3.Day Tour to Elephant Orphanage / spice garden

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 20 reviews · 6 hours · from $59

Travel from Colombo to Pinnawala with an English, German, or French-speaking guide such as Pradeep or Ruwan. Watch elephants walk to the river, see babies receive milk, and enjoy a local snack stop. The spice garden may be included, so confirm the day’s plan before booking.

“Kann ich nur empfehlen! Der Tourguide hat auch mehrmals außer der Reihe für ein Foto angehalten, für meine Frau, die Geburtstag hatte, einen Kuchen und Blumen besorgt. Er hat sich um Abkürzungen und Sitzgelegenheiten für meine gehbehinderte Frau gekümmert und wusste genau, wo man stehen muss, um beste Sicht zu haben. Außerdem Abholung in unserem Hotel, obwohl es außerhalb des Abholbereiches lag. Es gibt überhaupt nichts zu meckern.”

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4.Madu River Boat Tour and Cinnamon Garden visit

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 20 reviews · 1 day · from $29

From Balapitiya, cruise the Madu River for 1 to 2 hours with an English-speaking guide. Expect mangrove tunnels, crocodiles, birds, a cinnamon garden, an island Buddhist temple, prawn traps, and an optional fish massage. Some stops may cost extra.

“Unfortunately our guide spoke no English and although kind and attentive, we got no information of the mangrove etc. The tour was a bit rushed. All in all still an interesting tour and worth going. Worried about the conservation of the mangrove.”

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