Manaslu Circuit Trek Closed 2026: Complete Update on the Namrung Flood

Last updated: 9 September 2026

Update: A temporary bridge has since been installed at Namrung and trail movement has resumed. Read the full Manaslu Circuit Trek Latest Update: Temporary Bridge Reopens Route for current status.

Quick summary: The Manaslu Circuit Trek and the Larke Pass (Larkya La) crossing have been officially suspended by the District Administration Office (DAO), Gorkha, following a flash flood that tore through Namrung on the morning of 6 September 2026. Two bridges, including the main Budhi Gandaki suspension bridge, were destroyed. No reopening date has been set. This article pulls together the verified details, official notices, and travel options currently available.

What Happened at Namrung on 6 September 2026

At around 3:30 AM on Sunday, 6 September 2026 (21 Bhadra 2083 in the Nepali calendar), a flash flood struck the Therang Khola in Namrung, Ward No. 4 of Chumnubri Rural Municipality, deep inside the Manaslu Conservation Area in Gorkha district. Because it hit in the pre-dawn darkness, there was essentially no warning, which is a big part of why the damage was so severe.

According to Gorkha's Assistant Chief District Officer, Netra Prasad Sharma, a buildup of debris had been blocking the Therang Stream near its source for some time. When that natural blockage gave way, it released a sudden surge of water and debris straight down into Namrung.

The flood took out two critical crossings on the trekking trail:

• An iron bridge connecting Chumnubri Rural Municipality wards 4 and 2
• The suspension bridge over the Budhi Gandaki River, between the local monastery and the Namrung forest, the main crossing for anyone continuing up-valley toward Samagaon, Samdo, and the Larke Pass

It also destroyed:

• Two small hydropower plants serving the local community
• Several homes in Namrung village (local reports cite around four houses lost)
• Sections of the trekking trail and other local infrastructure

Losing the two micro-hydro plants knocked out electricity and telecommunications in the area almost immediately, cutting off Namrung and the settlements above it right when hundreds of trekkers needed information most.

The one piece of good news: No human casualties have been reported. Local residents reached higher ground before the water arrived, a fact confirmed independently by both the District Police Office, Gorkha, and the district administration. Gorkha's deputy superintendent of police, Raj Kumar Shrestha, also confirmed no casualties.

The Official Closure Notice

Within hours of the flood, the District Administration Office, Gorkha, issued a formal public notice. This is a binding administrative order, not a casual advisory, suspending travel on this government-regulated restricted route.

In substance, the notice asks anyone preparing for or currently on the Manaslu Trekking Route or the Larkya Pass Trekking Route to hold off until a further notice is published.

On the same day, the Manaslu Conservation Area Project (MCAP), the body that issues conservation area permits for the Manaslu region, issued its own matching advisory: postpone travel until further notice.

That two separate government bodies, the district administration and the conservation authority, issued matching notices the same day says a lot. This wasn't one office being overly cautious; it reflects a shared, on-the-ground judgment that the trail isn't currently safe.

The Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN) separately advised member agencies and their clients to delay trips to the Manaslu region following the flooding.

Why This Flood Happened: Simply Explained

Understanding the mechanism explains why authorities moved so fast, and why this isn't just precautionary.

1. Debris dam formation: During monsoon season, loose rock, soil and vegetation commonly build up in narrow mountain streambeds, especially near the head of a valley with steep, unstable slopes.
2. Blockage and buildup: At the head of the Therang Khola, that debris piled up and held back water, effectively an unstable, temporary natural dam.
3. Sudden failure: When pressure behind the blockage grew too great (or rainfall added volume), the dam gave way suddenly rather than gradually.
4. Flash surge: All the trapped water and debris released at once, creating a fast-moving surge, technically closer to a debris flow or outburst flood, that reached Namrung in a very short window.
5. Nighttime timing: Because it struck around 3:30 AM, there was no meaningful early warning for the village or any nearby trekkers.

This differs from routine monsoon trail damage, where rain gradually erodes a hillside or a landslide blocks a path. A debris-dam outburst releases a much larger volume of water in a much shorter time, which is exactly why two major bridges were destroyed rather than just damaged.

