Planning a trip to this vibrant destination? While it offers incredible experiences for visitors, being aware of common tourist scams will help ensure your trip remains memorable for the right reasons. This comprehensive guide covers the most frequent scams targeting tourists and practical strategies to avoid them.
Fake Tour Guides at the Pyramids
The Giza pyramid complex is swarming with unofficial "guides" who demand payment after providing unwanted services.
How it works: Individuals approach you at the pyramid entrance, claiming to be official guides. They start explaining things, take photos for you, then demand large sums of money. Some lead you to restricted areas then claim you need to pay a "fine."
How to avoid it:
- Only hire guides through your hotel or reputable tour companies
- Official guides carry government-issued ID badges
- Politely but firmly say "la shukran" (no thank you) and keep walking
- Don't let anyone put garlands on camels or animals without agreed pricing
Papyrus Shop and Perfume Scams
Tourists are often taken to "government" papyrus shops or perfume factories where prices are massively inflated.
How it works: Your driver or guide takes you to a shop claiming it's government-run or has special tourist prices. The papyrus art is often printed on banana leaves, not real papyrus, and sold at 10x the actual value.
How to avoid it:
- There is no government papyrus shop for tourists
- Real papyrus is made from the papyrus plant; test by bending (fake cracks)
- Shop at Khan el-Khalili bazaar and negotiate hard
- Never feel pressured to buy; walk away from high-pressure sales