11 Of The Best Virtual Travel Experiences For Self-Isolation

In the short-term, travel as we know it has changed. But, you can still keep the daydream alive…

The message around the world is clear, there should be no non-essential travel happening – both domestically and internationally.

With the global shutdown of borders and transit hubs, it is imperative – now more than ever – to stay indoors and continue to flatten the curve.

The good news is, you needn’t stop dreaming. In fact, now is a great time to reminisce about your favourite places and ignite the spark for your next adventure.

There are a few ways to do this: from virtual theme parks to online community groups, below are our picks for the best virtual travel experiences for self-isolation.

1. A virtual trip to Austria

Your dreams of recreating your favourite scenes from The Sound of Music may have been put on hold for 2020, but there are still ways to keep your Austrian fantasy alive.

Experience the rolling hills and mountain peaks of Austria through digital technology, with plenty of inspirational content to see you through isolation.

Additionally, if you’re craving a taste of Austrian cuisine, why not don your apron and recreate some regional specialities at home? On their virtual portal you can find some of the most delicious Austrian recipes to keep you busy.

2. Join Facebook groups with like-minded travellers

Facebook groups are a great facilitator for community, allowing you to connect with travellers whose feet are as itchy as your own during this uncertain time.

If you enjoy meeting new people, embracing a world of wanderlust and learning about new cultures, broaden your horizons in a virtual travel group. Below are some of our picks.

Travelling With Kids Worldwide

Perfect for: Parents who love to travel with their kids and share their experiences, tips and tricks with a community of like-minded people, ask questions and to be inspired to go on more adventures.

TravelFree group – cheap flights and more

Perfect for: Savvy travellers who like to save money and share hacks.

Girls LOVE Travel

Perfect for: Female-identifying adventurers keen to provide resources and empowerment to one another through online socialising and support.

Lonely Planet Travellers Group

Perfect for: All people to talk about their latest adventures, ask any travel questions and share top tips.

NOMADS – a life of alternate travel

Perfect for: Conscious travellers who prefer to live a low-impact, long-term, low-budget, mindful life on the road.

LGBTQ Travel

Perfect for: LGBTQI+ travellers to share travel tips, advice and maybe find a couch to crash on.

3. Explore Wellington in virtual reality

While New Zealand’s cool little capital is physically off limits, the city is helping ease the withdrawal pains with a range of virtual reality (VR) and 360-degree experiences featuring local businesses and attractions.

The Welltown VR game, which saw Wellington become the world’s first gamified virtual city, is made up of six short interactive travel experiences. You can shoot coffee at caffeine-deprived zombies, take an underwater dive in Wellington’s pristine harbour while dodging the curious whales, listen to birds in the native bushland, busk with a local band, stand beneath a Matariki starlit sky or help people take a leap off a diving platform on Wellington’s vibrant waterfront.

The platform is free to download from the Steam and Oculus VR stores.

There’s also an opportunity to go one step further. Welltown also includes an added section that connects you to experiences via 360-degree video. Sit front row at an All Blacks rugby test match or grab a special glimpse of a Weta Studio Tour at the Oscar-winning Weta Workshop.

And for those without a VR headset, selected 360 Wellington experiences can be enjoyed here.

4. Take a ride at Disneyland (sort of…)

There are still ways to visit the happiest place on Earth even if you can’t be there in the flesh.

Park-goers and fans have come together to post their ride-through videos and share their Disney experiences. Self-isolators can now browse hundreds of videos to get a taste of these rides online.

Get front row access to all the action at Disney World Florida, Disneyland California, Disneyland Tokyo, Shanghai Disneyland, Hong Kong Disneyland and Disneyland Paris without purchasing a Fast Pass or queuing in long lines.

Take a ride at Frozen Ever After, Star Wars, Peter Pans Flight, Mystic Manor and even the famous Splash Mountain.

Now anyone can visit the happiest place on earth

5. Visit the Seven Wonders from your living room

Machu Picchu, the Taj Mahal – these historical sites have long-frequented the bucket list of many travellers. But what if you could tick them all off in one single afternoon?

