Island Agriculture Tour

The port city of Colombo may be Sri Lanka's financial center, but the day-to-day creation of the country's exports lies inland.

Head southeast to the province of Bandaragama and start out at Kithsiri Mewan, a 1700-year-old Buddhist temple built under the overhang of a natural cave. Then, take a tuk-tuk ride over to Millaniya Agro Village, a farming town that produces some of the country's best-known exports, where you can see how cinnamon is peeled and watch a rubber-tapping demonstration by a local pro. Enjoy a delicious lunch there before heading back to the ship.

Sustainable Tours

This tour operator has received third-party certification based on the Global Sustainable Tourism Council criteria.

Shore Thing Highlights

See the Kithsiri Mewan temple's Bo tree — a sacred fig tree said to be descended from the tree under which Siddhartha Gautama reached enlightenment
Experience village life amongst the inhabitants of Millaniya Agro Village, observing the rubber-tapping and cinnamon-peeling processes
Cruise around the village in a classic tuk-tuk
Enjoy a local lunch with various Sri Lankan vegetables, salad, and fish — with delicious fruit for dessert

Need to know

Approximately 1 hour and 45-minute drive each way to/from the pier
Sailors in wheelchairs or with limited mobility should not select this Shore Thing
Sailors should bring bug spray/insect repellent, as mosquito numbers are high
A visa is required for this port. Please see your voyage documentation for details
Shoes must be removed at the temple entrance; Sailors should bring a spare pair of socks, as the pavement will be hot
Daytime temperatures can be very hot and humid — please prepare accordingly
Two Sailors per tuk-tuk
Sailor should wear comfortable clothes; shoulders and knees must be covered to enter the temple
Sailors should be prepared to navigate cobblestones, uneven surfaces, and approximately 60 steps at the temple
Comfortable walking shoes are recommended
The order of sites visited may vary
This Shore Thing operator has received third-party certification based on the Global Sustainable Tourism Council criteria
Sailors prone to motion sickness should take precautions prior to this Shore Thing

Experience shores the Virgin way

Local & Immersive Tours
Authentic experiences curated with local operators
A Sustainable Cause
Select tour bookings to help social charities
Peace of Mind
Modify/cancel up to 48hrs before where applicable
Priority Debark in Port
Be first ashore in all our ports of call
Safe and Insured
Our partners are licensed and insured
Transparent Pricing
No hidden costs, all-inclusive Shore Thing prices
Expert Travel Support
Pre-voyage to onboard assistance, always there
Stress-Free Returns
Ship will wait for you in the event of a delay
Convenient Collection
Convenience of one location to shop for your calls

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Browse All Shore Things

Shore Things are fully refundable to the original form of payment. However, please note that Shore Things are only fully refundable if they are canceled within 48 hours prior to the booked Shore Thing taking place, unless stated otherwise in a specific Shore Thing 'Need to Know' section. If you fail to either (a) cancel within 48 hours of the booked Shore Thing (or alternative time period as may be stated in a specific Shore Thing 'Need to Know' section), or (b) show up for a booked Shore Thing, you will be charged for 100% of the Shore Thing price.

If you make a cancellation prior to the first day of your voyage and within 48 hours (unless otherwise stated in the tour details) of your Shore Thing, you will be refunded to the original form of payment after midnight Eastern Standard Time (EST) on the day of cancellation.

If you make another purchase prior to midnight EST, after canceling a booking eligible for a refund, the credit from the canceled booking will be applied to your new booking. Therefore, you’ll only be charged for the price difference between the canceled and new experience. If you have remaining temporary credit left on your account after you’ve made another experience purchase, the remaining credit will be refunded to your original form of payment after midnight EST.

If you cancel a Shore Thing during your voyage and are eligible for a refund, a credit will be applied to your folio and not to your original form of payment.

Shore Things departure times and/or meeting locations are subject to change. We will make every effort to notify Sailors in advance via the Sailor App of any tour departure and/or meeting changes.

Island Agriculture Tour

The port city of Colombo may be Sri Lanka's financial center, but the day-to-day creation of the country's exports lies inland.

Shore Thing Highlights

Need to know