What if I told you that many of the world’s greatest wonders were within reach?
As in, all you have to do to experience places like Petra, Machu Picchu, and more is to set up a laptop or smartphone.
Welcome to the world of virtual tours, a rapidly expanding venture.
TravelAwaits first covered this growing trend when it kicked off in 2020 during the global lockdown. Google’s Arts & Culture department started setting up its cameras in some of the world’s most popular destinations. Using the latest in imaging and video technology, the department created ‘virtual’ tours for remote explorers that take you straight into the greatest museums, landmarks, and more.
The trend took off, and it hasn’t stopped yet.
Dozens of virtual tour groups have launched since then. Most are organized by the site’s managing body, such as museum curators, tourism authorities, and owners. As a researcher, I’ve gone on quite a few tours to understand the physicality and atmosphere of our world’s greatest wonders.
Not all tours are up-to-snuff; they can be buggy, unfocused, and unintuitive. But after four years of incremental improvements, many are absolutely worth your time.
Whether you’re looking to judge whether a location is worth visiting in person or simply want to spread your wings while at home, I suggest you check out these virtual tours. I’ve got options from almost every continent. (Sorry, Antarctica.)
Europe: Le Louvre
The Louvre needs no introduction.
Unsurprisingly, this prestigious museum has one of the world’s most seamless virtual tours. Not only do they offer up-close (and fully private) tours of the main museum, but each exhibition receives a similarly royal virtual tour treatment.
They also offer a ‘behind the glass’ look at the Mona Lisa, which is fully equipped for VR users.
Asia: Great Wall of China
I’ve never cared for boundary walls—but I was wrong to write off the Great Wall of China for two reasons.
First, because of its sheer size. It stretches over 13,100 miles in total. For context, the US is only 2,800 miles wide at its girthiest.
Second, its oldest portions were built back in 220 BC, while the modern areas were built closer to the 1600s. That means all that wall was built without modern technology.
I’m not over this. I’ll never be over this. Join me in not being over this by walking the wall with a virtual tour. While it’s not the cleanest tour on this list, you’ll quickly get a sense of the scale of this great feat.
Middle East: Petra
In case you’re unaware, Petra is located in Jordan amid its red-sand deserts. Around two millennia ago, a group called the Nabataens decided to carve their civilization into the desert’s red rocks.
These still exist today as mammoth glimpses into the ancient past.
If this intrigues you, then you’re in for a real treat. Petra was one of the first virtual tours that Google set up, giving you a seamless view into the stunning feats of Petra and a guided audio tour. Seriously, you won’t find a better virtual tour out there.
South America: Machu Picchu
We need to talk about Machu Picchu virtual tours.
Because Machu Picchu is only accessible via hiking through the towering Andes Mountains, it’s simply not accessible for tourists with health problems.
As such, many tourism groups have cobbled together subpar virtual experiences to package with their in-person tours. I’ve found that most of these are basic, buggy, and disorienting.
Uniquely, however, Yale’s Alumni Academy decided to create a 360-degree virtual tour. It’s a pretty good take on Machu Picchu. It also has options for those who have limited bandwidth, as most virtual tours require strong Wi-Fi connections.
Australia & Oceania: Great Barrier Reef
Whether or not you enjoy tropical fish and colorful reefs, this virtual tour of the Great Barrier Reef is worth your time. First, because it’s narrated by the one and only David Attenborough. Second, because it has a top-tier production that feels too good to be free. However, this tour isn’t a 360-degree visual tour. Instead, it’s a mixed-media project that shines a more academic and environmental light on the reefs. It’s an Attenborough project, after all.
Africa: Great Pyramid of Giza
Visiting the pyramids is high on the list for most adventurous and history-centric travelers.
Not only is it the site of one of the world’s oldest civilizations, but it’s brimming with archaeological wonders. There are quite a few projects out there that will take you closer to Giza and similar pyramids, including a fully digital tour from Harvard.
However, I’ve been really enjoying exploring a few tombs and pyramids using the Mused collection of tours. They offer a balance between archaeology, ruins, and museum exhibitions. You’ll learn a lot along the way.
North America: Yosemite
I’ve been dreaming of visiting Yosemite for years. But with the long waits for campsites at US National Parks and the mass tourism going on, I’d rather head to Yosemite when I’m sure I won’t be surrounded by hundreds.
The easiest way to do that is through a virtual tour. Virtual Yosemite is a decent virtual tour. Though the visuals aren’t great, it offers a fantastic and helpful bird’s eye view of the park, letting you focus on potential areas of interest.