Status checked 3 November 2026. Conditions are changing quickly, so treat every route line below as dated.
Most of Nepal’s main trekking routes were reported open before Cyclone Arnab arrived in late October, but open does not mean back to normal. Manaslu, Tsum Valley and Langtang are running on partial repairs or alternative approaches. Reports since the storm cover rescues and stranded groups, not a fresh route-by-route check.
We could not find a published notice confirming that all restrictions have lifted since the storm. So the accurate position today is this: reported open before the cyclone, to be reconfirmed after it.
That is the gap this page tries to close. Below you’ll find what happened, the last reliable status for each route and the questions to put to your agency before you pay or fly.
What actually happened: four events in ten weeks
Nepal’s autumn season has been hit by separate events in different valleys. Lumping them together as “the floods” hides which route was affected by what.
| Date | Event | Main trekking impact |
|---|---|---|
| 29 Oct to 1 Nov | Cyclone Arnab: rain, heavy snow and avalanche warnings | Restricted-area permits paused for 29 to 31 October; trekkers told to stay put; groups held in Kanchenjunga and Dolpo |
| 11 Oct | Budhi Gandaki flood, Gorkha | Manaslu Circuit cut in several sections; Tsum Valley isolated |
| 24 to 27 Sept | Continuous rain, then high-altitude snow | Road and trail washed away in lower Manang; Thorong La closed for weeks |
| 26 Aug | Flood along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli, Rasuwa | Road access to Langtang lost; Al Jazeera later reported more than 1,450 deaths |
The August disaster was by far the deadliest. It is also why you may have seen Nepal described as unsafe in general, a framing the Foreign Ministry has asked other governments to narrow to the areas actually hit. The ministry has an obvious interest in tourism, so read that alongside independent advice.
Is it safe to trek in Nepal right now?
It depends on the route, the week and how you’re travelling. No one can give you a blanket yes.
Here is what the UK government says. The FCDO’s Nepal page, still current at 29 October, does not advise against travel to any part of the country. It does warn that the August flood areas may remain unstable and that further rain could trigger more landslides and rockfalls. Its last update predates Cyclone Arnab and it has no cyclone advice, so check it again before you leave.
Three things raise the risk this season:
- Repairs are temporary. Trekking agencies were told to take extreme caution on recently reopened roads, trails and temporary bridges in Manaslu, Manang, Myagdi and Mustang.
- Fresh snow changes the high passes. Reopening a pass in October tells you little about it after a snowstorm.
- Rescue is not instant. In Dolpa, a six-person group was only lifted out on 2 November after two failed helicopter attempts the day before. Officials said the group had no entry permits and had ignored local warnings. All six were reported in normal health.
Route status at 3 November 2026
Every line shows the last report we could verify, not a live condition. Most predate the cyclone. Nobody has published a complete post-storm survey that we could find.
| Route | Last verified status | Reconfirm before you commit |
|---|---|---|
| Annapurna Circuit | Busy and open via Thorong La in October: 5,384 foreign trekkers from 11 to 25 October. Vehicles cross at Chame on a temporary structure | Thorong La and Tilicho after the storm snow; whether the ACAP advisory has been lifted |
| Annapurna Base Camp, Poon Hill, Mardi Himal | Listed as operating as usual on 8 October | Named in ACAP’s cyclone advisory, in force “until further notice” on 28 October |
| Manaslu Circuit | TAAN said on 25 October it had reopened via Larke Pass on partial repairs, with vehicles reaching Machha Khola and permits available | Khorlabesi, Jagat and Namrung sections; Larke Pass snow |
| Tsum Valley | Same advisory: open to Chhekampar and Mu Gomba, with four community-built wooden bridges around Sardi Khola | Bridge condition; earlier reports were more cautious, so get this in writing |
| Langtang Valley | Reopened on alternative routes from Dhunche via Thulo Bharkhu, Brabal and Thulo Syabru, reported 29 October. The usual Syabrubesi road access was badly damaged | Which approach your agency is using; road condition on the day |
| Tamang Heritage, Ruby Valley | Reopened by 24 October, helped by a temporary footbridge at Syabrubesi | Footbridge and road access |
| Gosaikunda | Described as already open in the same 24 October report | Snow, and your approach route from Dhunche or Helambu |
| Everest region | Listed as open by TAAN on 8 October. We found no post-cyclone route report | Passes and Lukla flights, which are weather-dependent at the best of times |
| Upper Mustang | Accessible on 8 October. Tara Air and Summit Air had suspended regular Pokhara to Jomsom flights by 19 October, with no restart date given | Flights versus road; permit availability |
| Kanchenjunga, Makalu approaches | About 250 people held in the Kanchenjunga region on 30 October, with no disaster incidents reported then | Everything: we found no later status |
| Dolpo | Rescue completed 2 November after heavy snow; the group was last reported around Numla and Bagla passes | Pass conditions; permits are not optional |
TAAN is the trekking agencies’ trade body, not a regulator. Its advisories are the most detailed route information available, but its members also depend on bookings. Where an official has confirmed something, we’ve said so.
