Escorted Tours 2022-23 2nd Edition

17 Hundreds more escorted tours are available on our website www.mercuryholidays.co.uk Southern Asia and enjoy Passikudah’s powder-white sands and emerald waters on Sri Lanka’s laid-back, less- visited east coast. Day 9: Passikudah to Kandy B/L/D After breakfast, travel toward Kandy, visiting a spice garden in Matale on route. After lunch, continue to the Central Hills Kandy 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 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 the colourful saris of the women working in them. Lunch will be served in a local village, Ella, with far- reaching views over the misty landscapes beyond. Day 13: Udawalawe to Tissamaharama B/L/D Rising early this morning, embark on a Jeep safari within Udawalawe National Park, home to elephants, deer, water buffalo, monkeys and a variety of bird species. Just outside the park is the Elephant Transit Home, an inspirational project started to rehabilitate injured elephants. The rest of the day is at leisure. Day 14: Tissamaharama and Yala National Park B/L/D After some free time this morning, enjoy a Jeep safari in the nearby Yala national park awaits. Seek elephants, sloths, deer and, with the highest density of leopards in the world, you may even be lucky enough to spot one of these elusive animals. Day 15: Tissamaharama to Mirissa B/L/D Departing Tissamaharama, you will travel to the Mirissa. The idyllic crescent of beach, fringed with coconut palms and soft golden sands, is the perfect place to crack open a coconut and relax. Day 16: Mirissa and Galle B/L/D This morning, you will travel to Galle, an ancient fort and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This national treasure has been inhabited by the Portuguese, Dutch and British, all of whom left their distinctive marks, visible through the sleepy streets strewn with colonial buildings, restaurants and small boutique shops. Day 17: Mirissa to the UK B After breakfast, transfer to Colombo for your return flight, or continue on to your chosen extension. Extend your tour Highlights of Kerala, 5 nights from £399 Colombo city stay, 2 nights, 4 H from £179 Sri Lanka beach stay, 4 nights, All-Inclusive 4 H from £299 or 5 H from £399 Maldives beach stay, 4 nights, 4 H All-Inclusive from £799 Tour includes • All meals daily • 4 H accommodation: Colombo-Ramada Resort, Dambulla- Amaya Lake, Passikudah-The Calm Resort, Kandy-Amaya Hills, Nuwara Eliya-Araliya Green Hills, Udawalawe-Grand Udawalawe Safari Resort, Tissamaharama-Mandara Rosen, Mirissa-Mandara Resort • Flights from London Heathrow with Sri Lankan Airlines. Regional departures available from Glasgow Tour pace: Challenging No Single Supplement Rooms available with no single supplement. Once sold, single supplement starts from £659 Colombo Polonnaruwa Dambulla Please note that Yala National Park may be closed for 30 days each year commencing around the month of September. The tour will visit Lunugamwehera National Park instead. Departures & from prices 2 Nov 22 £2,149 24 May 23 £1,999 9 Nov 22 £2,299 7 Jun 23 £2,099 23 Nov 22 £2,299 21 Jun 23 £2,099 4 Jan 23 £3,099 26 Jul 23 £3,099 11 Jan 23 £2,799 9 Aug 23 £2,799 18 Jan 23 £2,649 6 Sep 23 £2,399 25 Jan 23 £2,649 13 Sep 23 £2,299 1 Feb 23 £2,649 20 Sep 23 £2,299 8 Feb 23 £2,599 4 Oct 23 £2,299 15 Feb 23 £2,599 18 Oct 23 £2,399 8 Mar 23 £2,499 1 Nov 23 £2,399 15 Mar 23 £2,299 8 Nov 23 £2,399 19 Apr 23 £2,199 22 Nov 23 £2,499 26 Apr 23 £2,299 2024 DATES AVAILABLE AT 2023 PRICES • Upgrade to a Private Tour from £169