The horrific spread of Coronavirus has effectively shutting down any opportunities for international travel (and rightly so – stay at home!). Therefore, both businesses and tourists have been looking for new ways to promote virtual travel whilst the world remains in lockdown.
The opportunities for virtual exploration are endless – from high-budget, mass-audience documentaries to individual live streams. Here are a few things that have caught our eye recently – a list of our favourite online tours for virtual travellers!
If you have any other favourite virtual travel opportunities, please do get in touch and we can add them to our list!
Online Tours and Virtual Travel During April
1: FINISHED: Listen to live music from the iconic Duomo in Milan
Legendary opera singer Andrea Bocelli will be performing live from Milan’s beautiful Duomo on Easter Sunday. The performance is to be livestreamed via Bocelli’s YouTube channel – a great opportunity to join thousands of listeners from across the world, watching one of the greatest living singers in a stunning setting.
When: 12th April @ 6pm BST
How: Join via Bocelli’s YouTube channel – Direct Link
2: Visit the Animals at Chester Zoo
Chester Zoo is one of the UK’s most popular wildlife parks. Whilst visitors may not be able to come and see the animals in person, zookeepers are showcasing the most popular enclosures via a series of regular “virtual zoo days”.
Monkeys, giraffes, lions and the ever-popular penguins (and many more) will be part of the tours – a great way to keep kids and their grownups entertained.
When: Every Friday
How: Via Chester Zoo’s Facebook page: Direct Link
3. Explore behind the scenes of a cutting-edge farm
Square Roots describes itself as a ‘tech enabled urban farming company’, and it certainly looks advanced when scrolling through the impressive shots on their Instagram page.
The US-based farm usually offer tours of their premises face to face. However, they are now opening up to a global audience with a live virtual tour. Tune in to see the future of farming!
When: April 22nd
How: Sign up via Tap Bio – Direct Link
4. Go on safari with real-life park rangers
‘Stay Tuned’ have got a number of virtual experiences on offer via their website, including the opportunity to ‘jump in the jeep’ and take a safari tour in South Africa.
We’ve taken a look, and the footage is perfect to have on as a relaxing background. Enjoy the sights and sounds of a safari, without having to leave your sofa!
When: Always available
How: Visit the Stay Tuned website and choose from their list – Direct Link
5. Take a virtual tour of Egypt’s ancient Sites
Egypt’s archaeological sites are a regular fixture on bucket-lists for thousands across the world. Whilst Coronavirus has forced many of these plans to be put on hold, a number of Egypt’s finest attractions have been opened up for virtual tours.
From tombs to mosques, Egypt can now be visited at the click of a button.
When: Available anytime
How: Via a number of institutions e.g. The American Research Center in Egypt – Direct Link
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6. Head underwater with marine scientists
Busselton Jetty, we’ve just learnt, is the ‘longest timber-piled jetty in the southern hemisphere at 1,841 metres long’. However, it’s also run by a not-for-profit organisation which is offering a rich series of virtual tours, webinars and workshops – including live streams underwater with a marine science team.
When: Ongoing
How: Via the Busselton Jetty website – Direct Link
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7. Learn something new at a world-famous museum
So many museums across the world are offering virtual tours, lectures and more whilst their doors are closed. This is a great way to learn about something new – from dinosaurs to art!
Our favourite at the moment is London’s Natural History museum. This has a variety of online resources, from virtual tours to guided walkthroughs narrated by none other than David Attenborough!
When: Ongoing
How: Via museum websites e.g. Natural History Museum
So, although Coronavirus is keeping us all in lockdown for now, there are still ways that we can explore the world virtually. From world-class museums to unrecognised countries. from farms to opera, the possibilities are endless.
We’ll continue to keep our eye out for more virtual tours and online travel opportunities – let us know if you spot anything exciting!
The virtual guide through Transnistria sounds so intriguing and it’s a recommendation I’ve never seen before! Thanks for the tip!
No problem! It’s definitely one of the most unique tours we’ve come across! Thanks for reading!