Experiencing a workation in Bir had long lived on my bucket list — I had heard far and wide about its calm energy, magical sunsets, Tibetan food that warms the soul, and of course, India’s paragliding capital.
So after a week in Kinnaur with my family, I grabbed the chance. Packed my laptop, booked a hostel, caught an overnight bus — and off I went. This time, with friends. And honestly? I couldn’t have picked a better place to work, unwind and fall in love with the mountains all over again.
Why Bir is perfect for a workation
If you want a place where you can answer emails at noon and chase sunsets by evening — Bir is the place.
Here’s why:
- Budget-friendly stays (dorm beds start ₹400–700)
- Cafes with reliable Wi-Fi + workstations
- Chill, creative, backpacker vibe
- Cafes, landing site, markets — all walkable
- Weekends mean sunsets, paragliding, or mini-escapes nearby
You could be eating Thukpa one minute and working from a sunny café the next. It’s that effortless.
Where I Stayed — and Why It Worked
I stayed at The Trippy Tribe Hostel (main property, not the extended) — right near the Tibetan Colony, which meant walkable access to cafés, the landing site, and everything happening.
Here’s my honest take:
- Dorm beds were clean, cozy & affordable
- Café downstairs had surprisingly good Wi-Fi
- The chicken sandwich and hot chocolate are definitely a must-try
- The dorm had board games that kept the boredom away
If you’re okay with hostels and shared dorms, this one works great for long stays.
Approx cost breakdown:
Stay — ₹500/night
Wi-Fi — good for work (in cafe area)
How to Reach Bir
I travelled in a state HSRTC Bus that was heading from Shimla to Palampur. Bir is a stop en-route. If you are planning your travel from Delhi/Chandigarh, there are many AC bus options – A round trip should be well under ₹2000.
🚍 Shimla ISBT to Bir bus — ₹546
🛺 Cab from drop point to hostel — ₹200Pro tip: Early morning bus arrivals mean you reach before sunrise. The town is safe, but pre-booking your hostel helps. Also, if you are travelling from Delhi/Chandigarh, do prefer buses that dont reach too early in the morning or too late at night.
A Rainy Beginning
The mountains welcomed us with heavy rain owing to the depression that had formed over Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
We spent two whole days indoors — working at the café, reading, playing games, sipping endless coffee. Slow days. Soft music. While we thoroughly enjoyed our time indoors, the mind kept craving for the time when the weather would finally clear up and we would be able to step outside and explore more.
And Then…The Weather Cleared
On the third morning, I woke up to sunbeams and gliders dancing in the sky. Meetings done, laptops shut — we headed out.
Lunch at Adruk Café turned into bowls of steaming Thukpa and momos. The food they served was very affordable (we were 3 people and the bill was just above ₹500!) and comforting as well.
Later we wandered into Chokling Monastery which is quite close by — prayer flags fluttering, murals telling stories of centuries, monks walking quietly across the courtyard. It felt like stepping into stillness.
The Magic of Bir’s Sunsets
Every single evening — without fail — we walked to the landing site.
And Bir gifted me sunsets I’ll never forget.
The Dhauladhars glowed pink, the meadows turned golden, pilots landed one after another like birds returning home. People sat on the grass, music played in the background, dogs chased one another like they owned the sky.
I consider myself very fortunate to have witnessed some of the best sunsets in the world.
But Bir, it holds one of the best.
My First Paragliding Experience
The days followed and honestly, we didnt do much. We worked, walked the streets, enjoyed good food in various cafes and end the day sitting at the landing site, enjoying the sunset. And soon, it was almost time to leave Bir.
But we were yet to experience one of Bir’s biggest experiences – paragliding. We reached Billing for a sunset flight, but clouds rolled in and visibility dropped to zero. We returned slightly heartbroken — but hopeful.
Next morning, we tried again.
We took off right as the sun rose. Golden light washed over the mountains. The wind felt like freedom. I glided over villages, forests and fields — silent, weightless, alive.
It was one of those experiences that stay with you long after you’ve landed.
💰 Paragliding Cost — ₹2000 (includes cab to Billing)
Weekend Detour to Dharamkot & Triund Trek
As our time in Bir was coming to an end, we decided to spend the weekend in and around Dharamshala before wrapping up. So, we took a morning bus that left Bir around 8am in the morning and reached Dharamshala in about 3 hours. We decided to explore the Dharamkot village and hence, took a cab that dropped us to the Dharamkot market.
After looking around for dorms, we finally chose to stay at the Young Monk Hostel – Good Wi-Fi, cozy dorms, clean washrooms — solid choice.
We spent the day exploring Dharamkot – what I observed was the heavy Israeli population of this place. A lot of the shops and cafes here were being run by people from Israel. This village mostly has concrete stairs as its primary roadway so dont expect vehicles to drop you to your stay directly. We did spend a good amount of time walking with our luggage while choosing our stay for the night and it can get tiring!
🚍 Bir to Dharamshala bus — ₹160
🛺 Cab to from Dharamshala to Dharamkot market — ₹200/person
Doing the Triund trek was a spontaneous decision. We started late at 11:30 AM — a 17km round-trip from Dharamkot. The trail is well-marked, stone-paved, with arrows everywhere so you won’t get lost.What I loved about the trail was despite it being a tourist heavy trail, it wasnt littered. The goverment has been taking good care, making sure the trails are devoid of any trash.
The walk felt like therapy — river sounds, birds, shepherds guiding their sheep. No plastic litter. Just pure mountain serenity.
We reached the top by 3 PM. The view?
Unreal.
A massive range of the Dhauladhars right in front of you. We sat there quietly, taking it all in.
While returning, we met another breathtaking sunset. A final thank-you from Himachal before we left.
Note: There is a checkpoint before the start point of the Triund Trail where we need to pay ₹95 for a forest permit.
Cafés I Loved & Recommend
For remote workers + travellers:
☕ Buransh Café(Bir) — BEST Wi-Fi + pasta + great vibe
🍜 Adruk Café(Bir) — Affordable Tibetan food
🍫 June 16 Café(Bir) — Hot chocolate is a must-try
🍳 The Birdhouse Cakery (Dharamkot) — Beautiful breakfast
🍛 Annapurna (Dharamkot) — Homely North Indian meals
My Approx Budget
Stay: ₹500/night
Food: ₹500-600/day
Travel: ₹2000
Paragliding: ₹2000
Misc: ₹2000
Total spent for 1 week: ₹13k
Pro Tip: You can manage this for cheaper if you opt for lesser number of meals in cafes and more at dhabas/street options.
Planning Your Own Workation to Bir? Here’s a Quick Guide
🗓 Ideal duration: 1 week+
🛏 Stay near landing site / Tibetan colony
📶 Work from cafes with Wi-Fi backups
🪂 Book paragliding early morning for best weather
🍽 Try Tibetan food — Bir does it best
🌅 DO NOT miss the sunsets
Bir gave me exactly what I needed — calm mornings, fulfilling work days, soulful food, and sunsets I’ll carry forever. If you want a place to slow down yet feel alive, Bir is that place.
It’s not just a workation spot — It’s a feeling you’ll return to.
If you enjoyed reading this…
You’ll love my other travel stories too:
- Exploring Kinnaur — raw, remote, unforgettable
- Bengaluru to Ooty Monsoon Ride — rain, fog & magic
- How I plan budget trips — practical tips for travellers
- Top weekend destinations from Bengaluru – if you are looking for a short getaway