Travellers' checks

Downton Abbey enthusiasts can now take an exhaustive tour of the television drama's filming locations, and many other supposed Downton-related sites, with a package on offer from British travel firm Zicasso. Downton Abbey: The Season 3 Tour begins with a night in London at a hotel "representative of the Downton Abbey era" and continues with two full days in the capital, which include a trip to the Victoria and Albert Museum and afternoon tea at The Goring Hotel. Day four is spent visiting Shugborough Hall in Staffordshire ("see the real Upstairs, Downstairs of a stately home in action!") and day five involves a trip to Blenheim Palace, the birthplace and ancestral home of Winston Churchill. The Downton Abbey connection only becomes tangible on day six, with a Downton Abbey Country Film Locations Tour, and culminates in a visit on day seven to Highclere Castle (above), the location of the titular estate. Prices start from US$3,250 per person, including four-star hotel accommodation (which can be upgraded to five star), a private driver and guide and Heathrow Airport transfers. Tour dates are flexible but Highclere is open from July 14 to September 12, Sunday to Thursday only. For bookings, visit www.zicasso.com/luxury-tours.

Local adventure-travel specialist Whistling Arrow has just released details of several interesting new trips, including mountain trekking and climbing in western China/eastern Tibet; island hopping in northern Palawan (above), in the Philippines; and an adventurous trek around Mount Rinjani, on the Indonesian island of Lombok. Tours are scheduled for between eight and 17 days and cost from US$2,200 to US$3,900, including accommodation and pretty much everything else except flights. Go to www.whistlingarrow.com for details on all the tours.