11 Common Tourist Scams You Need to Avoid in India

Yellow taxi in Kolkata
Yellow taxi in Kolkata | © Abhinaba Basu / Flickr

With a rich and diverse history, culture, topography, architecture and cuisine, India is a tourist magnet and everyone should visit amazing destination at least once in a lifetime. But like elsewhere in the world, parts of India are notorious for con-artists and scammers, who are on the look out to make a quick buck from unsuspecting tourists. So, if you’re making your way to this South Asian country, be sure to check out this guide and do not let these scams cast a shadow over your relaxing holiday in India.

Taxi/ Auto scam

This one is a common scam in India, and entails the following scenarios:

speech icon man in bubble

Destinations Unlocked:

Let our travel expert Stefano help you find your perfect Culture trip

Looking for an expert's perspective?

Uncover my top 3 recommended places from each continent on the map.
speech icon man in bubble
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

GORGEOUS GUATEMALA

Gorgeous Guatemala

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

1. Guatemala

An express adventure for those with limited time off. Prepare yourself incredible experiences. You will hike a volcano, visit mayan temples and witness a ceremony and take in beautiful colonial Antigua.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

BEACHY BELIZE

Beachy Belize

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

2. Belize

A quick trip not too far away for those seeking a relaxing mini break. You will have plenty of free time to relax but also some awesome activities to experience the rainforest and the caribbean sea.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

CentralAmerica

COLONIAL MEXICO

Colonial Mexico

5 days . Mini
speech icon man in bubble

3. Mexico

An exciting mini trip exploring the lesser known colonial towns of central Mexico. This is hte perfect trip for someone with limited time off and still wants to turn on explorer mode and do something different.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

SouthAmerica

ADVENTUROUS ECUADOR

Adventurous Ecuador

8 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Ecuador

A remarkable 8 days adventure through the Andes and the Amazon rainforest. The best choice for adventure seekers wishing to visit the 2 most iconic areas of South America, in only 1 week and no flights.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

SouthAmerica

ANCIENT PERU

Ancient Peru

9 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Peru

An alternative itinerary to classic Peru, from Cusco to Arequipa. This itinerary is great combination of highlights Cusco and Machu Picchu with the lesser known Arequipa and Colca Canyon.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Europe

SEDUCTIVE SOUTHERN ITALY

Seductive Southern Italy

10 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Italy

The ultimate Italian experience from the vibrant streets of Naples to the breathtaking sceneries of the Amalfi Coast followed by Matera and down to Puglia with its golden beaches, intense flavours and fascinating destinations.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Europe

EDINBURGH AND THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS BY TRAIN

Edinburgh And The Scottish Highlands By Train

7 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

2. Scotland

Embark on this great adventure starting from London all the way to Scotland with a true Scottish experience made of breathtaking sceneries, whisky tasting and ..lots of fun! Ideal for train lovers and explorers.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Europe

COMPLETE PORTUGAL BY TRAIN

Complete Portugal By Train

8 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

3. Portugal

A wonderful train journey around Portugal, from the romantic city of Porto to the Douro Valley, to the beautiful Aveiro all the way to Lisbon and Sintra. The perfect trip to train, culinary and culture lovers.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Asia

SOULFUL SOUTH KOREA

Soulful South Korea

10 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. South Korea

Discover incredible temples, mountains and modern cities on this 10 day adventure. This trip is perfect for those seeking immersion in the cuisine, culture and natural wonders of South Korea.

