Celebrity Millennium. Spice Route Cruise. Colombo, Sri Lanka. The Tuk Tuk Challenge! 3rd Feb 2026

Celebrity Millennium.
Colombo, Sri Lanka. 

3rd February 2026

The port of Colombo was far busier than Hambantota. A very busy port, with a lot of building and expansion going on. 

We docked at 07:00, and were cleared to leave the ship at 07:30. I had not booked anything so we did not rush to leave the ship, getting a shuttle bus to the Port Gate A1- that provides access to The Kingsbury hotel. 

Once past the port gate, there were many Tuk Tuks offering tours, having negotiated a route, and stipulated what I wanted to see and agreeing 'no shopping' and agreed a price we got in.

At first the driver was OK, calling at a Hindu temple, the lotus tower and the park with the golden Buddha. 

The next day was Independence Day celebrations, so many areas were getting ready for the event. 

Colombo

The dreaded tuk tuk 

Colombo - all going well up to this point!

At this point things went a bit array, as I said, when negotiating the ride I had stipulated no shopping, our next stop was a shop. He was very insistent that it was a Government approved shop and to go in. I was just as insistent that I did not want to go in, this was when his attitude towards us became quite nasty and alternating between sulking and aggressive. 

I wanted to visit the next stop; Seema Malakya Temple on the lake. Saying that was where we were going to next, he drove us to a temple, it was nice but not the temple on the 'tour', - I looked on Google maps to see where we were- it was Sri Dambodhi Temple. Very quiet and serene, but the wrong one. How such scammers must hate Google maps?

The wrong temple

I asked again about the Seema Malakye, and in a huff he took us to what turned out to be The Gangaramaya Temple, again it was very interesting, but not what was sold to us. He then drove us to the green and said that was as far as he was going, and demanded another £10.00. So we left him to his ranting,  got out of the tuk tuk and walked. 

In the past I thought of Sri Lanka like a gentle India, now, its worse than India. Getting scammed and aggressive drivers. 

In this instance and with the luxury of hindsight,  I should have pre booked a city tour. It didn't spoil our day, as we walked along the sea front and then up into the city centre and the markets. It didn't take as long a Google Maps estimated. 

I was looking for sunglasses as my sunglasses had got 'lost' during the day. 

We walked back to the port gates, and shuttle bus. All aboard was 15:30. It was a short stop, but plenty of time to see the sights - unless you want to see the Seema Malaka Temple - then book a tour with someone trustworthy like Jetwing. 😆💀

Seema Malaka Temple, not my photo as we didn't see it!!!