Operators assess Nepal situation after flash floods

Operators continue to closely monitor the situation in Nepal following last week’s catastrophic flash floods, with some amending itineraries in affected areas.

 

The death toll in Nepal had topped 1,000 by Tuesday (September 1, 2026), with almost 4,000 missing, including 33 British nationals, many of whom were on pilgrimages with Nepalese companies.

 

Most of Intrepid Travel’s 26 itineraries featuring Nepal are due to operate as planned.

 

Joanna Reeve, UK and Ireland general manager, said: “Where flooding, landslides or damage to transport routes means we cannot safely operate an itinerary, we are making changes or cancelling departures. So far, around 10 trips have been affected. We haven’t seen significant cancellations for the upcoming trekking season.

 

“We’ve had some calls looking for reassurance, but many travellers are taking a wait-and-see approach.

 

“Most of Nepal’s main tourism and trekking regions, including Kathmandu and the Everest and Annapurna regions, are outside the affected area.”

 

She reported an “incredible” response to The Intrepid Foundation’s emergency appeal. More than £120,000 has been raised so far, with Intrepid matching donations up to £100,000.

 

“This is an incredibly tough time for our local team and suppliers, but there is also a strong sense of resilience and determination to support communities,” she said.

 

“Tourism is a vital source of income. When the time is right, continuing to travel responsibly to unaffected areas will play an important role in supporting local livelihoods. We’ll be encouraging [travellers] to continue considering Nepal.”

 

G Adventures confirmed all its staff and travellers in the region were safe and well, with the vast majority of its itineraries across Nepal and Tibet running as scheduled.

 

Brian Young, G Adventures managing director EMEA, said: “We currently have one traveller group in Tibet, whose itinerary is being adjusted to accommodate changes to the border crossing.

 

“All other G Adventures itineraries in the region remain unchanged at this time. Our local operations teams are monitoring the situation closely and are in regular contact with our travellers and local partners, with further adjustments to itineraries to be made if required.”

 

He added: “Our thoughts are with the local communities who have been impacted by the flooding.”

 

In Nepal, local authorities have restricted movement in directly affected areas to avoid disrupting ongoing rescue and repair operations, but G Adventures noted it does not currently have trips in those locations.

 

Brendan Phelan, Exodus Adventure Travels sales director, said the operator’s Nepal season starts later this month, so no customers were directly affected. “Itineraries [are being] adjusted away from affected areas, so our advice to agents is to reassure customers of this,” he said.

 

Exodus launched an appeal to support the relief effort and has so far raised almost £29,000. The operator is matching donations.

 

“The entire team at Exodus has been saddened by this tragedy in a country we know and love. Our thoughts are with everyone affected in Nepal and our priority has been to check on our local partners and their families on the ground,” he said.

 

“We continue to monitor the FCDO advice closely and remain in regular contact with our teams in Nepal.

 

“Our team launched an appeal to support the relief effort and the response in the last 24 hours has been humbling. Nepal has welcomed Exodus groups so warmly for decades, and our customers and teams want to continue to support its communities.”

 

Chris Roche, The Adventure People chief executive, said his company’s Everest Base Camp and Annapurna treks are going ahead as they are not in the affected areas.

 

He noted “some caution” about Everest Base Camp bookings, which was “completely understandable”, but no cancellations yet.

 

Neil Sealy, Exoticca’s UK and Ireland managing director, said: “Our Nepal itineraries don’t go to the areas affected by the tragic floods, so none of our customers are affected.

 

“It’s a bit early to see whether new bookings have been affected, but we haven’t had any requests for changes or cancellations.”