Tea Plantation Tour in Ella, Sri Lanka
4.5
Tea Plantation Tour in Ella, Sri Lanka
By Halpewatte Tea Factory Tour
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About
Our operations start around 8.00 a.m. and go until 4.30 p.m. Between those times, you can come and take your tour. Also, one tour normally takes around 40 minutes to 1 hour to complete.
When taking the plantation tour, you must participate in the tea-picking session. Before the session, we performed the customary worship of Lord Ganesh at a small kovil close to the plantation.
You will also receive your basket to harvest tea, as well as a small mottu. If you decide to take part in the tea plucking activity, you could perhaps wear the customary tea plucker attire of a wraparound saree or sarong.
Relax amidst the breathtaking views of endless greenery, tea estates, and surrounding countryside at our Sky Café from a mountain top of 300m above ground/1300m above sea level.
Indulge in a unique tea-tasting experience and discover how and why Ceylon tea comes in different grades and flavors to suit diverse palettes worldwide.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 1-80, max of 10 per group
Duration: 1h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More
- Gratuities
- Entry/Admission - Ella
- Start:
- Uva Halpewatte Tea Factory Tour, Uva Halpewatte Tea Factory, Badulla Road, Hela Halpe, Ella, Sri Lanka 90090, Sri LankaTravelers need to come to Uva Halpewatte Tea factory, following the google map location and come to sky café which is in roof top to purchased the tickets to go for plantation tour.
End:This activity ends back at the meeting point. - Not wheelchair accessible
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 234013P3- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not recommended for travellers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travellers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travellers
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 234013P3
From
£8.34
per adult
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Itinerary
- Uva Halpewatte Tea Factory, Badulla Road, Hela Halpe, Ella, Sri Lanka 90090, Sri LankaTravelers need to come to Uva Halpewatte Tea factory, following the google map location and come to sky café which is in roof top to purchased the tickets to go for plantation tour.
- 1We pride ourselves on being one of the best tea manufacturers in Sri Lanka and awarded for being one of the largest producers of Ceylon tea. Surrounded by lush green tea fields, the factory offers a number of activities, from trekking through lush green tea gardens, tea picking, and learning the tea manufacturing process to finally savoring your own cuppa to complete the tea journey.
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- Orit S0 contributionsTea tourRajha was a fabulous tour guide! We got to see all the steps in the factory and taste all the grades of tea. Highly recommend.Written 12 January 2025
- timm8680 contributionsGreat placeGreat place. Lovely location. Our guide Nethmi spoke excellent English and was very well informed. Highly recommended.Written 12 January 2025
- C7917WLannaa0 contributionsGreat tour of tea factory and tastingOur tea factory tour was great, and Siva was a very knowledgable, passionate and friendly guide. We learned lots about the process of producing Ceylon tea, and about the strengths, flavours, qualities etc. there was also a fun tasting at the end!Written 12 January 2025
- carmenoY2656DT0 contributions100% recommendedThe tour guide was great, as it was to see the whole process from picking to brewing. I went there on the day of my birthday, enjoyed the experience very much, and learned a lot. Seeing the old machinery and traditional tea-making process was truly special.Written 11 January 2025
- chathurat20170 contributionsGood tour with bes explanationNethmi gives us good guide.Thanks for the guide .For locals per person 1500 LKR .And under 12 years child free. You can see tea making process step by step and taste different kind of tea.Written 10 January 2025
- Departure610739619640 contributionsHands on tea picking tourVery full and informative visit. We learned a great deal and think we may become tea snobs back in the UK. The best way to visit is to do the factory visit followed by the plantation visit. It was a fantastic opportunity to begin to realise how hard the picking job is.Written 8 January 2025
- 441chloed0 contributionsWe learnt so much about tea and tea productionA great way to spend a morning or afternoon in Ella. Siva gave an incredibly informative and engaging factory tour, we learnt so much about the process of tea production. Siva was passionate, knowledgeable and engaging. It was a brilliant experience.Written 7 January 2025
- O9217LFjoannew0 contributionsAmazing!Amazing tour from Siva, so intelligent and share all of his knowledge on all the chemistry of tea - really makes you understand and appreciate the medicinal importance of tea - thank you!Written 7 January 2025
- Marimedusa0 contributionsMaking tea Know-how intriguingRajah was our excellent guide on this tour. Not only he unveiled for us so many interesting facts behind the culture, science and economy of tea. His explanation was also very intriguing and interactive, and I loved visiting the factory and learning so much about tea production. Halpewatta Tea Factory and plantation is definitely a destination for tea-lovers or just for the curios and Rajah THE GUIDE to search.Written 5 January 2025
- Lisa52o60 contributionsVisit the tea fieldsWe had a very interesting tour with Sallay. He explained so much about the whole process and the tea plants. We did the tea plantation tour outside. Definitely recommend this!Written 4 January 2025
- DayTrip311702389460 contributionsFun, informative tourThe tour of the factory was incredibly interesting... we had Siva guide us then take us for a tea tasting. His knowledge and passion for tea is a joy to witness.Written 4 January 2025
- LubosBr0 contributionsTea factory excursion.Definitely good experience, properly organized and providing overview about the tee processing. The excursion is finished by tea tasting.Written 3 January 2025
- Gayan W0 contributionsWe had Lahiru and Parami take us through the Halpe Tea Factory, they were exceptional with their knowledge! 10/10! 😊I will enjoy my tea more now! The tea plucking experience was fun and we enjoyed making our own green tea to taste and take home! Highly recommended!Written 27 December 2024
- Resort077532631460 contributions10/10 would totally recommend!Initially I'd just been planning on doing a factory tour with my family, but I'm so glad I decided to do the whole handmade tea tour. The fields were beautiful and plentiful and then our two guides, Parami and Lahiru were nothing if not thorough and utterly sweet. They were informative, kind, and passionate in a way where you can tell they genuinely loved the tea making process. All of us were so captivated, throughout the entirety of the tour and came out feeling like we truly learned something. It was a wonderful experience and I can't recommend it enough.Written 27 December 2024
- 58hannahl0 contributionsSiva gave us the best factory tour! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Passionate and extremely knowledgeable. Siva gave an incredible tour. Felt lucky to have him give us the tour as he has so much experience! Thank you!Written 27 December 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members 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.
