You can find scams all over the world, whether they are significant and profound or fundamental. If you plan to travel to Nepal, it is essential to be aware of potential scams in the country and exercise caution to avoid being scammed while traveling there. What are the possible scams in Nepal that you must be mindful of? You will find detailed information and helpful tips about scams in Nepal in this post.
Be Careful at the Airport
Upon your arrival in Nepal, you will land at Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu. However, there are two other international airports in Nepal. Gautam Buddha International Airport in Bhairahawa and Pokhara International Airport, but there are no international airlines operating flights to these airports.
After exiting the security check and immigration, you will encounter individuals who introduce themselves as airport representatives and offer assistance to tourists. We suggest not to believe them and follow because they try to sell tour and trekking packages in Nepal, bringing you to the travel company for the commission. Sometimes, those people even offer you free taxi service from the airport to your Hotel.
Once you exit the arrival building and walk to the parking area, even a representative from your travel booking company or Hotel may be there to pick you up. You may also meet some people who offer tips on holding your luggage to put in the car. You should not tip anyone at the airport and should only trust the person holding your name card, the Hotel's name, or the travel company's board.
You can use a trolley for free at the airport. Some people may approach you with a trolley to carry your luggage and ask for money. Please disregard them or verify the terms and conditions if you're willing to use their services.
Possible Scam: Kathmandu international and domestic airport
Offering to Get Free Information on the Street
Pashupatinath Area with Hindu Temples
While walking on the street, especially in Thamel, some people may offer you free information about trekking and tours and attempt to direct you to travel agencies for a commission on your booking.
If you are not satisfied with the trip operator in the end and complain to the travel agency through which you booked the trip, they may advise you to contact the person who introduced you to us. You might have difficulties in this case, and you can not meet that street person again.
Possible Scam: Thamel, Kathmandu
Some Tour Guide May Focus on Shopping
There are many historical and cultural ancient sites in Nepal to visit, where you can see different antique shops around the visiting places. Some tour guides may encourage you to purchase items and earn a handsome commission from the shop. It's good to see those things when visiting the shops, but we suggest being smart and bargaining before you make a purchase.
If your guide suggests visiting to gather information and says it's not mandatory to buy. You just believe that the guide is not focusing on selling things and tries to introduce the typical Nepalese products.
Possible Scam: Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Patan, and Pokhara
Be Aware of the Local Guide
You might meet a person on the street while walking, and they may offer to guide you around the city. They can provide a substantial amount of money, take you to various shops to sell items for a commission, and invite you to their home to meet the family, showing you their living conditions and financial struggles, while expecting your help.
We suggest not to believe anyone quickly on the street and hire a guide from an authorised travel agency like Frolic Adventure.
Possible Scam: Kathmandu, Pokhara, Lumbini, Chitwan, and other major cities.
High Cost by Sovineer Seller on the Street and in the Stores
While walking on the street in Thamel, Pokhara, Lumbini, Chitwan, in trekking routes, and at all the tourist sites, you meet many people selling souvenirs and offering to buy things from them. They say a high price for a product is double the original cost. Therefore, we suggest avoiding purchases and ignoring street offers, as it may be a hassle during the tour.
Similarly, the people selling items in stores often offer a higher price than the actual cost. We advise bargaining for half of what they initially offer and visiting multiple stores to check the real price of souvenirs before making a purchase.
Possible Scam: Thamel, Pokhara, most trekking routes, all tour sites, and major cities of Nepal
Need to Know About Religious and Cultural Activities
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A Hindu Holi Man, blessing a follower
Nepal has a larger number of Hindus, with many cultural festivals. You will meet Hindu holy people, known as Sadhus, in religious sites during the Kathmandu day tour, and also encounter them on the streets while walking in the cities. They may offer to take their photo or try to bless you and ask for money. You must be sure how much they want for these things, and take a photo before you take their picture or ask for blessings from them if you like.
You also meet some women with rice and colours around Pashupatinath in Kathmandu, who try to bless you by placing coloured rice on your forehead, accompanied by flowers and a holi thread band around your wrist, in exchange for money. Please ensure you find out how much they offer for this if you wish to receive a blessing from them.
Numerous men are sitting under an umbrella around Pashupatinath, reading palms and holding signs, and are also known as fortune tellers. If you are interested and believe in these things, you can check your future; you can go to them, but please be sure to confirm the fee first.
Locals in Nepal are generally very friendly and loyal to tourists, but this is not always the case, and it's best not to assume it after a brief meeting. Do not visit the family of a stranger to celebrate festivals if you are traveling in Nepal during festival times. They can focus on gifting expensive things or a large amount of money in the name of celebration.
