Nepal Travel Update: Which Treks Are Open After the Floods

Quick Answer

18 October 2026: Nepal is open for travel, and almost every trekking region is running. The main exception is Manaslu and Tsum, still suspended after the 11 October flood on the Budhi Gandaki. Langtang has reopened: vehicles reach Dhunche again over the new Betrawati bridge, and the trail into the valley has been repaired and confirmed open (see below). Gosaikunda via Dhunche is running too. Everest Base Camp is running, and ACAP has resumed permit issuance, so Annapurna Base Camp, Ghorepani Poon Hill and Mardi Himal are running too, though we’re asking every trekker to go with a licensed guide given the recent rain damage.

The Annapurna Circuit has moved since our last update: Thorong La reopened for trekking around 6 October, and as of 14 October a temporary timber crossing has reopened the Chame river bridge to light vehicles too, with vehicle movement now resuming past Chame toward Manang and Khangsar. On the Mustang side, the Beni–Jomsom–Korala road has actually been open to vehicles since 9 October, with cargo and passenger traffic confirmed moving the full corridor (see below). The Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley remain suspended after the 11 October flood, though MCAP reports the upper section from Philim to Larkya La open for anyone who flies in. Overland Tibet via Kerung remains closed. Details on all of these are below.

Who this page is from

We’re Mountain Hike Nepal, a local trekking agency based in Kathmandu. Since the flood, most of the messages reaching us ask one of two things: is my trek still on, and should I still come to Nepal this autumn?

This page answers both. It covers what is closed, what is running, and what we would plan this year if you were a friend asking us. We update it whenever a road opens or closes, so please check the date at the top.

What’s Inside This Guide

Is Nepal open for tourists right now?
What happened in August, September and October
Route status
Annapurna Base Camp: Trek vs. Road
Low elevation or high elevation: what makes sense this autumn
What we suggest this autumn
Kathmandu: more than a stopover
Pokhara: fly in, then walk
Day hikes worth doing
Everest View Trek: good choice, flight-dependent
High-altitude treks: what’s running
Update — 1 October
Update — 2 October
6 October update
Update — 11 October: a new, separate flood has hit Manaslu
13 October update: Annapurna Circuit reopens, Kathmandu–Pokhara road reopens, Dashain traffic
Update — 14 October: Chame and the Jomsom–Mustang road open to vehicles, Manaslu Bailey bridge underway
18 October update: Langtang and Gosaikunda reopen, Manaslu still suspended
Langtang, Gosaikunda and Tibet: where things stand
Dashain and booking timing
What we don’t know yet
Frequently Asked Questions About Nepal Travel After the Floods
Related Planning Guides

Is Nepal open for tourists right now?

Yes. Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu is open, hotels and restaurants are working, and Kathmandu’s temples and squares are open to visitors. Pokhara is operating normally, apart from weather delays on flights.

The August flood struck one river corridor in the north, in Rasuwa district and downstream along the Trishuli. Most of the places travellers come for were never in its path.

We won’t tell you everything is normal, though, because it isn’t. Roads have been the main problem this season, and the rain at the end of September made several of them worse — it also cut road access, power and phone/internet service to Manang district for several days. The UK and US embassies have both issued advisories warning about unstable areas. Read your own government’s advice alongside this page too.

Our view is simple. Nepal is a sensible place to visit this autumn if you pick the right places and fly where roads are unreliable. Just leave some slack in your plan. That is what the rest of this page helps you do.

What happened in August, September and October

On the morning of 26 August 2026, a collapse of ice and rock near the Tibet border blocked the Lhende River. When the blockage gave way, a flood surged down the Bhote Koshi and into the Trishuli. It destroyed much of Syabrubesi, washed out bridges, and cut the highway that links Kathmandu with Rasuwa. More than 1,400 people died (Nepal Police, 28 September), and recovery work is still going on.

A month later, a low-pressure system from the Bay of Bengal brought another spell of heavy rain. On 23 September, the weather office advised trekkers to stay out of the Himalaya. It also advised everyone to avoid long road journeys from 25 to 27 September. That rain cut roads in Manang, Mustang and the Kathmandu–Pokhara corridor, brought early snow to the high trails, and killed at least 21 people nationwide, with more than 300 landslides recorded between 24 and 28 September.

By 30 September, that second spell of rain had eased. The national weather office describes conditions as partly to mostly cloudy, with only isolated light rain in the hills and mountains. The immediate danger has passed. What’s left behind — damaged roads, downed power lines, cut fibre-optic lines — takes longer to fix than the rain takes to stop.

Then on 11 October, a third, separate event hit: a new flash flood on the Budhi Gandaki in Gorkha destroyed several bridges on the approach to Manaslu and Tsum — a different river system from the August flood or the September rain. See Update — 11 October below for what’s confirmed.

Three separate events. The August flood caused lasting regional damage. September’s rain caused shorter-term disruption more widely, Manang hit hardest. And the October flood is new and still developing. That shapes almost every recommendation below.

Route status

This reflects conditions as of the date at the top of this page. Always confirm with us before you travel, since road status can change within a day.

