Extend your stay with a 3 or 7 night scenic tour of Sri Lanka from �199pp.
Stopover# for 2 nights in Dubai on B&B from �129pp or Doha on your
return from �155pp.
No supplement for single travellers on selected dates.
1st child on All-Inclusive from just �499pp.
Longer durations are available.
PLUS:
SRI LANKA
A luxurious 5-star beach hotel at Wadduwa on
Sri Lanka's glorious west coast. The Blue Water
provides all the ingredients for a sublime tropical
holiday. Set in palm shaded gardens overlooking
the Indian Ocean, which includes a large
swimming pool and many other facilities including
a spa, excellent restaurants and many opportunities
for sporting activities.
10 NIGHTS 5 ON ALL-INCLUSIVE
* Adult `from' price applies to departures 01/09-03/12/08 & 16/01-23/01/09.
All offers are subject to availability and can be withdrawn without notice. Fuel surcharges may apply.
# Stopovers and add-ons are based on selected airlines and not linked to the lead in price
and supplements may apply.
BOOKING HOTLINE: 0844 482 4785
BROCHURE HOTLINE: 0844 482 4786
QUOTE REF: XKBE7Z9
Return scheduled flights from Heathrow. A supplement will
be payable if travelling from the following airports: Gatwick,
Manchester, Birmingham, Newcastle and Glasgow.
10 nights on All-Inclusive at The Blue Water a luxurious
5 beach hotel.
Elegant deluxe rooms which all have a balcony/terrace
& seaview, have individual air-conditioning, en suite
bathroom with bath and shower, satellite TV, minibar and
room safe.
All UK & Sri Lanka airport taxes and security charges.
Return airport transfers in Sri Lanka.
Services of an experienced Mercury Direct representative
in resort.
DEPARTURES: September 2008 - November 2009
Open 7 days a week
ITEMS INCLUDED IN THE PRICE:The beautiful island of Sri Lanka, often described
as the `Pearl of the Indian Ocean', has long been
famed for its superb beaches, scenic interior,
fascinating culture, history and welcoming locals.
Experience this for yourself by staying 10 nights
5 on All-Inclusive from just �799*pp at...
YOUR ALL-INCLUSIVE PACKAGE INCLUDES
Breakfast, lunch, dinner, mid morning &
afternoon snacks, tea/coffee, local alcoholic
drinks, soft drinks and juices.
from just �799pp
*
The Blue Water
T
HE memories, as they
say, will last you a life-
time. For once it's not
the usual holiday hotspot hy-
perbole, but a simple truth in
this natural paradise. Sri Lan-
ka is one of the most varied
places you can imagine, and
all compacted into a country
roughly the size of Ireland.
Situated just off the south-east coast
of India, it is a 10-and-a-half hour
flight from Heathrow to the capital, Co-
lombo. The tropical temperature was a
welcome reprieve from the January
blues, as our driver took us to our over-
night stop on the beach resort in Nego-
mbo.
Within an hour we were at the hotel,
checked in and lying on the golden
sands, surrounded by the lush palm
trees on the Indian Ocean coastline.
Indika was our driver for the first 10
days of our trip, and while that might
sound extravagant, it is by far the best
way to make the most of the island. He
delved into his country's Buddhist roots
as we left the following morning for the
Cultural Triangle. Buddhism is the pri-
mary way of life in Sri Lanka, with a
history dating back more than 2,000
years.
From the first ancient cities of An-
uradhapura and Polonnaruwa, to the
intricate cave temples of Dambulla, the
wealth of history demands days to
spent in awe of the sacred sites.
On our next day we were up at the
crack of dawn to travel to Sigiriya, col-
loquially known as the Lion Rock.
Climbing Sigiriya is a must, as this
1,500 year-old floating citadel in the
sky evolves into the one of the most dra-
matic stories in Sri Lankan history.
The sibling rivalry at the heart of this
tale is told through the visible frescos to
ancient engineering, topped with a
view from the top of the rock which is
unforgettable.
From Sigiriya we travelled south to
Kandy, one of the most popular destina-
tions for tourists, and situated in the
heart of the island, in the hill country.
Here, the climate changes from the dry
heat of Sigiriya to a more tropical feel.
On our way to Kandy, we visited what
is probably Sri Lanka's most famous
tourist destination, the Pinnewala Ele-
phant Orphanage. Set up in 1975 to
look after seven orphaned elephants,
the sanctuary is now home to around
65 of the magnificent animals.You can
engage with the tame elephants on the
river bank or even help at feeding time
with oversized baby bottles.
Arriving in Kandy to a hive of activity,
we witnessed the sacred Temple of the
Tooth Relic, where many Buddhists
make their pilgrimage.The temple is be-
lieved to hold a tooth from Buddha him-
self. Ceremonies take place every
evening and, if you can brave the
crowds, are well worth seeing, together
with an evening show of the wonderful
local Kandyan dancers.
From Kandy, we headed further south,
and considerably further up, to the hill
town of Nuwara Eliya, dubbed as `Little
England' and the centre of the tea-
growing industry.
Gone were the air-conditioners and
swimming pools of our previous hotels,
replaced by radiators and double-glaz-
ing, as our Tea Factory hotel was almost
7,000 feet above sea level.
The sight of endless hills packed with
tea plants, and the collection of ladies
picking the leaves is something else.
The journey up here is pretty special,
and you can choose your mode of trans-
port.The roads are windy with tea facto-
ries every few miles, or take the train
which gives an equally special experi-
ence.
For those with a little more spend, a
helicopter journey to Nuwara Eliya pro-
vides the ultimate panorama of the tea
estates and waterfalls.
If you've had enough of the English cli-
mate and want to head back to the trop-
ics, head down from the mountains past
the spectacular Devon and St Claire wa-
terfalls and popular Horton Plains, to ei-
ther colonial Galle or one of the several
beach resorts on the south west coast.
The choice of accommodation on the
coast is vast depending on your choice of
relaxation. The boutique houses are a
fantastic way to indulge in the quiet re-
treats, hidden amongst plush greenery
and water features whilst enjoying an
Ayurvedic massage.
If you have the kids with you then the
5 star resorts with all the facilities to keep
them happy are well spaced out with
long stretches of beach for them to en-
joy.
After 10 days of activity, we kicked
back and enjoyed the tranquil surround-
ings of Mount Lavinia.
Sunsets over the Indian Ocean, sipping
coconuts round the pool � that may
sound more like a real holiday to many.
But to travel to Sri Lanka and not take
the chance to see the staggering beauty
of this amazing island is verging on the
criminal. Go out and explore, and you
will be rewarded beyond your wildest
dreams.
Sri Lanka is a land like no other.

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