Sri Lanka · GEM, JEWELLERY & BATIK WORKSHOPS
13 reviewed
Good gem, jewellery & batik workshops fill up in season here and the best ones fill up first. Below are the 13 to look at, with current prices and what makes each one different.
Join a 4-hour traditional silver and stone jewelry workshop in Kotapola near Galle. Hands-on ring making, lunch, and honest pricing.
“It was great. Did ring making.. saw the whole process and also go lunch too. Extra for the gemstones and design you wanted.”
3 hours in Colombo by Tuk Tuk with a private local guide, tastings, temples, markets, and a Galle Face sunset for $85.
“We had arrived by cruise ship and had limited time for a tour. The booking process was very easy, communications were timely and we met Chinthaka as agreed. Five hours of walking & Tuk Tuks around Colombo. Some traditional sights and locations and lots of local, back street sights. We would never have learned so much without Chinny who was an amazing guide, full of facts, history and cultural insights. We absolutely loved it. I would definitely highly recommend this tour and Chinthaka.”
Make a one-of-a-kind batik cloth in Kandy. Learn wax-resist techniques with an English-speaking instructor, plus herbal tea.
“Unique workshop in a family home setting. Great fun, interesting and informative. Was given Tea and very tasty breakfast/lunch. Quite difficult to find initially, would advise you contact them to arrange transport as local tuk-tuk drivers struggle to find it and map position not very accurate.”
A hands-on jewelry workshop in Kotapola near Galle, learning gemstone basics and crafting a silver ring in a local artisan home.
“I had THE best day - we made two rings, with a great selection of stones to choose from. I brought two photos of rings (not the easiest designs) and have left with two rings which look identical. Lovely family run business, in the home - you can really see the care and love that put into this and it was such a special day for me”
Make a traditional Sri Lankan silver ring in Kotapola, learn design and techniques with an artisan, and take home your handmade piece.
“Amazing workshop, with lot of fun. Tharindu is exceptionally kind and it’s clear that his work is his passion. He showed every step of the process, and in the end I truly felt that, with some help of course, I had made the piece of jewelry myself. It was one of the best local experiences on the island!”
A private Polonnaruwa day with a real guide, key ruins plus quieter temples, ending at Parakrama Samudraya for sunset views.
“Tharindu showed us around the incredible Polonnaruwa ruins and was an outstanding guide. His knowledge of the history and stories behind each site made the visit so much more special, and he was able to answer all of our questions Read more”
Private Galle local day with Koggala Lake boat and kayak, Galle Fort walk, Handunugoda tea, turtle hatchery, home dinner, and gem jewelry.
“This tour was one of my highlights of my 4 Weeks roadtrip through Sri Lanka. Prabhat took a full day just for me and my partner, showed us around, explained everything, picked us up 30 min away, and guided us through places we would haRead more”
Private Ratnapura colored-stone tour from Colombo with a 25-year jewelry expert, heat treatment, cutting, markets, and mines.
“This tour was fantastic! Ahmed is so friendly and knowledgable and answered all our questions. It was really interesting to see how the gem industry works in Sri Lanka, from mining to cutting and selling. We would have been lost in Ratnapura without him!”
Escape Sigiriya crowds on a 2-hour Pahala Thalkote boat ride with tea, snacks, sunrise or sunset views, and bird spotting.
“It was amazing, the tour was beautiful and the guide was very nice and knowledgeable. We really enjoyed and recommended!”
Hands-on batik workshop in Kandy. Learn wax and dye techniques, make your own design, and take home your cloth after 3.5 hours.
“I had such a pleasant experience learning batik with Anuja and her children. Anuja was very patient and took me through the steps very gracefully and gently. I learned a lot about how to do batik and I got to take the piece that I made back home too! Truly a hidden gem in Kandy.”
Negombo to Galle in 10 hours: turtle hatchery, Madu River safari, moonstone extraction, Tsunami Museum, Bentota beach, Galle Fort.
“We were picked up by Dhanesh in the morning who was on time and introduced himself and ran through how the day would run very professionally. He was a very competent driver and we felt safe the whole day. Dhanesh was very knowledgable of the route, stops and Sri Lanka generally; he regularly passed on small facts along the way which were very interesting. Dhanesh was also very flexible in terms of stops, when we stopped for breaks / activities he was very clear we could take as long as we liked. He also asked if we wanted to stop at numerous additional places throughout the day which we did…”
Colombo shore excursion with a guided half-day route, Fort, temples, Independence Square, Galle Face Green, plus local shopping stops.
Private English-guided Polonnaruwa UNESCO day tour. Visit Royal Palace, Vatadage, and Gal Vihara with flexible pacing and bottled water.
“I enjoyed this visit very much accompanied by a very professional and instructed guide, who took me through the centuries of history in an interesting way. Strongly recommended if you want a complete experience of Polonnaruwa”
