Escorted Tours 2020 & 2021 - 2nd Edition - Mercury Holidays

28 SRI LANKA MEAL PLAN: All meals included ACCOMMODATION Dambulla 2 nights 4 ★ Amaya Lake Kandy 2 nights 4 ★ Amaya Hills Yala 2 nights 4 ★ Chaarya Resort and Spa Colombo 1 night 4 ★ Mount Lavinia Hotel DAY 1: UK TO COLOMBO Depart London on your scheduled, overnight flight to Colombo International Airport. DAY 2: COLOMBO TO DAMBULLA D On arrival you will be met by your local guide and transferred to Dambulla which will take approximately four hours. Enjoy the rest of your evening at leisure. DAY 3: DAMBULLA B/L/D Depart in the morning to explore the stunning Sigiriya Rock Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site dating back to the 5th century A.D. As a sole reminder of the vast brick lion that gave the rock its name, step behind the colossal claws engraved into the rock face and soar 200 metres above the jungle, to uncover a flat summit where the ruins of an ancient fortress lay, more than 1,500 years ago. Following lunch, continue on to the ancient city of Polonnaruwa which dates back over 1,000 years. Positioned advantageously to safeguard against possible attacks from the southeast, this former royal capital of the Sinhalese Kingdom supposedly has fewer mosquitos, as well as a vast assortment of archaeological treasures, so it is no surprise that Polonnaruwa has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site! During this afternoon’s tour, admire some of the city’s most revered relics including the crumbling remains of the Royal Palace and the distinctive Gal Vihara, famous for its splendid Buddha statues, carved into the face of large granite rocks. DAY 4: DAMBULLA TO KANDY B/L/D After breakfast, explore Sri Lanka’s largest and best-reserved temple complex which astonishingly dates back to the 1st century B.C.; the impressive Dambulla Rock Temple contains over 2000 square metres of intricately painted walls and ceilings, once embellished by former Kings as a way to mark their place of worship. Centred around a striking fifteen- metre-high reclining Buddha, hewn directly out of the cave wall, wander around a mere section of these exquisite wall paintings and stunning Buddha statues before departing for Kandy. Make a stop in a spice garden to enjoy the aromatic scents that Sri Lanka is world famous for. Next, continue on your journey to Kandy and enjoy lunch at your hotel before discovering Sri Lanka’s most significant religious relic at the sacred Temple of the Tooth; this golden-roofed shrine famously houses one of the holiest monuments in the Buddhist world – a tooth of Buddha, protectively concealed within an ornate gilded casket. After dinner, relax whilst watching an eclectic cultural show, where performers will dazzle you with elaborate costumes and traditional dances. DAY 5: KANDY B/L/D Today, discover the verdant landscape of Sri Lanka’s largest and most impressive Botanical gardens in Peradeniya; boasting more than 4,000 species of trees, plants and creepers, admire a vibrant collection of orchids before travelling to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage for an unforgettable encounter. Established in 1975 to care for a growing number of abandoned and wounded elephants, witness these magnificent creatures in close quarters being fed and bathed by experienced wildlife authorities. On a city tour of Kandy this evening, weave through the bustling market stalls of the arts and crafts centre which lavishly displays a wealth of antiques, paintings and wood carvings, and later, meander through a labyrinth of glistening jewels within Kandy’s extravagant gem museum. Kandy was the last capital of the ancient kings and after defending themselves for over three centuries from the Dutch and Portuguese, it finally fell to the hands of the British in 1815. DAY 6: KANDY TO YALA B/L/D Departing Kandy this morning, breathe in the divine scent of Ceylon tea on a morning tour of Giragama’s sweeping tea plantation, before participating in a walking tour of Nuwara Eliya, whose idyllic mountainside setting strikingly overlooks its neighbouring valleys, meadows and peaks. A truly tranquil district often referred to as the ‘Little England’ of Sri Lanka, take in vistas of misty hillsides, peppered with brightly dressed tea pickers en route to your hotel near Yala. Visit ancient temples of past civilisations, wonder at the beautiful botanical gardens in Peradeniya, meet the elephants at the Pinnawala Orphanage and take a safari through Yala National Park to spot an elusive leopard. Sigiriya Rock Fortress JEWELS OF SRI LANKA 9 days from £1,249pp TOUR HIGHLIGHTS ✔ Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Dambulla Rock Temple ✔ Buddhist relics at the Temple of the Tooth ✔ Watch elephants being bathed and fed at Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage ✔ Botanical gardens in Peradeniya ✔ Wildlife safari through Yala National Park ✔ City tours of Kandy and Galle ✔ Tea factory and plantation tour in Nuwara Eliya ✔ Overnight stay in the world famous Mount Lavinia Hotel PACE: To book or for further information visit your local travel agent or call us FREE on 0800 408 0556