How to Travel the World Virtually This Summer
While travel for leisure has come to a near standstill during the coronavirus pandemic, thanks to technology, you can virtually visit almost any place in the blink of an eye, through your trusty laptop or smartphone. And while nothing beats first-hand experience, stuck-at-home travellers can still find some solace in these breathtaking virtual experiences while everyone stays safe. Here are 7 virtual tours and experiences you should check out.
Visit Machu Picchu in Peru
Machu Picchu is one iconic attraction that is on most people’s travel bucket list. Built around AD1450, the construction of how the sprawling Inca citadel was built remains a mystery. You can take a virtual tour of this famous aracholoegical attraction on YouVisit’s website which has a series of 360-degree images. The tour also includes a voiceover guide with information on the architecture, history
and resident alpacas.
Visit:Machupicchu
Explore the World’s Largest Cave
Located in Central Vietnam, Hang Son Doòng is the largest cave on Earth and was explored by scientists in 2009. You can now visit this natural wonder through a virtual trek available on National Geographic’s website, which offers 360-degree images and atmospheric sound effects. You can also zoom into the images for details of the cave’s geology and flora.
Visit: Hang Son Doòng
Walk the Great Wall of China
Considered as one of the world’s wonders, you can now take a virtual hike along the Great Wall of China. Over 2,000 years old, the Great Wall stretches more than 3,000 miles across several provinces of northern China, making it an impressive ancient structure. The virtual tour showcases the ancient fortifications, views from the watchtower as well as how the tower looks in winter.
Visit: The Great Wall of China
Visit the San Diego Zoo
One of the most visited zoos in the world, the San Diego Zoo is known for their open-air, cageless natural habitats and while it is currently closed, you can still get a glimpse of the animals who reside there. Thanks to live cams placed in each habitat, you can get a daily dose of animal cuteness, as you watch koalas, tigers, baboons, penguins, and more, on their website.
Visit: San Diego Zoo
Take in Some Opera at the Met
The Metropolitan Opera in New York is streaming free nightly performances of some of their most iconic shows on their website, including classic works by Verdi, Wagner, and Puccini. The streams go live at 7.30 PM EST every day and are available for 20 hours after the performance. If you’re an opera fan, or wondered what live opera was like, now’s your chance to enjoy a free show!
Stream: Met Opera performances
Soak In Some Art
Thanks to the Google Arts & Culture Collections, you can view high-resolution images and videos online of famous artworks and cultural artifacts from around the world. The collection features online content from over 2,000 leading museums and archives. This means that in one sitting, art lovers can get from the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam to the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles and continue to hop through other prominent art galleries.
Visit: Google Arts & Culture Collection
Tour the Royal Residences in England
Curious as to how the British Royal Family self-isolates? Visit royal.uk where you can take a virtual tour of Windsor Castle and get a glimpse of this 11th-century fortress that serves as the Queen’s private home as well as a royal residence where she performs formal duties. It’s also where she and Prince Philip are presently self-isolating amid the pandemic. While you’re on the website, you can also check out some of their other royal residences, such as the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen’s official residence in Scotland.
Tour: Winsdor Castle
Tour the World’s Top Museums
When you’re travelling to new places, visiting a museum or art gallery is a great way to appreciate the culture and history of the place. Luckily, many world-renowned museums and art galleries are currently offering virtual tours of their spaces. The Louvre in Paris, the world’s largest art museum, has four tours available on their website. You can also get up close and personal to the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican Museums. Spend some time admiring the renowned renaissance ceiling, painted by Michelangelo, which took 4 years to complete. When you’re done, you can check out the other tours available in the Vatican museum on their website.
Visit: The Louvre