Colombo’s Fort district forms the focus of our popular walking tour led by local resident, Mark Forbes. Mark will guide you through the busy streets, alleyways, shops and churches of the neighbourhood, picking out hidden treasures such as the Dutch mansions, the iconic Cargills Building and other evocative vestiges of the colonial era. You’ll encounter the oldest clock-tower in Asia, see the original HSBC emblem and hear the story of how and why the British Government funded construction of the Grand Oriental Hotel, where you’ll pause for tea at a spot overlooking the bustling harbour-front. The tour winds up at the old Dutch Hospital complex, an enclave of converted 17th-century buildings housing trendy boutiques, cafés and bars.