Tour & Activity Scams in Siem Reap, Cambodia
Unlicensed guides, fake tickets, bait-and-switch excursions, and ticket scalping. Below are the tour & activities scams reported in Siem Reap — 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 2, 2026
4
Tour & Activities Scams
11
Total in Siem Reap
How it works
Touts near Siem Reap sell counterfeit Angkor Wat passes at a slight discount. These are detected at the temple gates and confiscated with no refund. Tourists must purchase legitimate tickets at a loss.
How it works
Touts near the Angkor Wat complex offer discounted Angkor passes, claiming they have leftover multi-day tickets or staff passes. These are either counterfeit, already partially used, or stolen. Tourists using fake passes are refused entry and lose the money paid.
How it works
Tuk-tuk drivers and guesthouses promote tours to local "orphanages" where tourists are encouraged to donate money, supplies, or sponsor a child. Many of these facilities are not genuine orphanages — children may be rented from families, and cash donations rarely reach the children.
How it works
Tours to Tonle Sap floating villages are sold at vastly different prices, and many include mandatory boat extensions, expensive drinks on the water, and "donations" to floating schools that are not genuine educational institutions. The original agreed price rarely covers the full experience.
See all scams in Siem Reap
11 total warnings across all categories