Status by Route

Open: Kathmandu and Pokhara

Route	Status	Reason	Our advice
Kathmandu sightseeing	Open	None	Normal plan
Pokhara	Open	Flight delays in bad weather	Fly in; keep your first afternoon free
Kathmandu–Pokhara road	Open, with a nightly repair closure	The Galaudi/Gajuri subsidence (9 October) reopened to one-way traffic on 10 October. As of 12 October it’s open through the day, with a scheduled overnight closure (roughly 11pm–5am) at Galaudi while repair crews finish the work. This is on top of Dashain traffic, which is running at up to three times normal volume this week	Daytime travel is fine; budget extra time for traffic, not road closure. Flying is still the more predictable option during Dashain (11–25 October)
Kathmandu–Chitwan road	Open	Shares the same Prithvi Highway corridor as far as Mugling, which is open under the same nightly-closure schedule above. A separate issue — the Lokaha Bridge sinking on the Narayangadh–Kawasoti stretch of the Mahendra Highway, 10 October — is further west, on the Chitwan-to-Butwal direction, not on the Kathmandu–Chitwan route itself	Normal plan; expect heavy Dashain traffic on the road regardless

Open: Everest and Annapurna treks

Route	Status	Reason	Our advice
Everest View Trek	Open	Lukla flights depend on weather	Add one spare day
Everest Base Camp	Open	Lukla delays; fresh snow up high	Add one spare day
Nangkartshang Peak Trek	Open	Lukla flights depend on weather; same fresh snow as the rest of Khumbu	Add one spare day
Annapurna Base Camp	Open	Confirmed directly — our own guide is on the trail now. Approach road still needs watching: the Modi River freshly damaged the Pokhara–Ghandruk road on 26 September	Confirm road access with us before departure; travel with a licensed guide
Ghorepani Poon Hill	Open	ACAP has resumed permit issuance; recent heavy rain affected the region	Travel with a licensed guide; confirm conditions before departure
Mardi Himal Trek	Open	ACAP has resumed permit issuance; Base Camp (4,500m) affected by the same high-altitude snow as other high routes	Travel with a licensed guide; add one spare day for weather

Open: Sikles and other routes

Route	Status	Reason	Our advice
Sikles	Open	Confirmed open per ACAP/NTNC notice, 29 September	Normal plan

Manaslu and Tsum: suspended (new flood, 11 October)

Route	Status	Reason	Our advice
Manaslu Circuit (all sections)	Suspended	New flash flood hit the Budhi Gandaki on 11 October, separate from the 6 September Namrung flood. Police count 10 bridges swept away (14 October), and officials say there is no walkable trail between Jagat and Philim. MCAP says everyone who was on the route is safe, and that the upper section from Philim to Larkya La is open, reachable by helicopter to Philim	Not operable for new departures by the normal route; a fly-in to Philim for the upper circuit is possible on request
Tsum Valley	Suspended	Same flood; MCAP has suspended Tsum trekking after the Sardibhir cantilever bridge at Lokpa was swept away	Not operable for new departures; wait for MCAP or Gorkha DAO confirmation
Kathmandu to Manaslu trailhead (Soti Khola/Machha Khola)	Closed	Arughat and Soti bridges washed out 11 October. Army crews are installing a Bailey bridge at Arughat, targeting traffic before Dashain (17 October reporting). One operator reports buses reaching Machha Khola again on 16 October; not yet confirmed by us	Even with the road back, the trail beyond Machha Khola is broken

Annapurna Circuit and Jomsom: mostly open, some road gaps remain

Route	Status	Reason	Our advice
Annapurna Circuit (to Manang)	Open	TAAN’s 8 October advisory lists Manang as safe, with road access as far as Chame; a walk-and-jeep combination covers the remaining damaged stretches	Confirm the latest trail report with us before committing; go with an experienced guide
Annapurna Circuit (full loop, Thorong La)	Open for trekking	Snow cleared from Thorong La around 5–6 October; the Muktinath Hotel Association and multiple Nepali outlets (Himalayan Times, nepalnews.com, 6 October) confirm Manang–Mustang trekking is running. TAAN’s 8 October advisory recommends starting from Dharapani for acclimatisation rather than Besisahar. We haven’t seen a separate formal “circuit fully reopened” statement from ACAP beyond this	Bookable with an experienced guide; start from Dharapani on current advice
Tilicho Lake	Open	TAAN’s 8 October advisory lists Tilicho Lake as reopened	Confirm with us before the side trip, since snow conditions on the upper trail can still change quickly
Jomsom / Muktinath	Road trip accessible	The Maldhunga Bridge on the Baglung–Parbat feeder route (Mid-Hill Highway, a different “Maldhunga” from the one below) reopened 12 October, clearing one of the main feeder roads from Pokhara toward Beni. On the Beni–Jomsom–Korala road itself, the Maldhunga–Beni–Galeshwor and Ghasa–Korala sections are open; Pokharebagar bridge is still washed out and Rahughat still blocked	Road trip is workable again; still expect delays on the Pokharebagar/Rahughat stretches and confirm your exact route with us before departure

Langtang and Gosaikunda: open again; Tibet overland still closed

Route	Status	Reason	Our advice
Langtang Valley	Open	The Betrawati Bailey bridge opened on 11 October, and vehicles can reach Dhunche and the near bank of the river at Syabrubesi. Nagarik News reported tourist vehicles moving through Dhunche toward Langtang on 14 October. Locals repaired the worst landslide sections above Pahiro and below Rimche, and the ward chair confirmed the trail open on 16 October (RSS, Republica). The Syabrubesi road bridge and much of Syafru Bazaar are still gone, so the walk starts from Dhunche or Thulo Syabru, not Syabrubesi	Bookable; expect the Thulo Syabru start instead of Syabrubesi, and travel with a licensed guide (required in Langtang)
Gosaikunda via Dhunche	Open	Dhunche is reachable by road again since 11 October, and Nagarik News reported tourists arriving at the base of Gosaikunda on 14 October	Bookable; confirm snow conditions near the lake with us, since it sits at 4,380m
Gosaikunda via Sundarijal	Not confirmed	Trail not checked since the latest rain	Ask us first
Gosaikunda via Dupcheshwor–Suryakunda Pass	Not confirmed	High-altitude route (4,675m), not flood-damaged since it’s on the Nuwakot side, but current snow/trail conditions unverified since the late-September storm	Ask us before booking
Tamang Heritage Trail	Not confirmed	Usually starts from Syabrubesi, where the road bridge and much of the bazaar were destroyed on 26 August. We haven’t found a dated report on the trail itself	Ask us before booking
Tibet overland (Kerung)	Closed	The separate Syabrubesi–Rasuwagadhi stretch toward the border is still badly damaged; a 76-metre Bailey bridge there is under construction with no completion date given	Not possible right now

ACAP Permits and Guide Safety

The recent rain had paused ACAP (Annapurna Conservation Area Permit) issuance across the conservation area. It has now resumed. This affects Annapurna Base Camp, Ghorepani Poon Hill and Mardi Himal, since all of them need ACAP to enter the conservation area.

