- Sri Lanka Multi-Centres
- Sri Lanka Wildlife Safari with 5* Sri Lanka Beach Stay
Embark on an enthralling Wildlife Safari, providing an opportunity to witness the diverse and exhilarating wildlife of the island up close, complemented by glimpses of traditional Sri Lankan cultural sights. After immersing yourself in these cultural and natural wonders, treat yourself to a leisurely retreat on the sandy beaches. Unwind and rejuvenate by indulging in the full range of amenities offered by your hotel. Extend your exploration of the island at your own unhurried pace.
Depart on your scheduled overnight flight to Colombo.
Dinner
Upon arrival, you will be greeted and picked up from the airport. Proceed to your hotel and check in. The rest of the day is at your leisure.
Breakfast & Dinner
After breakfast, proceed to Tissamaharama and check in at your hotel. Transfer to Yala to embark on an exciting jeep safari at Yala National Park, the largest national park in Sri Lanka.
During the safari, you'll traverse diverse landscapes, with a chance of spotting leopards lounging on tree branches, wild elephants roaming in herds, and sloth bears foraging for food. Watch for wild boar and wild buffalo grazing, deer leaping through the foliage, and crocodiles basking near water bodies. The park is also a haven for bird watchers, with large flocks of migratory and indigenous birds creating a vibrant display.
After your thrilling safari, return to your hotel for a dinner and an overnight stay.
Breakfast
After breakfast, proceed along the scenic south coast to Galle, passing the iconic stilt fishermen in Weligama. Continue to Galle and embark on a captivating city tour, exploring its historic fort, charming streets, and vibrant markets.
On completion, visit a skilled mask carver to witness the intricate process of traditional mask making. Afterwards, enjoy a serene river safari on the Balapitiya River, where you can observe the diverse aquatic life and lush surroundings.
You will then be transferred to your hotel. The rest of your time will be at leisure. Make use of the hotel's facilities, or explore Sri Lanka further at your own pace, discovering hidden gems and local attractions.
The next week will offer you the opportunity to explore the treasures to be found across this richly diverse region. From ancient temples and stupas, to the caves of Fa Hein; from rejuvenating ayurvedic spas, to stunning gems and jewels only found in this specific part of the world – there’s plenty to pique your interest beyond the beachside bars and restaurants. And, for the more adventurous travellers, you could also take a day trip to Bentota where there are a range of water-sports on offer like jet-skiing, diving, windsurfing and parasailing.
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.
For five star luxury, just a few steps from a stunning golden beach, the Blue Water Hotel in Wadduwa is a perfect choice. Situated on the west coast, south of the island capital of Colombo, guests can relax and enjoy their surroundings whilst still being within easy reach of nature reserves and water sports as well as local bars and restaurants.
Imagine yourself surrounded by palm trees softly swaying in the warm breeze whilst you listen to the sound of waves lapping the golden sands just a few metres away. You're imagining the Blue Water Hotel….
This five-star haven is an idyllic place to relax and enjoy everything Sri Lanka has to offer. As you would expect of a hotel of this calibre, the deluxe guest rooms have everything you need for a comfortable stay including individual air-conditioning and a balcony/ terrace with a sea view. Each has private facilities with a bath tubs and shower, satellite TV, telephone, mini-bar, room safe and tea/coffee-making facilities. Superior Deluxe Rooms and Club Suites are available at a supplement.
When relaxation is on the agenda, you'll be able to try out the range of delightful choices available at the spa and beauty salon. Or simply lie back and enjoy the cool water of the impressive hotel pool.
And when activity is what you're looking for, the Blue Water Hotel offers choices galore – including tennis, squash and badminton as well as the beach just a stone's throw away. And in the evening you can even sample the live entertainment (7pm to 11pm) or take a turn on the dance floor in the nightclub.
For a holiday that ticks all the boxes – beautiful beach, excellent facilities and plenty to do – the Blue Water Hotel is definitely worth a visit.
This 5-star beachside hotel at Wadduwa on Sri Lanka's west coast, south of Colombo, has a sublime setting in extensive palm-shaded grounds which lead directly onto a lovely beach. Providing a wonderful setting for a relaxing holiday it is an excellent base for exploration of the island's interior, nature reserves and game parks.
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Please be aware that Yala Game Park is closed for 30 days in September/October. During this period, the safari will be redirected to Udawalawe Game Park, situated approximately 50 miles inland from Yala Safari. Rest assured, suitable accommodations will be provided for an uninterrupted and immersive safari experience.
