Escorted Tours 2022-23 2nd Edition

13 Hundreds more escorted tours are available on our website www.mercuryholidays.co.uk Southern Asia 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. 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. Day 7: Yala B/L/D After a morning at leisure, an exhilarating Jeep safari in the nearby Yala National Game Park awaits; covering a vast 1200 square kilometres, Yala is the second largest national park in Sri Lanka, boasting a unique oceanfront position. Home to an extensive range of flora and fauna, listen out for the tuneful chanting of migratory and indigenous birds, whilst darting around the park’s rocky pathways, zigzagging past towering trees and swampy lagoons in search of roaming elephants, sloth bears, buffaloes and leopards. Day 8: Yala to Colombo B/L/D Journey to the sleepy fortified city of Galle to embark on a city tour of the former chief port of Ceylon and centre of the 17th century Dutch regime. Famed for being Asia’s largest remaining fortress built by European occupiers, discover the majestic Galle Fort and surrounding buildings, whose distinctive appearance serves as a reminder of the Dutch heritage which once ruled the country. Within the walled city of Galle, uncover a mix of boutique art galleries and shops infused with the authentic scents of traditional Sri Lankan spices, before travelling north for your final night at the world-famous Mount Lavinia Hotel. Positioned on a rocky headland overlooking the Indian Ocean and exuding colonial charm, this 200-year-old hotel was once the Governor’s Residence when Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) was under British rule. Day 9: Colombo to the UK B Transfer to the airport for your flight to the UK or continue on your chosen extension. Extend your tour Sri Lanka beach stay, 4 nights, All-Inclusive 4 H from £299 or 5 H from £389 Maldives beach stay, 4 nights, 4 H All-Inclusive from £799 Highlights of Kerala, 5 nights, B&B from £439 Colombo city stay, 2 nights, 4 H from £179 Tour includes • All meals daily • 4 H accommodation: Dambulla-Amaya Lake, Kandy-Amaya Hills, Yala-Chaarya Resort and Spa, Colombo- Mount Lavinia • Flights from London Heathrow with Sri Lankan Airlines. Regional departures available from Glasgow Tour pace: Intermediate No Single Supplement Rooms available with no single supplement. Once sold, single supplement starts from £349 Please note that Yala National Park may be closed for 30 days each year commencing around the month of September. The tour will visit Udawalawe National Park instead. Elephants, Yala National Park Galle Maldives Nuwara Eliya Departures & from prices 10 Nov 22 £1,699 1 Jun 23 £1,599 17 Nov 22 £1,649 8 Jun 23 £1,629 12 Jan 23 £1,869 6 Jul 23 £2,049 26 Jan 23 £1,919 3 Aug 23 £2,049 2 & 16 Feb 23 £1,819 31 Aug 23 £1,799 2 Mar 23 £1,819 14 Sep 23 £1,779 16 Mar 23 £1,819 28 Sep 23 £1,659 23 Mar 23 £1,929 12 Oct 23 £1,659 20 Apr 23 £2,179 26 Oct 23 £1,789 27 Apr 23 £1,879 9 Nov 23 £1,819 11 May 23 £1,679 16 Nov 23 £1,769 2024 DATES AVAILABLE AT 2023 PRICES • Solo Group departures available 15 Jun 23 from £1,689 and 7 Sep 23 from £1,789 Dambulla Rock Temple