The Best (and Worst) Tour Guide Stories from Around the World

Tour guides have some of the most entertaining—and sometimes cringeworthy—stories from their time on the job. From hilarious misunderstandings to outright disasters, here are some of the best (and worst) tour guide stories from around the world.

The Best (Funny & Heartwarming) Stories

The “Lost in Translation” Moment (Japan)

A tour guide in Kyoto was explaining the history of a shrine when a confused tourist asked, “Wait, so is this a Buddhist temple or a Shinto shrine?” The guide replied, “Yes.” The group burst out laughing, realizing that in Japan, the two often coexist seamlessly—something the tourist hadn’t expected.

The Proposal Gone Right (Italy)

A guide in Venice was leading a gondola tour when a nervous man whispered his plan to propose. The guide discreetly signaled the gondolier to take a scenic detour, then “accidentally” dropped a fake ring into the canal (a decoy to make the real proposal more dramatic). The tourist panicked for a second before pulling out the actual ring—she said yes, and the group cheered.

The Unexpected Wildlife Encounter (South Africa)

During a safari, a guide stopped the jeep near a pride of lions. Just as he was explaining their behavior, a curious lioness walked up and licked the side of the vehicle. The tourists froze in awe while the guide calmly said, “Don’t worry, she’s just tasting us to see if we’re worth eating later.” Cue nervous laughter.

The Accidental Celebrity Sighting (New York City)

A guide leading a walking tour in SoHo suddenly spotted Paul Rudd casually browsing in a bookstore. Trying to play it cool, the guide said, “And on your left, you’ll see… a really famous guy.” Rudd laughed and even took a photo with the group.

The Worst (Disastrous & Bizarre) Stories

The Tourist Who Brought a “Souvenir” (Egypt)

A guide at the Pyramids of Giza noticed a tourist discreetly picking up a small rock. Before they could warn them, the tourist put it in their pocket. The guide sighed and said, “You know the curse of the Pharaohs isn’t real… but the $1,000 fine for stealing artifacts is.” The rock was quickly returned.

The Wrong Kind of “Cultural Experience” (Thailand)

A tour group in Bangkok was supposed to visit a traditional floating market. Instead, their confused driver took them to the “Ping Pong Show” district. The horrified guide had to explain why they were not stopping there—while the tourists either gasped or laughed uncontrollably.

The Overly Honest Guest (France)

At the Louvre, a guide was explaining the Mona Lisa’s significance when a tourist loudly declared, “That’s it? It’s so small!” The guide deadpanned, “Yes, and your attention span is even smaller.” (The rest of the group applauded.)

The Fake “Influencer” Meltdown (Bali)

A luxury tour guide had an Instagram “influencer” demand a private photoshoot at a sacred temple—while wearing a bikini. When the guide refused, the influencer threw a tantrum, claiming, “My followers need this content!” The guide replied, “And the temple needs respect.” Security was called.

The Worst Possible Time for a Bathroom Break (Iceland)

During a Northern Lights tour, a tourist insisted on stopping to pee—right as the aurora appeared. By the time they returned, the lights had faded. The guide later joked, “Next time, wear adult diapers.”

Final Thoughts

Being a tour guide means expecting the unexpected—whether it’s heartwarming moments, bizarre requests, or outright disasters. But as any seasoned guide will tell you: “The best stories always come from the worst tours.”

Got any crazy tour guide stories of your own? Share them in the comments!