Even if you can’t travel right now, you can still travel virtually from the comfort of your own home. From live streaming to virtual reality, we are seeing an unprecedented amount of technology and travel content produced each day. Here’s a roundup of some of our favorite ways that you can travel from home, thanks to a variety of different platforms and resources online.
How to Travel Virtually from Home
With just a touch of a finger, VirtualTraveller is a website that provides 360° videos from around the globe. The concept is enhanced with virtual reality glasses (sold separately obviously), but you can also can explore from your own desktop or phone. Founder Jaajo Linonma believes that, “every person deserves to experience the world and that the lack of money, time or physical capabilities should not be a roadblock.”
You can browse by destinations, or even travel around the globe in 5 minutes. What’s so impressive is that the videos are made by travelers wandering the world and sharing their experiences, so it’s a great way to feel like you’re right there too. Joining the community is free of charge and you can also share your content with other travelers.
2. Google Arts & Culture
Google Arts & Culture offers an inside look at the world’s museums, institutes, and national parks. This feature allows you to explore digital exhibitions in museums, and allows extra zoom on art pieces. In addition, you can now explore five incredible national parks in the U.S. with impressive, high-quality videos.
The Hidden Journeys through the national park series guides you through five different landscapes with a virtual ranger. From the Kenai Fjords of Alaska to the Volcanos of Hawai’i and Bryce Canyon in Utah, these panoramic tours combine sights and sound in high resolution.
Here you can access a collection of digital museum experiences from around the world. Some of the museums available include the Van Gogh Museum and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City, and even the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Seoul. Having these unique museums online can give you the chance to truly explore art and culture without the crowds.
3. Live Stream Travel Cams Around the World
Explore.org is an online portal offering educational multimedia and entertainment organization that offers more than 250 original films and 30,000 images from around the world. You will be able to find live footage of the African Wildlife and even the Oceans as well as films and documentaries. This is one of our favorites:
This live cam shows the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, from Churchill, Canada. The best times to see this one of kind atmospheric phenomenon is during late winter and early spring. Enjoying the live cam is a great way to get excited for actually visiting the Northern Lights in person! When you do, be sure to check out these photography tips to capture the magic.
Earthcam.com is another resource that offers more live-cam views of alluring destinations like Queenstown, New Zealand and even the iconic sunsets in Santorini, Greece.
4. Good ol' Youtube
Of course, we'd be remiss not to mention the library of incredible video content available on this powerhouse! Whatever destination you crave, no doubt Youtube can offer some fantastic and inspiring videos to whet your travel appetite.
Travel vloggers offer lots of insights about once in a lifetime experiences like climbing Mt Kilimanjaro, hiking Machu Picchu, and visiting the Taj Mahal. Footage of wonders of the world have never been so accessible, like this Aerial 360 video of Petra, Jordan and this 360° Paramotor Flight Above Iguazu Falls in South America.
Cliffs of Moher, Ireland
5. Start planning a trip in advance
Even if you can’t book a trip now, you can start planning your dream trip. For example, if you’ve always wanted to visit Ireland, you could start with taking a virtual tour of the Cliffs of Moher.
You can also enjoy a digital edition of Savage Beauty - artwork inspired by the dramatic landscape of the Connemara peninsula on Ireland’s west coast.
If you’re itching to get even more inspiration for a future trip to the Emerald Isle, check out our wild Atlantic Way tour of Ireland’s West Coast!
6. Take a stroll through virtual gardens
Even when parks are closed, you can still enjoy them online. For the nature enthusiasts who miss strolling through greenery, this is a great alternative. Here are a couple of virtual garden tours definitely worth exploring from the comfort of your home!
…located in Giverny, France. If this garden is remarkable enough to serve as the main source of artistic inspiration for the last three decades of Monet’s life, then it’s certainly worth exploring! The famous lily ponds and Japanese bridge, as well as seemingly unending colorful blooms, await your eager eyes.
This impressive park consists of 385 acres of land and 27 different gardens are available to enjoy online through their mobile app. It includes an interactive map, walking tours, a plant guide, and a finder.
Virtual travel is a great short-term alternative, but if you’re still feeling the travel itch, we understand. Why not give yourself something to look forward to? Purchase a $200 gift card and receive $250 credit on your next travel experience with us. Our gift cards are valid for 2 years from purchase date!
