Handunugoda Tea Estate
Handunugoda Tea Estate
4.5
8:15 AM - 4:00 PM
Monday
8:15 AM - 4:00 PM
Tuesday
8:15 AM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
8:15 AM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
8:15 AM - 4:00 PM
Friday
8:15 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
8:15 AM - 4:00 PM
Sunday
8:15 AM - 4:00 PM
Full view
About
This place is temporarily closed.
Ahangama, Sri Lanka
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Handunugoda Tea Estate
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
570 reviews
Excellent
394
Very good
134
Average
29
Poor
8
Terrible
5
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LineJaniche
Stockholm, Sweden40 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
We arrived early (no booking) in the morning and was welcomed and informed of the specialty of the plantage the White Virgin. Then another guide took us around the plantage telling us about the different teas, how they grow and are picked. Me and my husband were the only guests.
On the terrace to a beautiful house we were served oolong tea and cake for free.
We were introduced to the manufacturing in the factory and then the tea tasting of 40 different types! Very interesting! You don’t have to buy the tea from the shop they have shipping through their website.
Before you leave you donate a voluntary sum, no individual tip is allowed.
It was a great experience- lot to see and learn, so nice breathing fresh air and walking in the lush plantation. Recommended!
On the terrace to a beautiful house we were served oolong tea and cake for free.
We were introduced to the manufacturing in the factory and then the tea tasting of 40 different types! Very interesting! You don’t have to buy the tea from the shop they have shipping through their website.
Before you leave you donate a voluntary sum, no individual tip is allowed.
It was a great experience- lot to see and learn, so nice breathing fresh air and walking in the lush plantation. Recommended!
Written February 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ollossm
Brundall, UK1,325 contributions
Jan 2024 • Couples
Had a really good guide, who was happy to take questions and didn't rush us through.
Tour was really interesting with a huge amount of information.
Scenery up here was amazing and it is so very very peaceful.
There was a lovely cup of sapphire oolong tea and cake, and both were really tasty.
Little mongoose paid a visit and we also saw a different type sitting close by.
The equipment was old and still working too. To see how it all came together from picking to machines to packing was great.
The tasting part....in the shop they had every tea they do laid out to taste. Too many and the flavours became mixed as no way to really cleanse mouth between tea.
That said there were some stunning teas to be tried.
No hard sell in the shop either and for local produced, single estate tea pricing was very reasonable we thought.
The cost of the guide, the tour and tea and cake.....an unbelievable £1.60 / 640LKR
Stunning value and highly recommended
Tour was really interesting with a huge amount of information.
Scenery up here was amazing and it is so very very peaceful.
There was a lovely cup of sapphire oolong tea and cake, and both were really tasty.
Little mongoose paid a visit and we also saw a different type sitting close by.
The equipment was old and still working too. To see how it all came together from picking to machines to packing was great.
The tasting part....in the shop they had every tea they do laid out to taste. Too many and the flavours became mixed as no way to really cleanse mouth between tea.
That said there were some stunning teas to be tried.
No hard sell in the shop either and for local produced, single estate tea pricing was very reasonable we thought.
The cost of the guide, the tour and tea and cake.....an unbelievable £1.60 / 640LKR
Stunning value and highly recommended
Written January 16, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Oreng
Jerusalem, Israel1,547 contributions
Jan 2020 • Family
A beautiful frozen in time Tea Estate, we arrived and where greeted by a guide that walked us along the White Tea plantation and showed us the Rubber trees and Cinnamon trees.
We saw women harvesting the tea leaves by hand and heard various explanations.
Then we arrived at a beautiful colonial style villa at the top of the hill where we got a peace of cake and cup of delicious tea, after relaxing in the cool breeze we toured the villa saw a Mongoose crossing the path and went down to the tea factory witnessing the same 150 year old machines still working today drying and separating the tea leaves.
And finally ended up at the shop where we tasted all of the tea varieties and bought some tea to take with us.
We saw women harvesting the tea leaves by hand and heard various explanations.
Then we arrived at a beautiful colonial style villa at the top of the hill where we got a peace of cake and cup of delicious tea, after relaxing in the cool breeze we toured the villa saw a Mongoose crossing the path and went down to the tea factory witnessing the same 150 year old machines still working today drying and separating the tea leaves.
And finally ended up at the shop where we tasted all of the tea varieties and bought some tea to take with us.
