National Geographic Traveller - UK (2020-07 & 2020-08)

Four ancient sites to explore from afar

IMAGES: GETTY

THE RISE OF THE VIRTUAL TOURIST

WE ROUND UP SOME OF THE WONDERFUL WAYS WE'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING

THE WORLD FROM HOME. WORDS: CHARLOTTE WIGRAM-EVANS

THE INFO

SOURCES: LOUVRE.FR, MUSEUMS.EU, TRAVEL PR, FORBES.COM, HISTORY.COM, UNESCO.ORG

THE PYRAMIDS, EGYPT
Of the 100-plus pyramids that
have been identified in Egypt, the
most iconic is the Great Pyramid
of Giza, which was constructed
around 2560 BC. Virtual visitors
can examine the gigantic
structures up close, as well as
seeing the nearby cemeteries and
settlements. giza.fas.harvard.edu

ANGKOR WAT, CAMBODIA

Originally built by the Khmer

Empire as a Hindu temple in the

early 12th century, this sandstone

complex was gradually converted

into a Buddhist centre of worship.

Take in the famous temples, as

well as the nearby town of Siem

Reap, via these online tours.

virtualangkor.com

MACHU PICCHU, PERU

Situated 7,970ft above sea level,

these 15th-century ruins are

evidence of an engineering

marvel. Check out the famous

Temple of the Sun, see the

courtyards (complete with

grazing alpacas) and ‘scale’

Machu Picchu’s highest point.

youvisit.com/tour/machupicchu

OLD QUÉBEC, CANADA

The historic district of Old

Québec is one of North

America’s finest remaining

examples of a fortified colonial

city, founded by the French in the

17th century. Virtual tours offer

visitors the chance to experience

the area’s unique architecture.

quebec-cite.com

ANTARCTICA

The Shackleton 100 interactive

virtual walking tour takes in

Antarctica’s extraordinary

wildlife and historic landmarks.

The environmental impact

of in-person tourism to the

continent makes this virtual

option all the more enticing.

shackleton100.com/antarctica

GALÁPAGOS ISLANDS

Live cameras and 360-degree

video footage bring the

creatures of the Galápagos

Islands that bit closer to home.

Watch blue-footed boobies

and land iguanas go about their

day in real time. airpano.com/

360photo/galapagos

GRAND CANYON

Two billion years of history

are mapped out in layers

of rock and fossil in the

Grand Canyon. Virtual

visitors can learn more

on an archaeology tour or

set off on a kayak trip.

nps.gov

to visit virtually

NATURAL

WONDERS

The number of people who virtually visited

the Faroe Islands in a six-week period during

lockdown — over six times the number of

actual visitors in 2019. The project saw tourists

from 197 countries explore the islands through

the eyes of a local. visitfaroeislands.com

£100,000

THE AMOUNT ONE

HOST CLAIMS TO HAVE

MADE WITHIN THE FIRST

MONTH OF AIRBNB

LAUNCHING ITS VIRTUAL

TRAVEL PLATFORM.

AIRBNB.CO.UK/S/EXPERIENCES

13 DAYS

The duration of Tourism

Western Australia’s virtual

tour of the region, which

includes meeting kangaroos

and taking a dip with orcas.

westernaustralia.com

700,000

IN NUMBERS

THE LOUVRE, PARIS

7

THE NUMBER OF VIRTUAL

TOURS AVAILABLE,

SHOWCASING DISPLAYS AS

DIVERSE AS RENAISSANCE ART

AND EGYPTIAN ANTIQUITIES.

11. 1 million

THE NUMBER OF VISITS THE

LOUVRE'S WEBSITE RECEIVED

BETWEEN 12 MARCH AND 8 JUNE

380,000

THE NUMBER OF OBJECTS

HOUSED IN THE MUSEUM.

LOUVRE.FR

TRAVEL GEEKS

136 nationalgeographic.co.uk/travel