Current Status at a Glance

Two Different Floods: Don't Mix Up Manaslu With the Rasuwa Disaster

The recent flooding in Nepal has led to a lot of confusion, particularly because Rasuwa and the Manaslu region are both mountainous areas popular with trekkers. However, the events and their impacts need to be understood separately.

The August 26 flood disaster was centered in Rasuwa, particularly around the northern border area and settlements along the Bhote Koshi corridor. The sudden surge caused severe destruction to roads, bridges, buildings and other infrastructure in the affected areas.

Whereas, Manaslu is in Gorkha District, on a different side of the Himalayan range. Although parts of Gorkha and the wider river system were affected by flooding, this does not mean that the Manaslu Circuit Trek was devastated in the same way as the worst-hit areas of Rasuwa.

For travelers, the distinction is important. Rasuwa, Gorkha and the Manaslu trekking route are not interchangeable locations. Conditions need to be checked for the specific trekking region rather than judging the entire Himalayan trekking area from images of one disaster zone.

Stranded Trekkers Near Larke Pass

Losing the two micro-hydropower plants severely limited communication out of the upper valley, complicating efforts to confirm exactly how many trekkers are affected and how they're doing.

Confirmed so far:

• Local administration acknowledges that hundreds of trekkers were en route toward or already near the Larke Pass side when the bridges were lost
• District administration and Nepal Police have asked all trekkers to remain in safe locations rather than attempt risky river crossings or unsupervised trail diversions
• Support and evacuation coordination is being handled through the DEOC Gorkha, alongside the District Police Office and DAO
• No foreign trekker deaths have been reported in connection with this event

If you're a family member, travel companion, or trekking agency trying to reach someone on the route, use the official channels listed below rather than secondhand social media.

Emergency Contacts and Official Hotlines

If your family member's home country has an embassy in Kathmandu, it's likely coordinating with MOFA's Emergency Control Room and can offer citizenship-specific guidance.

Manaslu Region Permit and Visitor Statistics for Autumn 2026

Understanding autumn 2026 traffic to Manaslu shows why this closure matters beyond one village.

• 348 climbers from 29 teams hold permits to climb Mount Manaslu this autumn
• 367 climbers from 32 teams total received permits for various mountains this season, meaning Manaslu is the largest single share of autumn mountaineering permits

Since Manaslu is a restricted area, independent solo trekking without a licensed guide still isn't allowed, even after March 2026 policy changes let single travelers (not just groups of two-plus) apply for the RAP through a registered trekking agency. That means every affected trekker on the route right now is, by regulation, traveling with a licensed guide and registered agency, which should make coordination and headcounts more manageable for authorities than on an unregulated trail.

When Will the Manaslu Circuit Reopen?

Update: A temporary bridge has since been installed at Namrung, and trail movement has resumed. Read the full Manaslu Circuit Trek Latest Update: Temporary Bridge Reopens Route for current status.

There's no official reopening date yet, and any date from a commercial operator should be treated as an estimate, not a promise.

Reopening depends on several sequential steps:

1. Water levels receding in the Budhi Gandaki and Therang Khola to a safe level for construction and inspection
2. Physical trail inspection by district authorities and conservation area staff to assess damage beyond the two known bridges
3. Bridge reconstruction or a temporary crossing, could be a rebuilt permanent bridge, temporary suspension structure, or Bailey-style bridge
4. Formal reopening notice published by DAO Gorkha, the only authority that can lift the suspension

Operators on the ground have floated late September 2026 as an early estimate, explicitly not a guarantee. A temporary bridge could restore access sooner; a more complex repair, especially with a high water table through the monsoon tail, could push things into October.

The most reliable way to know the actual reopening date: watch for a new notice from DAO Gorkha and a matching MCAP advisory, not a date quoted secondhand.

Alternative Treks That Remain Fully Open: Region-by-Region Status

The most important reassurance here: the vast majority of Nepal's trekking regions are completely unaffected by both the Namrung flood and the earlier Bhote Koshi disaster, since they sit in entirely different watersheds.

