After the August 2026 floods in Rasuwa district, trekkers understandably want a straight answer to one question: which routes can I actually walk right now? Here it is in short - Everest, Annapurna, Manaslu, Upper Mustang, Kanchenjunga, Makalu, Helambu, and Dolpo are all open and running on their normal autumn schedule. The only routes currently affected are Langtang, Gosaikunda, and the Tamang Heritage Trail, which share a damaged access road through Syabrubesi.
Below is the full picture for each major trekking region, plus one separate road issue - unrelated to the trekking trails themselves - that's worth knowing about if your trip involves driving between Kathmandu and Pokhara.
| Trekking Region | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Everest (Khumbu) | Open, normal | Separate Koshi river basin, zero impact |
| Annapurna | Open, normal | Trails unaffected; Prithvi Highway has a separate closure |
| Manaslu | Open, normal | Confirmed unaffected by TAAN |
| Upper Mustang | Open, normal | Kali Gandaki basin, unaffected |
| Kanchenjunga | Open, normal | Far eastern Nepal, unaffected |
| Makalu | Open, normal | Confirmed unaffected by TAAN |
| Helambu | Open, normal | Confirmed operating by trekking operators |
| Dolpo | Open, normal | Far northwest Nepal, unaffected |
| Langtang | Access-dependent | Trail intact; Syabrubesi road damaged |
| Gosaikunda | Access-dependent | Shares the Syabrubesi access route |
| Tamang Heritage Trail | Access-dependent | Timure corridor directly struck |
The Everest Base Camp trek, Gokyo Lakes, and the Three Passes route all sit in the Khumbu, which drains into the Koshi river system - a completely separate watershed from the Rasuwa flood. Lukla flights, teahouses, and the entire trail network are running on the normal autumn schedule, and this remains Nepal's single most-visited trekking region for exactly that reason. See our Everest Region trekking guide.
The Annapurna Circuit, Annapurna Base Camp, Poon Hill, and Mardi Himal routes drain into the Marsyangdi and Kali Gandaki rivers, entirely separate from the flood zone, and have received zero reported impact. Trails, teahouses, and permits are all functioning exactly as they would in any other autumn season. See our Annapurna Region trekking guide.
The Manaslu Circuit, including the high Larkya La pass, has been confirmed unaffected by Nepal's Trekking Agencies' Association (TAAN) and is operating normally. As a restricted area with a lower daily trekker cap than Everest or Annapurna, it remains a strong pick for autumn trekkers who want equally dramatic scenery with noticeably fewer people on the trail.
Mustang's high desert landscape, the walled city of Lo Manthang, and its cave monasteries follow the Kali Gandaki river system, well away from the flood zone. Jeep tours and treks into this restricted region are running on schedule, with no reported disruption to roads or permits.
Nepal's two easternmost trekking regions, both remote and lightly visited compared to Everest or Annapurna, sit hundreds of kilometres from the flood zone in a different part of the country entirely. TAAN has confirmed both are unaffected and operating normally for this season's trekkers.
Helambu, a shorter, lower-altitude trek through Hyolmo (Sherpa) villages north-east of Kathmandu, is a well-established route that trekking operators confirm is still open and running. Note that Helambu is a separate valley system from Langtang, even though both lie in the same general direction from Kathmandu - the Melamchi valley that Helambu follows was not part of the August 26 flood corridor.
Upper and Lower Dolpo, in Nepal's remote far northwest, sit hundreds of kilometres from Rasuwa and are entirely unaffected. Home to Shey Phoksundo, Nepal's deepest lake, and Tibetan Buddhist communities largely untouched by modern development, this remains open for the small number of trekkers who make the journey each season.
These three routes share a single access point - the road through Betrawati and Syabrubesi in Rasuwa district - which was severely damaged in the August 26 flood. Trekking operators report that the Langtang walking trail itself, following the Langtang Khola valley, was not directly flooded; the damage is to the road and the gateway settlements used to reach the trailhead, and the road is currently reserved for rescue and recovery work rather than tourist transit.
TAAN and local operators estimate the route may become usable again by late September 2026, subject to inspections and continued repair progress - treat that as an estimate rather than a fixed date. If you have a trip booked to Langtang, Gosaikunda, or the Tamang Heritage Trail, the right move is to stay in direct contact with your operator, and consider Manaslu or Annapurna as a same-season alternative if your travel dates can't wait.
Worth flagging separately, because it's often confused with trekking route closures: the Prithvi Highway - the main road between Kathmandu and Pokhara - has its own flood-related closure at a landslide-prone section called Krishnabhir, roughly 100km from Kathmandu. Floodwater from the same Trishuli river system eroded the road base there, and around 70 metres of highway collapsed into the river in early September.
This does not affect any trekking trail directly, but it does affect overland travel between Kathmandu and Pokhara, which is how many trekkers reach the Annapurna trailheads by road. Authorities are building a temporary bypass track and studying longer-term options including a tunnel, and traffic is being diverted via alternative routes in the meantime. Kathmandu-Pokhara flights are unaffected and running normally, so flying is currently the more reliable way to connect the two cities if your schedule is tight - ask your operator which option they're using for your dates.
Conditions on the ground can shift as repair work continues, so a few reliable habits go a long way:
Ask your trekking operator directly - a good local agency checks road, trail, and flight conditions daily and will tell you plainly if anything about your route needs to change.
Check TAAN's updates. The Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal publishes region-by-region status updates as the recovery situation develops.
Watch your government's official travel advisory for the specific area you're visiting, not just the country-level summary, since current advisories distinguish between the Rasuwa disaster zone and the rest of Nepal.
Build in a flexible day or two around any Kathmandu-Pokhara road travel, in case bypass conditions at Krishnabhir cause delays.
Which Nepal trekking routes are open after the floods?
Everest, Annapurna, Manaslu, Upper Mustang, Kanchenjunga, Makalu, Helambu, and Dolpo are all open and operating normally. Only Langtang, Gosaikunda, and the Tamang Heritage Trail are currently affected, due to road damage on their shared Syabrubesi access route.
Is the Everest Base Camp trek open?
Yes. The Everest region drains into the Koshi river system, entirely separate from the flood zone, and had zero reported impact. Lukla flights and the full trail network are running on the normal autumn schedule.
Can I still drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara for the Annapurna trek?
The Annapurna trails themselves are unaffected, but the Prithvi Highway has a separate flood-related closure at Krishnabhir. Authorities are running alternative road routes and building a bypass, and flights between the two cities are operating normally, making flying the more reliable option right now.
When will the Langtang trek reopen?
The trail itself is reported intact, but its access road is currently reserved for recovery work. Operators estimate a possible reopening by late September 2026, so confirm directly with your operator closer to your travel date.
Getaway Nepal Adventure runs treks across every open region in this guide, and we check road, trail, and flight conditions daily so you get an accurate answer, not a guess. If Langtang was your original plan, we can also talk you through Manaslu or Annapurna as a same-season alternative. Tell us your dates and preferred region, and we'll reply within 24 hours with current conditions and a tailored itinerary. Visit www.getawaynepal.com to get started.
Getaway Nepal Adventure (P.) Ltd.
Thamel Kathmandu, Nepal
Tel: +977 98510 38 908
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