Bir Billing Paragliding 2026: Prices, Flight Times, Season & How to Book from Dharamshala

Bir Billing is India's best-known paragliding site: you take off from the Billing meadow at about 2,400 m and land in Bir at about 1,400 m, roughly 1,000 m lower, after a tandem flight of about 15 to 45 minutes with a registered pilot. As of 2026, our tandem packages cost ₹3,500 per person for a 15-25 minute flight and ₹5,500 for a 30-45 minute long flight, with GoPro video included. Flying is banned every year from 15 July to 15 September for the monsoon, and Bir is about 70 km (2-2.5 hours) from Dharamshala.

No experience is needed for a tandem flight. Your pilot handles the launch, the flying and the landing; you run a few steps on take-off, sit back in the harness and enjoy the Kangra Valley below. Prices below are indicative; confirm the current rate and availability on our paragliding page before you travel.

Bir Billing Paragliding at a Glance

Why Bir Billing Is Special

Bir Billing hosted the 2015 Paragliding World Cup, and pilots from around the world come here every autumn. The reasons are simple: a high, grassy take-off that faces open valley, a large and safe landing field, and reliable thermals for much of the year. For a first-timer, that means a smooth launch, a long glide with the Dhauladhar range behind you and tea gardens, villages and monasteries spread out below.

It is also a place, not just a launch site. Bir has a peaceful Tibetan colony, the Chokling and Sherab Ling monasteries, the Deer Park Institute and a small but excellent cafe scene, which is why we recommend staying at least one night. Our Bir travel guide covers the village beyond paragliding.

Tandem Flight Options and Prices (2026)

There are three realistic choices for a non-pilot. The prices below are our current published packages; registered operators in Bir charge in a similar band, broadly ₹2,500-4,500 for a standard tandem depending on flight length, with longer and cross-country flights costing more.

Which flight should you choose?

• Short on time or nervous? The Indrunag flight above Dharamshala is a good taste of the sky without the drive to Bir. It is shorter and lower, but the views over Dharamshala and the valley are still excellent.
• First proper flight? The standard Bir Billing tandem is what most people mean by "doing Bir". 15-25 minutes is long enough to relax, take in the view and enjoy a few gentle turns.
• Want more airtime? The long scenic flight rides thermals higher and covers more distance. It needs good conditions, so book it on a day with time to spare and accept that the pilot may shorten it if the air changes.

Flight time is never guaranteed to the minute. Pilots fly the conditions of the day, and on a weak or turbulent day even a "long" flight may come down sooner. Ask your operator how they handle that before you pay.

Solo flying and courses

Licensed pilots can rent gear and fly solo in Bir. If you want to learn, registered schools in Bir run P1 and P2 courses that take roughly 5-14 days in total, depending on the course and the weather. Contact schools directly for current fees and batch dates.

What a Flight Day Looks Like

1. Getting to Bir. If you are coming from Dharamshala or McLeod Ganj, leave early; the drive is 2-2.5 hours via Palampur and Baijnath.
2. Meet your operator in Bir, usually near the landing site. You fill a short form and pay or confirm your booking.
3. Drive up to Billing. The 14 km road from Bir to the take-off takes 40-60 minutes by jeep or taxi. Ask whether this ride is included in your flight price.
4. Briefing and harness. Your pilot explains the take-off: usually a few firm running steps downhill when told, then sitting back once you are airborne. You get a helmet and are clipped into a harness attached to the pilot's.
5. The flight. You glide out over the valley, with the pilot steering and filming on a GoPro. Most passengers are surprised how calm it feels once airborne.
6. Landing in Bir. The pilot lands you in the big field near the Tibetan colony. Lift your legs when asked and let the pilot do the rest.
7. Video and coffee. Footage is transferred to your phone, and the cafes around the landing site are the traditional place for a post-flight celebration.

Allow 3-4 hours in Bir for the whole process, longer on busy October and November weekends, when queues for the jeeps and pilots build up.

Best Season for Paragliding at Bir

If you are planning around a specific date, read our best time to visit Dharamshala guide and, for summer and rain-season trips, the Dharamshala monsoon travel guide. Events and competitions at Bir are announced by organisers and not held every year; our festivals and events calendar tracks what we know.

Weather days happen. Wind, cloud or rain can stop flying at short notice, even in peak season. When conditions are unsafe, flights booked with us are rescheduled or refunded. If paragliding is the main reason for your trip, keep a spare morning in your plan.

Is Bir Billing Paragliding Safe?

Tandem paragliding has a good track record when flown with registered, experienced pilots in suitable weather, but it is an adventure sport and accidents do occasionally happen. In Himachal, tandem pilots and operators must be registered with the state Tourism Department, and we only work with registered operators.