A licensed guide has been legally required in the Annapurna Conservation Area since 2023. Some trekkers still go without one. ACAP’s own current notice goes further and strongly advises every individual trekker to travel with a licensed guide or as part of an organized group given present conditions, trek only on officially open routes, and follow local authorities and ACAP officials at all times. We’re asking every trekker to actually do this, not just carry the permit.

The Annapurna Circuit’s status has moved since we first wrote this section: Thorong La reopened for trekking around 6 October, and TAAN’s 8 October advisory lists Manang and Mustang as safe. See Update — 13 October below for the detail; the older account in the next section is kept for background.

Annapurna Base Camp: Trek vs. Road

The trekking route itself is a separate question from the road that gets you to the trailhead. On 26 September, the Modi River eroded roughly 10 metres of the Pokhara–Nayapul–Birethanti–Ghandruk road at Syauli Bazaar. That cut the connection again, only days after it had fully reopened around 22 September from earlier flood damage. There’s conflicting information about this online because of that back-and-forth.

We can confirm the trek itself is open — our own guide is on it right now. The approach road is the part still worth watching, since ACAP is still assessing safe access on the Syauli Bazaar stretch. Confirm road access with us before you travel.

Low elevation or high elevation: what makes sense this autumn

This is the most useful decision you can make this autumn, so it’s worth thinking through.

Low-elevation travel (below about 3,000 m) means Kathmandu, Pokhara, Chitwan, the hills around both cities, and short treks such as Poon Hill. The main risk right now is road disruption, more than the mountains. You can remove most of that risk by flying between cities. If rain returns, you lose an afternoon, not a trip.

Mid elevation (around 3,000 to 4,000 m) includes the Everest View Trek and the lower Annapurna Base Camp trail. Weather matters more here. Trails can be wet, nights are colder, and in the Everest region you depend on the Lukla flight. For most reasonably fit people this is still a sensible choice, provided you allow a spare day.

High elevation (above 4,000 m) means Everest Base Camp, the upper ABC trail, Thorong La, Tilicho and the Manaslu passes. The late-September storm dumped snow up high — trekkers reported 3 to 3.5 feet around Gokyo. Snow like that usually settles and packs down within a week or two of clear weather. But it makes the first days after a storm slower, colder, and riskier.

If you are coming in early October and have never been to high altitude, our advice is to start low. If you are fit, experienced, and flexible with dates, high routes are open. Just don’t cross a pass the day after heavy snowfall because your itinerary says so.

What we suggest this autumn

These are the trips we’d plan this season. We choose them because they avoid the broken roads and give you something real if the weather turns.

If you have 7 to 10 days and want an easy, low-risk trip: Two or three days in Kathmandu, then a flight to Pokhara. Spend a day or two walking the hills around the lake, then do a short trek such as Ghorepani Poon Hill before flying back. Nothing on this plan relies on the damaged highways.

Want to see Everest without committing to a long trek? Do the Everest View Trek. It gets you to Namche Bazaar and a viewpoint over Everest and Ama Dablam, and it stays under 4,000 m. Pair it with a few days in Kathmandu so you have room for a Lukla delay.

Fit and want a proper trek? Annapurna Base Camp and Everest Base Camp are both running. ABC doesn’t depend on a mountain flight, but confirm the Pokhara–Ghandruk approach road with us first, since it took fresh damage in late September. Everest Base Camp needs a spare day built in for Lukla flights.

Had your heart set on the Annapurna Circuit? It’s trekkable again as of our 13 October update — start from Dharapani on current advice and go with an experienced guide. Had your heart set on Langtang? It has reopened as of our 18 October update, starting from Dhunche or Thulo Syabru. Had your heart set on a full Manaslu loop? Keep your Nepal dates and switch region, or push the trek to November once the lower trail reopens. Please don’t hold a non-refundable booking hoping conditions will clear in time.

Kathmandu: more than a stopover

Most trekkers rush through Kathmandu in a day and a half. This autumn, give it more time. It is the least weather-affected part of any Nepal trip, and it holds more than most people see.

The four places almost everyone visits are Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, Swayambhunath and Kathmandu Durbar Square. Add Patan and Bhaktapur, the two other old royal cities of the valley. Each takes most of a day if you walk the back streets properly, and each has a very different character from Thamel.

Kathmandu’s hotels, restaurants and guides are all working. Spending two or three days in the valley also gives your body time to adjust, at around 1,400 m, before any trek. It gives your itinerary a buffer too, in case bad weather delays a mountain flight.

Pokhara: fly in, then walk

The flood did not affect Pokhara, and the town is running normally. The issue is the road from Kathmandu: the flood damaged the Prithvi Highway near Krishnabhir, and the September rain reduced it to one lane between Nagdhunga and Mugling for several days. A later, separate subsidence near Galaudi/Gajuri closed it again on 9 October — see Update — 13 October for its current status. The flight takes about 25 minutes and remains the more predictable option; if you do drive, build in extra time, especially during Dashain.

