The merciless onslaught of the coronavirus pandemic has confined the world indoors. Countries are closing down schools, parks, zoos and museums, encouraging people to practise responsible social distancing by staying at home. This has undoubtedly disrupted all of our travel plans.
Are you pacing in your living room restlessly, wondering when will your indeterminately long quarantine end? Do you long to see the world again beyond those stifling four walls?
Many notable landmarks are offering an exciting alternative to physical travel; free virtual tours! Now, you can trudge through jungles, observe marine animals and examine beautiful paintings without taking one step out of your home. Treat yourself to a temporary reprieve from mundane domesticity by embarking on adventures to distant places just from your computer screen.
Here is our list of the top ten virtual tours.
National Parks, United States
Google Arts and Culture’s most immersive virtual tour series, “The Hidden Worlds of the National Parks”, allows you to bask in the natural splendour of five different US national parks. Descend a glacier crevasse at the Kenai Fjords or enjoy breathtaking panoramic views of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Ride on horseback through the Bryce Canyon, swim through the third-largest coral reef at Dry Tortugas National Park and even experience life as a bat living in Carlsbad Caverns. The beautiful scenery is complemented by voiceovers by experienced guides, enabling you to better appreciate the history and geography of the landscape.
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Angkor Wat is an ancient metropolis full of Hindu temples. As a centre of worship, it is the largest religious site in the world. Through virtual reality, you can take a good look at the sprawling complex as it would have been in the distant past. Virtual Angkor offers 360-degree video simulations that historically recreate the different areas of Angkor Wat in the 12th century. Simply by watching the videos, have a glimpse of countless animated people and processions traversing the complex.
Han Son Doong, Vietnam
Navigate the most colossal cave in the world with National Geographic’s incredibly lifelike virtual tour. Enjoy an immersive experience as you surround yourself with atmospheric sounds of flowing water and birdsong whilst learning about the geological environment through informative descriptions at the side of the screen. The tour encompasses the different sections of the cave and the surrounding Phong Nha Ke-Bang National Park.
Buckingham Palace, United Kingdom
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live in a palace? Well, the Royal Family has granted your wish. Buckingham Palace’s virtual tour guides you through its grand, gilded interior. Admire the intricate patterns on the Grand Staircase’s balustrades, the magnificent opulence of the Throne Room as well as the pristine White Drawing Room.
Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Join an interactive journey with broadcaster and historian Sir David Attenborough as he leads you on a virtual tour of The Great Barrier Reef. David Attenborough’s Great Barrier Reef is segmented into five chapters that provide you with a thorough exploration of the fascinating marine world. Through introductory videos, stunning visuals and audio recordings, this virtual expedition will dive deeper into the waters of one of nature’s greatest wonders and even teach you about marine conservation.
Monterey Bay Aquarium, California
The aquarium may have closed, but its inhabitants are still as active as ever. Tune in to Monterey Bay’s ten live cams at specific time slots to see leopard sharks gliding through gently swaying kelp canopies, frolicking sea otters or be mesmerised by the hypnotic drifting of jellyfish. No matter where you are in the world, you can gaze at these wonderful views of the ocean.
San Diego Zoo, United States
Being in quarantine will not stop your children from visiting your favourite animals. San Diego Zoo has set up multiple live webcams at a few of its exhibits to facilitate public access to their wildlife. Marvel at cute koalas exploring the eucalyptus trees, owls perched in the aviary and a flock of penguins waddling together in the cold. The zoo’s website also includes fun stories and games to keep children entertained.
The DalÍ Theatre-Museum, Spain
Fancy a museum trip? The Dalí Theatre-Museum’s virtual tour of its premises has you covered. Wander through the beautiful galleries and exhibits displaying Salvador Dalí’s artworks from all eras of his life and career. As you visit the different spaces, click on the white circles to read more about the contexts of his paintings and installations.
National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, South Korea
Continue your exploration in the world of art by participating in this virtual tour of the museum’s different sites in Gwacheon, Deoksugung, Seoul and Cheongju. Developed by Google Arts & Culture, the fascinating tour includes introductions to artworks in various mediums such as print, sculpture, photography and even large-scale installations. Be captivated by the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art’s impressive lineup of established international artists; from Warhol to Nam June Paik and Joseph Beuys!
The National Museum of Computing, United Kingdom
Tech geeks, quench your thirst for knowledge about computer history with this virtual tour of The National Museum of Computing. Discover the world’s biggest collection of functioning historic computers and trace their long history from the 1940s to present day. You can zoom in to examine the hardware in greater detail and enhance your learning experience by skimming through the short captions provided.
In this global crisis, scrolling through the flood of pessimistic news stories whilst being quarantined at home can easily make us feel miserable. Why not lift your spirits by trying out virtual tours of famous landmarks that you have never visited before? Who knows, something good may come out from all of this; perhaps free time during the pandemic may even help you to better understand and appreciate what our world has to offer.
