Tour & Activity Scams in Lhasa, China
Unlicensed guides, fake tickets, bait-and-switch excursions, and ticket scalping. Below are the tour & activities scams reported in Lhasa — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Beijing, Kyoto, and Chengdu.
Last updated: April 9, 2026
2
Tour & Activities Scams
10
Total in Lhasa
How it works
Foreign tourists must obtain a Tibet Travel Permit (TTB permit) through a registered agency before entering the TAR — and fraudulent agencies have proliferated online and in gateway cities like Chengdu and Xi'an. These scammers charge CNY 2,000–5,000 for "guaranteed" permits, collect payment, and either disappear or deliver forgeries that result in denial of entry or deportation at Gonggar Airport. The legitimate official permit fee is only CNY 50, with registered agency service fees of CNY 200–400 on top.
How it works
Tibetan regulations require all foreign tourists to have a licensed guide at all times, a rule that scammers exploit by posing as "official" guides near major entry points. Individuals near the Potala Palace ticket office on Potala Square and the Jokhang Temple entrance on Barkhor Square approach tourists claiming their registered guide is unavailable and offering to substitute. These unlicensed guides often provide poor service, charge undisclosed fees for every sub-attraction, and may attempt to steer tourists toward commission-paying shops.
See all scams in Lhasa
10 total warnings across all categories