Heavy rain can delay flights too. On 25 September, low visibility stopped most flights at Pokhara for much of the day. So don’t plan a tight connection on the day you arrive.

In Pokhara, the lake is the centre of everything. Most of the best walks start within half an hour of Lakeside. You can put together several easy days there without any long drives.

Day hikes worth doing

Day hikes are the best-value part of Nepal this season. You get mountain views and village trails with none of the road or altitude risk of a long trek.

Around Kathmandu

Nagarkot: a hill town on the eastern rim of the valley, with Himalayan views on clear mornings. Walk down towards Changu Narayan temple.
Shivapuri: forest trails in Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park on the northern edge of the city, with views over the valley.
Champadevi: a steady climb on the southwest rim, quieter than Nagarkot.
Chandragiri: take the cable car up for views on a clear day and walk part of the way down.

Around Pokhara

Sarangkot: the classic sunrise viewpoint over the Annapurna range and Machhapuchhre.
World Peace Pagoda: cross the lake by boat and walk up through forest. A half-day outing.
Dhampus and Australian Camp: a gentle overnight or long day walk with Annapurna views, and a good first taste of trekking for families.

You can’t count on clear views in early October. The monsoon normally withdraws from Nepal around 2 October, but last year it stayed until 10 October. Mornings are usually clearest, so start early.

Everest View Trek: good choice, flight-dependent

The Everest View Trek is the trip we suggest most often. It suits people who want to see Everest without two weeks free, or without sleeping above 5,000 m. You walk from Lukla to Namche Bazaar, then up to a viewpoint above it, with Everest, Lhotse and Ama Dablam in front of you. You stay below 4,000 m throughout.

The part to plan around is the flight. Lukla’s runway needs clear visibility, and on 25 September weather disrupted regular flights, with helicopters carrying some trekkers instead. In the busy autumn season, Lukla flights usually leave from Manthali airport in Ramechhap, not Kathmandu, which means a very early road transfer. We will confirm the departure point when you book.

Plan at least one spare day at the end of this trek. If the flight is on time, spend that day in Kathmandu. If it isn’t, you won’t miss your international flight home.

High-altitude treks: what’s running

Everest Base Camp: Open

The storm did not suspend Khumbu trekking. There is fresh snow at Gokyo, Gorak Shep and Dingboche, so the upper trail will be colder and slower until it settles. The same Lukla flight advice applies.

Annapurna Base Camp: Open

We have our own guide on the trail right now, so this one we can confirm directly rather than from a report. ACAP has resumed permit issuance, and the lower trail around Ghandruk, Jhinu Danda and Chhomrong took heavy rain and is currently muddy in places — passable, but expect slower going underfoot. The approach road still needs watching: the Modi River washed out part of the Pokhara–Ghandruk road at Syauli Bazaar on 26 September. Travel with a licensed guide, which has been a legal requirement here since 2023, and confirm road access with us before you travel.

Annapurna Circuit: trekking to Manang possible, full loop not yet (superseded — see Update, 13 October)

This section reflects where things stood in late September and early October and is kept for background. It no longer reflects current conditions — see Update — 13 October below.

A flood from a side stream, Ghatte Khola, partially blocked the Marsyangdi River on 27 September — the same day heavy rain and an avalanche hit Himlung Himal’s base camp nearby. The flood cut Manang off on three fronts: the access road, electricity, and phone/internet service. Road and trail reports now describe a walk-and-jeep combination getting people as far as Manang — short walking sections around the worst-damaged stretches (around Khotro and between Syrkyu and Bhratang) with local jeep service on the open sections either side. Conditions are getting better but aren’t normal yet, so check the latest report before you commit. Thorong La and the full loop are still not possible. Give it a few more days.

Annapurna Circuit: road repairs and power

On the road, the Department of Roads has crews clearing landslides between Timang and Koto, cutting back the slope and building retaining walls at Khotro, and blasting through rock where the hillside won’t hold. Temporary crossings are going in where wooden bridges washed out. Traffic has already resumed through Rambazar, and the department’s own target is the Besisahar–Chame section passable by Friday, 2 October. That is a target date, and it may slip.

Power and communications had been a separate, nationwide problem, not unique to Manang: Nepal Telecom had confirmed outages caused by flood and landslide damage to fibre lines, and solar-powered relay towers in the mountains losing charge in the storm. We’re told grid power in Manang came back on 1 October. Internet and data service often lag behind power restoration in this terrain, since the fibre lines and relay towers need their own repairs, so don’t assume reliable internet in Manang yet just because the lights are back — ask us for the latest before relying on it.

Separately, the avalanche that struck Himlung Himal’s base camp on 27 September has claimed four confirmed dead, with 12 people still missing as of 29 September. Himlung is a different mountain from Manaslu, though also in Manang district, and search operations have been repeatedly halted by further snow.

None of this means the Circuit is written off for the season — it means don’t book it yet. Once ACAP confirms the Thorong La route and the road are both safe, and once basic power and communication are back, we’ll update this page. Once it does reopen, ACAP is asking individual trekkers to travel with a guide or an organized group and stay on officially open trails.

Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley: suspended after the 11 October flood

This status changed again on 11 October — see the update near the top of this page. A new flash flood on the Budhi Gandaki destroyed several bridges on the approach and the route is not operable for new departures right now. The account below, of the route reopening after the 6 September Namrung flood and trekkers crossing Larke La in early October, is kept for background, but it no longer reflects current conditions.

The Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP) paused permit issuance during the late-September rain and resumed regular issuance on 27 September as conditions improved. Heavy snow completely blocked Larke La (5,160m) through 30 September, with hundreds of trekkers stranded in Samagaun and Samdo. Guides on the circuit then reported the pass crossed: a group of 21 foreign trekkers with 15 Nepali guides and support staff crossed on Thursday 1 October and reached Bhimtang, with heavy snow still remaining in places. The 11 October flood above supersedes that reopening.

