Just imagine yourself on a trip to the Eiffel Tower, the Great Wall of China, or the Amazon Rainforest-all from the comfort of your sitting room. With live virtual tours, it is not only possible; it is becoming one of the coolest ways to make a tour around the world. With only a good internet connection and a comfortable sitting place, one can make a journey anywhere in the world at any time of the day. So, what are these live virtual tours, and why are they trending nowadays?
What is a Live Virtual Tour?
In a nutshell, a live virtual tour is an experience on the internet that happens in real time when one is being taken through a location, a museum, or an attraction rather frequently by a local expert or professional guide. Unlike the pre-recorded video, the tours happen right now, and you can usually interact with your guide-even ask questions-as the tour unfolds. Just like taking a private tour, except you’re thousands of miles away.
These are usually given through walking around an area or historical site with a guide showing key spots using a camera. Some include flying tours by drones to give views above or 360-degree panoramas to make it an even more interactive experience. You may also be able to pick up fun facts, local insights, or insider information you’d never find in a guidebook!
Why Choose a Virtual Tour Over Traveling in Person?
There are plenty of reasons that virtual tours have become popular, especially with the COVID-19 pandemic making travel around the globe so much more challenging. But even in a post-pandemic world, live virtual tours are sticking around because they’re more convenient, cheap, and accessible. Here’s why you should consider trying one:
No travel expenses: None of the expenses regarding plane tickets, hotels, or taxis applies. With the virtual tour, that means you do not have to do it at all. For a very small fee, sometimes for nothing at all, voilà-you go on to explore Machu Picchu in front of your couch.
Flexible scheduling: You don’t have to take time off from work or plan some elaborate vacation. Virtual tours can be booked to fit around your schedule, and more often than not, they offer different time slots. So, there is literally no reason to wake up at 3 a.m. for that European tour unless you want to.
Accessible by All: Many of us cannot travel physically because of various reasons such as mobility issues, health problems, or financial constraints. Virtual touring, on the other hand, equips one who may wish to visit places they will never be able to see for one reason or another.
Unique Perspectives: Some virtual tours offer experiences that might be tricky or impossible in real life. You may get a behind-the-scenes tour at the Louvre or walk through parts of the Vatican not accessible to people. You can even stop and look at close-up details that could prove difficult if you were to find yourself in a busy tourist area.
What to Expect from a Live Virtual Tour?
Each tour is a little different, but for the most part, you’re logging into some type of video platform: Zoom, Skype, or YouTube Live. That’s where you meet up with your guide and others that have signed up for the tour-if you didn’t book a private tour-and then off you go! Depending on location, your guide might be on foot, showing you local streets, food markets, or ancient ruins. If it is a museum or a gallery, you will likely get a camera view of the exhibits as the guide explains in an interesting light many historical facts or stories about the art pieces.
Don’t be shy! One of the best parts of a live virtual tour is that it’s interactive. You can ask the guide questions, chat with other attendees, or even request specific angles of a particular landmark.
Types of Virtual Tours Available
There are all types of virtual tours for every interest. History buffs will enjoy virtual live tours around sites such as ancient Rome, Athens, or historical battlefield sites. Those who love art will enjoy guided tours around the best museums in the world, like the British Museum or New York’s MET. Want to connect with nature? Join virtual safaris, taking you right up close and personal with wildlife in Africa, or drive around stunning natural parks around the globe. Even on city tours, you get plunged headfirst into the vibrant streets of Tokyo, New York, or Barcelona.