Written December 31, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
karenrhoades
Bognor Regis, UK90 contributions
Jan 2020
Well I cant believe all the good reviews of this place, I will tell you how it was for us. We arrived around 8.20 am no one was around. Our driver went off to find someone we were then told quite curtly by an older gentleman guide that we were too early and would have to wait ( your website clearly says tours start at 8am) We were asked to sit in the shop on damp cushions and given a tatty dog eared sheet explaining all the teas they manufacture. About 15 mins later we summoned by the guide just the two of us as no one else had arrived who fleetingly told us about the virgin tea, peppercorns and cinnamon. He told us that 100 people worked on the estate. He then walked us up to the bungalow at record speed passing just 2 x pickers. I had to be quick to take photos as he was desperate to keep going. Tea and cake was served at the bungalow...might be a heathen but tea was awful prefer my Yorkshire blend. We were taken to the so called factory, not one machine was in operation or staff working when do they manufacture all this tea? my doubts are not here looking at the ancient machinery. We also entered there with no hair nets strategically placed were pots of tea leaves of which he put some into my sweaty hand for me to pour it back...yuck !!!We were then had to trudge back down to the shop to sample all the teas. Cant say I was enthralled with any of them bar one. We decided to buy one box you could tell the guide was upset that's all we were spending so tried to get us to buy cinnamon sticks, we have our own catering business back home and have buckets of cinnamon. Disappointed with what we were going to buy he walked off..no goodbyes etc etc Came away with little knowledge the place is run down, glad we only stopped here enroute to National park would have been miffed if we had paid a taxi or tour guide to take us here. Whilst this is free run by volunteers this place is just a ploy to sell tea.
Written January 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dilan D
Kalutara, Sri Lanka5 contributions
Feb 2020
Although this is a free place to visit, it is not useful to visit there.
1) Actually this is situated in Down South, therefore the climate is not good for a quality product. - the best Ceylon tea we can found in Hill country.
2) If you visit here you can get an actual experience of a real tea factory. This place will mislead you and will give wrong information.
3) When comparing the price with the best tea in Sri Lanka, this is very expensive.
4) Also the staff is not friendly.
5) Finally I'm saying this is kind of a scam that will mislead you.
1) Actually this is situated in Down South, therefore the climate is not good for a quality product. - the best Ceylon tea we can found in Hill country.
2) If you visit here you can get an actual experience of a real tea factory. This place will mislead you and will give wrong information.
3) When comparing the price with the best tea in Sri Lanka, this is very expensive.
4) Also the staff is not friendly.
5) Finally I'm saying this is kind of a scam that will mislead you.
Written March 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Elena Ciocan
Timisoara, Romania1,721 contributions
Mar 2019
This was a unique experience! The gentleman who welcomed us asked where are we from and then greeted us and told us to follow him in our own language! Such a nice man, he was making an effort to learn words in all kind of languages. The estate is so beautiful, besides the tea we saw rubber tree, pepper plant. They served us with tea and cookies, showed old equipment, it was relaxing and educational.
Written February 28, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
oldskoollondon
London633 contributions
Apr 2022 • Family
We absolutely loved our visit to this very special plantation. Had a great tour which was just the right length for our hot kids who at 8 and 11 didn’t exactly have a tea plantation on their list of to-dos!
Plantation is extremely beautiful and on our little walk we saw lots of tea plants and also wildlife and herbs. Factory was really interesting too. The tea and amazing cake on the verandah was really welcome (kids loved it!) and the tea tasting was incredibly well done too with all the different teas available for tasting - again something the kids really enjoyed.
Others have said the teas are expensive. All I can say is that in the UK they would cost a lot more so we certainly bought quite a few.
A really fun visit for the whole family and easy to fit into the day if you’re in the Galle area.
Plantation is extremely beautiful and on our little walk we saw lots of tea plants and also wildlife and herbs. Factory was really interesting too. The tea and amazing cake on the verandah was really welcome (kids loved it!) and the tea tasting was incredibly well done too with all the different teas available for tasting - again something the kids really enjoyed.
Others have said the teas are expensive. All I can say is that in the UK they would cost a lot more so we certainly bought quite a few.
A really fun visit for the whole family and easy to fit into the day if you’re in the Galle area.
Written April 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Rachel L
Singapore, Singapore18 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
Such a fun stop to learn more about a low grown tea plantation - we really enjoyed the tour by our knowledgeable guide Vellamuthu, who introduced us to the variety of vegetation being grown on the plantation, let us taste a whole gamut of teas and shared lots of interesting insights about the tea making process! The tour even included a slice of cake and a cup of their Sapphire Oolong tea - delightful! Highly recommend this stop if you're looking to learn more about tea and also about a really interesting process of cultivating white tea that referenced ancient Chinese methods.
Written November 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Louise H
England, UK33 contributions
Nov 2023 • Couples
I read online about this Tea plantation and reasonable price for walking tour entry with cake and tea tasting followed by factory tour and shop.
We visited with our tuck tuck driver who was not permitted to join the tour (not entirely sure of the true reason)!
The guy conducting the walking tour was informative and the tea and cake was delicious!
The factory was larger than thought with old machinery still in use and shown each stage of the process.
The tasting and shop was nice to enjoy but prices of tea seemed very so high especially in dollars which was a shame as they would be perfect gifts if they were more reasonable!!
