What a Bir Billing trip costs, split five ways

Bir is a village in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, and Billing is the take-off ridge above it. Most groups go for the paragliding and stay three or four nights. Kitna Hua was built for our own trip to Bir, so this is close to the budget we planned around.

Getting there

Overnight Volvo and semi-sleeper buses run from Delhi to Bir and take around 12 hours. The nearest airport is Gaggal, near Dharamshala, about two hours away by taxi.

Book the bus seats together. The person who pays logs it once and splits it across everyone, and the return leg goes in the same way.

Paragliding

Tandem flights take off from Billing, at roughly 2,400 metres, and land in Bir. A standard flight usually costs ₹2,500 to ₹3,500 a person, and longer flights cost more. Flying stops for the monsoon, roughly mid July to mid September.

Someone always stays on the ground. Split the flights only among the people who flew, and the one who skipped it does not pay for everyone else's.

Stay and food

Bir has hostels, homestays and guesthouses near the Tibetan colony and the landing site. Dorm beds usually cost ₹500 to ₹900 a night, and a private double ₹1,500 to ₹3,000. Cafe food is cheap: plan on ₹600 to ₹900 a person a day.

These are rough figures that move with the season. Check current prices before you book.

The total

For the five friends below, three nights with the bus both ways, the trip comes to ₹11,300 each for the four who flew and ₹8,300 for the one who stayed on the ground. Four UPI transfers settle all of it.

Worked example

Bir, 3 nights, five friends

Expenses for Bir, 3 nights, five friends
ExpenseAmount
Delhi to Bir bus, both waysAman paid, split across everyone₹15,000
Homestay, 3 nightsRiya paid, split across everyone₹15,000
Tandem paraglidingKabir paid, split between Aman, Riya, Kabir, Meera₹12,000
Cafe meals, day 1Meera paid, split across everyone₹3,500
Cafe meals, day 2Dev paid, split across everyone₹4,000
Taxi to Palampur and backDev paid, split across everyone₹2,500
Momos and chai, day 3Aman paid, split across everyone₹1,500
Total₹53,500

Each person's share

  • Amanpaid ₹16,500, share ₹11,300
  • Riyapaid ₹15,000, share ₹11,300
  • Kabirpaid ₹12,000, share ₹11,300
  • Meerapaid ₹3,500, share ₹11,300
  • Devpaid ₹6,500, share ₹8,300

Settle up

  1. Meera pays Aman₹5,200
  2. Meera pays Riya₹2,600
  3. Dev pays Riya₹1,100
  4. Dev pays Kabir₹700

Questions

How much does paragliding in Bir Billing cost?
A standard tandem flight usually costs ₹2,500 to ₹3,500 a person. Longer flights cost more. Prices change with the season, so confirm with the operator before you go.
How many days do you need in Bir?
Three nights covers a flight, a day around the Tibetan colony and monasteries, and a spare day in case weather grounds the flights.
When is the best time to visit Bir Billing?
October and November, and March to early June, have the most flying days. Flying stops for the monsoon, roughly mid July to mid September.
How do I start using Kitna Hua?
Kitna Hua is invite only. Ask whoever is running your trip for an invite link, or request access from this site to run trips of your own.

Settle the trip, not the argument

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