What Changed in Manaslu Trek Route
Just three days after the September 6 flood severed the trail near Namrung, local communities and government officials moved quickly to restore access. According to The Tourism Times, trekkers heading toward Samagaon and Larkya Pass can now continue their journeys after residents of Chumnubri Rural Municipality built an alternative trail and a wooden bridge over the Therang Khola in Namrung. Ward No. 4 Chair Pema Gyalpo Lama led the work, with the Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP) office and residents pitching in.
Ekantipur reports that Chumnubri Rural Municipality's Chief Administrative Officer, Manoj Lamichhane, confirmed the wooden crossing and an alternate path were completed at the site of the destroyed Suksam suspension bridge in just two days of work, and that the administration has since been formally notified that movement can resume. A related report from Ratopati similarly confirms that temporary crossings were rebuilt over both the Therang and Suksam river sections in Namrung, Chumnubri-4.
The Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN) has separately announced the reopening through these locally built alternative trails and bridges, commending the efforts of Chumnubri Rural Municipality, MCAP, and the Namrung community.
Official Government Notice
This isn't just word of mouth from the trail; it's now backed by an official government notice. The District Administration Office, Gorkha, published a notice dated 24 Bhadra 2083 (September 9, 2026) titled "Notice Regarding Trail Coming Into Operation," which follows directly from its earlier notice of 21 Bhadra (September 6) that had suspended travel after the flood.
This is the same office that ordered the original suspension, so its follow-up notice carries real administrative weight; trekking may now proceed on the Manaslu Circuit and Larkya La route, provided trekkers observe necessary safety precautions and coordinate with local authorities if problems arise on the trail.
Looking ahead, there's also movement on a permanent fix: according to Ekantipur, a meeting at the DAO on Monday, attended by Gandaki Province's Minister for Physical Infrastructure, Nanda Prasad Neupane, resulted in a decision for the provincial government to construct a permanent bridge and clear the landslide-affected sections of the Manaslu trekking route. No firm construction timeline has been announced yet.
Message from Green Valley Nepal Treks
We want to be straightforward with you here, because a reopening notice is not the same thing as "back to normal."
The respected mountaineering outlet ExplorersWeb, reporting from the ground on the same day as the government notice, describes the new bridge as a basic structure of wooden logs and planks, built quickly by locals mainly so they could reach a neighboring valley themselves.
Their assessment is candid: the crossing "would likely offer little resistance if the river swelled again." The article also notes that further rain is forecast for the area in the coming days, and that authorities in Gorkha, still on edge after the much larger, unrelated flood disaster in Rasuwa two weeks earlier, continue to encourage trekkers to exercise real caution even though the route is technically open again.
One clarifying point from that same report: this flood was caused by heavy rainfall, not a glacial lake outburst, a different (and in this case less catastrophic) mechanism than the one behind the August 26 Rasuwa disaster. The two events remain separate, but both are reminders that trail conditions in flood-prone valleys can change quickly during the monsoon tail-end.
Practically, this means:
- The route is passable, but the crossing is a temporary, locally built structure, not a rebuilt permanent bridge.
- Do not linger on the new bridge for photos. The Tourism Times specifically reports that the crossing offers a striking view of a large waterfall, and has urged trekkers to be careful, particularly when stopping for photographs or selfies on or near it.
- More rain is possible in the short term, and another flood at this location cannot be ruled out. We are watching the forecast and official channels closely.
What about Tsum Valley?
As with our original update, we still don't have an official notice separately addressing the Tsum Valley Trek, which shares part of its lower approach with the Manaslu Circuit. The September 9 DAO notice specifically names the Manaslu Circuit and Larke Pass.
If your itinerary includes a Tsum Valley extension, including our combined Manaslu Tsum Valley Trek. Please confirm its current status with us directly rather than assuming the Manaslu reopening automatically applies to it.
Support for Affected Families
Away from the trekking angle, it's worth noting that Chumnubri Rural Municipality has also distributed food supplies and arranged temporary accommodation for the four families whose homes were destroyed in the original flood, a reminder that this recovery effort has been a community-wide undertaking, not just a fix for the tourism trail.
If You Have a Manaslu Trek Booked With Us
Here's our updated guidance now that the route has reopened:
- We are now able to resume planning departures on the Manaslu Circuit Trek and toward Larkya La, using the locally built alternative trail and crossing, in line with the DAO Gorkha's September 9 notice. This applies to our other Manaslu region itineraries too, including the Short Manaslu Trek, the Lower Manaslu Eco Trail Trek, the Manaslu Luxury Trek, and the extended Manaslu Annapurna Circuit Trek, wherever they cross the affected section near Namrung.
- We will monitor weather and trail conditions daily in the run-up to your departure, given the forecast for more rain and the temporary nature of the new bridge. If conditions deteriorate, we will contact you immediately to discuss options.
- Guides will brief you on the crossing itself before you reach it, including any changes to that day's walking plan, and will ask you not to stop for extended photos on the bridge.
- If your itinerary includes Tsum Valley, get in touch so we can check that section's status separately before you travel.
- Double-check your gear and timing against our recommended packing list for Nepal trekking and best trekking seasons in Nepal guides, since a changed river crossing can mean a slightly different daily walking plan than the one you originally booked.
- If you would rather not proceed given the residual risk, we are still happy to talk through alternatives such as the Annapurna Circuit Trek, which sits on a separate, unaffected river system.
Our Commitment to Your Safety
We will only send groups across the new crossing once we are satisfied, based on official guidance and our own on-the-ground contacts, that conditions are genuinely safe for your specific departure date.
Client safety takes priority over keeping to a fixed itinerary every time; you can read more about our approach on our Why Travel With Us and About Us pages. If you would like to review your trip insurance ahead of departure, including cover for delays or rerouting caused by events like this, our travel insurance guide for trekking in Nepal is a good place to start. You can also browse our FAQs for other common questions about trekking in restricted areas like Manaslu.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Is the Manaslu Circuit Trek fully open again?
The route is passable again via a temporary wooden bridge and an alternative trail near Namrung, and the District Administration Office, Gorkha, has confirmed trekking may resume with safety precautions. It is not the same as the original, permanent suspension bridge being rebuilt; that work has not yet started.
- Is it safe to cross the new bridge?
It's currently in use and officially sanctioned, but independent reporting describes it as a basic temporary structure that could struggle if the river rises again. We will only take clients across it under guide supervision and current conditions, and we are watching the weather forecast closely in the days around any departure.
- Has the original suspension bridge been rebuilt?
No. The provincial government has agreed in principle to build a permanent replacement, but no completion date has been given yet.
This hasn't been separately confirmed. Please check with us directly if your booking includes a Tsum Valley extension.
- What should I do if I already postponed or cancelled my trip after the September 6 closure?
Get in touch with our team. We can help you rebook a Manaslu departure now that the route has reopened, or continue with an alternative itinerary if you'd prefer not to revisit the plan for this season.
- Have questions about your upcoming Manaslu trek?
Contact Green Valley Nepal Treks, and we will walk you through the latest verified conditions before you commit to a departure date.
