Is the Manaslu Trek Closed? Nepal Landslide and Trekking Safety Update — September 2026

Current Status — At a Glance

⚠️ If you are currently on a trail in Nepal: Follow your guide’s instructions. Do not attempt to push through areas your guide hasn’t cleared. Stay at your current lodge or camp until conditions improve. Move to lower elevation if your guide recommends it.

What Actually Happened

Four separate emergencies have hit Nepal’s mountain regions in the space of a few days. That’s not normal, even for late monsoon season, and it’s why the situation right now is more serious than any single headline suggests.

🔴 BREAKING — Himlung Himal Base Camp avalanche. On the morning of September 27, a massive avalanche struck the base camp of Himlung Himal (7,126m) in the Nar Phu region of Manang district. At least 10 Nepali support staff are missing — some reports put the number as high as 14 or 15. The missing include eight staff from Himalayan Holidays Nepal and two kitchen crew from Imagine Nepal Treks. No foreign climbers were at base camp at the time — they hadn’t arrived yet for the expedition season. The staff were there fixing ropes and setting up camp when the avalanche came down.

This is the worst part: rescue helicopters can’t fly. The same weather system that triggered the avalanche is preventing aerial rescue operations from reaching the site. A ground team led by IFMGA/NNMGA guides, including Mingma G, has reportedly reached the area to begin search operations on foot. But conditions are extremely difficult, and the outcome is still unknown.

Most other expedition teams in the region had already evacuated to lower altitudes earlier in the week following weather warnings. The Himlung staff who stayed were doing the essential pre-season work that makes climbing seasons possible. They were doing their jobs.

Second — Sama Gaun, Manaslu region. Also on the morning of September 27, a landslide struck above Samagaun village following days of relentless rain. The sound woke trekkers, guides, and expedition staff across the village. As of this update, most people have been reported safe and no casualties have been confirmed — but the situation is still developing, and emergency rescue support has been requested by guides on the ground.

This comes on top of an already rough month for the Manaslu Circuit. Back on September 6, flash floods destroyed bridges near Namrung, closing the trail entirely until a temporary wooden bridge was built around September 10-11. The trail technically reopened, but conditions have remained fragile — and with the autumn mountaineering season on Manaslu now abandoned by most expedition teams due to persistent heavy snowfall, the region is operating well below normal capacity.

Third — Annapurna region. The Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) suspended all new trekking permits for the Annapurna and Manaslu conservation areas from September 24 to 26. The Manang District Administration Office went further, explicitly banning trekking to Tilicho Lake, Thorong La Pass, and other high-altitude areas from September 25 through 27. This isn’t trail damage — it’s a weather-driven emergency shutdown. The trails themselves are largely intact, but nobody should be on them right now.

Fourth — the highways. The Prithvi Highway connecting Kathmandu to Pokhara and the Narayangadh–Muglin road connecting Pokhara to Chitwan are both blocked by multiple landslides. These closures started the evening of September 24 and have been extended “until further notice” repeatedly since. Even where one-way traffic has been attempted, conditions are described as highly unstable with ongoing rockfall risk.

So if you’re trying to get from Kathmandu to Pokhara right now — by road, at least — you probably can’t. And if you’re trying to start a trek or expedition in the Manaslu, Annapurna, or Nar Phu regions, you absolutely should not.

Is the Manaslu Circuit Trek Closed?

Yes, effectively. Not by a single official decree, but by the combination of landslide damage, washed-out infrastructure, heavy snowfall at altitude, and the suspension of permits. The temporary bridge at Namrung is still standing as far as we know, but the trail above Samagaun is now compromised, and most expedition teams that were attempting Manaslu this autumn have already retreated.

The 2026 autumn mountaineering season on Manaslu is, for practical purposes, over. Whether the trekking circuit reopens for lower-altitude trekkers later in October depends entirely on how much more rain falls in the next two weeks and how quickly the temporary infrastructure holds up — or doesn’t.

Our honest assessment: if you had a Manaslu Circuit trek booked for late September or early October, contact your operator now about postponing or rerouting. Waiting it out in Kathmandu is an option if you have the flexibility, but there’s no guaranteed reopening date.

Is the Annapurna Trek Closed?

Not permanently, but right now — yes, you should treat it as closed. The permit suspension ran through September 26, and the trekking ban in Manang district runs through September 27. But these dates have already been extended once, and the weather pattern that caused them hasn’t fully cleared yet.

The Department of Hydrology and Meteorology issued a red alert for the Himalayan region from September 24 through 28, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall, thunderstorms, and snowfall. The low-pressure system driving all of this is weakening — that’s the first genuinely good news in days — but meteorologists are still expecting moderate rain and thunder across hilly and Himalayan regions through the rest of today.

Here’s the thing about the Annapurna region specifically: the trail infrastructure is mostly fine. This isn’t like the Manaslu situation where bridges washed out. The Annapurna closures are precautionary — authorities shutting things down because the weather makes high-altitude travel genuinely dangerous right now, not because the path itself is gone. Once the weather clears and stabilizes, the Annapurna Circuit, ABC, and Mardi Himal routes should reopen relatively quickly.

That’s the optimistic reading. The cautious reading — which is the one we’re going with for our own clients — is: don’t start any Annapurna trek until at least three to five clear days have passed after the current alert lifts. The trails will be wet, streams will be swollen, and there’s always a lag between the rain stopping and the landslide risk actually dropping.