Getting to the trailhead is also affected. The normal drive from Kathmandu to Soti Khola/Machha Khola runs via Dhading Besi and Arughat — the Arughat bridge and the Soti bridge are both among the ones destroyed on 11 October. We’ll update this section once MCAP or the Gorkha DAO confirm an alternative route or repair timeline.

Jomsom/Muktinath: Open

Road access has improved. The Beni–Jomsom–Korala road took damage at 46 locations (Korala Road Project, 28 September): 5 near Parbat–Maldhunga, 16 between Beni and Rupse, 25 between the Mustang border and Korala. Crews have since repaired the Maldhunga–Beni–Galeshwor section and vehicles are moving again, and the Department of Roads cleared the Ghasa–Korala stretch on 30 September for two-way traffic. Separately, the Maldhunga Bridge on the Baglung–Parbat feeder route from Pokhara (a different “Maldhunga,” on the Mid-Hill Highway — not the one on the Beni–Jomsom road itself) had been closed since a 27 September flood took out roughly 30 metres of its approach road; it reopened on 12 October after repairs, clearing another route in from Pokhara.

The Kaligandaki washed away the motorable bridge at Pokharebagar (Bhurung–Tatopani area) on 27 September, cutting that link to Mustang, and Rahughat remains blocked pending removal of a damaged hydropower tower. Flights into Jomsom are running weather permitting. Road access is genuinely workable again, but still expect delays around Pokharebagar and Rahughat, and check current conditions before you go.

Mardi Himal Trek: Open

Base Camp sits at 4,500m, so the same high-altitude snow affecting Gokyo and Manaslu applies here too. ACAP has resumed permit issuance for the region; travel with a licensed guide and confirm conditions before departure.

Update — 1 October

Two changes since this page was last updated on 30 September.

Mustang road: The Department of Roads has cleared the Ghasa–Korala section and two-way traffic has resumed there. Other stretches between Mustang and Beni — including around Tatopani and the Pokhare Bazaar bridge — are still washed out and under repair. Jomsom flights continue to run weather permitting, and trekking on foot remains possible throughout.

Manaslu Circuit — Larkya La blocked on 1 October (see the 2 October update below): Heavy snow had completely blocked Larkya La (5,160m). Locals in Samdo describe it as unusually thick snow that can’t be cleared by hand, and hundreds of trekkers who reached Samagaun and Samdo to cross the pass were stuck there waiting for trail crews. MCAP is still issuing permits and the lower, central sections of the circuit remain open — and at that point the advice was to treat it as an out-and-back trek to the lower valleys. Guides have since reported a crossing.

Update — 2 October

Two more changes since yesterday.

Larke La (Larkya La): reported crossed, still not officially confirmed. Guides currently on the Manaslu Circuit report that a group of 21 foreign trekkers and 15 Nepali guides and support staff crossed the pass on Thursday, 1 October, and reached Bhimtang. Deep snow remains in places — up to 7 feet reported on parts of the route — and the Dharamsala–Bhimtang section is still described as difficult. We haven’t had this confirmed by MCAP or a news source yet, so we’re treating the pass as open with caution, not fully cleared. If you’re relying on crossing it, confirm the latest report with your guide before committing.

Mustang/Jomsom road detail: We’ve added the Korala Road Project figures to the Jomsom section above: 46 damage points, the Pokharebagar bridge lost on 27 September, and Rahughat still blocked. On foot, Jomsom is still reachable, but expect delays on the road.

Update — 6 October

Three changes since 2 October, all from the Nepal Tourism Board’s own NepalNOW travel update (nepalnow.travel, updated 5 October) and a detailed Thorong La/Tilicho report from Himalayan360 (4 October, citing ACAP’s own 3–4 October updates).

Langtang: trekkers have now reached Langtang Village. NTB’s NepalNOW update says so directly, with a few landslide sections and a stream crossing still requiring care. This is the first named, official confirmation we’ve seen of the walk-in route (via Dhunche and Thulo Syabru) actually being completed since the floods — we’ve updated the status table and the section below accordingly. The road to Syabrubesi itself is still not confirmed open, so this is trekking access, not vehicle access.

Thorong La: trail cleared and trekkers are crossing it, still no formal ACAP reopening. ACAP reported seven trekkers crossed on 3 October. Around 5 October, the Muktinath Hotel Association had 20 people clear snow from the pass, and says trekking Manang–Mustang is now no problem — a real improvement, but we still haven’t found an ACAP statement formally lifting its 30 September closure, and the road above Chame is still damaged. Treat it like Larkya La: genuinely possible with an experienced guide, not yet an official green light.

Tilicho Lake: status unclear, not confirmed open. ACAP’s 30 September closure notice named Tilicho specifically. NTNC reissued Tilicho permits on 2 October, but ACAP’s 3 October update didn’t mention Tilicho one way or the other, and snow is still reported lying on the upper trail. NTNC reissuing permits isn’t the same as us confirming the trail is safe — ask us before you plan the side trip.

What’s next for this page

This note was written on 6 October, when most major routes were running and we were planning to slow these updates down. The 11 October Manaslu flood changes that for now — we’ll keep updating this page as that situation develops, and go back to a slower pace once it’s resolved and the other open items (Thorong La, Tilicho, the Betrawati–Rasuwa road) are settled.

Update — 11 October: a new, separate flood has hit Manaslu

Short version: Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley are suspended again, as of this morning. A new flash flood hit the Budhi Gandaki river in Gorkha before dawn on Sunday, 11 October — a separate event from the 6 September Namrung flood we reported earlier. NDRRMA issued a flood alert around 6:40am, and residents and trekkers in the Chumnubri area began fleeing after hearing the river rise. This is a developing story and the numbers are still moving, so treat everything below as preliminary and check with us before you rely on it. For the fuller writeup — bridge-by-bridge detail, the missing and rescue count, and what’s still unconfirmed — see our Manaslu Circuit flood update.