A list compiled by Uswitch has brought together seven free virtual tours, allowing you to experience the allure of these wonders, right from your armchair.

‘Walk’ along the Great Wall Of China, immerse yourself in the ancient city of Petra, skip the crowds at The Colosseum, marvel at Mexican Mayans at Chichen Itza, take a tour of the Taj Mahal, explore Machu Picchu and prepare for your jaw to drop when you see Christ the Redeemer.

Let each virtual tour build your anticipation for how it will feel when you can finally make the journey yourself.

Petra storm in jordan — Immerse yourself in the Ancient City of Petra, Jordan

6. Simulate life in Angkor Wat

Have you ever dreamed of stepping inside history, entering a snapshot of life in the past as it once was? Virtual Angkor allows you to do just that, with a program that brings the Cambodian metropolis of Angkor to life.

The ground-breaking collaboration between virtual history specialists, archaeologists and historians takes visitors inside this 3D world, and uses a simulation to ask questions about what underpinned this incredible city. Dr Tom Chandler, a Senior Lecturer at Monash University, has been working on the Visualising Angkor Project for more than 10 years.

The underlying visual architecture of the Virtual Angkor project enables you to look around the city as if you were standing in a particular spot at a particular time. Although best experienced with a Virtual Reality headset such as a Google Daydream, the videos can be moved around with a mouse or cursor, giving you some sense of how the city looked and a limited capacity to interact with the wider landscape. It really is incredible.

The reconstruction shows daily life around Angkor Wat

7. Spend a day in Jerusalem

A holy city for three religions, Jerusalem is one of the world’s foremost pilgrimage destinations.

Right now, Israel is granting access to an array of virtual tours for armchair travellers, including one that takes you around Jerusalem’s most famous sights.

Beautifully captured, this footage will take you on a voiceover tour of the city’s holiest places, with 360-degree functionality making it feel like you’re exploring in real time. The video is filled with colourful characters and panoramic views that will leave you moved, energised and swept up in this beautiful place.

8. Take a tour through world-class museums

Some of the most prestigious museums and galleries around the world are opening their doors to virtual visitors. Check out some of our picks below…

The Louvre, Paris

Like The Louvre needs any introduction?

Frida Kahlo Museum, Mexico City

Popularly known as ‘Casa Azul,’ or The Blue House – this cobalt sanctuary is the historic house and museum dedicated to the life and work of Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo.

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The Neon Museum, Las Vegas

A visit via the app will allow you to experience vintage Vegas through its iconic neon signs.

Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Chile

Explore the permanent collection of exhibitions at Chile’s National Museum of Fine Arts.

Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York

This iconic online collection features more than 1,700 artworks from over 600 artists. This is a searchable database, so if there’s a particular piece you’d like to see you can search by name.

The Vatican Museum, Rome

The Vatican Museum website contains seven virtual tours, which includes a 360-degree view of the famous Sistine Chapel.

Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Winnipeg

The Canadian Museum for Human Rights has just posted two guided virtual tours for people who are homebound to explore the museum.

9. Take a Utah Film Tour online

You might be surprised to discover that some of your favourite movies and television series were filmed in Utah, including Forrest Gump, Thelma and Louise and Westworld – to name but a few!

The American state’s red canyons, monuments and remarkable natural beauty is the perfect backdrop for these iconic films.

Follow along on the map to make your way around the state’s set locations and make a date to have a filmed-in-Utah movie marathon featuring your favourites from the list below or make your own selection from the map.

–Independence Day (1996 film)
–Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
–Back to the Future Part III (1990)
–Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
–Con Air (1997)
–Forrest Gump (1994)

Forrest Gump’s famous pilgrimate to Utah

10. Spend time with the Scottish

Ever wanted to chat with some of Scotland’s most talented, knowledgeable and funniest characters? Well, now you can.

Thanks to luxury experience providers, Away From The Ordinary, anyone who enquires about booking a customised visit to Scotland in 2021 will have the chance to chat to a genuine local – who they are likely to meet during their actual visit.

This could be anyone from a local bartender, to a seasoned guide, or native artist, granting guests access to an already friendly contact once they land in town.

