Question 1

What is the "Prambanan Unofficial Guide Overcharging" scam in Yogyakarta?

Accepted Answer

Individuals without official park credentials approach visitors at the Prambanan Temple Compounds entrance and outer car park, offering guided tours for a fixed fee. After the tour they demand payment well above the agreed amount, citing additional temples visited or a per-photo charge. Some claim to be licensed guides employed by the heritage site. Hire guides only from the official guide desk inside the main entrance gate, where rates are posted. Confirm the total price in writing before starting and carry small denomination rupiah to avoid change disputes.

Question 2

What is the "Borobudur Unofficial Guide Overcharge" scam in Yogyakarta?

Accepted Answer

Unlicensed guides operating around the Borobudur temple complex charge three to five times the fee of official guides and often provide inaccurate historical information. Some present themselves as official guides by wearing generic lanyards, then demand additional payment mid-tour or at the end for services they claim were not included in the original price. Hire guides only from the official guide desk inside the Borobudur ticket gate, where rates are standardised and fixed. If a guide approaches you before you enter the ticketed area, they are not official.

Question 3

What is the "Borobudur Entrance Unofficial Guide Fee" scam in Yogyakarta?

Accepted Answer

Near the Borobudur temple car park, individuals in semi-official looking vests claim to be mandatory guides and demand payment before allowing tourists to proceed. The official site has its own licensed guide service — no one outside the gates is official. Ignore all guides outside Borobudur's official entrance perimeter. Buy your ticket at the official counter and book a guide through the temple if desired. All official guides are registered with Borobudur Conservation Authority and wear clearly marked ID lanyards.

Tour & Activity Scams in Yogyakarta

Prambanan Unofficial Guide Overcharging

Borobudur Unofficial Guide Overcharge

Borobudur Entrance Unofficial Guide Fee

Experienced a scam here?