What’s confirmed so far

By named, dated news sources, as of this morning: multiple bridges on the main approach are gone, including the Arughat bridge linking Gorkha and Dhading (Ratopati), the motorable bridge at Soti (Kathmandu Post, OnlineKhabar), and footbridges at Nyakchet–Sirdibas and Machhakhola–Kerauja (Kathmandu Post). Home Minister Sudan Gurung said the bridge linking Nyakchet and Philim Bazar — the Manaslu/Tsum junction — was also destroyed. The flood swept away or damaged houses across several wards in Chumnubri and Dharche; district officials give different counts for different areas, and a full tally isn’t in yet. News reports count four people missing. Ratopati reports tourists stranded on the Manaslu Circuit after the bridges went, though it gives no numbers or locations. No source has confirmed any deaths as of this writing.

The cause isn’t confirmed. Different officials and residents point to a landslide temporarily damming the Syar or Ungilung river before it broke through — not monsoon rain, since a Lokpa resident told the Kathmandu Post there had been none. We’re not going to guess at a cause here, and we’d treat any page claiming to know it already as getting ahead of the facts.

What this means for bookings

We’re treating Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley as not operable for new departures until MCAP or the Gorkha District Administration Office says otherwise — this reverses the “open, go with caution” status we had on this page as recently as 6 October. If you have a group currently on the trail above Samagaun, exiting over Larkya La toward Manang may be an option, but we haven’t verified current conditions on that side, so confirm with your guide before relying on it. We’d postpone or reroute Manaslu and Tsum departures for at least the next two to three weeks; bridge repairs plus Dashain are both likely to slow the response. We’ll publish a fuller update once DAO or MCAP issue their own assessment, expected in the next few days.

Update — 13 October: Annapurna Circuit reopens, Kathmandu–Pokhara road reopens, Dashain traffic

Three changes since 11 October, each confirmed from a named source rather than a single blog.

Annapurna Circuit: Thorong La open, Tilicho reopened

TAAN’s 8 October advisory lists the full Manang–Mustang stretch, including Thorong La, as safe, and separately lists Tilicho Lake as reopened. Nepali outlets (Himalayan Times, nepalnews.com and Radio Nepal, all 6 October) independently confirm the Manang–Mustang crossing is running: snow crews cleared the pass around 5 October, and the Muktinath Hotel Association’s own words were “no problem trekking from Manang via Thorong-La Pass to reach Mustang.” Road access on the ground is still partial. TAAN describes it as reaching Chame on the Manang side and Kagbeni/Jomsom–Muktinath–Dana on the Mustang side, and recommends starting the trek from Dharapani rather than Besisahar for now.

We haven’t found a single formal ACAP statement declaring “the Circuit is fully reopened.” But TAAN’s advisory, plus multiple independent reports of people actually crossing, give us enough to call this open for trekking with an experienced guide. We’ve updated the route-status table and FAQ above and below to match; the older Annapurna Circuit section further up this page is kept for background only.

Kathmandu–Pokhara road: reopened, with a nightly repair closure

The Galaudi/Gajuri subsidence that halted the Prithvi Highway on 9 October reopened to one-way traffic the following evening. As of 12 October, the road is open through the day, and the district administration has scheduled an overnight closure (roughly 11pm–5am) at Galaudi while repair crews finish the work — the Trishuli River eroded the road, and officials say it still needs more work.

This also means the Kathmandu–Chitwan road is open, since it shares the same corridor as far as Mugling. A separate, unrelated issue — a sagging bridge on the Mahendra Highway between Narayangadh and Kawasoti, reported 10 October — sits further west and doesn’t affect the Kathmandu–Chitwan route itself.

Heavy Dashain traffic, separate from any road damage

Dashain runs 11–25 October this year, and this week is the peak outbound exodus from Kathmandu. More than a million people will leave the Valley by road this week, and the Prithvi Highway alone normally carries over 15,000 vehicles a day — that volume roughly triples during Dashain. This hasn’t closed any of the roads above, but budget significant extra time for any Kathmandu–Pokhara or Kathmandu–Chitwan drive through 25 October, and consider flying if your schedule is tight. Domestic flights are busier than usual too; Tribhuvan International Airport has added late-night slots to cope.

Update — 14 October: Chame and the Jomsom–Mustang road open to vehicles, Manaslu Bailey bridge underway

Annapurna Circuit: Chame reopened to vehicles

Real progress here. The Marshyangdi River bridge at Chame — the break in the road to Upper Manang since flood debris submerged it on 25–26 September — reopened on the evening of 13 October via a temporary timber crossing, about 35 metres long, laid across the bridge’s upper steel beams. Chame Rural Municipality arranged it, with the Nepali Army, Armed Police Force, Nepal Police and local residents helping.

Only light vehicles — jeeps and motorcycles — can use it; heavy vehicles are still barred. The Chief District Officer says this arrangement holds until Dashain ends, after which crews will try again to clear the actual river channel. As of 14 October, the district administration reports vehicle movement resumed along roughly 61.5km of the Besisahar–Chame road and 36km of the Chame–Manang–Khangsar road. This supersedes the “road reaches Chame, not beyond” status in our 13 October update above — vehicles are now getting past Chame toward Manang and Khangsar too, not just reaching it.