The ambassadors include:

-Lord Bruce, the lineal descendant of the legendary Robert the Bruce
-Award winning musician and bagpipe maker featured multiple times on the BBC, Malin Lewis
-Diana Gabaldon’s (writer of Outlander) Highland Guide, Hugh Allison
-Jenny & Verity – Private chef and Forager Team

The team are also working on other exciting ways to help people who are social distancing still experience a little piece of Scotland, including digital whisky tastings, and full Scottish recipes from fantastic local restaurants. Find out more here.

11. Explore Canada via podcast

Take an audio trip around Canada with Ashley and Mike, a couple of thirty-somethings who are hitting the pause button on everyday life to explore Canada and connect to what it means to be a Canadian.

You’ll encounter the aurora borealis in the Northwest Territories, the interesting people and fascinating wildlife of the Yukon, the food of Prince Edward Island, stories of the First Nation peoples of Canada and so much more.

Listen online here or find the podcast on Spotify, Apple and Google.

From sophisticated new sleeper trains and opulent hotel openings to the exploration of new frontiers, we’re now finding ourselves in our own gilded era of travel. These 21st-century travel experiences are leading the way.

If we were to turn back the clock 100 years, there was a real romance to travel – the dawning of a glamour-filled jet age, refined rail sojourns and first-class cruising where the voyage itself trounced the destination.

We’re feeling a similar excitement in the air about travel in 2026. Think state-of-the-art cruise liners allowing access to destinations formerly off-limits, resort launches where avant-garde architecture takes centre stage, and a return to the days of luxury locomotives. This reoccurrence of the advances, adventure and elegance of a bygone era has not only come full circle; it’s now superior.

How? Travel has become more mindful, intentional and accessible. This includes environmental initiatives by operators determined to leave less impact on the planet and a shift towards a deeper cultural exchange with the local communities we visit. Whether it’s exploring previously hard-to-reach cities such as Uzbekistan’s Khiva, staying with a family to experience village life in Nepal or discovering new frontiers in Antarctica, our round-up of ‘new golden age’ travel experiences is a snapshot of how we are travelling today, as well as into promising new horizons.

Exploring the emerging city of Khiva

The walled inner city of Khiva, Uzbekistan. (Credit: Getty/Mlenny Khiva)

Uzbekistan’s Silk Road city of Khiva used to be off the radar for many travellers, but 2026 has changed all that. You can thank a new bullet train service connecting Khiva to Bukhara and Samarkand, slashing the trip from the capital of Tashkent from 15 hours to under eight. Add renovations to Urgench International Airport, and interest in this fascinating city is rapidly on the rise.

Quick to react has been Golden Eagle Luxury Trains and The Samarkand Express which have added Khiva to their 2026 rail itineraries, while Cox & Kings has included the Central Asian city to its multi-country 2027 ‘Stans’ itinerary.

Check out Khiva’s preserved inner-walled fortress, the first UNESCO site in Uzbekistan, explore ancient minarets and ornate mausoleums, and try traditional fare at Terrassa Cafe & Restaurant. Looking for fancy digs? The Mercure Khiva is due to swing open its doors later in 2026.

Riding the rails on the Eastern & Oriental Express

inside the Eastern & Oriental Express — Onboard the train, rich fabrics are complemented by elm, cherrywood and teak marquetry. (Credit: Ludovic Balay)

Recapture the romance of rail travel through the tropics of Southeast Asia on the refurbished Eastern & Oriental Express, A Belmond Train, Southeast Asia.

The resurgence of train travel reflects how we are travelling today – slower and with a new appreciation for both scenery and cultural exchange. Include a large dollop of old-world glamour, and the three-night Wild Malaysia tour truly delivers. Winding its way deep into the Malay jungle, the journey makes plenty of pit stops for exploration along the way.

Having been resurrected from a 1970s sleeper, the luxury locomotive now comes replete with plush interiors of hand-cut marquetry dressed in oriental silks and embroidery – there’s even a Dior Spa. Watch the world go by from the Observation Car, indulge in fine wining and dining, kick up your heels in the Piano Bar, then snooze it all off in your sumptuous sleeper car.