We visited with our tuck tuck driver who was not permitted to join the tour (not entirely sure of the true reason)!
The guy conducting the walking tour was informative and the tea and cake was delicious!
The factory was larger than thought with old machinery still in use and shown each stage of the process.
The tasting and shop was nice to enjoy but prices of tea seemed very so high especially in dollars which was a shame as they would be perfect gifts if they were more reasonable!!
Written November 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Saskia V
Hattem, The Netherlands119 contributions
Sep 2023 • Couples
Nice to see, we went by tuk tuk from the hotel, the man from the estate tells his story perfunctorily and very compulsively, along the way he picks pepper and does a quiz with what he picks
He shows all the machines and the tea process, including a cup of tea and cake
It's fun, but the tuk tuk ride there was just as much fun
He shows all the machines and the tea process, including a cup of tea and cake
It's fun, but the tuk tuk ride there was just as much fun
Written September 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David M
Ahangama, Sri Lanka
Your comments are very carefully noted and in the first instance let me tender our unreserved apologies to you for the inadequate service.
Let me try to explain. We start our tours at 8.30 in the morning and there is an unending stream of visitors who at most times are given an individual guide, speaking German, French Russian and a few other languages.
We are very reluctantly compelled to have the last tea and cake service at the Proprietors bungalow at 4.30 pm. The tour of the factory and the plantation can go on till 5.00 PM. We have visitors arriving after 6 O' clock sometimes.
If you can tell us the time you arrived and the date we can take corrective action.
However I renew my apologies to you.
General Manager
Written August 6, 2018
Tony Q
Colombo, Sri Lanka
26 contributions
Like I said you should be flexible when you know that visitors are coming. The traffic conditions are tough now and your staff should not keep calling and saying that they have to go off so please make it before 4:30. That was so dissapointing, at least with a greeting on arrival and a small explanation that its too late for a tour of the estate would be nice, then they could at least show the guest a brief tour of the productuon area and bungalore will be a memorable one isnt it. Its all about being service oriented and caring that makes you top of your game. We as guides see the good and the bad of services around Sri Lanka, and just hope that Sri Lanka brings back that always smiling people service back that we are seeming to loose slowly and surely.
No worries will try once again to visit your estate with other clients again. Thanks for your feed back and Good luck for the future. My regards, Tony.
Written August 6, 2018
Do we just turn up, we are planning a day trip to Galle and would also like to visit the tea estate on the same day..Thank - you Tracey
Written August 1, 2018
Hi! We just turned up and they were ready to lead us around even if we were only two.
Eventually some more ppl came on te beginning of our tour, but as I wrote, just to turn up should be fine ;-)
Written August 10, 2018
Hi,
Would this estate be open on Christmas Day?
Written December 10, 2016
Yes, you can be in any day of the year I really talk with the manager and he said that their open in Christmas day. free of charge you can visit any day.
Written December 12, 2016
Is this Tea Estate entrance free? Are there buses that run from Bandaranayke Mawatha and is the bus stop close to this attraction? - Thanks Lisa
Written September 5, 2016
It's not charging for entrance, there selling some of there products specially tea, we can try before buy it. also you ask for the bus, no not possible to go there by bus, Taxi, Tuk tuk or motor bike is the best way.
Written September 7, 2016
Bonjour, connaissez vous les horaires d'ouverture ? Y a t'il des horaires pour les visites ou est ce en fonction de l'arrivée des visiteurs ? Merci d'avance.
Written February 6, 2016
Je ne connais pas les horaires exactes à mon avis c est ouvert toute la journée mais quand vous arrivez sur place vous partez directement (éventuellement avec d autres personnes)avec un guide pour la visite qui dure env 1 h. Je vous conseille de faire la visite le matin. Possibilité aussi de faire une balade à cheval sur place.
Written February 7, 2016
Miriam W
Colombo, Sri Lanka
We want to visit your estate end March this year. We will come by train from Colombo, which will arrive in Galle by about 10 am. From Galle, we will come by car to your estate. Can we visit the estate at any time or are there specific times? Do we have to make a prior booking to visit? Thanks
Written January 19, 2016
If you dear travel by train for only this attraction. you can get off the train in Ahangama. Then you can easily can take taxi to another 6 KM. 9.00 am to 4.30 p.m. it's open any day of the year. I give you the manager's Telephone number that you can contact him by Telephone. +94 777713999.
Written December 12, 2016
AhamedZ1975
Negombo, Sri Lanka
We are a family of 11 members including 5 adults. All adults and 2 kids are Sri Lankans by birth. Are we allowed to visit the estate? And how will you guide us if yes?
Written July 23, 2015
Hi Ahamed
I was just a visitor like you. I don't know their policy on race. All I can say is that I'm still enjoying their tea.
Good luck
Steve
Written July 23, 2015
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.