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Well baths, toddy tapping, snake bite doctors: an authentic village experience in Matara

Wandering far from the path taken by tourists, but not too far from the path taken by travellers… is a secret, authentic village experience in the countryside of Matara. Embark on a guided 3 – 4 hour trail and experience unspoilt, authentic local experiences blended with some modern day technology. Visit local houses, meet the villagers, and try your hand at traditional activities like pottery making, paddy farming, and even having a fresh water bath in a local village house (local well)! Afterwards, tuck into a hearty Sri Lankan lunch, enjoy a culinary demo, and sip on a glass of fresh toddy before learning about how it’s tapped! Of course, you’ll also experience cinnamon peeling, riding in the village Tuk Tuk because you can’t be late for your appointment with the indigenous doctor, as well as visiting the village temple for a Dhamma Chat with the Chief Incumbent!

Ready for an immersive and authentic local experience in the South?
 

 



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Ranminithenna Village: the experience that funds the Leopard Conservation Project

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Nish : the travel experience designer who fights the good fight against tourist traps

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Well baths, toddy tapping, snake bite doctors: an authentic village experience in Matara

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Our policy in discouraging Animal Cruelty, Tourist Traps and Staged Tourist Shows

Animals Are Friends Too: Discouraging Animal Cruelty, Tourist Traps and Staged Tourist Shows

We at ExJ stay away from tourism experiences that are staged and involve animal cruelty and shopping traps that are contrived to exploit and deceive clients.

Even though some of the popular ‘attractions’ are not included in our programmes due to the above reasons, we have no objections in our clients making their own arrangements with our Drivers to visit these places.

 

Why we do not promote following attractions

 

Turtle Hatcheries

As this concept has serious negative aspects in terms of conservation, we do not encourage our visitors to patronize the turtle hatcheries, as not all of them are really turtle-friendly. We instead encourage them to observe turtles in their natural habitats.

Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage

When we became aware that the animal welfare standards there were questionable, we stopped encouraging our clients to visit the orphanage. We are pleased to observe that the Born Free Foundation has now adopted similar measures.

Elephant back rides – Habarana

There’s uncertainty surrounding the attitude of this place towards animal welfare. There may be a few ethical operators, but in general, we are not in agreement with how the place is run. We all would love a photo of us riding an elephant, but is a lifetime of pain caused to these magnificent mammals really worth a few fleeting likes on social media?

Traditional Village Tour with a Canoe Trip and Bullock-Carts – Habarana

This is a tourist trap where a lot of the trip is ‘staged’ for commercial purposes. Such fake touristic experiences will not give our visitors an idea of what life in the country is really like, so join us as we show you the real side of Sri Lanka. And at the end of every vacation, always ask yourself, “Did you feel that your holiday was ethical, eco-friendly, and reduced environmental impacts?”

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© 2024 Experiential Journeys (Pvt) Ltd. 20/63, Fairfield Garden, Colombo 08 (00800), Sri Lanka

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