Bir Billing Paragliding

Bir Billing Paragliding session, Himachal Pradesh.

Flight time of Paragliding is 15 to 30 min.
Climate is cold, temperature from 0 to 30 centigrade in winter and 25 to 30 centigrade in summer season.
Launch site of paragliding at 8020 ft from sea level.
Landing site at 4350 ft from sea level.
Price is ₹ 2000/- Per Person for this session.
Route followed as per wind direction and normally — Billing – Bari – Keyori – Chougan – Landing.
Transportation from Meeting Point at Bir to Launch site of Paragliding at Billing at 16 km uphill in included.
 
Paragliding operational at Bir Billing from 15 September, October, November, January, February, March, April, May, June.
 

Price for different Paragliding session as per time duration .

1. 10 to 15 minute paragliding session in Bir Billing.
INR 1500/- Per Person Per Flight
 
2. 15 to 30 min Paragliding session in Bir Billing.
INR 2000/- Per Person Per Flight Book
 
3. 30 to 45 min Paragliding session in Bir Billing.
INR 4000/- Per Person Per Flight.
 
4. 45 to 60 min Paragliding session in Bir Billing.
INR 5500/- Per Person Per Flight.
 
5. 60 to 120 min Paragliding session in Bir Billing.
INR 10000/- Per Person Per Flight .
 
6. 120 to 180 min Paragliding session in Bir Billing.
INR 15000/- Per Person Per Flight .
 

Inclusions for Paragliding flight:

• Paragliding session of 15 to 30 minute, which is air time you spend after your take off and before landing. Whole activity take 2 to 3 hrs to complete.
• Bir (Paragliding landing area) to Billing (Paragliding Take off point) which is 18 km apart from each other, Our package include this 18 km drive in which guests travel in our vehicle with pilot and glider .
• Experienced Paragliding pilot of Travel-Bir-Billing Team.
• Reach at Our office or Hotel Paul Manor chougan chowk for paragliding session, which is our meeting point located at Caugan Chowk 1.5 km before paragliding landing site.

Exclusions for Paragliding flight :

• Paragliding weight limit is 15 to 90 kg in Oct to Feb and 30 kg to 90 kg in April to June, but if weight is between 90 kg to 115 kg the paragliding team charge INR 500/- extra and also decide it at the time of paragliding, depending upon fitness of the person.
• Travel insurance covering medical evacuation, hospitalization, baggage insurance and trip cancellation.
• Any additional expenses for videography of paragliding flight, so supplement charges of INR 500 for GOPRO video, expenses caused by a disturbance in trip program due to circumstances like weather conditions, sickness, natural disasters, riots, etc.
• Liability for or insurance against injury, loss of life, accidents or loss of goods.

Itinerary for Paragliding activity.

• Starting Point or Meeting point:- Chougan Chowk (Hotel Paul Manor) is the meeting point. Guests can Park Car at Hotel parking. (Hotel is located 2 km from national highway and at paragliding landing area diversion point).
• Fill registration form and procedure.
• Meet Paragliding Team and introduction to Pilot flying with guests.
• Leave your Luggage, baggage and unnecessary items at Hotel reception.
• Guests allowed to carry mobile phone, wallet with them – keep in zipped pockets or handover to pilots to keep in their bag.
• Tips for clothing – Full pant, Jacket, gloves & cap for winters, sun-scream, laced shoes.
• Drive to Paragliding take of Point (Billing) which is 16 km at top mountain takes 45 min to reach.
• Paragliding take off point Billing is located at 8020 feet from sea level.
• Pilots check wind direction there and decide launch point – Wind is some time East side and sometime west side so take off from any point as per wind direction.
• Gear- up for paragliding – Harness, helmet and connect glider with carabiner.
• Pilot briefing before take off. Ask pilots if GOPRO Video required.
• Wait for suitable wind for take-off. Fly in air. Guests hands are free during flight and harness became chair to sit.

Enjoy the views from air. (different option of Paragliding – 15 to 30 min, 30 to 45 min, 45 to 60 min session)

• Prepare from Landing, listen pilots instruction for safe landing.
• Landing at Bir. Paragliding landing area is Chougan an open ground. Landing area is at the altitude of 4650 feet from sea level.
• Open gears and collect video if opted.
• Landing area is 1.5 km from Chougan Cowk ( Hotel Paul Manor – starting point). This distance is Tibetan colony area and has many Cafe’s. Restaurant, Bakeries, hand-loom shop, Dhaba’s and Monasteries.
• Guests has option to drive with us till Hotel Paul Manor, but our vehicle drive immediately post landing. Other option is to walk through the Tibetan colony and spend time at Landing area.
• Later reach at Chougan Chowk and departure.
• Paragliding activity takes 2-3 hrs to complete.