Possible Scam: Most religious sites and locals' houses
Do not Buy Hashish
Hashish is illegal in Nepal, although you can meet some boys standing on the street who try to sell Hashish to punk-looking and young tourists. They charge a lot for a small portion of Hashish, and if the police find you buying, it can be a problem. So, please, if anyone comes too close to you and talks about Hashish, just ignore them and do not buy.
Possible Scam: Thamel in Kathmandu and Lakeside in Pokhara.
Essential Things About Massage Places
Lots of people visit Nepal for a mountain trek. You may experience leg and body pain after several days of adventure trekking and want to visit a massage place. You see so many massage places in Thamel, but many of them are not nice and clean spa places. You must recognise the real place by checking the reviews on Google or other review sites. You will have a price list for different massages, allowing you to select and request a specific massage. You will not be scammed in a genuine therapy setting, and you do not have to pay an extra amount, except for tipping (if you choose to).
Some ladies are sitting, smoking, and drinking in some places with a massage centre board outside, which is not the right place for you and is not clean. So, please be sure to check if you are entering this kind of rough massage parlour.
Possible Scam: Thamel in Kathmandu
Stay Safe in Nightlife
There are many bars, including dance clubs, in the major cities in Nepal. All big bars in Thamel open all night. You may meet some drunk girls and boys who talk about meeting some beautiful ladies and going out. We advise you not to go out anywhere where they want to take you. Some people might rob you by taking you to an unknown and quiet place.
Possible Scam: Kathmandu and Pokhara
A Taxi Driver Can Charge More Than You Should Pay
You see so many taxis in the cities of Nepal. If you ask a taxi to go somewhere, please provide the correct location and confirm the cost. If you say one place before taking the cab and ask the driver to take you even a few hundred meters to the other location, they might charge you more than the cost should be.
Numerous ride-sharing booking apps allow you to order online through the app, ensuring genuine costs and safety. If you do not have a Nepali Number to book the taxi through the app, you can get help from the Hotel where you are staying and a restaurant in the city.
Possible Scam: Kathmandu Valley and Pokhara
Beggars Scams
While walking on the street in the cities and the tourist sites in Nepal, you will meet some beggars with small babies who ask to buy a milk pouch for the baby or ask for money. Many of them go to their regular shop for milk buying, where the shopkeeper charges a higher price than the actual price. After that, the beggar returns to the shop, refunds the milk, and takes the money. With this, both the shopkeeper and the beggar benefit, and the person who tries to help will be scammed. Please do not ignore any beggars if they ask you for help.
Possible Scams: Kathmandu, Pokhara, and major cities of Nepal
Do Not Send Whole Trip Cost Online
If you are booking a trip with a local travel agency and want to send money online to confirm the tour, please verify the company's legal documents and payment link, which the agency should provide. We suggest not sending the entire trip amount online. You can pay 10-20% in advance and settle the remaining amount after meeting the tour operator in Kathmandu. However, online payment scams are not often severe cases. There are, however, some fake operators with similar names to legitimate agencies, who disappear after receiving the amount.
Paying Via Credit Cards
Most small restaurants and shops in Nepal still do not use digital payment systems, although you can pay your bills via credit card, which is the preferred method for tourists. You must convert to NPR from any other currency for the payment, so please be sure about the correct exchange rate to NPR, if they tell you the price of the things in UAD or Euro before the shopkeepers sell their products to you.
Note: Bank service charge for the credit card payment (3.5%) will be added for each purchase
Illegal Operator of Trekking and Tour
You'll often find travel desks at the corner of most budget hotels and hostels, offering you the opportunity to purchase trekking, tour, and other adventure activities. They are not a legal operator and are not authorised by the Nepal Tourism Board. Suppose you encounter any problems during the trip while buying from this type of illegal operator. In that case, you won't have the right to complain about any difficulties, and you will be responsible for yourself.
Possible Scams: Kathmandu, Pokhara, and most major cities of Nepal
Free Trekking Offer
Rescue for a sick trekker from the mountain region
You might also receive an offer for a free trekking trip from a travel agency, Hotel, or hostel, and be asked to pretend you get sick from altitude on the mountain. Then, you would fly by helicopter and claim the insurance. They convince you to refund your trip cost if you agree to their offer at the end of the journey, claiming that your travel insurance provider will cover the high price. Please avoid any free offers for adventure treks in Nepal.
