Nepal Weather Warning, 29 to 31 October 2026: Trekking Paused, Start From 1 November

Dear trekkers, a short spell of bad weather is on its way, and we would like you to plan around it calmly. Rain and mountain snow from the remnants of Cyclone Arnab are forecast for Nepal from Thursday night, 29 October, to Saturday, 31 October. The government has asked trekkers not to start high treks for those three days.

It is a short storm. The weather department expects it to weaken from Saturday night. You can start your trek from Sunday 1 November, keeping the weather in mind. If your trek starts between 29 and 31 October, talk to us about moving it to 1 November or later.

Nepal weather forecast: 29 October to 1 November

Cyclone Arnab was crossing India's Andhra Pradesh coast on 28 October. The cyclone itself is not expected to reach Nepal, but its remnants will meet westerly winds over the Himalaya and bring rain and snow, according to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM).

• Where it rains hardest. Koshi, Madhesh, Bagmati, Gandaki and Lumbini provinces, with heavy rain likely in places. Gandaki Province, home of the Annapurna region and Manaslu, is expected to be among the worst hit, according to TAAN.
• Where it snows. DHM warns of heavy snowfall, snowstorms and avalanches in high hill and Himalayan areas.
• Rivers. DHM expects the Narayani, Koshi, Bagmati, Kamala and Tinau rivers to rise towards warning levels on Friday and Saturday, and warns of flash floods on smaller streams.
• Roads and flights. Landslides on roads, and delays to road and air transport, are possible on these days.

Forecasts can change. We are watching DHM's bulletins and will update this page if the timing moves.

Nepal trekking permits suspended for 29 to 31 October

These are the official notices behind our advice.

• Department of Immigration, 27 October. It has asked all tourists and trekkers, including those with restricted-area permits, not to start trekking in high hill and Himalayan areas for three days from 29 October. Those already there should stop at safe places. "All the tourists and trekkers, even those who have taken permission to trek in prohibited areas, are requested to not start trekking or stop it at safe places," said its director, Surya Prasad Chapagain.
• Restricted-area permits paused. The department will not issue restricted-area trekking permits for high areas from 29 to 31 October. Restricted areas include Manaslu, Tsum Valley, Nar Phu and Upper Mustang.
• National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA). It has asked people to avoid travel to high-altitude areas, keep journeys to essential ones and stay away from riverbanks from 29 to 31 October.
• Trekking Agencies' Association of Nepal (TAAN). It has asked agencies to pause treks to high passes and base camps, to move people out of high base camps, including Larkya La base camp and Tilicho Lake, and to postpone walk-ins to mountaineering base camps.
• Mustang. The District Administration Office and Lomanthang Rural Municipality have asked trekkers to avoid high-altitude trekking from 29 to 31 October, and not to travel towards the Korala border, where snow can block the road.

Is it safe to trek in Nepal this week?

From Thursday to Saturday, no, and we will not start any of our groups on those days. From Sunday 1 November you can start, with an eye on the weather. Nepal's autumn trekking season is far from over. 5,384 foreign trekkers walked the Annapurna Circuit between 11 and 25 October, almost twice as many as in the same weeks last year, according to the Dharapani checkpoint. November is one of the best months of the year to trek.

A pause of a few days is the safe choice. Fresh snow on the high passes is when avalanche and whiteout risk is highest, and heavy rain is when landslides close roads.

When to start your trek: from 1 November

You can start from Sunday 1 November. Keep the weather in mind: the storm is forecast to weaken from Saturday night, and roads, flights and trails can take a day to settle. Keep Monday 2 November spare if your trek has a high pass early on.

• Your days in Kathmandu. If you arrive this week, use the extra time, between showers, for the Kathmandu Valley: Pashupatinath, Boudhanath, Swayambhunath and the old squares of Patan and Bhaktapur are close and easy to reach.
• High passes. After fresh snow, Thorong La, Larkya La and the Everest passes can need a day or two longer to be safe to cross. We will check conditions on the route and confirm before your group crosses.
• Flights. Lukla, Pokhara and Jomsom flights can be delayed in bad weather. Keep a spare day in your plans if you can.
• Insurance. Check that your travel insurance covers helicopter rescue up to the highest point of your trek.

If you are booked with us, write to us with your departure date and we will go through a 1 November start with you.

Manaslu, Annapurna Circuit and Mustang: routes to watch

Some trails were damaged by floods and landslides earlier this autumn and run on temporary repairs. TAAN has asked for extra care on these during the storm:

• Manaslu: Tatopani, Khorlabesi, Jagat and Namrung
• Manang, on the Annapurna Circuit: Khotro, Koto and Chame
• Myagdi and Mustang: Pokhare

Manaslu Circuit and Tsum Valley. TAAN said on 25 October that trekking had resumed on both, after the Budhi Gandaki flood of 11 October. Vehicles reach Machha Khola, and locals have built four wooden bridges in Tsum. Because the repairs are temporary, we will confirm every Manaslu and Tsum departure with you before you start.

Annapurna Circuit. Thorong La was open before the storm. See Is the Annapurna Circuit open? for the latest on the pass.

If you are already on the trail

• Stay at a safe lodge until the weather clears, as the Department of Immigration has asked.
• Do not cross a high pass on 29, 30 or 31 October.
• Keep away from rivers and landslide slopes in heavy rain.
• Listen to your guide. Our guides are in touch with our office and will change the plan if they need to.

Nepal emergency numbers for trekkers

These numbers are from the NDRRMA notice of 28 October.

We will update this page as the forecast and the notices change. Thank you for trekking with us, and we look forward to seeing you on the trail from 1 November.

Sources

• The Rising Nepal, 'No trekking in high hilly, Himalayan areas on Oct 29-31', 27 October 2026
• The Annapurna Express, Nepal warns against high-altitude trek over the three-day avalanche risk, 27 October 2026
• The Rising Nepal, Bay of Bengal cyclone to bring rain to Nepal from Thursday, 27 October 2026
• myRepublica, Cyclone Arnab: Heavy rain, snowfall risk on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 28 October 2026
• The Annapurna Express, Cyclone Arnab poses risk of heavy rain, snowfall in Nepal, 28 October 2026
• The Annapurna Express, Mustang authorities urge three-day trekking halt amid bad weather forecast, 28 October 2026
• Khabarhub, TAAN urges trekkers, tourists to take precautions against Cyclone Arnab, 28 October 2026
• Nepal News, Evening Briefing, 27 October 2026, 27 October 2026
• The Tourism Times, Manaslu and Tsum Valley treks reopen after Budhi Gandaki flood; locals build four bridges, 25 October 2026