GuruWalk Review: Is it Legit?
Not sure if GuruWalk is legit and looking for an honest GuruWalk review? I’ve got you! I have done their free walking tours in Budapest and Kathmandu, so I even got the chance to test their tours in different continents!
GuruWalk is great as they run free walking tours, but they have expert guides so the quality of the tours are also good. Nevertheless, I like to check the ratings for each tour and go with the one that has the highest ratings.
One thing to keep in mind is that even though the GuruWalk walking tours are free, you are recommended to tip the guide at the end of the tour. They recommend around USD 10 per person, but you can tip less or more – depending on whether you enjoyed the tour or not.
So, here is everything you need to know about GuruWalk!
What is a Free Walking Tour?
Free walking tours are organized around the world and the concept is that they don’t cost any fee, but you are recommended to pay a tip for the guide at the end of the tour.
Even though it is a free walking tour, the quality of tours are good as they are run by knowledgable and experienced guides. It is up to you how much tip you pay the guide at the end, so it is great for budget travellers who want to save some money but still want to go on a good quality tour.
Some of the major companies that run free walking tours are GuruWalk, Tours by Foot, and Sandemans.
GuruWalk Pros & Cons
Pros
Cons
What Is GuruWalk?
GuruWalk is a platform for booking free walking tours around the world. The advantage of GuruWalk is that the tours are run by experienced guides but it is free.
Although it is free, you are recommended to tip your guide at the end of the tour. They usualy recommend around USD 10 per person, but it is totally up to you how much you pay. If you loved the tour, you can pay more, or if you didn’t like it that much, you can pay less.
Other paid walking tours can be anywhere between USD 20-50, so GuruWalk tours are a good bargain even with the tip at the end, and ultimately it is a great option for budget travellers.
Most tours are held in English but in bigger cities, some tours are also held in different languages (e.g. Spanish).
Another advantage of Guruwalk is that it offers free cancellation as well. When you book the tour, you book it for free, and you can also cancel it for free. In case you cannot attend the tour, just make sure to cancel it as otherwise your guide will be waiting for you at the time of the tour.
Is GuruWalk Legit?
Yes, GuruWalk is totally legit and the tours organized by them are run by experienced tour guides.
While they are legit, I do recommend to only book tours through them that have high ratings and reviewed by lots of other travellers. I prefer to book their tours that have high ratings as I can trust the guides better and also get a better idea of what the tour is going to be like.
Where is GuruWalk Available?
GuruWalk is available all around the world, especially in all major, touristic cities. They also have a wide range of different tours, so it is easy to browse and find tours that fit your preferences.
Is GuruWalk free?
GuruWalk tours are free but there is a recommended tip at the end, so practically it is not 100% free.
The amount of tip at the end depends on you, but they generally recommend around USD 10. However, it is only a recommendation so if you were not too happy with the tour, you can pay less, or if you really enjoyed the tour, then you can pay more too.
✅ Book a Free Walking Tour by GuruWalk here!
Is a Free Walking Tour by GuruWalk for You?
The free walking tours by GuruWalk are like other walking tours, they are run by experienced guides with great knowledge about the area they hold the tours.
Just because the tour is free, it doesn’t mean that the quality of tour is bad. Actually, the guides running the free walking tours are highly knowledgable and they make money through the tips.
However, still check the ratings for each tour to make sure that the guide is well experienced. I like to just book highly rated tours, so I know that the tour is guaranteed to be good.
Overall, I recommend GuruWalk’s free walking tours to all travellers, but may suit best budget travellers who are looking for a good quality, affordable walking tour of a city.
Tips for Booking GuruWalk Free Tours
Check the Reviews and Ratings by Other Travellers
There are several walking tours in each city and to find the best tours, make sure to check the GuruWalk reviews and ratings by other travellers. I like to read the reviews, as they can provide a better insight into what the tours are like.
I had the best experience on tours that are highly rated, and rarely go for tours that have bad reviews because I am worried that it would not be worth it.
Cancel Your Booking In Case You Cannot Attend
If you book a tour but in the end you are unable to attend, you should cancel the tour.
If you don’t cancel the tour, then the guide will think that you are attending the tour and will be waiting for you at the meeting point. So be sure to cancel it if you cannot make it.
Tip Your Guide As You Wish
It is recommended to tip your guide around USD 10 at the end of the tour, however, if you are not happy with the tour, then don’t feel obliged to pay that much. It is up to you entirely how much you pay, so if you didn’t like it that much, then you can pay less.
Verdict: My Experience with GuruWalk
Ultimately, I find that taking a free walking tour by GuruWalk is totally worth it. Previously I have done a walking tour in Budapest when my friend came to visit me, and then done another in Kathmandu where I live now.
The walking tours I attended lasted between 2-3 hours, so it is good to wear comfortable walking shoes and be dressed for the weather, have an umbrella if it looks like it is going to be raining.
Both times I did a walking tour, I checked the reviews first for the tours that I was interested in, and then picked the one that had the best reviews. I found my guides to be fun, and explaining culture and historical facts in an entertaining way.
I really enjoyed the tours and the guides were great, so I paid the recommended USD 10 at the end of each tour. But there were travellers who paid less, and travellers who paid more, so you can really go with an amount that you feel comfortable with.
✅ Book a Free Walking Tour by GuruWalk here!
Alternatives to GuruWalk
If you are not sure about GuruWalk, some other companies that run free walking tours are Tours by Foot and Sandemans. They have both free and paid tours, so you can browse to find the best tour you like!
FAQs: Guruwalk Review: Is it Legit?
How much do you pay for GuruWalk?
The walking tours by GuruWalk are free, but you are recommended to pay a tip to your guide at the end. They recommend around USD 10 per person as a tip, but you can pay less or more depending on how you found the tour.
Why is GuruWalk free?
GuruWalk tours are free because they run on a business model that’s built on tipping rather than a booking fee. The guides are experts and knowledgable just like on a paid walkign tour, so the quality of the tour is good. They just make money from the tips.
How much to tip for a free walking tour?
It varies how much to tip for a free walking tour. It is usually recommended to tip around USD 10 per person, but you can pay less if you didn’t like the tour, or pay more if you found the guide was really good.
Conclusion
In conclusion, GuruWalk is one of the best companies for walking tours around the world for budget travellers. Walking tours can cost anywhere between USD 20-50, but GuruWalk’s “Pay-As-You-Wish” system reduces the costs by far.
The GuruWalk walking tours are free, however, you are recommended to tip your guide around USD 10 at the end of the tour. If you really loved the tour and found the guide knowledgable, you can tip more. On the other hand, if you didn’t find the tour good quality, you can also pay the guide less – it is up to you!
I recommend to check the reviews and ratings for each tour, and only book one that has high ratings. I did two GuruWalk free tours (both highly rated) and they were totally worth it and lived up to the expectation.
