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Bir Billing & Barot Valley

Bir Billing, Barot Valley & Rajgundha, Himachal Pradesh

6 days Easy Himachal Pradesh
15 March 2026 – 20 March 2026 8 of 10 seats availableApplications Closed

Applications closed on 1 March 2026

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Bir Billing & Barot Valley
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Overview

Trail Overview

Bir is India's paragliding capital, but beyond the landing site lies a world most visitors never see - quiet Tibetan monasteries, pine forests carpeted in needles, and hidden valleys where shepherds still graze their flocks through summer. This journey takes you from the Tibetan colony in Bir through Billing's high meadows and over into the hidden bowl of Rajgundha, a roadless hamlet accessible only by foot, then continues to the forgotten Barot Valley where a century-old British-era hydroelectric channel still runs through cedar forests. You will camp in alpine meadows with views of the Dhauladhar range, eat dal-chawal cooked over wood fires by local families, and walk trails that connect communities who measure distance not in kilometres but in hours of walking. This is Himachal Pradesh as it was before the roads arrived - intimate, unhurried, and startlingly beautiful.

Why this journey exists

Bir Billing is famous for paragliding, but that's not why we're here. We're here for Barot Valley - a place most paragliding tourists never reach. The British-era forest rest houses, the trout streams, the Uhl River valley. I spent a morning watching a Gaddi shepherd dye wool with walnut husks. Nobody told him to do it for tourists. He was just living his life. That's the Before Maps difference - we go where the real life is, not the performance.
— Uddip

Day by Day

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrival in Bir

Arrive in Bir. Visit the Tibetan colony and monastery. Walk through the Chogling Kagyud Dharma Center. Evening at a local cafe.

Altitude: 1,525mDistance: -Stay: GuesthouseMeals: Dinner

Day 2: Bir to Billing & Paragliding

Drive to Billing (2,400m) - the paragliding launch site. Optional tandem flight over the Dhauladhar range. If not flying, hike the ridge trail. Afternoon in Bir.

Altitude: 2,400mDistance: Drive 14km + optional flightStay: GuesthouseMeals: All meals

Day 3: Bir to Rajgundha Trek

Trek from Bir through pine forests and Gaddi shepherd camps to the hidden meadow of Rajgundha. Camp in the meadow with Dhauladhar views.

Altitude: 2,800mDistance: 10km trekStay: CampingMeals: All meals

Day 4: Rajgundha to Barot Valley

Trek from Rajgundha through dense forests to Barot Valley. Follow the colonial-era Uhl River hydropower channel. Arrive at the forest rest house.

Altitude: 1,820mDistance: 12km trekStay: Forest rest houseMeals: All meals

Day 5: Barot Valley Exploration

Explore Barot village. Fish for trout in the Uhl River. Visit the Shanan Hydel Project - built by the British in the 1930s. Evening bonfire.

Altitude: 1,820mDistance: 8km walksStay: Forest rest houseMeals: All meals

Day 6: Barot to Bir & Departure

Drive from Barot back to Bir. Morning visit to Bir tea gardens. Farewell lunch. Depart.

Altitude: 1,525mDistance: Drive 45kmStay: -Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Included

  • All meals
  • Camping equipment
  • Forest rest house stay
  • Local guide
  • Transport within itinerary

Not Included

  • Travel to/from Bir
  • Paragliding fee (optional)
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance

Travel / Transport Add-On

Optional

We can help arrange your travel to and from the journey. Depending on the route, options may include shared cabs, buses, trains, or flights. Porter and luggage services can also be arranged where applicable.

Pricing varies — contact us for the latest quote.

Reach out and we'll help you plan the best route and pricing for your trip.

Provenance & Pricing

About This Journey

Scouting Provenance

Every Before Maps journey is personally scouted by Uddip before it opens for applications. This journey's scouting history:

Discovery & solo scouting
Pilot trip with test group
Open for applications

Pricing Tier

Classic

A well-established route that has been scouted multiple times and refined through feedback from past travelers.

Classic journeys offer:

  • Proven, well-tested itineraries
  • Reliable local partnerships built over multiple seasons
  • Optimized logistics from repeated trips
  • Most accessible pricing in our range
22,000per person

Ready to apply?

This is not a booking form. It's an application. We review every submission to ensure the right fit for the group.

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