Embracing Mother Nature in Peru

Travelling to Peru is like stepping into a kaleidoscope of contrasting cultures and landscapes. Whether you’re learning about shamanic natural remedies in the pre-Inca Colca Valley, cruising the wilds of the Amazon on a luxury river ship or discovering firsthand why the contemporary capital of Lima is celebrated for its culinary and artistic scenes, there are myriad reasons why this colourful country is topping wish lists.

One such experience is the Ultimate Peru by River and Rail journey (five days) by Abercrombie & Kent, available in 2026. This incredible river cruise allows you to truly connect with the jungle rhythms of the Amazon via skiff and on foot with in-the-know local guides, and includes nights onboard newly launched luxury riverboat Pure Amazon, an A&K Sanctuary.

Spot exotic creatures such as sloths, macaws, piranhas, and pink dolphins on the daily excursions, before juxtaposing these wild encounters with a return to pure pampering on the boat.

Seeking sustainable community experiences in Nepal

tharu woman — Tharu woman and master weaver Parbati Chaudhary in Bhada Village. (Credit: Bheem Thapa)

While Nepal has traditionally attracted visitors to traverse its majestic mountains – Everest and Annapurna in particular – travel experiences in this beautiful Himalayan nation are expanding.

Home stays, where you reside with Nepali families and take an active part in their daily lives, are a growing attraction. It’s a win:win for local youths – who took their country back after bloody protests in 2025 – wanting to stay in Nepal rather than moving abroad for work, as well as foreigners seeking a deeper cultural experience. Nepali women, Indigenous people and marginalised castes are also benefitting from home stays, upping the feel-good factor even further.

Leading the charge is Community Home Stay Network, which links travellers to local-family hosts. Travel off-the-beaten path to homes in areas including Tharu in the south, learn how to cook Nepali style, and take part in traditions such as making moonshine, dancing and weaving straw handicrafts.

Exploring new frontiers in Antarctica

an ice window at Wilhelmina Bay — A breathtaking ice window captured at Wilhelmina Bay on the Antarctic Peninsula. (Credit: Renato Granieri)

Gone are the days when a trip to Antarctica meant a perilous voyage through the Drake Passage on a vessel holding the mere essentials. Innovative cruise ships now offer a smooth and sophisticated passage to the White Continent, as well as experiences formerly off-limits.

Abercrombie & Kent’s 19-day Antarctica, South Georgia and Falklands: Holiday Voyage captures it all. Spot breaching whales and gracefully gliding albatrosses from the deck, before stepping onto this Narnia-like landscape with daily Zodiac excursions. Observe adorable penguin and fur seal colonies, visit Antarctic communities that were previously too remote, and get so close to colossal icebergs that you’ll feel humbled by their scale.

Silversea‘s Antarctica Fly Cruise voyages will soon include a stay at The Cormorant at 55 South, the southernmost hotel on Earth purpose-built to bring uncompromised comfort to guests travelling to Antarctica.

When it comes to protecting this fragile eco-system, the future is also looking bright: HX Expeditions has partnered with the University of Tasmania to create a world-first educational course allowing cruise guests to dive into Antarctic science and sustainability, while A&K pours funds into conservation efforts and uses energy-efficient hybrid ships – all in trademark luxury, of course.

Indulging in New Zealand’s exceptional dining

Ayrburn, Queenstown — The Ayrburn precinct serves up delicate dishes.

By welcoming the Michelin Guide to sample Aotearoa/New Zealand’s finest gastronomy for the first time, our cousins across the ditch have now become serious players on the world culinary scene.

And there’s never been a better time to experience NZ’s greatest gastronomy with the inaugural guide currently going to press. Sample haute cuisine in Queenstown with a side serving of theatrics by culinary director Paul Froggatt at Essence in the new ROKI Collection hotel, and pull up a chair at Amisfield for its delicious degustation experience under new chef Sung Peng, with the world-renowned restaurant slated to reopen in July.