What to check before you fly

• Registration. Ask to see the operator's or pilot's registration with Himachal Pradesh Tourism. Walk away from anyone who cannot show it.
• Pilot experience. Ask how long your pilot has been flying tandem at Bir.
• Insurance. Ask what insurance covers passengers, and check your own travel insurance for adventure-sport exclusions.
• Equipment. Your helmet should fit and be fastened, and your harness should be adjusted to you before you walk to the launch. A properly packed reserve parachute is standard on tandem rigs; it is fair to ask.
• Weather calls. A good operator will delay or cancel when the air is wrong. Never push a pilot to fly.
• Price. Very cheap offers from touts on the road are a red flag. Unregistered operators cut corners you cannot see.

Weight, age and health

Weight and age guidelines for tandem flights are set by each operator and can depend on the pilot and the conditions on the day, so tell us your weight and the ages of anyone flying when you book. Children are flown at the pilot's discretion; some operators fly older children, but no responsible pilot will fly a toddler. If you are pregnant, have a heart condition, recent surgery, back or joint problems, or epilepsy, speak to your doctor first and tell the operator honestly.

What to Wear and Carry

• Sturdy, closed shoes with grip, not sandals or slippers. You will run a few steps on grass.
• Comfortable clothing you can move in, plus a windbreaker. It is several degrees colder at 2,400 m than in Bir.
• Gloves in winter, and a warm layer from November to February.
• Sunglasses with a strap and sunscreen. Loose hats and caps do not survive take-off.
• Empty pockets. Leave loose items with your driver or operator; the pilot handles filming.
• A light breakfast. Do not fly on a full stomach, and tell your pilot if you get motion sickness so they keep turns gentle.

Getting to Bir from Dharamshala and McLeod Ganj

Bir sits about 70 km east of Dharamshala via Palampur and Baijnath. The drive takes 2-2.5 hours, a little more from McLeod Ganj.

For a day trip, leave Dharamshala by about 6:30-7 am to reach Bir while the morning flying window is open. A same-day return is possible but long, with 4-5 hours in a car around a 3-4 hour flight session. Our honest advice is to stay at least one night in Bir, fly in the morning and spend the afternoon in the Tibetan colony. If you are coming from Delhi, our how to reach Dharamshala guide and Kangra Airport guide cover the first leg.

Stops on the way

The road passes some of the best sights of the Kangra Valley, so a taxi to Bir doubles as a sightseeing drive:

• Norbulingka Institute near Sidhbari, for Tibetan arts and gardens (Sidhbari, Norbulingka and Gyuto guide).
• Palampur tea gardens, about 38 km from Dharamshala (Palampur travel guide).
• Baijnath temple, about 15 km before Bir.

Short photo and tea stops are fine on a fixed-fare taxi; tell us about longer sightseeing stops when you book so the quote covers them.

Make a Trip of It: Bir Beyond the Flight

• Tibetan colony and monasteries. Walk to Chokling Monastery and its stupa in the colony, and take a taxi or scooter to Palpung Sherab Ling, roughly 8-10 km away, one of the most beautiful monasteries in the region.
• Deer Park Institute. A centre for the study of classical Indian wisdom traditions that runs talks, meditation retreats and courses on a schedule. Check its calendar if you are staying a few days.
• Billing at sunset. Even if you have flown, the meadow is worth a second trip for the view. Simple camps let you spend a cold night under the stars.
• The Rajgundha trek. From the Billing take-off, a 12-15 km trail (5-7 hours one way, easy to moderate) crosses the ridge into the Chhota Bhangal valley to the village of Rajgundha. Most people spend a night in a homestay and return or continue to Barot. Read the Bir Billing to Rajgundha trek guide or book the guided trek, and see the Barot valley guide for the far side.

Sample two-day plan

Bir also fits neatly into a five-day Kangra Valley itinerary or a longer Delhi, Dharamshala, Bir and Manali circuit. If you prefer to stay in McLeod Ganj and do Bir as a day trip, see our picks for the best hotels in McLeod Ganj.

How Much Does a Bir Paragliding Day Cost?

For a couple, a standard flight each plus a one-way taxi comes to roughly ₹9,800 before food and stay. For full trip budgets, see our Dharamshala trip cost guide.

How to Book

The easiest way is to book your flight on our paragliding page: choose the Dharamshala, Bir Billing or long scenic option, pick your date and number of people, and pay online or later. We confirm within about 2 hours and nothing is charged until your slot is confirmed. We work only with operators registered with Himachal Pradesh Tourism, and we can add a Dharamshala to Bir Billing taxi and a stay so the whole day is handled.

Booking tips:

• Book 1-3 days ahead in October-November, May and on long weekends; weekdays outside peak season are usually easy.
• Give us your weight and ages at booking so we can match you with the right pilot.
• Pick a morning slot where possible and keep the afternoon free in case the operator shifts your flight.
• If you are combining paragliding with a Triund trek, do the flight first; tired legs and an early start on the same day are a poor mix.

Most of our guests say the flight was the highlight of their trip. Pick your date and book Bir Billing paragliding, or browse more ideas in things to do in McLeod Ganj.