What Happened in Manaslu Region?
In the early hours of Sunday, September 6, 2026, a flash flood tore through the Budhigandaki and Therang rivers within the Manaslu Conservation Area in northern Gorkha district, as reported by Nepal News. According to the Assistant Chief District Officer of Gorkha, Netra Prasad Sharma, the flood was triggered when debris temporarily dammed the Therang Stream near its source before bursting downstream. The resulting surge hit Namrung, in Ward No. 4 of Chumanuwri Rural Municipality, sweeping away two bridges along the trekking trail and knocking out two micro-hydropower projects that supplied electricity to the area.
According to a separate Nepal News report, the District Police Office in Gorkha confirmed that the homes of four local families in Chumanuwri-4 were inundated and washed away. Residents fled to higher ground as the water rose, and both the District Police Office and the district administration have confirmed there were no human casualties.
Because the Therang Stream drains directly into the Budhigandaki River, authorities have also issued high-alert flood warnings for communities living further downstream along the river basin. With power and communication lines down and the main suspension bridge destroyed, movement in and out of the affected section of the valley has become extremely difficult, both for local residents and for trekkers already on the trail.
Official Closure Notice
Two separate authorities have confirmed the suspension, which is a meaningful point for trekkers weighing how seriously to take this:
- The District Administration Office (DAO), Gorkha, issued an urgent notice on September 6, 2026, suspending travel on the Manaslu Circuit Trek and the Larkya La (Larke Pass) route until further notice. The notice asks anyone preparing for the trek, or already en route, not to travel or organize travel until the next official update is published.
- The Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP), which issues the permits required to trek in the region, issued its own advisory the same day. As HimalPress reports, MCAP has asked trekkers, visitors, residents, and tourism stakeholders to postpone trips until further notice, and specifically warned people to avoid crossing damaged bridges, river sections, and other hazardous areas, and to coordinate with local authorities, security personnel, and MCAP before travelling through the affected areas.
With the main suspension bridge over the Budhigandaki gone, the trail is effectively cut at this point. Chumanuwri Rural Municipality Chairperson Nima Lama has said that locals are working on temporary pedestrian crossings to restore short-term access for stranded travelers and residents, but as of this writing, there is no confirmed reopening date. We would treat any specific reopening date you see circulating online with caution unless it is confirmed directly by the DAO Gorkha or MCAP.
Please Don't Confuse This with the August 26 Rasuwa Flood
If you have been following Nepal travel news recently, you may have seen coverage of a much larger, unrelated disaster: the catastrophic flash flood of August 26, 2026, which struck the Bhote Koshi and Trishuli river systems near the Nepal-China border in Rasuwa district, with severe downstream impacts in Nuwakot, Dhading, and Chitwan. That event affected the Langtang, Tamang Heritage, and Gosaikunda trekking routes, and caused a very high death toll along the Bhote Koshi corridor.
This is a different, more localized flood event, on a different river system (the Budhigandaki/ Therang in Gorkha, versus the Bhote Koshi/ Trishuli in Rasuwa), that struck the Manaslu Circuit trail directly. If you have read elsewhere that "Manaslu is unaffected by the 2026 Nepal floods," that reporting likely predates this September 6 event or refers specifically to the August 26 disaster; it does not reflect the current closure described in this post. We will keep this article updated as the situation develops.
Why This Matters for the Autumn Trekking Season
This closure lands right at the start of the autumn trekking and climbing season. According to Nepal's Department of Tourism, 348 climbers across 29 teams already hold permits to climb Mount Manaslu this autumn (September–November), the vast majority of the 367 total mountaineering permits issued for the season so far. The Manaslu region as a whole is a well-established draw, having welcomed roughly 15,000 trekkers back in 2015, and numbers have grown since.
With the Budhigandaki Bridge gone, hundreds of trekkers and climbers heading toward Larkya La are at risk of being stranded or unable to reach their starting points just as the peak season begins.
What about the Tsum Valley Trek?
Some reports note that the lower Manaslu trail shares its approach with the Tsum Valley trek before the two routes diverge near Lokpa. The official notices from DAO Gorkha and MCAP specifically name the Manaslu Circuit and Larkya La, and we have not seen an official statement listing Tsum Valley as separately closed. That said, given how close the affected area is to the shared lower trail, if you have a Tsum Valley trip planned, we recommend confirming current access with us directly rather than assuming it is unaffected either way.
If You Have a Manaslu Trek Booked With Us
We understand this news may be worrying if you have an upcoming trip planned. Here's what we recommend:
- Do not travel toward the Manaslu region until the closure is lifted; this includes the Manaslu Circuit Trek and the Larkya La crossing.
- Contact our team directly so we can review your itinerary against your specific departure date.
- Stay flexible on dates. We are monitoring updates from the DAO Gorkha and MCAP closely and will notify all booked clients as soon as the route status changes.
- Consider a well-matched alternative if your travel window is fixed. The Annapurna Circuit Trek is a strong substitute; it runs through the Marsyangdi and Kali Gandaki valleys on the western side of the country, an entirely separate river system from the Budhigandaki, and has not been affected by this flood. It offers a similarly high, remote pass (Thorong La) and full-circuit trekking experience. We are also happy to talk through other Manaslu region itineraries once the route reopens, or alternatives in the Annapurna region.
Our Commitment to Your Safety
At Green Valley Nepal Treks, client safety always comes first. We will not lead or send any group onto the Manaslu Circuit or Larkya La route while the government suspension remains in effect, regardless of prior bookings or itineraries. We will continue tracking official statements from the DAO Gorkha, MCAP, and the Nepal Tourism Board, and this article will be updated as soon as new information is available.
If your policy needs to cover high-altitude trekking or emergency helicopter evacuation, whether you stay with a Manaslu itinerary or switch to something like the Annapurna Circuit, see our travel insurance guide for trekking in Nepal for what to check before you rebook.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Is the Manaslu Circuit Trek permanently closed?
No. This is a temporary suspension following flash flood damage to bridges along the route. There is no confirmed reopening date yet, as it depends on how quickly temporary or permanent bridges can be rebuilt and on official inspection of the trail.
- Were there any injuries or deaths?
No. Both the Assistant Chief District Officer of Gorkha and the District Police Office have confirmed no human casualties, as affected residents evacuated to higher ground before the flood hit.
- Is this the same flood I've seen in the news about Nepal?
Not necessarily. There was a much larger, separate disaster on August 26, 2026, in the Bhote Koshi/Trishuli river system near Rasuwa, which affected the Langtang region. This September 6 flood is a distinct, localized event on the Budhigandaki/Therang rivers in Gorkha, directly affecting the Manaslu Circuit trail.
- Can I still fly into Manaslu-area airstrips or reach nearby villages?
Ground movement along the main trekking corridor is currently not possible due to the destroyed bridges. Please check with us before making any independent travel arrangements to the region.
- What should I do if my trek is scheduled in the next few weeks?
Contact our team as soon as possible. We will assess the situation based on the latest official updates and work with you on rescheduling, rerouting, or choosing an alternative trek such as the Annapurna Circuit if needed.
- Will Green Valley Nepal Treks offer refunds or date changes?
Yes, we work with affected clients individually on flexible rescheduling or alternative trek options. Please reach out to our team directly to discuss your specific booking.
Disclaimer: This is a developing situation, and this article will be updated as new official information becomes available. Last updated: September 6, 2026.
