With the emergence of a new COVID-19 strain, many governments are likely to place restrictions on travel again. And if you are already eager to get out, that additional wait can become even more unbearable. Luckily, there is a solution to your cravings: Virtual travel destinations. Let’s check out how these work and what are the best ones to visit.
What Are Virtual Travel Destinations?
As their names imply, virtual travel destinations are digital tours of actual places that you can then “visit” on your computer. These destinations are the cornerstone of the growing virtual tourism trend, which lets participants experience travel without the need to leave the house. While the field has been steadily growing in the last few years, the lockdowns brought by the pandemic has encouraged people to explore it more.
Kinds of Virtual Travel Experience
One great thing about going to virtual travel destinations is that there are different types you can choose from. These give you a lot of variety for the user experience. Some digital tours even combine several types for that unique result.
Video tours
Video tours typically consist of a series of clips that showcase the destination. These are the least interactive since you just sit there and watch. However, they are the most accessible as you can often watch them on popular streaming sites like YouTube.
Interactive tours
These consist of digitally-rendered environments you can move around and explore. You can then click on points of interest and view either a text or video popup. The added interactivity makes for a more engaging experience even if you are just dragging the virtual objects with your mouse.
VR Tours
Virtual reality-based tours are the newest type of online tours to try out. Here, you use a VR headset to view the simulated environment. There might also be added sensations like motion to increase the immersion. While the more advanced versions require sophisticated tech, the emergence of smartphone-based VR headsets has made this type more accessible.
Now that you have a good idea of what to expect with this kind of tours, you can check out the best virtual travel destinations. These offer a variety of experiences depending on your tastes. You can also use them as references for an actual trip that you might want to do later.
Virtual Travel Destination no. 1: Where In The Philippines Is Sam San Mateo?
The first stop of our virtual tour is, of course, right here in the Philippines. And if you are the type who wants to play Dora the Explorer, then this new tour presented by the Department of Tourism and Mystery Manila is something you will surely like.
Where In The Philippines Is Sam San Mateo? is a gamified virtual tour where you try to guess where fictional travel vlogger Sam San Mateo is. To play the game, participants watch a 60-90 minute video that gives them clues. Each clue is hidden in a historical landmark in the Philippines.
Five tour guides will help them move from one clue to the next. Along the way, you get to learn more about each place from the tour guides. This ranges from general facts to plenty of interesting trivia. DOT and Mystery Manila launched the game for free to the public last December. If you missed out on it, you can still book a private game at Mystery Manila’s website.
Virtual Travel Destination no. 2: Travel Philippines App
If you prefer a more laid back tour, then this other virtual tour from the DOT will be more up your alley. All you need is to download the Travel Philippines app. From there, you can begin exploring different locations in Manila right on your couch.
You have two choices on the type of tours: an Old Manila and a New Manila tour. The Old Manila Tour will have you starting from the Agrifina Circle at the Rizal Park. You then click on one of the buildings surrounding the circle to explore. At the National Museum of Natural History, you can see the paleontological and archaeological displays. Meanwhile, clicking the National Museum of Fine Arts gets you right in front of Juan Luna’s epic Spolarium. You can also choose to explore other perennial tourist spots like the Binondo Church and Fort Santiago.
For the New Manila Tour, you start at the Bonifacio Global City. From there, you tour the Philippine International Convention Center. Additionally, you can visit the Quezon Shrine, where the remains of President Manuel L. Quezon lie.
Virtual Travel Destination no. 3: Pharaoh Ramesses II Pyramid
Ever wondered what it feels like exploring the inside of the pyramids of Egypt? Then, this free virtual tour on Matterport will surely interest you. It features an interactive model of the Pyramid of Ramesses II, specifically the hallway leading to the main burial chamber.
To move forward, you click on the screen. You then drag the mouse around to look at the different sights. A great thing about the model is that the images are high resolution. That lets you zoom into the hieroglyphs in great detail. There are sadly no information cards but it still makes for a fun experience.
Virtual Travel Destination no. 4: AirPano Diving Tours
Since it will be summer soon, you are probably aching to get to the sea. But since you can’t travel, these video tours from AirPano would be a good substitute. Here, you can dive in the Sea of Japan or see sharks feed in the Bahamas.
What is great about these is that they are 360-degree videos that let you look around. And to make for a more immersive experience, you can use those affordable 3D headsets for your smartphone. There are also plenty of accompanying articles to let you learn more about different places.
Get Your Travel Gear Ready With These Virtual Tours
While they might not exactly be a complete experience, these virtual travel destinations will nevertheless satisfy your itchy feet. And there is more you can visit right from the comforts of your seat. So, check them out with family and friends and have one great time exploring.