If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of £295.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.
British passport holders are required to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) prior to travel to Sri Lanka. To apply, please visit the official website: https://eta.gov.lk/slvisa/ where ETA applications are currently free of charge.
Alternatively, if you would prefer assistance with the application process, we recommend The Travel Visa Company, who can apply for the ETA on your behalf for a service fee. Please call 01270 250 590 and quote “Mercury Holidays”.
Passports must be valid for a minimum period of six months from the date of arrival into Sri Lanka.
Visa and entry requirements are subject to change. Obtaining the correct documentation for travel is the responsibility of the traveller and not Mercury Holidays. We recommend checking with the Sri Lankan Tourist Board, Embassy, or the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office prior to departure for the latest visa and passport validity requirements.
We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras, including up to a 20% discount, which is given to all Mercury Holidays customers. To arrange your insurance with Holiday Extras, please visit https://www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/info/insurance for more details. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.
It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, www.travelhealthpro.org. uk, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.
A good level of fitness is required as you may be on your feet for approximately four hours in a day, though this will be interspersed with regular breaks and will vary from day to day. While on the Safari you will be having early mornings, having to get in and out of safari vehicles and drive along bumpy reserve roads. Our guides will always endeavour to provide the highest level of service and assistance; however, they cannot be expected to cater for customers who are unfit to complete the itinerary.
The currency in Sri Lanka is the Rupee (LKR) and it is a closed currency. This means it is not possible to buy Sri Lankan money in the UK before you travel. It is important to budget carefully as you should not take any Rupee (LKR) out of Sri Lanka when you depart. There are foreign exchange offices and cash machines available in most places during your tour. Your tour guide will assist you at the start of your tour with currency exchange. Credit and debit cards are accepted in most hotels and some shops and restaurants; a charge is sometimes added for using them.
As normal practice you may be asked for your credit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels as well as American Express.
You will need to take some extra money with you to cover any personal purchases, such as souvenirs, laundry and extra drinks and snacks.
We have no minimum number of passengers to run this holiday. If we are not able to operate your departure date for any other reason, then you may be asked to change to a different date and a full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.
For your tour portion, you will have a guide/driver with you during your excursions.
For the beach portion of your holiday, you will not be escorted by a tour guide. Your time here will be free to do as you wish. Details of your departure transfer will be confirmed by your guide at the end of your safari or by a representative in the hotel.
Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character, and can range from business hotels to leisure hotels. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist compared to what you might expect in the UK. All group tours hotels have private bathroom facilities and air-conditioning, where needed. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs.
Western and international food will be served however some establishments will serve traditional meals giving you a chance to experience local flavours. Vegetarian and Vegan options available, please request prior to departure. Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information.
It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed countries water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way. Bottled water will be available at shops and hotels/lodges.
During a full moon and religious holidays alcohol shops are closed and it is prohibited by law to serve liquor in any establishment on that day. However, it is not prohibited to drink alcohol purchased prior to full moon, but you need to do so in a private space.
In Sri Lanka they celebrate various festivals throughout the year, Vesak Poya is considered one of the most important Buddhist festivals in Sri Lanka and is celebrated on the full moon poya day falling in May. The celebrations begin on the full moon day and continue for a week, where every corner has magical and colourful lanterns. Thai Pongal is the equivalent to a thanksgiving festival usually celebrated in January, followed by the Sinhala and Tamil New Year which is usually celebrated in April, it is a festival were people ensure their houses are clean, purchase new clothes, and prepare many traditional sweets.
It is seen as respectful to cover your shoulders and not to expose too much skin in Sri Lanka, so it would be advisable to pack a shawl or similar for women to cover up, including wearing up to/covering your knees when entering religious buildings etc.
Please note that plastic bottles are banned in the national parks so keep a reusable water bottle for your tour.
On your arrival in Colombo you will be met by a representative from our local agent, Aitken Spence, holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. The Mercury Holidays/Aitken Spence representative will show you to your transfer vehicle. Your guide will be able to answer any queries.
If you need to contact Aitken Spence during your stay the details are:
Aitken Spence Travel (Colombo): 4th Floor, Aitken Spence Towers 02 315, Vauxhall Street, Colombo 02, Sri Lanka.
Contact number: 0094 112 499623
Emergency contact information:
Rizmika - 0094 772 916461, Kushani - 0094 760 530644
