Egypt Travel Scams: 14 Scams We Actually Faced in Cairo, Luxor & Aswan (2026)

Twosome Travelers

Sep 12

11 min read

Updated: 4 days ago

Before travelling to Egypt, we had read plenty of warnings about scams.

We knew that tourists could be overcharged for taxis, pressured into buying things, approached by unofficial guides and sometimes asked for tips for services they never requested. But reading about something online and actually experiencing it are two completely different things.

During our Egypt trip, we travelled through Cairo, Giza, Luxor, Aswan and Hurghada, and we encountered quite a few situations where we felt that being a tourist clearly came with a different price tag. Some were small and almost funny. Some were incredibly frustrating!

And one involved us buying two perfectly valid-looking tickets at a temple entrance, only to realize five seconds later that they were six months old.

The important thing is that most of these situations were not dangerous. They were simply attempts to make extra money from tourists, sometimes through very clever tactics. So this isn't another generic article telling you: "Beware of scams in Egypt."

These are the actual situations we experienced during our trip, what happened, how much money was involved, and what we did.

Luxor was full of scams — Egypt Travel Scams. Your Complete Guide!

The “Egypt Tourism” Guide at Cairo Airport
We had barely arrived in Cairo when our Egypt scam education began. Right after getting our bags, just before exiting the airport, we noticed a few people standing around wearing formal suits and ID cards.
At first glance, they looked official. They approached us and told us that they were from Egypt Tourism and could arrange good guided tours for us. We already had our travel plans sorted. So we simply told them that we didn't need a guide and walked away.

What we learned
This was a good reminder for us right at the beginning of the trip: Someone wearing a suit and an ID card doesn't automatically mean they are an official government representative. There are plenty of legitimate guides and tour operators in Egypt, but if you want one, book one yourself through a reputable source rather than accepting an unsolicited offer immediately after landing.
The “Road Is Closed, Pay Extra” Airport Uber Scam
After arriving in Cairo, we booked an Uber from the airport. The price shown on the app was clear.
The driver messaged us. He told us that we would have to pay extra because he had to pay a toll. Then came another reason. He said that the highway was closed and he would have to take a longer route. Therefore, the price would be higher than what was showing on Uber.

We didn't want to start our Egypt trip by arguing with a driver, so we simply cancelled the ride. Then we booked another Uber. And suddenly, everything was fine. No highway closure. No special additional payment. No toll drama. This is something we found particularly common around Giza, where drivers sometimes try to renegotiate the price after accepting the ride.

What we did
We didn't negotiate. We didn't try to convince the driver. We simply cancelled and booked another ride. If someone accepts an app ride and immediately starts changing the terms, we'd rather cancel than spend the entire journey arguing about money. MEANWHILE, if you are on Instagram, then you can check out our post on 10 things that we wish we knew before visiting Egypt!
“The Uber Price Is Too Low”
This happened to us in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan. And after experiencing it multiple times, we knew exactly what was happening. We would book an Uber. The driver would arrive. We would get into the car. And then the driver would tell us: “The price on the app is outdated.” The driver would then ask us to pay an additional 100–200 EGP.

What we did
We told them that we would only pay the fare shown in the app. If they didn't agree, we cancelled the ride. We know that cancelling rides can be inconvenient, especially when you've already waited for the driver. But for us, it was better than agreeing to a completely different price every time.
The Children Who Started Asking for Everything
This happened to us in Luxor, on the West Bank. We came across a group of around three or four children, probably between 10 and 14 years old. Their families were running an alabaster workshop nearby. At first, the interaction seemed completely innocent. Then the conversation suddenly changed. They started asking us for money. And then it went further. They began asking for our goggles, cap, watch and other belongings.
That was the moment we realized this wasn't just a friendly conversation. We didn't argue with them. We didn't give them anything. We simply started walking away. And eventually, they stopped following us.

