Mercury Holidays 2021-2023 Brochure

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. 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. Sri Lanka Tour includes • All meals included • 4 H accommodation: Dambulla-Amaya Lake, Kandy-Amaya Hills, Yala-Chaarya Resort and Spa, Colombo-Mount Lavinia Hotel • Flights from London Heathrow with Sri Lankan Airlines. Regional departures available from Glasgow Dambulla Rock Temple Galle Fort Lighthouse Elephant at Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage No Single Supplement Rooms available with no single supplement. Once sold, single supplement starts from £329 Solo Group From £1,529 . Travel with liked minded people. Private Tour Upgrade From £99 . Includes a private guide, transport and choice of departure date. Tour pace: Intermediate Ready to find out more? For further details, check prices and availability, and explore all of our holidays visit our website www.mercuryholidays.co.uk or call our experienced team free on 0800 298 9865 Extend your tour Colombo city stay 2 nights, 4 H from £179 Highlights of Kerala, 5 nights, B&B from £439 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 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. www.mercuryholidays.co.uk • 0800 298 9865 149 Southern Asia