Tour & Activity Scams in Flores, Indonesia
Unlicensed guides, fake tickets, bait-and-switch excursions, and ticket scalping. Below are the tour & activities scams reported in Flores — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Lombok, Palawan, and Mandalay.
Last updated: April 4, 2026
3
Tour & Activities Scams
8
Total in Flores
How it works
Numerous unlicensed tour operators in Labuan Bajo sell Komodo National Park packages at below-market prices, then provide overcrowded boats with inadequate safety equipment, unqualified guides, and cut-short itineraries. Some operators do not hold valid park operating permits, meaning park rangers may deny the group entry. Safety incidents on these tours have been documented.
How it works
Multi-day liveaboard dive and snorkel trips in the Komodo region are sold with photos of premium vessels but operated on older wooden phinisi boats lacking proper safety certification, functioning life jackets, or emergency communication equipment. Dive operators sometimes misrepresent guide qualifications and maximum passenger capacity.
How it works
Dive operators in Labuan Bajo regularly overstate underwater visibility and current conditions to sell bookings, particularly for premium sites like Manta Point, Crystal Rock, and Batu Bolong. Trips proceed regardless of actual conditions, resulting in poor-quality dives with dangerous currents for inexperienced divers.
See all scams in Flores
8 total warnings across all categories