Things to know about Paragliding activity before doing it in Bir.

• Paragliding not recommended for women who are pregnant.
• Weight Limit is major concern in Paragliding activity – weight limit is different in different season of Year in Bir Billing. October to December and February to April – weight limit is 15 kg to 90 kg and weight limit for Jan, May and June is 25 kg to 90 kg. There is no age bar for the activity. If Person weight exceed 90 kg, pilots has to carry bigger glider but subject to fitness of person and wind conditions.
• Person undergone major surgery of heart or other not recommended to do gliding. If any injury in elbow, knee, spinal or back pains – suggested not to do paragliding and inform pilot prior.
• Person suffering from anxiety issue, height phobia not suggested to do paragliding.
• Consumption of Alcohol and restricted drugs strictly prohibited before Paragliding activity.
• Avoid heavy food before Paragliding. Drive to paragliding take off point is 45 min which is hilly mountain road.
• Do not carry any item with you during paragliding, no place to hang things with you, as it cause inconvenience and not safe. Keep your wallet and mobile in zipped pocket or handover to Pilots as chances of slipping from pocket in air.

Follow Govt instruction for Covid 19 — maintain social distancing with other guests, sanitize hands time to time, wear mask during flight as well.

• Paragliding is subject to weather condition, paragliding may stopped due to bad wind, rain, snow, thunder and resume post weather is normal.
• If paragliding cancelled due to weather condition, it can be postponed to next day or can be cancelled.
• Need to Carry valid photo id and need to fill liability waiver form before paragliding.
• Need to carry jacket in all seasons as take off point is cold throughout the year. Wear full pants, laced shoes during flight.
• Activity of Paragliding opens from Mid September to Mid July and closed during monsoon.
• October, November, December, February, March and April is good for long paragliding session.
• Suggested not to ask pilots for stunts as it is not safe for gliders, create high tension on glider slings.
• Must ask whether the pilot has license and experience.
• Check whether pilots not consumed alcoholic and restricted drugs.
• Paragliding session must be pre-booked at Bir Billing prior. Good pilots are available as per booking done.

History of Bir Billing paragliding.

In the 1980’s French Pilots recognized “Bir Billing” as the best favorable condition for flying and introduced Hang Gliding. Hang gliding is very difficult at that time as pilots need to carry heavy metal frames and canopy to the Paragliding take-off point which is 14 km uphill. The road was not there to Billing at that time, so need porters and mules to carry, which was not possible to all pilots.
 
Paragliding in Bir Billing was introduced in the early years of the 1990’s by ‘Bruce Mills’ who was a new-Zealander pilot and well known in Bir Billing valley which started attracting many pilots to try hands in paragliding here. Later it becomes popular among locals of Bir and they start learning paragliding. Now in year 2000′ onward’s, Bir Billing started tandem paragliding – means a paragliding flight of two people (one as pilots and the other a tourist)which introduced commercial activity and employment to local inhabitants of Bir.
 
Now Bir Billing has more than 200 tandem paragliding pilots, out of which nearly a hundred pilots are licensed by Himachal Tourism. Bir Billing hosted the paragliding world cup in 2015 in which pilots of 130 countries participated. Paragliding world cup makes a sport popular in India and commercial flying increased. Bir Billing becomes a favorite paragliding destination in the world and India.

When to visit Bir Billing for Paragliding?

Best time or best season for the Paragliding.:- Paragliding is possible throughout the year except for the monsoon. Monsoon here from early July to late September. Monsoon here is with very heavy rain from July to September, which is the time when paragliding is closed in Bir Billing. Bir Billing is located in the foothills of the Dhauladhar mountain range of the Himalayas , which provide amazing weather conditions throughout the year.
 
But the best period for Paragliding is divided into two parts.
October to June is the season for paragliding. Even October – November and March – June are the best time for long flights.
 
Paragliding experience during December, January is different as all the mountains around covered with snow, even Billing experience snowfall during that period. Most of the travelers choose this period for camping and paragliding in Bir Billing valley.