What we learned
Be careful about getting drawn into conversations around tourist attractions when the conversation quickly turns into requests for money or personal belongings. And especially with children, don't assume that because the interaction starts innocently, it will remain that way.
The Six-Month-Old Habu Temple Tickets
This was probably one of the cleverest things that happened to us in Egypt. We were at Medinet Habu Temple in Luxor and were looking for the ticket office. A guide who was with another couple started talking to us. He asked whether we needed tickets. We said yes.
He then told us that he had two extra tickets. The tickets were unused and he said we could simply pay him the same price as the official ticket.
The price was 220 EGP each. So, we paid him 440 EGP for 2 of us.
He handed us the tickets and walked away. Everything seemed completely normal. Until about five seconds later. We looked at the tickets properly. And realized they were six months old. Six months! We were standing there thinking: How did we just fall for this?
And surprisingly, the guard allowed us through. The reason? Apparently, he knew the guide who had sold us the tickets.

What we learned
Never buy attraction tickets from a random person outside. Even if they look like a guide. Even if the ticket looks genuine.
Buy your tickets through the official ticket office or official online channel. This was one of the few scams where we actually lost money.
The Luxor Uber Driver Who Dropped Us 1 KM Away
This one genuinely annoyed us. We had booked an Uber to go to the Valley of the Kings, Luxor.
During the journey, the driver started offering us a full-day tour. We politely declined. He continued trying to convince us. Again, we said no.
At some point, he became noticeably angry.
Then, when we were about 1 km away from the entrance to the Valley of the Kings, he stopped the car. He told us that if he went further, he would have to pay 100 EGP for parking. And he wanted us to get out. We had already paid the full Uber fare. Yet we were now standing about a kilometre away from where we actually needed to go. So we got out and walked.

What we learned
If a driver starts pushing a tour or additional service after you've already said no, don't feel obligated to buy it just because you're already in the car. You booked transportation. That's all you agreed to.
The 7 EGP Bottle of Water That Became 50 EGP
This happened at Giza, just outside the Pyramid Complex. We stopped at a regular grocery shop to buy some things. We noticed a bottle of water that was priced at around 7 EGP. But when we went to pay, the shopkeeper asked us for 50 EGP. We questioned the price. And suddenly it became 30 EGP.
That was when we decided we weren't buying it. We left.
We understand that a restaurant may charge tourists more. We understand that someone selling something in front of the pyramids may have a higher price. But a normal grocery shop charging several times the marked price simply because you're a tourist? That didn't sit right with us.

And it happened again in Luxor.
We bought some things from a local grocery store. The total value of the items was around 100 EGP. The shopkeeper tried to charge us 300 EGP. The funny thing was that we could literally see the prices printed on the products we were buying. So we knew exactly what everything was worth.
We confronted him.
He still wasn't particularly apologetic. Eventually, we paid what the products were actually worth and left.

What we learned
Look at the price printed on the product. And if you're buying several things, keep an approximate mental total.
It's much harder for someone to randomly inflate the bill when you already know what everything costs.

Water worth 7 EGP was being sold for 50 EGP
“Tourists Cannot Buy Train Tickets”
This happened at Luxor train station. We wanted to buy train tickets to Aswan. Before we had even properly entered the station, three or four locals approached us.
They told us that tourists couldn't buy the tickets themselves. They said we needed their help. Of course, they were happy to get the tickets for us—for a fee.

We ignored them. We went inside the station and bought the tickets ourselves. The price for locals and foreigners was different. But that doesn't mean foreigners can't buy their own tickets. The people outside were using the confusion around the different fares to create a service that we didn't need.

Our advice
If someone tells you: “You can't do this because you're a tourist.” Stop. Don't immediately believe them.
Go to the actual ticket counter and ask. We almost certainly would have paid extra if we had listened to the people outside.
“The Giza Ticket Counter Is Closed”
This happened outside the Pyramid Complex, Giza. A group of around four or five people approached us. They told us that the ticket counter was closed. But, conveniently, they could get the tickets for us. We simply told them that we already had tickets and continued walking. We already had our tickets online.