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Asia

THAILAND, CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

Thailand, Cambodia & Vietnam

11 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Thailand

From Bankgok to Angkor Wat to Ho Chi Minh City and everything in between - adventure through the heart of South-East Asia. Taste the delights, see history brought to life and unwind on a Mekong River cruise.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Asia

SECRETS OF SRI LANKA BY TRAIN

Secrets Of Sri Lanka By Train

10 days . Culture
speech icon man in bubble

3. Sri Lanka

A fantastic adventure that showcases Sri Lanka's fantastic landscapes, wildlife and flavours. With 3 epic rail journeys, 3 UNESCO heritage sites and time to relax, this trip has loads to offer at a great price
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

left arrow trip map

Africa

EPIC MOROCCO

Epic Morocco

11 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

1. Morocco

An epic journey across Morocco: from Casablanca to Marrakech, through the blue city of Chefchaouen to the wonders of the desert and deep to the High Atlas Mountains - this trip has it all! Ideal for true explorers!

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Africa

ULTIMATE EGYPT

Ultimate Egypt

9 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

2. Egypt

From Cairo to Aswan, this trip brings the land of the pharaohs to life. You'll visit the Pyramids, Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple and cruise down the Nile in style. This is the perfect way to explore Egypt.
left arrow previous slide

Next

right arrow next slide
left arrow trip map

Africa

IMMERSIVE KENYA

Immersive Kenya

8 days . Epic
speech icon man in bubble

3. Kenya

An immersive blend of culture and wildlife for first time travelers to Africa. Learn about Nairobi, sample local coffee in the Aberdares and finish up with a fantastic safari stay in the Masai Mara.
left arrow previous slide

Back to Map

– The taxi/auto driver would say that the taxi meter is broken and ask for an inflated flat fare

– The taxi/auto will not have a meter

– The meter will run super fast, as sometimes drivers do set the meter at a higher tariff

– Or, they will clearly refuse to turn on the meter

All these scenarios may lead to paying over the odds. Not only have the inexperienced tourists, sometimes even the locals have fallen prey to this scam.

So if you opt for a taxi in India, be sure to use a metered taxi (it is against the law to operate a taxi in India without a meter). If the taxi driver says that the meter is broken, but he will take you wherever you want at a low fare, just don’t buy it – it’s a trick to squeeze more money out of you. And, if you’ve no option left, then negotiate the fare first and make sure the fare covers the luggage and all passengers, not just a single person.

Auto meter in Hyderabad, India

Unofficial tour guides

Many people will claim to be tour guides. Some are genuine, while others are not. More often than not, you will find these unofficial tour guides lurking at the historical and religious attractions, and targeting mainly the foreign tourists and then charging exorbitantly. These guides will often not show you all round a location, rather they will convince you that the remaining spots are closed or they are not accessible to tourists. Moreover, they will take you to their ‘commission-based’ shop or restaurant only.

It is advisable to go for the guide for whom you have to pay at the counter of the attraction. Use your best judgement while hiring a guide.

Fast-track admission service scam

This is another common scam that pops up now and again. It goes like this – if the queue for the tourist attraction is long, some rogues will approach you to buy their fast-track admission service. They will take your money and vanish into thin air. Again, be wary of such people! It is advisable to follow the queue rather than losing money to a scammer.

Queue to get into temple

Temple donation scam

This is an old scam that happens generally in religious places. A typical scenario goes like this – some people at the religious places will approach you, claim to be temple officials and ask for a hefty donation. These are definitely not the temple officials, and there is no obligation to give the donation in a temple. You can simply refuse to give the money to these rogues. If they keep bothering you, threaten to get the police involved.

Fake money

Counterfeit currency is prevalent in India and the Indian government has taken several measures to deal with the fake money. But, fake currency scammers still manage to cheat money out of any tourists who are unfamiliar with the look and feel of the correct notes. At times, even the most savvy locals fall into this trap. Most people are honest, but there are some who will take advantage of you. The scam goes like this – you give a note (500 or 2000) to the merchant/driver to return the balance, he will swap with a fake note that he already has and claim that the bill you handed over to him was fake.

To avoid this from happening, acquaint yourself with the Indian currency and give the exact change whenever possible.

