Tour & Activity Scams in Yangon, Myanmar
Unlicensed guides, fake tickets, bait-and-switch excursions, and ticket scalping. Below are the tour & activities scams reported in Yangon — 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
2
Tour & Activities Scams
10
Total in Yangon
How it works
Men dressed in casual or semi-traditional clothing position themselves at the main entrances to Shwedagon Pagoda and attach themselves to tourists as they pay the admission fee, offering to explain the history and mythology of the site. They present themselves as volunteers or government-assigned guides, but once the tour concludes they demand substantial cash payment — often US$20–50 — and can become aggressive or follow visitors to the taxi stand if refused. Some work with taxi drivers who deliver tourists directly into their path.
How it works
Locals near temple entrances offer to "guard your shoes" while you enter (shoes must be removed at Buddhist temples). When you return, they demand payment — or direct you to a shop where you are pressured to buy overpriced goods.
See all scams in Yangon
10 total warnings across all categories