The important lesson
This is one of the easiest scams to avoid if you prepare before arriving. Don't let a random person standing outside an attraction tell you that the official ticket counter is closed.
Check the official website. Check the actual entrance. Or simply go to the ticket office yourself.
We had already bought our tickets online, so there was nothing they could sell us.
“I'll Show You a Secret Room”
This was one of the most common things we encountered in Egypt. And it happened at multiple attractions. We saw it at: Valley of the Kings, Luxor Temple, Karnak Temple, Medinet Habu
A guard or someone dressed like a local would approach us inside the attraction. They would tell us that they could show us a secret room or hidden area. They would say, “Normal tourists aren't allowed here.”
Obviously, that sounds incredibly tempting. Who wouldn't want to see something that other tourists aren't allowed to see?
They would take you somewhere, explain a little bit of history and show you something interesting.
And then comes the final part: “Tip.”

What we did
We didn't follow them. We weren't interested in suddenly paying someone because they offered us access to a “secret” place.
If someone inside an attraction approaches you and says: “Come, I'll show you something special.” You don't have to follow.
Karnak Temple at Luxor, Egypt
The Alabaster Workshop Trap in Luxor
If you visit Luxor, you're going to hear about alabaster. And this is where things get interesting.
Almost every tour guide in Luxor seems to have an alabaster workshop to show you. You enter the workshop. Someone explains how the products are made. They show you different statues and souvenirs.
Then comes the sales pitch. And the prices can be dramatically higher than what you would expect.
We even heard something that made us laugh.
We were standing near one workshop when we heard a local person telling two different prices to 2 different tourists for the same item. He increased the price from $5 to $10!
That was enough to make us question the whole pricing system.

Our takeaway
We're not saying every alabaster workshop is a scam. And we're not saying you shouldn't buy alabaster. If you like something and you're happy with the price, buy it. But don't assume that the first price you hear is the actual value of the product.
And if your guide insists on taking you to a particular shop, remember that there may be a commission involved.
The Camel & Horse Ride Price That Changes Once You're Already Riding
If you've read our Giza travel guide (if not, then read it here), you'll know that the camel and horse ride situation around the pyramids deserves an entire section of its own.
This is one of the most common tourist experiences in Giza. And the problem isn't necessarily the initial price. The problem is what happens after you've already agreed and started the ride.

The price can suddenly change. You may discover that the price quoted was only for one direction. The destination may suddenly change. You may be told that going further costs extra. Or you may be asked for more money once you're already far away from where you started.
And at that point, you're sitting on a camel or horse in the middle of a huge tourist complex.

Our advice
If you're going to take a camel or horse ride: Agree on the total price, route and duration BEFORE getting on. Not after. And if the person refuses to clearly tell you the complete price? Don't get on.
We have covered the Giza scams in much more detail in our dedicated Giza guide, so definitely read that before visiting the pyramids.
Camel rides at Pyramid Complex, Giza are particularly fishy
“Give Me Your Phone, I'll Take Your Picture”
This one happened at several tourist sites. Someone would approach us and offer to take our photograph. Sometimes they were guards. Sometimes they appeared to be guides or people working around the attraction.
The interaction usually started very casually. They would offer to take a good picture. You hand over your phone. They take a few photos.
Then you thank them.
And that's when the friendly conversation turns into: “Tip.”
And we noticed something else. The more photographs they took, the more they expected.
One photo? Tip.
Five photos? More tip.
Ten photos? Even more.

Suddenly what felt like a friendly favour had become a paid photography service.

What we did
If we wanted a photo, we usually took it ourselves or asked each other. If someone offered and we didn't want the service, we simply said no.
You say the price!
This happened with us in Cairo. We were just outside the garbage city, and looking for options to reach the St. Simon "The Tanner" Monastery. And then came a tuktuk (auto rickshaw). He seemed friendly and asked us where we were heading to. We told the destination. He told that he could drop us, and we were glad someone came to help us. We asked him, how much would he charge for it. But, then started the drama! First he told us, "its okay, just hop on". We got alerted! We kept on asking him the price. Then, he started insisting, we quote the price. This became very frustrating! What we did We kept on asking for the price and didn't hop on the tuktuk. He finally quoted a price, we bargained a settled for a price. Either walk off out of such situations or keep insisting for their price.