Matale herbal & Spice Garden

Please be aware this is a tourist scam. If your driver suggests to visit here he will get commission, we saw our driver getting money from their shop. But the spice garden and their plants are nice, they give lot of information about the plants and uses and product that can be made out of the plants. It's interesting tough some of the claims of remedies are too much and I personally don't believe such magic cures are available. When they finish explaining plants they will offer to give a free massage using their herbal oils, but please be aware by end of the massage they expect and will demand a large tip. After the massage they will take you to the shop where they sell herbal products, the prices they ask are absurd and out of this world. And since they have done the tour, out of pity you might buy, but again you never know it will work. We also bought some products, which we never used other than the herbal balm. The prices are so high because the commission is shared along the whole network, from tour guide to driver to shop keeper.

Tourist scam. If your driver offers to take you here, be aware they are probably earning a commission on the seriously inflated product prices. By all means take the "free" tour which is somewhat interesting (although I seriously doubt the products can basically cure almost anything) but stand firm when it comes to purchasing if you don't want to. I bought something reluctantly and the bottle smashed in my bag on the journey home. It smelled horrendous so I'm glad I won't be using it as who knows what it actually was since there is no label, description or ingredients listed on it.

Entrance to the park is free. When we arrived a guy proposed to show us around, it was indeed interesting to hear about the products they create from the herbs. The guy also proposed to demonstrate herbs and oils with a free neck massage, his mates showed up and the first guy left. They started the massage and insisted to continue for a while. Be aware if you do this, they will ask for a large tip afterwards and the massage is not that good at all.

A government operated herbal and spice garden where the staff extensively explain you about the various herbs and spices they grow. Everything is 100% natural and friendly. It is also important to note that this would make it extremely expensive. There is a shop which sells their products and it is packaged to suit air travel too.

Very informative tour however most spices were not in season so couldn't see them on the trees. They have various products for which they do demonstrations and you can buy them in the shop. They also give you a massage with one of their oils. Use insect repellent before you go.