Bir Billing at a glance
Billing is the take-off point and Bir is the landing area. Bir also includes a Tibetan settlement and monasteries. The district administration puts Bir Billing about 50 km from Dharamshala and 68 km from Gaggal, the town with the Kangra airport.
No fixed travel time from McLeod Ganj is published, so plan the trip as a day out and ask your operator or driver for a pickup time. Flights depend on weather and on the rules in force that season. Nobody can promise you a flight on a given day, and paragliding carries risk like any air sport.
Season 2026: what was reported
Flights follow the weather and local orders. Use this as background, not as a guarantee.
| Date | What was reported |
|---|---|
| 12 July 2026 | A ban on tandem and solo flights from 15 July to 15 September 2026, with resumption only under suitable conditions and administrative approval |
| 22 September 2026 | Flights resumed after the two-month monsoon break |
| October and after | Weather decides each day, so ask your operator on the morning |
The reports do not give a first flying day, and they do not mean that flying is open on every day of good weather. In the Dharamshala weather station's long-term averages, July and August are the wettest months, at 859 mm and 942 mm, while October averages 52.6 mm and November 18.8 mm. See the weather guide.
Our picks: Bir Billing
Two tandem flights of different length and a temple day trip from Dharamshala.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Longer tandem flight from Bir Billing
A 30 to 45 minute tandem flight with a pilot, a briefing, helmet and harness, transport from Bir to Billing and an action-cam video. Getting to Bir is on you, insurance for foreign nationals is not included, and the minimum age is 16.
Check availability →
Monasteries and temples around Bir Billing
Seven hours with an English-speaking guide, pickup from central hotels, a private car, and monument and parking fees. Paragliding is not part of the included services, and meals are extra.
Check availability →
Tandem paragliding at Bir Billing
A tandem flight with a certified pilot, the taxi from Bir to Billing and snacks with chai at the launch site. The listing puts the flight itself at 20 to 30 minutes, not the full two hours.
Check availability →Paragliding and day trips from McLeod Ganj
Paragliding, Kangra valley tours and day trips around Dharamshala, with live prices and availability.
Rules reported for paragliding in Himachal Pradesh
These come from the H.P. Aero Sports Rules, 2022, as reprinted in a legal database. Ask which rules apply to your flight.
Operators and pilots
The rules distinguish the registration of operators from the registration of pilots and tandem pilots. They mention qualified tandem pilots, visible licence numbers and liability insurance. Individual registrations are reported to last 3 years. That does not tell you whether a particular company is registered in 2026.
Weather and daylight
There is no operation in bad weather. Flying ends at the latest 1 hour before sunset or at 18:00, whichever comes first.
Passengers
No acrobatics are allowed with passengers. People under 12 years or under 30 kg cannot take part.
Amendments
A proposed amendment on safety training (SIV) for tandem pilots was published as a draft in September 2025. Treat the transition date it mentions as a draft and ask your operator what applies today.
What to ask before you book
You are not buying a guarantee, so ask questions and decide calmly. The rules above point to the main checks.
- Is the operator registered, and can you see the pilot's licence number?
- Does the operator carry liability insurance?
- What happens if the weather turns, and who decides?
- Do the age and weight limits fit everyone in your group?
- What time is pickup, and how long is the journey from McLeod Ganj?
Plan around the season. Between 15 July and 15 September 2026 flights were banned, so do not book for those weeks without confirming they run.
Planning the day
Bir Billing is a long day from McLeod Ganj, because the distance is measured in tens of kilometers and no standard travel time is published. Agree on the pickup time and the return with your operator, and keep a buffer in case a flight is delayed by weather.
- Check the weather on the day. Flying is stopped in bad weather, and a clear morning in town does not guarantee conditions at the take-off.
- Season first. The 2026 flight ban ran from 15 July to 15 September, and flights resumed after the monsoon break.
- Keep the plan flexible. Do not tie the flight to a tight connection such as a bus or flight the same evening.
- Visit Bir itself. The village has a Tibetan settlement and monasteries, so you can spend the wait there if your slot moves.
For the roads and transport in the wider region, read our getting there guide.
Bir Billing: frequently asked questions
Where do you take off and land?
Billing is the take-off point and Bir is the landing area. Bir is also a Tibetan settlement with monasteries.
How far is Bir Billing from McLeod Ganj?
The district administration gives about 50 km from Dharamshala and 68 km from Gaggal. No fixed travel time from McLeod Ganj is published, so ask your operator or driver.
When is paragliding in Bir Billing banned?
In 2026, a ban on tandem and solo flights was reported for 15 July to 15 September. Flights resumed in September after the monsoon break. Weather and local orders can still stop flying on any day.
Is paragliding in Bir Billing safe?
No one can promise safety. Paragliding carries risk. Ask about registration, a visible licence number, insurance and weather decisions before you fly.
Who cannot fly?
Under the rules as reprinted, people under 12 years or under 30 kg cannot take part. Check the current rule with your operator.