MOVIE TO SPARK TRAVEL TO INDIA

Captivated by 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy, many fans have followed in the footsteps of Frodo and his band to visit New Zealand, seen to such magnificent effect in the films. Now, another film is being forecast to provide similar travel inspiration for India.

The Darjeeling Limited, on release from November in the UK, is set on a train trip across India by three brothers, one of them played by Owen Wilson, and with Bill Murray in a cameo role. The sights and sounds of India, as portrayed here, are expected to boost interest in India as a destination for 2008.

Specialist travel operator for India, the neatly named Goaway, has latched on to this possibility and promises to show travellers some of the film's locations on one of its Indian tours.

Their 16-day Wildlife and Goa beaches tour takes in Jodhpur, featured in the film, plus some travelling by train. Starting in Delhi, it also includes a safari and a visit to a leopard sanctuary, ending in five days beside Goa's beaches. Or the spirit of India may be soaked up on a shorter trip that covers Valentine's Day, in a week's package to Kerala with relaxing trips on small boats around beautiful lagoons, and rejuvenating Ayurveda massages. www.goaway.co.uk

At top, the real 'Toy Train' provides a joyride through the mountains to Darjeeling. Above, one of Goa's sweeping beaches.

HARD LABOUR HOLIDAYS

Lazing by the pool at some luxury hotel, drink in hand – or learning self-sufficiency in the jungle, no drink in sight? You pays your money and takes your choice but nowadays the activity holiday seems to have gained the moral high ground.

Take Intrepid Travel ideas, for example.  They suggest Timbuktu as an alternative to the indulgence of a traditional Christmas hol, trekking round Dogon villages, taking in some local markets and Niger river-life on the way.  There’s a trip that starts on December 22, from Bamako, price £785.  Travellers must make their own way to Bamako, capital of Mali, West Africa. See www.intrepidtravel.com/xsj

Also off the beaten track, the wilderness of Tasmania's Tarkine mirtle rainforest provides rugged exploration. The Tarkine region covers 1700 square miles and contains many rare and threatened species of flora and fauna including native orchids, the Tasmanian devil, eastern pygmy possum, wedge tailed eagle, white breasted sea eagle and the orange-bellied parrot. Guests stay in renovated miners' cottages at Corinna, left, a restored old mining settlement on Tasmania's west coast, offering canoeing and fishing .Various trips available Go to www.corinna.com.au

Less energetic is a short trip to Siena for a photography course.  Staying at the Grand Hotel Intercontinental, the only 5-star hotel within the city walls, for two nights, would-be-better photographers will be taken on chauffeured tours of the Tuscan countryside. How best to capture this rich landscape is then explored with a professional photographer. Whether or not this tutoring proves effective, staying in this beautiful 15th century building should be a pleasure. Cost £387.  Travel there not included. www.royaldemeure.com