Is It Safe to Travel to Nepal After the Floods? Trek-by-Trek Update

Last updated: 6 October 2026

What happened, briefly

On the morning of August 26, a flash flood came down the Bhote Koshi gorge on the Nepal-China border. It swept through Timure and the Rasuwagadhi border crossing, then carried on down the Trishuli into Nuwakot and Dhading. Roads, bridges and villages in that corridor were badly damaged, including the approach to Langtang. Recovery work in Rasuwa is still going on.

Separately, on September 6, a flash flood in the Budhi Gandaki and Therang rivers near Namrung in Gorkha washed away two bridges on the Manaslu trekking route. No one was hurt. Trekking on the Manaslu Circuit was suspended for a few days. Local communities built a temporary wooden bridge and trail, and the District Administration Office in Gorkha reopened the route on September 9.

Why this never meant “Nepal is closed”

Nepal is nearly 800 km wide, and its trekking regions sit in separate valleys. The August 26 flood didn’t touch the trails in Everest, Annapurna, Mustang, Kanchenjunga or Makalu. The Manaslu flood was a separate, local event in a different valley. Neither one was a “whole of Nepal” story. The best approach is still the same. Check your route, not just the country.

Which trekking regions are open now?

• Everest and Khumbu (Everest Base Camp, Gokyo, Three Passes)
• Annapurna Circuit and Annapurna Base Camp
• Manaslu Circuit and Larke Pass
• Tsum Valley
• Upper Mustang
• Kanchenjunga
• Makalu

Is the Manaslu Circuit open?

Yes. The circuit and Larke Pass reopened on September 9, three days after the flood. Local people built a wooden bridge and a short alternative trail near Namrung in two days. It’s a temporary crossing, so if river levels rise after heavy rain, your guide may change the day’s timing. Tsum Valley is open again too.

Planning one of these routes this season? See our Manaslu Circuit Trek and Tsum Valley Monastery Trek, or ask us about current trail conditions.

Can I get between Kathmandu and Pokhara?

• Yes, by road and by air. The Prithvi Highway reopened to two-way traffic at Krishnabhir in Dhading on September 17, after 18 days closed. Tourist buses are running again.
• Short delays are still possible at the repaired section, especially after heavy rain.
• Tribhuvan International Airport is operating normally, with domestic and international flights running.
• Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan are all open to visitors.
• The Rasuwagadhi, Timure and Syabrubesi corridor is still under repair. Avoid it unless local authorities and your operator confirm it’s safe.

What about Langtang and Gosaikunda?

Langtang is the region that took the worst damage, and it’s nearly back. The flood hit the road and infrastructure around Syabrubesi, which is the usual starting point for the Langtang Valley. That approach is still being repaired.

For now, trekkers are starting from Sundarijal, on the edge of the Kathmandu Valley, and walking in from the Helambu side instead. This works well if you want Gosaikunda as well. See our Langtang Gosaikunda Helambu Trek. For the classic Langtang Valley Trek, we’ll confirm the best approach for your dates when you book.

Frequently Asked Questions

See also: Nepal trekking permits, travel insurance for trekking in Nepal, and how to choose a Nepal trekking company.