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

32 SRI LANKA MEAL PLAN: All meals included ACCOMMODATION Colombo 2 nights 4 ★ Ramada Colombo Anuradhapura 1 night 3 ★ Hotel Palm Garden Village Passikudah 2 nights 4 ★ The Calm Resort Dambulla 2 nights 4 ★ Amaya Lake Kandy 2 nights 4 ★ Amaya Hills Nuwara Eliya 1 night 4 ★ Araliya Green Hills Udawalawe 1 night 4 ★ Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort Tissamaharama 2 nights 4 ★ Mandara Rosen Mirissa 2 nights 4 ★ Mandara Resort, Mirissa DAY 1: UK TO COLOMBO Depart London on your scheduled, overnight flight to Colombo. DAY 2: COLOMBO D On arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel in Colombo for a welcome dinner. DAY 3: COLOMBO B/L/D An introductory half-day city tour visits the vibrant temples and bazaars of Pettah and the Old Dutch hospital, now home to some of Colombo’s chicest restaurants, cafés and shops. DAY 4: COLOMBO TO ANURADHAPURA B/L/D Today, you will head north to the ancient city of Anuradhapura, the spiritual heart of the Cultural Triangle. En route, you will visit the sleepy village of Mihintale and its nearby sacred mountain and temple complex. DAY 5: ANURADHAPURA TO PASSIKUDAH B/L/D Recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Anuradhapura’s city ruins are one of South Asia’s most evocative sites and contain a rich collection of crumbling temples, vast monasteries and elaborate palaces. Marvel at the sacred Bodhi tree, the oldest authenticated tree in the world. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before travelling east to Passikudah. DAY 6: PASSIKUDAH B/L/D Today has been left at leisure for you to relax and enjoy Passikudah’s powder-white sands and emerald waters on Sri Lanka’s laid-back, less-visited east coast. DAY 7: PASSIKUDAH TO DAMBULLA B/L/D This morning, journey to Sri Lanka’s second ancient city. Scattered over gently undulating woodland, explore the monumental ruins of the ancient garden city of Polonnaruwa. Afterwards, continue on to the scenic town of Dambulla where you will spend the next two nights. DAY 8: DAMBULLA & SIGIRIYA B/L/D Undoubtedly a highlight of the tour, today’s excursion is to the awe-inspiring Sigiriya Rock Fortress. The ancient city of Sigiriya is a World Heritage Site and the city ruins lie on the slopes and summit of the imposing granite peak, towering above the jungle below. Climb up steps carved into the rock face to see the fortified palace and enjoy the spectacular views over this ancient citadel. Return to your hotel for lunch and enjoy an afternoon at leisure. DAY 9: DAMBULLA TO KANDY B/L/D After breakfast, visit the Dambulla Rock Temple, where the impressive caves contain over 2,000 square metres of painted walls and ceilings. After time to explore, a stop will be made at a typical Sri Lankan spice garden. Arrive in Kandy this afternoon and head to the famous Temple of the Tooth which houses Sri Lanka’s most important Buddhist relic — a tooth of Buddha. You will arrive in time for ‘pooja’ when the heavily guarded room housing the relic opens to both pilgrims and travellers. DAY 10: KANDY B/L/D Cradled amongst misty hills, the small city of Kandy exudes history, culture and beauty. Explore the famous botanical gardens of Peradeniya, full of exotic palms, colourful orchids and home to over 4,000 species of trees and plants. Then, enjoy a tour of the city followed by an afternoon and evening at leisure. DAY 11: KANDY TO NUWARA ELIYA B/L/D Sri Lanka is one of the world’s largest exporters of tea and today you will travel to Nuwara Eliya, which has been the capital of this industry since the 19th century. En route to your hotel, stop at a tea plantation and inhale the heavenly scent of the Ceylon tea brand. DAY 12: NUWARA ELIYA TO UDAWALAWE B/L/D A morning tour of Nuwara Eliya begins today, driving through the lush, green tea plantations dotted with Journey to the heart of this captivating island, which boasts an incredible variety of highlights, from undiscovered pristine beaches in the east to ancient civilisations and sacred pilgrimage sites in the Cultural Triangle. Gangaramaya temple, Colombo GRAND TOUR OF SRI LANKA 17 days from £1,849pp TOUR HIGHLIGHTS ✔ Visit temples and bazaars on a tour of Colombo ✔ Beautiful beaches of Passikudah and Mirissa ✔ Explore the magnificent Sigiriya Rock Fortress and Dambulla Rock Temple ✔ Kandy's sacred Temple of the Tooth ✔ Ancient city ruins of Anuradhapura ✔ Nuwara Eliya tour and tea plantation ✔ Two wildlife safaris through Udawalawe and Yala National Parks ✔ Botanical gardens of Peradeniya ✔ Tour Galle’s colonial buildings and UNESCO-listed centre PACE: To book or for further information visit your local travel agent or call us FREE on 0800 408 0556