Mustang side: Pokhara–Jomsom road reopened since 9 October

This one’s actually been running longer than our 13 October update gave it credit for. The Beni–Jomsom–Korala road — damaged at around 50 points by the late-September floods — reopened to traffic on the evening of 9 October, not just partially. Ratopati’s 11 October report gives real vehicle counts: 391 vehicles had exited Mustang through the Thasang-4/Ghansa checkpoint since reopening, including containers carrying goods imported through the Korala border, heading to Pokhara and Kathmandu, plus Mustang apples going to market again. That’s a two-day, dated, named-source confirmation, not a single press release.

One thing we can’t independently confirm: the short Jomsom–Muktinath stretch specifically. Cargo from the Korala border (further north than Muktinath) is already moving the length of the corridor, which strongly suggests Jomsom–Muktinath is fine too, but we haven’t found a 2026-dated source naming that exact section — only an old, recycled story about a different, smaller washout from 2023 that keeps resurfacing in search results. We’re treating the road as open based on the Beni–Jomsom–Korala confirmation above, and will update this the moment we find Muktinath-specific confirmation either way.

Manaslu: Bailey bridge underway, but not open for vehicles yet

To be clear on this one, since it’s easy to mix up with the Chame news above: Manaslu is not open for vehicle access. What’s true is that the Nepali Army and the Gorkha Road Project began building a Bailey bridge at Arughat on 13 October, after a 22-metre section of the existing motorable bridge was washed away. The stated target is to finish within about ten days — so roughly 23 October — which would restore the Gorkha–Dhading road link. No vehicle is crossing there yet, and no official completion date has been confirmed. (See the 18 October update for newer progress.)

On the trekker side, most people who were stuck in the Manaslu area are now out: of 97 tourists MCAP had registered at Jagat, 12 have returned and the rest were evacuated after about three days, some by helicopter; 19 foreign tourists were evacuated from Chum Valley; all 17 who were at Lokpa have returned. MCAP’s Bhuwan Ojha put the trail condition bluntly: “There is no trail left” between Filim and Jagat. Trekking into Tsum Valley remains officially suspended. For the full writeup, see our Manaslu Circuit flood update.

18 October update: Langtang and Gosaikunda reopen, Manaslu still suspended

Langtang: open again, with a changed start point

Langtang is running again. The 73-metre Bailey bridge at Betrawati, built by Nepal Army engineers, opened to traffic on 11 October. DC Nepal reported the same day that vehicles can now reach Dhunche and the near bank of the Trishuli at Syabrubesi. On 14 October, Nagarik News reported convoys carrying foreign tourists through Dhunche toward the Langtang entrance, with transport services back running.

The trail itself is open too. Local residents repaired the worst landslide sections, above Pahiro and below Rimche, through volunteer work. Dindup Tamang, chair of Gosaikunda Rural Municipality ward 4, confirmed this to the national news agency RSS, reported on 16 October. The rural municipality says the repaired route is now safe to travel.

One thing is different from a normal season. The 26 August flood destroyed much of Syafru Bazaar and the road bridge there, so treks no longer start from Syabrubesi itself. The working route runs from Dhunche through Thulo Bharkhu, Brabal and Thulo Syabru, then via Pahiro, Bamboo and Rimche to Lama Hotel and on up the valley. Expect a slightly different first day, not a different trek.

Gosaikunda: running via Dhunche

Gosaikunda starts from Dhunche, which has had road access again since 11 October. Nagarik News reported tourists arriving at the base of Gosaikunda on 14 October, the first named report we’ve seen of trekkers back on this route. The lake sits at 4,380m, so check snow conditions with us before you go.

Manaslu: still suspended, upper route open by air

No official reopening notice has come for Manaslu or Tsum. On 14 October, MCAP’s Bhuvan Raj Ojha said the trail from Philim to Larkya La is open and safe, and Samagaun can be reached by helicopter to Philim. The lower trail between Jagat and Philim is still broken. At Arughat, army crews are installing a Bailey bridge, with the aim of opening traffic before Dashain. Full detail is on our Manaslu Circuit flood update.

Everything else

We found no new closures since 14 October on the Everest, Annapurna or Mustang routes. The 14 October status for the Annapurna Circuit and the Jomsom road still stands. Dashain tika falls on 21 October, so expect busy roads and full flights around that date.

Langtang, Gosaikunda and Tibet: where things stand

Langtang: the road, and the walk-in alternative

Current status (18 October): open. See the 18 October update above. The background below explains how the closure played out. For six weeks after the 26 August flood, the problem was the road: every jeep and bus into Langtang uses the highway through Galchhi, Betrawati and Dhunche.

Update, 13 October: the Betrawati bridge is open

A 73-metre Bailey bridge over the Phalakhu river at Betrawati opened to vehicles on the morning of Sunday, 11 October. The Kathmandu Post, OnlineKhabar and Meroauto all confirm this independently, and the Nepali Army supported the installation. This was the one confirmed break in the Galchhi–Betrawati–Dhunche–Syabrubesi road; reports from late September (OnlineKhabar, 22 September; Meroauto, 23 September) described the stretch from Betrawati through Dhunche to Syabrubesi as otherwise undamaged.

That gap is now closed. Vehicles reach Dhunche and the near bank at Syabrubesi, and tourist convoys were reported on the road on 14 October. The road bridge at Syabrubesi itself is still out, which is why treks now start from Dhunche or Thulo Syabru. That bridge also carries the road onward toward Rasuwagadhi and the Tibet border; see the Tibet section below.

This section originally reported the Betrawati–Dhunche–Syabrubesi stretch as not yet confirmed open. That’s now superseded by the bridge opening above; we’ve kept the detail below for background on how the closure played out.

There was some progress before the 11th: the lower stretch, Galchhi to Betrawati, reopened on 1 October on a temporary track, confirmed by name — Infrastructure Minister Sunil Lamsal said public movement had resumed, though levelling and gravelling work was still going on and the Betrawati Bailey bridge was being installed on both sides. That was the approach road, not the river crossing itself; the crossing is what opened on the 11th.