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4.5
173 reviews
Excellent
151
Very good
10
Average
5
Poor
4
Terrible
3
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Rachyr14
Melbourne, Australia25 contributions
Sept 2024 • Couples
Enjoyed this 1 hour tour. You can go anytime during their opening hours so it was nice not to be booked in to a specific time and more flexible.
The guide was good and the lady who showed us how to pick the tea leaves was great. She consented to her photo being taken. We did a tea tasting afterwards. Great for the price and worth doing in the area
The guide was good and the lady who showed us how to pick the tea leaves was great. She consented to her photo being taken. We did a tea tasting afterwards. Great for the price and worth doing in the area
Written 8 October 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.
Tim C
London, UK8 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
So much fun and educational. A great balance and guided by Sallay who after 50yrs working at the factory has given up retirement to lead groups around the wonderful art of tea making. We were given baskets and shown the technique and guided by Milarta shown how they collect their wonderful leaves. You get a true appreciation of how it would be to work there. The factory was interesting also as you wind your way up to the visitor area and shop. We had such a great time. Aprox 1hr visit and very worthwhile if you are nearby. 10/10
Written 24 April 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.
Jakub L
6 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
We came on Sunday when the factory was in operation. They still do tours though and we picked the Plantation tour. It was great to listen to Sallay explaining how the plantation work is organised and how plucking is done. I would love a little more space for questions. I am sure they would be happy to answer them but you need to actively ask them or else tour moves along fast as next group is already waiting..
Part of the tour was plucking tea.
Tea tasting was great and the person (Nishal?) serving the tea very knowledgeable and happy to answer questions.
The tour cost us 5 USD per person which is an ok price althought it is 3x higher than at Pedro tea factory in Nuwara Elia.
Part of the tour was plucking tea.
Tea tasting was great and the person (Nishal?) serving the tea very knowledgeable and happy to answer questions.
The tour cost us 5 USD per person which is an ok price althought it is 3x higher than at Pedro tea factory in Nuwara Elia.
Written 3 December 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.
Andreas S
1 contribution
Mar 2024 • Friends
Mega overpriced...
Picked tea for 20 minutes - then drank some tea and that was it...you didn't really see any of the real tea plantations.
I could have picked the tea for free right outside the door
Picked tea for 20 minutes - then drank some tea and that was it...you didn't really see any of the real tea plantations.
I could have picked the tea for free right outside the door
Written 1 May 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.
Polly
5 contributions
Sallay who led our tour could not have done any more. His introduction to the tea plantation and description of how different types of leaves results in different types of teas was very informative. The tea picking process with the help of a professional tea picker was fun but showed the skill and stamina required. To round of the tour with Sallay presenting tea tasting was a great way to end the tour. I would highly recommend.
Written 26 March 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.
Jamie W
2 contributions
Dec 2023 • Couples
Brilliant tour, saw the whole process from the picking through into the factory. Salay was brilliant host for the plantation tour along with his female colleague (forget her name) who was very accommodating and kind. Would highly recommend
Written 7 December 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.
Raji R
4 contributions
May 2024 • Friends
Salay was an excellent plantation tour guide. He explained all the grades and details of harvesting tea leaves, including interesting facts. It was good fun. We would definitely recommend him. Murugai was our on-field instructor, she was very quick in plucking the right leaves, and it was great fun! We ended it with tea tasting.
Written 31 May 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.
Debbie Oakes
5 contributions
Feb 2024 • Friends
The building was incredible; hardly changed from the 1940's. The tour was conducted by a lovely man who had worked in tea all his life. So knowledgeable. We were able to follow the whole passage of the manufacture from the freshly picked leaves to the final product. We then had a great tea tasting and could purchase the varieties that we liked (at great prices). A fab trip
Written 21 February 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.
Torkil
5 contributions
So the website talks about "fairtrade", "organic", etc. But it turns out (from the guides information) that the tea pickers here earn minimum wages ($3 for 20kg picked in one day and if less, its reduced salary), the production here is not organic and the fairtrade tea they have are leaves/bushes they've bought from other actual fairtrade farms. A lot of this is probably common practices and common knowledge, I just found it interesting how the expectations did not meet reality about a fairtrade/organic as it seems like the website is trying to convey.
The stars in this review comes from the guides well informed and interesting conversations and that it was actually fun to experience the tea picking ourselves.
The stars in this review comes from the guides well informed and interesting conversations and that it was actually fun to experience the tea picking ourselves.
Written 27 February 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.
LaxiSiva
3 contributions
Sept 2024 • Family
I went to the tea factory with my family to do the plantation tour. Our host Sallay was very welcoming and nice. He explained in detail the process of the plucking. Pushpa also explained well how the plucking works. The Cafe at the top was great too with very helpful staff recommending which tea to buy. We also got to taste 5 kinds of teas in the Cafe. The view from the top was amazing. Great experience, would certainly do it again!!!
Written 16 September 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.
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