What Cyclone Arnab changed
The storm’s formal restrictions were short, but their end has not been clearly announced.
The Department of Immigration suspended restricted-area trekking permits for 29 to 31 October, following a warning from the national disaster authority. Trekkers already in those areas were told to stay in safe locations. The Department of Tourism’s warning ran through 1 November.
Forecasters expected the effects to weaken from the afternoon of 31 October. We couldn’t find a notice saying permit issuing has formally resumed. If you need a restricted-area permit for Manaslu, Tsum, Upper Mustang or Dolpo, ask your agency to confirm the permit has actually been issued rather than assuming the dates lapsed.
What to check before you travel
Five questions will tell you more than any “Nepal is open” post, including this one.
- What is the date and source of your route information? An answer without a date isn’t an answer. Ask whether it comes from someone on the ground this week.
- Is the access road or flight running, not just the trail? Several of this autumn’s closures were transport failures. Upper trails can be intact while the way in is gone.
- What is the plan if a pass is shut? Ask for the alternative route in writing, and whether extra days, jeeps or flights cost more.
- Does your insurance cover this trek at this altitude? The FCDO says cover should include mountain rescue and helicopter costs. Ask your insurer in writing whether the floods or the cyclone count as a known event for a trip booked now. Our trekking insurance guide covers the wording to look for.
- Will you have a licensed guide? The FCDO says independent foreign trekkers must use a local guide or porter in national parks and protected areas, and tells travellers plainly not to trek alone. Enforcement varies, and in the Khumbu the local municipality has not strictly applied the national rule. A solo Australian trekker was airlifted with severe head injuries after a fall at Kongma La in late October. A patchy rule isn’t a reason to skip the guide this season.
Our Nepal trekking safety guide covers altitude, emergency numbers and helicopter rescue scams in more depth.
Should you cancel, postpone or change your trek?
Most people shouldn’t cancel a whole trip on the headlines alone, but changing route is often the sensible call.
- Booked for November on Manaslu, Tsum or Langtang: this is where to be most cautious. You’re relying on recent repairs late in the season, so consider a route with simpler access unless your agency can show you this week’s conditions.
- Booked for November on a high pass: keep your trip, but build in spare days and accept you may be turned back. Ask what snow has done to the pass since 31 October.
- Planning for spring 2027: you have time. Don’t book a route based on any status from this autumn, and check repairs again in the new year.
- Not a trek at all: the disruption has been concentrated in specific valleys, roads and high areas. Check your road transfers and the FCDO page, as Kathmandu and Pokhara trips can still be affected by weather.
Cancellation terms vary by agency and insurer, and we can’t speak for yours. Get the position in writing before you decide.
Emergency numbers
The FCDO lists 1234 and 1144 for emergencies: 1234 is toll-free in Nepali and 1144 is the hotline. Nepal’s advisories also list 100 for police, 1114 for the Armed Police Force and 1155 for weather information. Save them before you go. Don’t rely on signal: the FCDO warns of limited coverage on long stretches of the Annapurna Circuit, and officials reported none on the Dolpa passes.
Frequently asked questions
Is Nepal safe to visit after the floods?
The FCDO does not advise against travel to any part of Nepal, as of its page still current at 29 October. It warns that flood-hit areas may stay unstable and that more landslides are possible. Risk varies a lot by region, so check your specific route.
Are Everest and Annapurna treks affected by the floods?
The August and October floods hit Rasuwa and Gorkha, not the Everest region. The Annapurna Circuit lost road and trail in late September, and it reopened in October. Cyclone Arnab then brought warnings for high areas across the country, so reconfirm conditions on both.
Can I trek to Langtang or Gosaikunda right now?
Reports from late October say yes, using alternative approaches because the road to Syabrubesi was badly damaged. Those reports came from local officials and TAAN. Confirm your exact access route and post-storm conditions first.
Is the Manaslu Circuit open?
TAAN said on 25 October that it had reopened via Larke Pass after partial repairs, and that permits were available. It then urged extreme caution on repaired sections as the cyclone approached. Check the current position before committing.
Is Kathmandu safe after the Nepal floods?
The August flood was centred north of the city, in Rasuwa and along the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli corridor. World Expeditions reported Kathmandu’s airport, hotels and roads as unaffected in early September. Later bad weather can still disrupt transport, so check again near your date.
Is November still a good time to trek in Nepal?
November is normally part of the main autumn season, but heavy snow was reported at altitude in late October. Lower and easier-access routes leave you less exposed to closures. Keep spare days in your plan.
Rethinking your route?
For the wider picture on routes, permits and seasons, start with our guide to trekking in Nepal. If you’d like a licensed Nepali agency to look at your plans, send us your dates and route. We pass enquiries on to agencies, and we may earn a commission if you book through one.
