Sri Lanka Private Ratnapura Gem Tour: Learn from a 25-year Gem and Jewelry Industry Expert

Embark on a private gem tour in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka, led by a 25-year industry expert. Learn about gemstone geology, formation, distribution, cutting, and marketing. Don’t miss this one-on-one gemstone experience!

Duration: 12 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Ratnapura - On our way from Colombo we will have our breakfast mid way , It will be a authentic Sri lankan breakfast , Our fist stop is at a Heat Treatment work shop after which we head to Experience gem markets first hand, Next we visit a gem cutting factory and head for lunch , After lunch we head to the gem mines.
What's Included
  • Bottled water
  • Gem Tools to use
  • Gem cutting Experience
  • Lunch
  • In-vehicle air conditioning
  • Breakfast
  • English Speaking guide
What's Not Included
  • gem purchases
  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Any Expenses of Personal Nature
Meal Options
  • Rice and cury - This a Sri Lankan meal that’s mainly eaten at lunch
Additional Information

Our guide is a professional gem dealer with 25 years in the industry , He will teach you the ins and outs of the industry, from the geology to the formation of gemstones, the distribution of gemstones in the island, the cutting industry to the marketing of gemstones in the west.
You will get to know the workings of an industry that has dazzled the…

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(14 Ratings)
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Wander58790856790
Apr 11, 2025
Best trip if you are into gemstones. - Great trip we took this Monday. Its a proper trip for someone who wants to learn about gemstone trade on the inside. It is about industry in whole and cultural traditions. Guide is super knowledgable and english speaking on a very good level. In addition breakfast and lunch was included and was very traditional and nice.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Kathalinep2023
Feb 23, 2025
A day in the magic world of Sri Lankan gems. - Ahmed picked us up at our prefered location in perfect time. Our tour lasted most of the day including a visit to the heating process, cutting and mines. He also brought us to the gem market in Radnapura, the gem city. He was very thorough in his explanations and gave us a lot of advice and best kept secrets of the gem industry in Sri Lanka. He never tried to push us to buy and as a professional gemmologist was very insightful. I totally recommend Ahmed and his tour, for the friendliness and attention to our comfort, for this field trip and gem hunting abilities. He is a totally professional and trustworthy guide, and we will be looking forward to work with him in the future as we are jewelry designers.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
T9452npsebastianp
Jan 16, 2025
Informative, interesting, and customized - I had a great time on this tour! Ahmad was attentive and personalized the experience around my interests. He put in time before and after the tour to make ensure that all expectations were surpassed. It's clear he loves everything related to the Sri Lankan gem trade and is keen to share his knowledge with his guests. Thank you!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Naomi_h
Aug 23, 2024
Well worth the time - 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!
Review provided by Viator
Compass12821058948
Jul 18, 2024
Great experience for the family - Crescent Gems and Mr. Ahmed provided me and the family with an excellent Gen Tour. He was very kind and thoughtful towards the kids. Provided the kids with coloring books so they don’t get bored on the way to the tour. He provided a great explanation of how gems are formed, patiently explained the different gems and their properties. He took us to see some excellent gem related sites that I won’t spoil. The tour was informative and the kids loved it as well! We were over all very satisfied with the tour and Mr. Ahmed’s hospitality. A definite recommendation for anyone interested in seeing and learning about Srilanka’s gem history
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Shinehteta2015
Apr 20, 2024
Unique Experience - He is very professional and knowledgable in the industry. Very patient and sincere with sharing all the information about gems from geology to market. Very calming and slow tour to let us explore and really learn something out of it. Unique experience to learn about srilanka gems
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Aryan_a
Mar 22, 2024
Ahmed is a knowledgable... - Ahmed is a knowledgable and kind host who personalised this tour to my liking. It was great to see the gem cutting and heating process in real life and also visit the mines. Highly recommended.
Review provided by Viator
Joffreyj371
Mar 21, 2024
Incredible experience! - Great Shipping I highly recommend. The price may seem a little expensive but we discover a side of Sri Lanka that few tourists have the opportunity to see. Amhed is a very good guide. His expertise in the field is very valuable. I told him I wanted to buy a sapphire. He guided me and organized stone presentations for me with serious suppliers in the region. He gave me confidence in my purchase and prevented me from being scammed. He was very adaptable to my requests. It was a wonderful experience, which I highly recommend. The price might seem a bit dear but you get to experience a side of Sri Lanka that few tourists have the chance to visit. Amhed was a very good guide. His experience is a real asset. I told him I wanted to buy a saphire. He helped me in my choice and organized a meeting with serious local suppliers. With him I was confident I was not being scammed buying a stone.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Betsybu351rd
Feb 26, 2024
Must do gem tour from cruise ship port - After going on 30+ cruises to 4 different continents I will happily say this was the best adventure from a cruise ship I have ever been on. Ahmed picked us up and dropped us off right at the port. The price included breakfast and lunch at delicious, clean, local restaurants selected by Ahmed. Our private tour felt like a backstage pass into the Sri Lanka gem industry. We were able to see every phase of the gem process, from the mine to the finished product, and Ahmed shared his expertise with us every step of the way. He showed us the Sri Lankan gem markets up close and explained the techniques the traders used and guided us on what to do and not to do. This is hands down the best way to get a glimpse into the gem industry. He patiently answered hundreds of questions from us throughout the day. Ahmed personalized everything for us. He learned what types of stones we were shopping for and used his expertise to help us secure them. I only bought the stones I wanted and did not feel pressured to spend more than I budgeted. He guarantees the stones are authentic and which eased my anxiety about making such a big purchase abroad. In addition to teaching us about gems we learned so much about Sri Lanka from Ahmed generally. He explained the local foods we were eating together at breakfast and lunch. He also added optional extra stops along the tour for king coconut, durian, and mangosteens. By the end of the tour, Ahmed was no longer just our tour guide, he became our friend. We are already looking at our calendars to see when we can come back to Sri Lanka and when we return we will hopefully be spending more time with our new friend Ahmed.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Getaway21213344554
Feb 26, 2024
Great Day. - Had an excellent day with Ahmed. He went out of his way to make sure our experience was more than we expected and he succeeded. Highlights included local breakfast and lunch, mine tour, heat treating tour, and gem shopping. Ahmed not only fully explained the various stages of the process from ground to finished product in English but answered our never ending questions. My favorite part perhaps was our gem purchasing because Ahmed freely shared his extensive knowledge and experience relating to Sri Lankan gems.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $175
up to 5 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).