Rule of thumb: if a reopening date comes from a private tour operator without a direct reference to a DAO Gorkha or MCAP notice, treat it as an estimate, not a fact.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Manaslu Circuit Trek completely closed right now? Yes. DAO Gorkha issued a formal suspension notice on 6 September 2026 covering the full circuit and Larke Pass crossing, with no reopening date announced.

What caused the closure? A flash flood struck the Therang Khola in Namrung around 3:30 AM on 6 September 2026, caused by the sudden failure of an upstream debris blockage. It destroyed two bridges (including the main Budhi Gandaki suspension bridge), two micro-hydropower plants, and several homes.

Were there any deaths or injuries? No human casualties reported. Residents reached higher ground before the flood hit, confirmed by both Nepal Police and the district administration.

Is this the same flood that made international news? No. The international headlines were about the 26 August 2026 Bhote Koshi and Trishuli flood, caused by a glacier and rockslide collapse near the Nepal-Tibet border. The Namrung flood is a separate event in a separate valley, though both occurred during the same severe monsoon tail.

Are trekkers currently stranded on the route? Yes, hundreds who had already headed toward the Larke Pass side were left on the upper trail once the bridges were destroyed. Authorities are coordinating support; no foreign trekker deaths reported.

When will the route reopen? No official date. Ground estimates suggest late September 2026 at the earliest, but this depends on bridge repair speed and DAO Gorkha's formal reopening notice.

Is the Tsum Valley trek also closed? The lower Manaslu trail is the shared approach for Tsum Valley, so that route is affected in the same stretch. Confirm current access with MCAP or your agency.

Should I cancel my entire Nepal trip because of this? No. Both floods are confined to specific river valleys. Everest, Annapurna, Kanchenjunga and Makalu are operating normally, and MOFA has confirmed advisories are being kept to the specific affected areas.

What's the best open alternative to Manaslu right now? The Annapurna Circuit, closest match in scale, remoteness, and high-altitude pass crossing (Thorong La at 5,416m vs. Larke Pass at 5,106m).

Will I lose my deposit if I can no longer go to Manaslu? Because this is a government-mandated closure from a natural disaster, most TAAN-registered agencies treat it as force majeure and carry deposits forward or apply them to an alternative trek rather than forfeiting them. Confirm with your specific agency.

Does my travel insurance cover this? Depends entirely on your policy's wording around natural disasters and government-mandated closures. Contact your insurer directly with the official DAO Gorkha notice as documentation.

Who do I contact if a family member is on the Manaslu trail right now? DAO Gorkha (+977 9856057777 / 9856057778 / 9856057780), District Police Office, Gorkha (100, +977 9856055555 / 9856061190), or MOFA's Emergency Control Room (WhatsApp +977-9744441227 or 9744441228, 6 AM–10 PM NST, or [email protected]).

Final Word

The closure of the Manaslu Circuit Trek and Larke Pass is a serious, officially confirmed suspension, not a rumor or an overcautious precaution. It follows a genuinely destructive flash flood that destroyed critical infrastructure at Namrung in the early hours of 6 September 2026, arriving in a monsoon season that had already tested Nepal severely with the much larger Bhote Koshi disaster in late August.

Still, it's worth keeping proportion. No lives were lost in the Namrung flood itself. The affected stretch, while critical to the Manaslu trail, is geographically contained. And the overwhelming majority of Nepal's trekking regions, including Everest, Annapurna, Kanchenjunga and Makalu, remain fully open, fully staffed, and ready for trekkers this autumn.

If Manaslu was your goal for 2026, the honest picture is this: wait and watch official channels if your dates are flexible, or pivot to the Annapurna Circuit or another open route if your dates are fixed. Either way, verify everything through DAO Gorkha, MCAP, the Nepal Tourism Board and MOFA rather than secondhand sources, in a situation this fluid, the official notice is the only version of the truth that matters.

Browse the full range of Nepal trekking packages with Outshine Adventure to see current availability across every open region this season, or get in touch for a same-day conditions check before you book.