Possible Scams: Kathmandu and Pokhara
Essential Tips to Avoid Scams While Travelling in Nepal
Travelling in Nepal offers incredible experiences, but staying alert to potential scams will help you enjoy your journey safely. Here are the most essential tips to avoid common scams, with specific advice for each situation of the possible scams according to mentioned above:
Airport Scams and Arrival Tactics
- Only trust official or pre-arranged pick-ups—look for your name or Hotel/company placard.
- Do not accept unsolicited help with bags or transport; some may demand tips or lead you to commission-based operators.
- Trolleys at the airport are free—ignore anyone asking you to pay for using one.
Street Information and Commission Hunters
- Avoid following “friendly locals” who offer free information and try to lead you to travel agencies or tour operators.
- Address complaints about tours only with the authorized agency, not intermediaries you met on the street.
Tour Guides and Shopping Commissions
- Be wary if your guide urges you to shop. Such guides can earn high commissions at certain stores.
- Always bargain—initial prices may be inflated.
- For authentic guidance, choose authorized guides from reputable travel agencies.
Spontaneous Local Guide Offers
- Decline unsolicited guiding offers from strangers; some may take you to shops for commission or manipulate your empathy with “family visits.”
- Stick with licensed guides pre-arranged by official agencies.
Souvenir and Street Vendor Overpricing
- Souvenir sellers, both on the streets and in stores, often quote prices that are double the actual cost.
- Negotiate assertively and compare prices before purchasing to ensure you get the best deal.
- Consider skipping street purchases to avoid hassles altogether.
Cultural and Religious Site Scams
- Be cautious with Sadhus (holy men), women offering blessings, and fortune tellers—they often request payment afterward.
- Always confirm the price first before accepting a blessing, photo, or palm reading.
- Politely decline invitations to celebrate festivals in strangers’ homes, as you may be pressured to give expensive gifts or money.
Hashish or Drug Offers
- Do not buy hashish or accept drug offers. It is illegal in Nepal; sellers often overcharge, and penalties from the police are severe.
Massage Parlours
- Select massage establishments with strong reviews on reputable platforms, such as Google.
- Avoid places where staff seem unprofessional or the establishment appears unclean.
- Clarify the price and services before starting, and only tip if you feel comfortable.
Nightlife Cautions
- Stay in reputable, well-known venues.
- Decline invitations from strangers—robberies and unsafe situations occur when you follow someone to an unknown place.
Taxi and Transport Scams
- Negotiate and confirm the fare before entering a taxi.
- Note that “extra stops” or diversions may incur additional, possibly inflated charges.
- Use ride-sharing apps or book taxis through your Hotel or a reputable app to get a fair deal.
Beggar Scams
- If a beggar requests that you buy milk or another item for a baby, be aware that this is often coordinated with local shops to overcharge and then refund the seller and beggar after you leave.
- It’s best to refuse requests for purchases or donations politely.
Online Payments and Trip Bookings
- Never send the entire tour fee upfront. Pay only a small deposit (10–20%) after verifying the agency’s documentation and payment links.
- Only pay the balance after meeting the operator in person in Nepal.
- Be cautious of agencies or operators with names similar to those of reputable companies.
Credit Card Payments
- Double-check the exchange rate offered if the price is stated in foreign currency.
- Note that the service charge (usually 3.5%) applies to credit card payments, and many businesses are still cash-only.
Unauthorized Tour Operators
- Book only with Nepal Tourism Board-authorized agencies.
- Steer clear of “travel desks” at budget hotels or hostels offering discounted treks and tours.
“Free” Trekking Offers and Insurance Fraud
- Refuse any “free” trek offers requiring you to fake altitude sickness for insurance claims.
- Participating in such schemes carries the risk of legal consequences and voids your insurance.
Travel wisely by following these tips, staying vigilant, and double-checking arrangements with authorized providers. Nepal is remarkable—but a little caution will make your visit safer and more rewarding.
Conclusion
Nepal offers breathtaking landscapes, a rich culture, and warm hospitality. Travelers must remain vigilant to avoid common scams that can be encountered throughout the country. We hope you got helpful information about basic scams in Nepal from the moment you arrive at the airport to exploring city streets, engaging in local customs, and booking tours.
Trust only reputable sources for travel services to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience in Nepal. Check prices, stay alert in busy areas like Thamel and Pokhara, and be cautious of offers that seem too good to be true. Booking a trip with authorized travel companies from the Nepal Tourism Board, which provide you with licensed guides.
With awareness, preparation, and a mindful approach, you can enjoy the wonders of Nepal while minimizing your risk of being scammed, ensuring your trip is memorable for all the right reasons.