The Highway Situation — Getting to Pokhara

Even if the treks reopen tomorrow, you still need to get to Pokhara. And right now, that’s a problem.

The Prithvi Highway closures are at Krishnabhir, Parewabhir, and several points across Chitwan and Dhading districts. Officials have strongly urged the public to avoid unnecessary travel on these routes. Even sections where limited traffic has passed are considered high-risk due to ongoing rockfall.

If you’re in Kathmandu trying to reach Pokhara, your realistic option right now is a domestic flight — if flights are operating. Check Buddha Air, Yeti Airlines, and Shree Airlines for same-day availability. Expect delays. Build at least an extra day of buffer into your plans.

What Trekkers Should Do Right Now

If you’re currently on a trek:

• Stay where you are unless your guide says otherwise
• Move to lower elevation if your guide recommends it — altitude makes bad weather more dangerous
• Do not attempt river crossings, exposed ridgelines, or pass crossings until conditions stabilize
• Keep your satellite communicator on and charged (if you have one)

If you’re in Kathmandu or Pokhara waiting to start:

• Contact your trekking operator for a revised timeline — don’t try to start independently
• Do not attempt the highway to Pokhara until road clearance is officially confirmed
• Use the waiting days productively — Kathmandu and Pokhara both have enough to fill a few extra days

If you haven’t left home yet:

• Contact your operator before flying to Nepal
• If your trek was scheduled for late September, discuss postponing to mid-October or later
• Travel insurance with trek cancellation coverage is worth confirming right now if you haven’t already

When Will Things Reopen?

We don’t know. Nobody does, and anyone giving you a firm date right now is guessing.

What we do know: the low-pressure system is weakening, and meteorologists expect rainfall to decrease from September 28 onward. If that holds, we’d typically see permit offices and trail access reopen within three to five days of the weather clearing — so a cautiously optimistic window for the Annapurna region is early October.

Manaslu is harder to call. The infrastructure damage is real, not just weather-related, and the high-altitude sections have received heavy snow. Our best estimate is that the lower portions of 

the Manaslu Circuit may reopen in mid-October if conditions stabilize, but the full circuit — including the Larkya La crossing — may remain impractical for longer.

We’ll update this post as we get confirmed information from our guides and the Nepal Tourism Board.

Emergency Contacts

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened at Himlung Himal Base Camp?

On the morning of September 27, 2026, a massive avalanche struck the base camp of Himlung Himal (7,126m) in Manang district’s Nar Phu region. At least 10 Nepali support staff are reported missing — some sources say up to 15. The missing are staff from Himalayan Holidays Nepal and Imagine Nepal Treks who were at base camp fixing ropes and preparing for the autumn expedition season. No foreign climbers were present. Rescue operations are underway but severely hampered by the same bad weather that caused the avalanche. A ground rescue team led by Mingma G and IFMGA/NNMGA guides has reached the area.

Is the Manaslu Circuit trek open right now?

No. The Manaslu Circuit is effectively closed as of September 27, 2026, due to landslide damage at Sama Gaun, destroyed bridges near Namrung (replaced by a temporary structure), heavy snowfall at altitude, and suspended permits. Most autumn expedition teams have already abandoned their Manaslu attempts this season.

Is the Annapurna trek closed due to landslides?

The Annapurna trails are not physically destroyed, but trekking has been suspended by authorities due to a red alert for heavy rainfall and landslide risk from September 24–28, 2026. ACAP suspended new permits from September 24–26, and Manang district banned high-altitude trekking through September 27. The trails should reopen once weather stabilizes, likely in early October.

Is it safe to trek in Nepal right now (September 2026)?

Not in the high-altitude regions. Nepal is under a weather alert through at least September 28, with heavy rainfall, landslides, avalanches, and highway closures affecting most major trekking and mountaineering regions. The Himlung Himal avalanche is a stark reminder that these warnings are not precautionary formalities — they reflect genuinely dangerous conditions. Low-altitude activities in Kathmandu and Pokhara valley remain relatively safe. Wait for the alert to lift and confirm trail status with your operator before starting any trek.

Can I still get from Kathmandu to Pokhara?

By road — not reliably. The Prithvi Highway and Narayangadh–Muglin road are both blocked by multiple landslides as of September 27. Domestic flights between Kathmandu and Pokhara are the best option but are subject to weather-related delays and cancellations. Check airline websites for real-time availability.

Should I cancel my October trek to Nepal?

Not necessarily. October is typically Nepal’s best trekking month, and the current situation is a late-monsoon weather event that should pass. If your trek starts after October 5–7, there’s a reasonable chance conditions will have stabilized by then — but confirm with your operator and build flexibility into your arrival dates. If your trek was scheduled for late September or the first few days of October, postponing by one to two weeks is the safest call.

What happened at Sama Gaun?

On the morning of September 27, 2026, a landslide struck above Samagaun village in the Manaslu region following days of heavy rain. The landslide caused alarm among residents, trekkers, and expedition staff, though no casualties have been confirmed as of this update. Guides on the ground have requested emergency rescue assistance, and the situation is still being monitored.

This post will be updated as new information becomes available.

Last checked: September 27, 2026, 3:15 PM NPT.

If you have a trek booked with Adventure Master Treks during the affected period, our team is already in contact with guides on the ground and will reach out to you directly with updated plans. If you haven’t heard from us yet, contact us — we’re monitoring the situation around the clock.