Step inside the walls of one of Asia’s finest living heritage cities on this richly rewarding day tour to Galle Fort. Built by the Portuguese in 1588 and dramatically expanded by the Dutch in the 17th century, Galle Fort is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of character, a walled colonial city where time seems to move at a different pace. Wander its cobbled lanes past Dutch townhouses, boutique galleries, independent cafes, and the iconic lighthouse overlooking the Indian Ocean. Your guide will lead you through the fort’s hidden history, the ramparts used as lookout posts against pirates, the Dutch church where merchants were buried beneath the floor, and the stories of the trading families who made Galle one of the great ports of the East. The coastal drive south from Colombo through the beach towns of Beruwala, Bentota, and Ambalangoda is itself scenic and rewarding.