Short cuts

India

A new type of holiday promising the ultimate in mountain views launches next month. Himalayan Sky Safaris offers tandem paragliding tours of India’s Dhauladhar range. No experience is necessary – you are strapped to a pilot, take off from a hill, climb the thermals alongside Himalayan griffin vultures, then travel above the snow-capped mountains to that night’s destination. Typically you might fly between 35km and 45km a day at between 2,000m and 5,000m. The trips start at Taragarh, a heritage hotel in the Kangra Valley of Himachal Pradesh, from where it’s possible to fly to Dharamsala in a day. The tandem trips start on November 4, and cost £1,200 for five days. The company also offers trips for experienced paragliders who want to fly solo. www.himalayanskysafaris.com

England

London’s “rock’n’roll hotel”, the Sanctum Soho, has launched a new take on afternoon tea. The hotel, owned by nightclub impresario Mark Fuller and members of Iron Maiden’s management team, has decided that cucumber sandwiches are a little too feminine. Instead, it is promoting a “gentleman’s afternoon tea”, consisting of mini Yorkshire puddings filled with beef and horseradish, mini burgers, mini rabbit pies, oysters and so on. Rather than Earl Grey, there is Jack Daniel’s, plus a Montecristo cigar. Prices start at £50. www.sanctumsoho.com

France

Direct flights between Paris and Baghdad are scheduled to resume next weekend, after a gap of 20 years. The flights will be operated by Paris-based airline Aigle Azur, the latest of several carriers, including Emirates and Etihad, to launch Baghdad services as security there improves. www.aigle-azur.fr