Is Nepal Safe to Trek? 2026 Flood Update for Annapurna and Manaslu
A clear, honest update on the recent flooding in Nepal — and why our Annapurna and Manaslu trips are running exactly as planned.
Last updated 3 November 2026
In late August 2026 a severe flash flood struck Nepal's Rasuwa district, near the Nepal–China border, causing significant loss of life and widespread damage along the Rasuwa–Bhote Koshi–Trishuli river corridor. It has been one of the most serious natural disasters Nepal has faced in recent years, and our thoughts are with everyone affected.
We've had a number of questions from guests booked on our upcoming Nepal trips, so we wanted to set out clearly what happened, which areas were affected, and what it means — or rather, doesn't mean — for your trip.
Neither Annapurna nor Manaslu was affected by this flood. Both circuits sit on entirely separate river systems, well outside the affected corridor, and are running normally.
Your trip, specifically
The Manaslu circuit follows the Budhi Gandaki valley — a completely different drainage from the flood zone. The trail, villages and infrastructure along our route are operating normally.
The Annapurna region sits on its own separate river systems, well outside the affected corridor. There is no reported flood damage anywhere on our route.
What was actually affected
The flood was concentrated on a single corridor — the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli rivers, running through Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Dhading districts. This affected the Langtang and Gosainkunda trekking routes and the Rasuwagadhi border crossing to Tibet. It did not touch the Dudh Koshi valley that leads to Everest, and it did not touch the Budhi Gandaki or Annapurna river systems that our trips run through.
Nepal is a large and geographically varied country — a disaster in one river corridor does not automatically affect trekking regions elsewhere. Kathmandu itself, along with Pokhara and all the main trekking areas outside Rasuwa, are operating as usual.
Is Nepal safe to trek?
Trekking in Nepal carries real seasonal risks, and the monsoon is the biggest. Heavy rain from roughly June to September is when floods and landslides are most likely, and it is the reason the main trekking seasons are spring (March to May) and autumn (October to November). The August flood happened in the middle of the monsoon, outside the windows when our trips run.
Our Manaslu trip runs in November and our Annapurna trip in April, both in the settled seasons, and both are led by our local Nepali guide team, who know these valleys and what conditions are like on the ground. The grade of each trip is on our adventure grades page.
Common questions
Is the Annapurna region safe to trek after the flood?
The flood was in Rasuwa, to the north of Kathmandu. The Annapurna region sits on separate river systems, and no flood damage has been reported on our route.
Is the Manaslu Circuit still running?
Yes. The circuit follows the Budhi Gandaki valley, which is a completely different drainage from the flood zone, and our 14–28 November 2026 departure is running as planned.
Which trekking areas were affected?
The Langtang and Gosainkunda routes and the Rasuwagadhi border crossing, all on the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli corridor. Everest, Annapurna and Manaslu were not affected.
What we're doing
We're in direct contact with our local guide teams on the ground in Nepal and are monitoring conditions closely in the lead-up to both departures, as we would for any Himalayan trip. If anything changes that affects the safety or viability of either route, we will contact all booked guests directly and immediately — you won't need to chase us for updates. If you'd simply like to talk it through, book a free 10-minute call and we'll give you an honest, up-to-date picture.
Whether you're booked on Manaslu, thinking about Annapurna, or just curious — we're happy to talk it through, honestly and without the sales pitch.
Book a Free Call → See Annapurna, April 2027 →Charlie Knights
Founder · Pure Trails Adventure