A village rubber tapping experience is a hands-on look at rural life in Sri Lanka's hill country and at how natural latex is produced. You follow the daily routine of a local farmer, from choosing the tree to collecting the latex.
What you do
- An early start: tapping begins at dawn, around 5:00 to 7:00 AM, when the cool morning lets the latex flow freely before the heat of the day thickens it.
- Choosing the tree: learn how farmers select mature rubber trees (Hevea brasiliensis) with a trunk girth of around 50 cm or more.
- The tapping cut: watch, then try, the curved tapping knife that shaves a thin strip of bark at a downward angle of about 30 degrees, deep enough to reach the latex vessels but shallow enough not to harm the tree.
- Collecting the latex: see the small spout pinned below the cut and the collection cup set underneath to catch the milky white latex as it drips.
- The rubber garden: a walk through the rubber plantation with your host.
Priced per person. Choose the number of people in your group when you book.
Good to know
- Meeting point: Beragala town. The local team meets you there and leads the way; the site is about 30 minutes away.
- Group size: up to 10 guests per vehicle. Roads to some locations are too narrow for large coaches.
Getting there
Transport is not included. Travel in your own vehicle to Beragala town, where the local team meets you and guides you to the start. If you are not travelling with a vehicle, one can be arranged on request at an extra cost.