The walk-in alternative via Dhunche

There’s also a walking route into the valley that doesn’t depend on that road at all: in via Dhunche and Thulo Syabru, on foot, to Langtang Village and Kyanjin Gompa. As of 5 October, the Nepal Tourism Board’s own NepalNOW travel update confirms trekkers have reached Langtang Village this way, with a few landslide sections and a stream crossing to manage. This is now the standard way in, and local repairs above Pahiro and below Rimche made it safer by mid-October.

Crews have been working in waterlogged ground and on hard rock cliffs. The Betrawati Bailey bridge is now open, as above. A separate Bailey bridge still has to go in at Syabrubesi itself, carrying the road onward toward Rasuwagadhi; that one restores the border route, not access to Langtang or Dhunche. The Department of Roads’ Director General, Bijay Jaisi, has stated the government’s aim is to repair the roads and bridges damaged by the floods before Dashain. Officials haven’t confirmed a date for the Syabrubesi bridge specifically.

Gosaikunda: alternative approaches

For Gosaikunda, the usual approach through Dhunche is open again: the road reaches Dhunche, and tourists were reported at the base of Gosaikunda on 14 October. Two alternative approaches also exist: a walk-in from Sundarijal through Helambu, and a route from Dupcheshwor via Sisipu, Talu, Phedi and Suryakunda Pass (4,675m). Neither depends on the Rasuwa road, but both are serious high-altitude routes we haven’t confirmed since the late-September snow. Ask us before booking either of those two.

Tibet overland: border still shut

The flood damaged the crossing and the Nepal-side customs post, so overland travel to Tibet through Rasuwagadhi and Kerung also remains closed.

Dashain and booking timing

Dashain, Nepal’s biggest festival, runs from 11 to 25 October this year, and the main tika day is 21 October. Around those dates, buses and domestic flights fill with people travelling home, and some offices close. Kathmandu becomes quieter and more relaxed, which many visitors enjoy, but getting around takes more planning. As of our 13 October update, this is now in full swing: over a million people are travelling out of the Valley by road this week, and the Prithvi Highway is running at roughly triple its normal traffic.

Our advice on booking is to book now, but book flexibly. Flights to Lukla and Pokhara tighten in October in a normal year. This year, more people are flying to avoid the roads, so seats are going faster. Securing your flights and core dates early costs you nothing if you choose a route that is already running.

What we’d avoid is locking in a non-refundable trip that depends on a road or pass that hasn’t reopened yet. As of 18 October that means a full Manaslu loop by the normal route, Tsum Valley and overland Tibet. The Annapurna Circuit, Langtang and Gosaikunda via Dhunche have all reopened. For anything still closed or unconfirmed, wait until we can confirm the road or pass is open and we’ve had a report back from the trail.

What we don’t know yet

Whether the Tamang Heritage Trail is running again, since its usual start at Syabrubesi was badly damaged.
When the separate Bailey bridge at Syabrubesi itself, carrying the road on to Rasuwagadhi and the Tibet border, will be finished.
Whether a formal ACAP statement declaring the Annapurna Circuit fully reopened will follow the on-the-ground reports we already have.
When crews will fully restore internet/data service in Manang (grid power has reportedly been back since 1 October).
When search teams can safely resume or finish the Himlung Himal search operation.
An official completion date for the Arughat Bailey bridge — 17 October reporting gives a “before Dashain” target, not a date, and it only restores the road, not the Filim–Jagat trail section further up the valley.
When MCAP or the Gorkha DAO will issue an official reopening notice for the normal Manaslu route.
When crews will clear the Chame river channel itself and restore full heavy-vehicle access, planned for after Dashain ends.
Whether more rain or snow will push back road and trail repairs further.
Exactly when the Galaudi overnight closure on the Prithvi Highway will end and the road return to normal, unrestricted hours.

We’ll update this page as each of these becomes clear.

Frequently Asked Questions About Nepal Travel After the Floods

Is Nepal safe to visit after the 2026 floods?

Most of Nepal was not in the flood zone. Kathmandu, Pokhara, the Everest region, the Annapurna region including the Circuit, Langtang and Gosaikunda are all operating. The Manaslu/Tsum region is the main exception. The practical risks this autumn are road disruption, heavy Dashain traffic, and weather at altitude, not the flood itself. Check your government’s travel advice before you book.

Did Nepal ban trekking in September 2026?

Not nationwide. On 23 September the weather office advised trekkers to suspend Himalayan treks and advised everyone to avoid long road journeys from 25 to 27 September. Manang district formally closed its high trails for those three days.

Is the Langtang trek open?

Yes, as of 18 October. The Betrawati Bailey bridge reopened the road to Dhunche on 11 October, and locals repaired the damaged trail sections, confirmed open on 16 October. The road bridge at Syabrubesi is still out, so treks now start from Dhunche or Thulo Syabru.

Plan Your Trek With Confidence

We’re Mountain Hike Nepal, a Kathmandu-based trekking company that’s been running treks since 2018. We check road and trail conditions directly, not from a desk overseas, and we’ll tell you honestly if a route isn’t ready rather than book it anyway.

Right now, Everest Base Camp, the Everest View Trek, Annapurna Base Camp, Ghorepani Poon Hill, Mardi Himal, the Annapurna Circuit, Langtang and Gosaikunda are running, and we build in one spare day for flights or weather. The 11 October flood suspended Manaslu and Tsum, and overland Tibet is still closed. The route table above has the detail.

Planning a trip this autumn? Send us your dates and the kind of trip you have in mind on WhatsApp, and we’ll tell you straight what’s running, what isn’t, and what we’d do in your place.

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