Destinations › Nepal › Kathmandu › Scams
Kathmandu, Nepal
10 reported scam patterns travellers run into in Kathmandu, what they look like, and how to sidestep them.
Taxis are metered by law and almost never on the meter; airport arrivals attract the widest quotes.
'Art student' galleries near Durbar Square selling printed thangkas as hand-painted at hand-painted prices, with shipping arranged and not fulfilled.
Counterfeit down jackets, sleeping bags and boots sold as brand equipment in Thamel, failing at altitude.
Guides and porters supplied without insurance or the claimed qualifications, on treks where altitude and evacuation are real risks.
Unregistered trekking agencies in Thamel taking full payment for permits, guides and porters, with permits that are issued in the trekker's own name and cannot be transferred or pre-purchased.
Rafting and paragliding operators selling trips without current safety certification or insurance.
Bag slashing and pickpocketing in the Thamel crowds and at the bus parks.
Unlicensed changers offering above-bank rates and short-counting, and shortchanging on large rupee notes.
Priests tying a thread or applying tika at temples and then demanding a substantial donation for the blessing.
Unlicensed 'official guides' at Durbar Square, Pashupatinath and Swayambhunath demanding a fee at the end of an unrequested tour.
