We know that everyone is missing travelling at the moment, and there are ways that you can explore the world from the comfort of your own sofa. Think of the positives – no uncomfortable long flights, you get to sleep in your own bed, and you won’t spend a penny!
Take your travel further than ever before
If you’re travelling via the Internet, your destinations have no bounds. Why not travel further than you’ve ever been before and watch the live stream from the International Space Station? Views change between internal scenes and Earth views – where you can watch a sunrise or sunset every 45 minutes and witness incredible views of city lights far below.
Embrace virtual reality
If you own a pair of virtual reality glasses, head over to Virtual Traveller where you can explore destinations on each continent. Whether you want to soak up the views of Venice Beach on a summer’s day or camp out at the Twelve Apostles, there’s a huge selection of 360-degree videos to choose from, covering both rural and urban locations.
Enjoy an African safari at home
If you’ve always wanted to go on safari, settle down on your sofa for the night and turn on this incredible live feed of a watering hole at Mpala Research Centre in central Kenya. Elephants, hippos, giraffes, crocodiles and leopards all frequent this spot, so dependent on when you switch on, you’re likely to see a wide array of wildlife.
Tour art galleries and museums online
Many art galleries and museums all around the world offer interactive tours where you can view art and exhibitions without elbowing your way through crowds of people. Virtual cultural experiences include the likes of the Vatican, the Guggenheim and London’s Natural History Museum.
Explore the world via Google Earth
Not only can you wander down streets on the other side of the world via Google, but Google Maps also offers interactive virtual tours of some of the world’s most intriguing sites. We love the online tour of the Pyramids of Giza, allowing you to walk through the entire complex on a guided tour that you control.
Watch orcas in the wild
Similar to the watering hole live cam, this incredible set up allows you to watch killer whales displaying an interesting behaviour unique to the Johnstone Strait in British Columbia. This live cam is located close to the OrcaLab, a whale research station on Hanson Island. Viewers can watch these magnificent creatures swimming around and calling to each other – much easier than travelling half way around the world for a whale-watching trip.
Settle down in front of Netflix
Watch TV shows, films and documentaries set in your favourite locations, allowing you to travel around the globe from the comfort of your own living room. Nature lovers will delight in watching the likes of Blue Planet and Planet Earth – allowing you to get much closer to wildlife than you would in person. A quick Google for films and TV shows set in particular destinations will give you a huge list to watch at your convenience.
Emma Lavelle is a UK based writer and photographer and has her own blog Field and Nest.
