The Biggest Tourist Scam in Nepal (and How to Avoid It!)

You'll be approached by friendly locals all day long in Nepal, but usually, they're just rip-off salesmen in disguise. I'll show you exactly how to identify them and how you can avoid them when you're in Nepal.

One of the most common approaches is a stranger offering to take you to "their" art school in Nepal, do not go! This is the art school scam, and it's just a sales trick to get you into a store so they can overcharge you for low-quality student-level Thangka paintings. I shopped around and found the same products for more than 50% less in the tourist area of Thamel in Kathmandu.

The most important thing to learn before travelling to Nepal or India is to learn to say "No." And not be afraid to walk away even when these salesmen put pressure on you to buy. Just say "No" and walk away.

Travel safely and enjoy Nepal! I recommend doing trekking there. Even if you're not a trekker, you could start with the beginner-level 3-5 day Mardi Himal trek.

00:00 The friendly local scam in Nepal exposed
00:24 Oops, a street hustler recognises me!
01:11 The 3 most common scammer approaches
03:16 Going to an "art school" with a friendly local
08:37 See their guilt trip sales tactics when I try to leave
09:50 How to find authentic Thangka paintings in Nepal
10:23 The actual price of Thangka paintings
11:14 How to identify master-level Thangka paintings
11:51 How to avoid the friendly local scam

Song credits: Engaged by Dylan Sitts, Clips by Cushy, New Game Old by Push N' Glide.

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#Scams #Scammers #Scam #Nepal #Thangka #ArtSchool #Kathmandu #Thamel #VisitNepal #ExploreNepal #Art #Fake #TravelSafety #nahichahiyeji #travelscams

[prabhavshah]

The mumble part: he basically said “i brought him here for no reason, he just came to see and not spend money.”😂😂😂😂

[Kaloozi]

When I visited Nepal a couple years ago I had a great experience. The biggest red flags I saw is everyone is a “licensed tourist guide”. I did meet a local in Bhaktapur who cooked dinner for my friends and I. He ended up being our guide for our trek to Nagarkot then Chitwan. He was an honest man supporting his family and very negotiable with his rate.

My worse experience was at Pashupatinath when I was being bothered so much by a “guide”. I can tell even the locals were annoyed by him

[cpt]

This is not a scam, these are not overpriced. They are custom crafted art pieces so they can put whatever price they want to. Instead of labeling them scammers, call them artists and patronize their business by making a purchase, or stop wasting their time.

[ShoeFend]

The art is actually pretty damn amazing and it’s more of a tourist trap than a scam

[irfansharif]

I was in thamel area in Mallerapa hotel with my family for 10 days. It was quite amazing trip. Nepalese people are so nice we didnt have any bad experience at all. Simply if those kind of scammers come to you ignore them or simply say im not interested they want bothered you.
Love from Dubai.

[lovelight]

It’s a sales technique more than scam? I hope to see more food, trekking and outside kathmandu videos because Nepal is lot more than just thamel or surrounding areas.

[lolipopsant]

I dont care if its a scam.. this guys are artist. Fantastic ones

[_Chessa_]

Honestly loved some of the student paintings more than the master paintings in my school when I was trying to be a good artist. I failed badly at continuing my art path. But art is subjective. Some pieces spoke to me that Artificial bots did and I still have them saved in my phone because I love them. If you love an art piece and it makes you cry, then it’s worth it. But don’t ever buy from someone pressuring you and pestering to purchase their art. I hate that about sellers and it makes me leave the premise

[twake]

Karl will find scammers even in Kalahari Desert...i am from Germany and have been around the world....compared to all places i would say there are lot less scammers in Nepal....even in Germany, there are lots of scammers...

[flosyd]

Street vendors: Hi Karl, do you want to try cup of tea from our tea shop?
Karl: Tea Vendors are scammer!

[aakritigurung]

karl Rock when his mother gave him birth

karl rock: Namaste dosto so i have been scammed to be born by this women

[preetcharan]

I am seriously learning Karl's bold approach to ask question to these scammers. Unless I wm very rude to them that sometimes leads to arguments.

[sujanuday]

I laughed when Karl thought the painting was 390 Nepali rupees. Even the print copy would cost more than that. Thangka painting is a traditional art and requires a lot of practice and days of work.

[milangiri]

he was not scammed in fact i was scammed by him to watch his video

[harrijames]

I would love to see Karl make some videos about legitimate and friendly Indian business owners!
Love ya work mate!

[kdaveson]

I was constantly targeted for a similar "painting school" tourist hustle in Cusco, Peru. One man in particular accosted me as I sat in a quiet square enjoying the day, shoved his "portfolio" in my face and insisted I look at all his work and support his family etc.

The paintings were all clearly mass produced and churned out, and definitely not by him because the styles were all over the place.

I lost track of how many times I said no, no thank you, not interested, but the whole point of tourist hustling is to apply high and constant pressure and guilt and harassment.

It's 🙄 to see so many people in the comments defending this behaviour, no matter where it happens in the world.

Karl is highlighting these tactics and letting tourists know that it's okay to say no and walk away, even though it's sometimes not easy to do.

[grg]

in the video a street hustler has said to you that "he is doing this to help his family who only takes 10-15 usd commsion from shopkeeper and at the end he also said that he is not trying to force you to buy the painting and happily let you leave". He has been very polite and respectful to you even he is a street hustler "

[DanZeshan]

Scam or sales technique? Lol. At least you’re not in danger of being robbed or held at gun point for your wallet in Nepal. This stuff is pretty mild, Karl.

[vladimirchylik]

1:48 .. Rule No. 1: Never trust someone who says that he's a painting.

[Porkoro]

as an artist, I think up 3k for a student thank painting that’s really good is justifiable.
I’ve studied thanka and some of the students work is amazing, pay for the art not the level of an artist.