Tour & Activity Scams in Pokhara, Nepal
Unlicensed guides, fake tickets, bait-and-switch excursions, and ticket scalping. Below are the tour & activities scams reported in Pokhara — how they work and how to avoid them.
For broader context, compare this scam type with nearby destinations like New Delhi, Jaipur, and Mumbai.
Last updated: April 2, 2026
3
Tour & Activities Scams
10
Total in Pokhara
How it works
Unlicensed guides approach tourists in Pokhara's Lakeside area or contact them online offering deeply discounted Annapurna or Poon Hill treks. They collect deposits or full payment and then provide substandard service — poor equipment, missing permits, incorrect routes — or simply disappear.
How it works
Touts near the Pokhara ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Project) permit office sell fake trekking permits or counterfeit TIMS cards. The fakes are refused at the first checkpoint, stranding the trekker.
How it works
Pokhara is one of the world's top paragliding destinations, and operators cluster along Lakeside Road promoting flights from Sarangkot Hill. Some unlicensed operators display counterfeit Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) certificates and pilot licenses to appear legitimate. Crashes and incidents have been linked to operators using aging equipment and under-qualified pilots. Prices are often significantly below the standard NPR 6,500–8,000 range as a lure.
See all scams in Pokhara
10 total warnings across all categories