How to drive or reach to Bir Billing?

What’s the Route? Nearest highway? Directions to Bir-Billing.

Distances and route to Bir Billing.:-

1. : Delhi – Chandigarh – Kiratpur – Una – Mubarkpur/ Paragpur – Dehra – Kangra – Palampur – Bir Billing:-530 km.
2- Delhi – Chandigarh – Kiratpur – Bilaspur – Mandi – Jogindernagar – Bir Billing :-520 km.
3- Manali – Mandi – Jogindernagar – Bir Billing:-180 km.
4- Dharamshala – Palampur – Bir Billing:-70 km.
5- Pathankot – Palampur – Bir Billing:- 140 km.
 
These are the routes to reach Bir Billing. If you driving your car then the best route to reach Bir Billing is Route -1. This is a bit long but safe and smooth. Other routes can be used if you driving from nearby destinations like Manali and Dharamshala. Route from Pathankot can be followed if you traveling in Train till Pathankot or visiting Vaishno Devi temple and the planning to visit us.
 

Buses to Reach Bir Billing:-

Visit our blog for more information. the nearest bus stand is at Baijnath which is 12 km. from Bir. Baijnath is well connected with daily buses from Delhi and Chandigarh. There are 02 Volvo buses daily to Baijnath starts at 2145 hrs. and 2245 hrs from ISBT Kashmiri gate New Delhi respectively. One can book from buses from Delhi to Baijnath from HRTC online portal by clicking here on the link. Other deluxe, semi-deluxe and ordinary buses provide their services to Bijnath. If you want more options, you can take a bus to Dharamshala, where many Red bus operators run their buses daily. And get a local bus to Baijnath which takes 2 hrs. from there. Just let us know your plan so we can advise you with full details of routes and nearest stops. Other options by bus from Delhi to Chandigarh and then hire a cab to Bir from Chandigarh as it makes your travel easy, safe, comfortable, convenient and cheap.

What to do here gliding destination in Bir Billing other then Paragliding:-

Bir and Billing are twin destinations with other options nearby places. Many are hidden and many are known. We are committed to providing the best information to our guests. Some them as below:-

• flying experience for Paragliding at Bir Billing.
• Trekking to Raj gundha village (semi tribal) recommended trek.
• Hanuman Garh day hike- Hike to top of the valley at 11500 ft. from sea level.
• Mountain Biking. (many routes check the link in Blog section).
• Camping in Bir Billing at Camp Oak View. (many routes check the link).
• Palpung Shererbling monastery Bhattu, Baijnath.
• Mukut Nath temple (Old Tulsi plant still surviving here ) at Sansal 8 km. from Bir.
• 9^th Century Baijnath Temple at 12 km. from Bir.
• Tatani hot water spring at 28 km. drive and 6 km. trek.
• Tribal Bara Bhangal valley trek for 8 Days to Chamba valley from Bir.
• Barot Valley: Heaven on Earth – Home of Trout fish, trekking, relax and leisure stay.
• Joginder Nagar Haulage – Way – trolley (Working on the principle of pully) to 8250 ft.
• Toy Train. (Kangra Valley Train).
• Visit Palampur. (Tea Garden Town of Himachal Pradesh).
• Dharamshala – Macleodganj. (His Hilliness Dalai Lama Town).
• Kangra Devi, Chamunda Devi, Jawala ji Devi, Chintpurni Temples.

Some destinations are nearer and some are far. So, we need to know your interest to suggest other palaces to see here and things can be done.
 

Cancellation Policy.

30 -10 days before to travel date: Full refund of an advance payment.
10 days – 0 day no refund.

LIST OF THINGS TO CARRY FOR TREKKING AND PARAGLIDING:.

• Please do not carry unnecessary items or valuables. Considering adventure paragliding in outdoors, Be sure you have the needy items!.
• T-shirts/ sweat shirts.
• Light weight long trousers considered comfortable during outdoors.
• Warm clothes / jacket / Wind proof jackets especially for evenings and mornings. Layers of clothing, is preferable to a big thick jacket (thermals are recommended for the innermost layer). This way you can add or remove layers according to the climate, which can change rapidly.
• Sun glasses with 100% U/V protection, cap, sun block (30% and above SPF).
• Retainers for spectacles/ sun glasses.
• Personal medicines.
• YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR!.
• SPIRIT OF ADVENTURE !.