The Galle Fort and Southern Coast Heritage Tour take you on a sweeping journey along Sri Lanka’s most scenic coastal highway to one of Asia’s finest examples of colonial heritage – the magnificent Galle Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site built by the Dutch in the 17th century on a promontory of land surrounded on three sides by the Indian Ocean. The drive south from Colombo or Negombo along the coastal expressway is a pleasure in itself, passing fishing villages, beach resorts and coconut groves in an ever-changing procession of coastal scenery. Within the fort, your guide leads you through a world of cobblestoned streets, Dutch-colonial mansions, hidden courtyards, artisan boutiques, ancient churches and the famous lighthouse at the fort’s seaward tip. The walk along the ramparts, where the old Dutch cannon emplacements now provide the perfect platform for sweeping ocean views, is one of the most memorable promenades in Sri Lanka, particularly at golden hour.