Unreasonably high bar tab

This happens at many pubs and bars spread throughout the country. Dodgy barkeeps will add an extra cocktail to your bill and add the service charge on that incorrect bill. And, when you ask the bartender to amend your tab, they’ll subtract the price of the drinks from your bill, but not rectify the service charge. So, it’s advisable to get a completely new bill made with the correct amount and service charge. Also, keep track of the drinks you’ve had, check the price before ordering and make a rough estimate of the final bill.

High bar tab

“Train Ticket Office is closed” or “Train is fully booked”

Another common scam that has long existed in India, more precisely in metro cities, like Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai, is that people outside the railway station will tell you that the train ticket office is closed or the train is fully booked, and you will be coaxed to buy the ticket from their shop that they often claim to be government-approved. However, this usually isn’t the case. On top of that, massive hidden charges are levied that will potentially leave a hefty dent on your pocket.

Simply, steer clear of such men and shops. You can book the train ticket online on the official website of the Indian Railways , or queue up on the ticket counter at the train station. Every station has a tourism information counter, too. If you need any information, head straight to that window.

Pre-paid taxi scam

Another old scam that entraps unsuspecting tourists is that of the pre-paid taxi at the airports. There are government-approved pre-paid taxi stands from where you can book a taxi to your destination. During the journey, the taxi driver will tell you that the area that leads to the hotel is blocked for some festival or political reason, or he will say he doesn’t know the address of the hotel, or he may say that the hotel doesn’t exist. Instead, you’ll be taken to a fake tourist office where you will be offered a package inclusive of hotel and tour at an exorbitant price (but according to them it is at a bargain price). Another scenario is the driver will take you to a hotel from where he will get his commission. Many fall for this scam and end up paying over the odds.

The best way to avoid this scam is arrange an airport pick-up from your respective hotel, or in case the driver tells you he doesn’t know the hotel, better yet, call the hotel by yourself so that the staff can give the directions to the driver or use GPS to track the route.

Track route through GPS

SIM card scam

In India, to get a valid SIM card, you need to fill out a form and submit your photograph along with a copy of proof of identity. But, if all these formalities aren’t done, it means, they will either hand you over the used SIM card, or they will not file your form, which means your SIM card will not operate and you have lost your money, too.

So, in order to stay in touch with family and friends back home, it is best to go straight to the official office of the service provider (not the local shop) and get a valid SIM.

Free gifts

This scam usually sees holy men or kids tying a bracelet or red string around your wrist as a gift. Remember: ‘There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch’. After tying the so-called gift, they demand money and it is impossible to get away from this situation. To avoid this, do not let someone take your hand and stay at arm’s length from anyone holding such gifts.

Pickpockets

Pickpocketing is another common scam in India. Pickpockets work in teams, and use distraction tactics to pick your pocket. One will act to divert your attention, while his accomplice will lighten your wallet/purse. The best way to avoid this scam is by staying alert and be mindful of your belongings. Do not keep all your cash in one place and be attentive when someone bumps into you.

Beware of pickpocket
culture trip left arrow
 culture trip brand logo

Volcanic Iceland Epic Trip

meet our Local Insider

Hanna

women sitting on iceberg

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A GUIDE?

2 years.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT YOUR JOB?

It's the personal contact, the personal experiences. I love meeting people from all over the world... I really like getting to know everyone and feeling like I'm traveling with a group of friends.

WHAT DESTINATION IS ON YOUR TRAVEL BUCKET-LIST?

I have so many places on my list, but I would really lobe to go to Africa. I consider myself an “adventure girl” and Africa feels like the ULTIMATE adventure!

culture trip logo letter c
group posing for picture on iceberg
group posing for picture on iceberg

Every CULTURE TRIP Small-group adventure is led by a Local Insider just like Hanna.

map of volcanic iceland trip destination points
culture trip brand logo
culture trip right arrow
landscape with balloons floating in the air

KEEN TO EXPLORE THE WORLD?

Connect with like-minded people on our premium trips curated by local insiders and with care for the world

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

X

Holiday Sale Offers on Our Trips

Incredible Savings

Edit article