Tour & Activity Scams in Lombok, Indonesia
Unlicensed guides, fake tickets, bait-and-switch excursions, and ticket scalping. Below are the tour & activities scams reported in Lombok — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like Mandalay, Palawan, and Bali.
Last updated: April 2, 2026
6
Tour & Activities Scams
17
Total in Lombok
How it works
Unofficial guides approach tourists near the Rinjani trek trailheads claiming government guides are fully booked. They take trekkers up the mountain without proper equipment, insurance, or knowledge, and may disappear mid-trek.
How it works
Unofficial guides at the base of Mount Rinjani approach trekkers and offer cheap guided climbs without proper permits or equipment. Some abandon clients mid-trek or fail to provide adequate safety gear and food. Accidents on the volcano are serious due to the remote terrain.
How it works
Unofficial individuals near the Mount Rinjani national park entrance pose as licensed guides or booking agents. They collect trek fees and porter deposits but disappear before the trek begins, or provide under-equipped guides with no safety training.
How it works
Touts near the Bangsal harbour sell unofficial boat tickets to the Gili Islands at inflated prices, claiming they are the only operators available or that the public boat is full. The tickets are sometimes for non-existent or severely delayed services.
How it works
Boat operators on Gili Trawangan and Gili Air quote reasonable prices for snorkelling trips but add hidden extras at sea — equipment rental, marine park entry fees, and captain tips — that double or triple the original price. Boats sometimes visit far fewer sites than promised.
How it works
Boat operators on the Gilis sell "snorkelling packages" at inflated prices that include low-quality equipment, stop at overused reefs with little marine life, and cut trips short. Some operators collect payment for a full-day trip and return after two hours.
See all scams in Lombok
17 total warnings across all categories