Escorted Tours 2024 - 2025

PLEASE NOTE: 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. Day 9: Passikudah to Kandy B/L/D After breakfast, travel toward Kandy, visiting a spice garden in Matale en 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 Kataragama 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: Kataragama 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: Kataragama to Mirissa B/L/D Departing Kataragama, 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. Yala National Park Colombo What’s included ✔ Return flights Heathrow to Sri Lanka with Sri Lankan Airlines. See p132-133 for regional flights ✔ Where you’ll stay Colombo, 4 H Ramada Colombo Dambulla, 4 H Amaya Lake Passikudah, 4 H The Calm Resort Kandy, 4 H Amaya Hills Nuwara Eliya, 4 H Araliya Green Hills Udawalawe, 4 H The Grand Udawalawe Safari Hotel Kataragama, 4 H Mandara Rosen Mirissa, 4 H Mandara Resort ✔ 44 meals ✔ 16 excursions ✔ Expert local tour guide Tour pace: Challenging The hotels were fantastic, Sri Lanka was amazing and our tour guide Ernest was absolutely fantastic. He took the stress out of everything the whole time. We would have no hesitation on booking another holiday with Mercury.” P. Dellar Maldives No Single Supplement Rooms with no single supplement are available. Once sold, supplement starts from £669 Departures & from prices Mar 24 £2,799 Feb 25 £3,199 Apr 24 £2,699 Mar 25 £2,899 May 24 £2,299 Apr 25 £2,799 Jun 24 £2,399 May 25 £2,299 Jul 24 £3,449 Jun 25 £2,399 Aug 24 £2,999 Jul 25 £3,499 Sep 24 £2,749 Aug 25 £3,099 Oct 24 £2,749 Sep 25 £2,649 Nov 24 £2,799 Oct 25 £2,799 Jan 25 £3,199 Nov 25 £2,899 • Lead-in price based on 22 May 24 & 21 May 25 • Tipping paid locally £112 pp per tour Save £100 on selected departures with code TOUR100 Extend your tour Sri Lanka beach stay, 4 nights, All-Inclusive, 4 H from £299 or 5 H from £369 Maldives beach stay, 4 nights, 4 H All-Inclusive from £829 Highlights of Kerala, 5 nights, B&B from £349 Colombo city stay, 2 nights, 4 H from £199 9 Southern Asia Visit our website or call 0800 954 9329 to book or for further details