Two sites, one valley
Bir Billing Paragliding
Indru Nag Paragliding
Both flights are tandem — you fly clipped to a licensed pilot who handles everything but the few running steps at launch. No experience, no course, no gear of your own.
Which flight is yours
Bir Billing
- 2,400 m (take-off) → 1,400 m (landing)
- Airtime: 25–40 minutes
- From ₹4,200 per person
- Half a day from Dharamshala — roughly 2.5 hours on the road each way, plus the jeep up to take-off.
- Best Mar–Jun, Oct–Nov
- Suits first-timers, couples, adventure travelers
Indru Nag
- Take-off ≈ 1,900 m (Indru Nag ridge, above Khaniyara)
- Airtime: 10–15 min standard tandem
- From ₹2,150 per person
- Twenty minutes from McLeod Ganj — pickup, briefing, flight and drop-off fit inside a morning.
- Best Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov
- Suits first-timers, families, short-on-time travelers
Short version: Billing is the bigger flight and the bigger day — the 1992 world-cup site, a 1,000 m descent, and a drive at each end. Indru Nag is the one you can fit into a morning you hadn’t planned to spend flying. Plenty of guests do Indru Nag first and book a Bir day once they’re hooked.
The flying calendar
Flying is a weather call, not a calendar one — but the calendar tells you the odds. The Dhauladhar flank throws a rising thermal column almost daily through the shoulder seasons, which is what makes this valley flyable by complete beginners in the first place.
- March–June — the reliable window. Long thermal days, warm valley air, and the busiest weeks at Billing. Book ahead on weekends.
- July–September — monsoon. Billing largely stops: cloudbase drops onto the take-off and the ridge stays socked in. Indru Nag catches the odd clear morning from September.
- October–November — the connoisseur’s window. Washed-clean air, the sharpest Dhauladhar views of the year, cooler flights and thinner crowds.
- December–February — cold and thin. Billing is mostly shut; Indru Nag flies occasional bright mornings, and you will want the extra layer.
We call the window on the morning itself, honestly. If it’s out of limits we move your slot or refund it in full — nobody is flown through weather to save a booking.
The only rules that matter
Tandem flying has a shorter list of requirements than most people expect. These are the ones that actually matter:
- Age — 12 and up at Bir-Billing, with a guardian waiver for minors. Tell us about younger kids at Indru Nag and we’ll match the right pilot.
- Weight — 30–110 kg per passenger at Billing; roughly 20–95 kg at Indru Nag. Outside that band the wing loading can’t be matched safely.
- Experience — none. The pilot flies the wing; you run three or four steps at launch and lift your legs for the landing.
- Fitness — if you can jog a few steps downhill on rough grass, you can launch. There is no climb and no walk-in.
- Tell us first if you’re pregnant, or recovering from a back, neck, knee or shoulder injury — take-off and landing are where the load goes.
Before you clip in
How we fly it
- All pilots hold BBPA P3/P4 ratings and are insured
- Equipment (wing, harness, reserve) is DHV-certified and re-packed annually
- Helmets are provided and mandatory
- Flights are not attempted if wind at take-off exceeds 25 km/h or gusts are irregular
- A ground-crew vehicle is on standby for emergency landings off-site
- Flying is weather-called on the morning — if the window is poor we reschedule or refund, we don't push
What to wear
- Closed shoes — mandatory for take-off run
- Long trousers — the take-off surface is rough grass
- Sunglasses with a secure strap
- Light windproof jacket — the air at 2,400 m is cold even in summer
- No loose items — phones must be in a zipped pocket or sleeve
- GoPro / camera if you're booking the video add-on
We are a local operator based in McLeod Ganj and we fly with licensed pilots we know by name — more about us, or read the full health & safety policy.
Questions
Bir-Billing or Indru Nag — which should I book?+
Bir-Billing is the world-stage site: a 2,400 m take-off, 25–40 minutes in the air, from ₹4,200, and a full day once you count the drive. Indru Nag is the quick, close flight — from ₹2,150 for 10–15 minutes, twenty minutes from McLeod Ganj and done by lunch. Many guests fly Indru Nag early in the trip and book a Bir day once they're hooked.
Do I need any experience?+
None at all. Both flights are tandem: you're clipped into your own certified harness alongside a licensed pilot who flies the wing. Your entire job is three or four running steps at take-off and lifting your legs for the landing, both of which are covered in the ground briefing.
What's the minimum age and weight?+
Minimum age 12 at Bir-Billing, with a guardian waiver for minors. The weight band is 30–110 kg per passenger at Billing and roughly 20–95 kg at Indru Nag. Outside those numbers the wing loading can't be matched safely, so tell us in advance — especially for children — and we'll pair the right pilot and wing.
How long am I actually in the air?+
At Billing, 20–25 minutes on a weak-thermal day and 40+ when the lift is strong enough for the pilot to circle — you pay per flight, not per minute. Indru Nag is a consistent 10–15 minute ridge-and-valley flight.
What happens if the weather turns?+
We postpone or refund in full. No flight is ever forced through poor conditions — at Billing that means wind over 25 km/h or irregular gusts at take-off. If you're only in the valley for one day, arrive early so there's an afternoon window left to reschedule into.
Can I get a video of my flight?+
Yes, as an add-on — the pilot carries a mounted camera and sends the footage over within about 24 hours. Budget ₹1,000–1,500 at Bir-Billing and ₹500–800 at Indru Nag depending on the pilot. Your own phone stays zipped away; dropped phones are the most common casualty at both sites.
What should I wear?+
Closed shoes are mandatory — the take-off run is over rough grass. Add long trousers, a light windproof layer (2,400 m is cold even in June), and sunglasses with a strap. Nothing loose in your pockets.