And it’s not just Queenstown holding all the culinary cards. The Michelin inspectors travelled to rate the best epicurean artistry in Tāmaki Makaurau/Auckland, Te Whanganui a Tara/Wellington and Ōtautahi/Christchurch against the world’s most renowned restaurateurs (bring loose pants).

Bedding down at design-led hotels and farm stays

a woodfired sauna at Azuma Farm Koiwai — A woodfired sauna deepens the meditative state at Azuma Farm Koiwai. (Credit: Azuma Farm Koiwai)

New grand dames on the global hotel stage are receiving a standing ovation for their triumphant 2026 openings.

Return to old-world elegance at the Orient Express Venezia, a reimagined former 15^th-century royal residence set in Venice’s Palazzo Dona Giovannellii. It certainly makes for a regal stay, with grand Neo-Gothic windows and restored Baroque splendour blending seamlessly with modern luxury flourishes. Also bringing the fantasy factor is France’s Zannier Île de Bendor on a petite private island off the Provençal coast. Overlooking the Mediterranean Sea – and with three luxe, design-led accommodation concepts to choose from – this resort exudes golden-era glamour.

In a breath of fresh air, we’ve also seen an uptick in farm stays. Trade the urban rush for a rambling rural retreat at Sibbjäns, Sweden’s first boutique farm stay, or opt for horseback riding followed by woodfired saunas on the sprawling eight-hectare Azuma Farm Koiwai in Japan.

Cruising the Danube on a festive Eastern Euro adventure

The magical Pécs Christmas Market in Hungary. (Credit: Emily Murphy)

Dreaming of a white Christmas? While floating past snow-dusted, fairytale cities on a river ship in Eastern Europe makes for an amazing voyage, when you add the magic of Christmas the whole experience becomes, well, more magical.

From twinkling trees and tinsel to red-nosed reindeer and wreath decorations, the festivities greet you the moment you step aboard AmaMagna by AmaWaterways. The ship then spirits you away along the Lower Danube for a seven-night Gems of Southeast Europe adventure from Romania to Hungary.

Explore Bulgaria’s medieval city of Veliko Tarnovo, glide into the dramatic Iron Gates crossing into Serbia; and sip on fine wines at Croatia’s Kast Winery (one variety made famous by Queen Elizabeth II). The highlight? For many it’s wandering the shimmering Christmas markets in Hungary’s Pécs. Peruse stalls selling unique handicrafts, try the traditional treat of kürtőskalács (chimney cake), and warm your cockles with a cup of mulled wine.

Delving into the buzzing city of Beijing

Lama Temple, Beijing — Calm and chaos at Lama Temple in Beijing. (Credit: Natasha Bazika)

Walking the line between its imperial past and a frenetic, futuristic present – Beijing is an exciting city to dive into.

If you want to be centrally located, the palatial Peninsula Beijing is hard to beat. From here, strap in at street level for a stroll among the city’s famed hutongs (ancient alleyways), pausing to taste traditional delicacies such as jianbing (savoury breakfast crepe) and dumpling soup. Then scope out the narrow lanes dotted with siheyuan courtyard homes (there are only 1000 left), and if you love to shop, head to Taikoo Li Sanlitun for a mix of luxury brands and local labels.

And it wouldn’t be a well-rounded trip to this history-rich city without experiencing its highlights reel. Admire golden-topped architecture in the Forbidden City, take a hike on the Great Wall of China and pay a visit to Tiananmen Square for both remembrance and observation on how it operates today.

Embarking on a round-the-world cruise

Can’t decide where to go on a cruise? On a round-the-world voyage you can live out all your dreams at sea.

It’s not a new idea – the first world cruise occurred more than a century ago on Cunard’s RMS Laconia in 1922 – but a reimagining. If you don’t have a spare year up your sleeve, you can now join for specific legs of the journey (unlike the 1922 trip), and ships have been modernised with sustainability measures, contemporary designs and a less formal feel.

Queen Anne, also by Cunard, cruised the world in 2026 with guests joining at handpicked ports, including in Central America for the extraordinary experience of crossing the Panama Canal. If you want the full adventure by circumnavigating the globe, Queen Anne will set sail on another world voyage in 2028.

Discovering the joys of small-group travel in Spain

Intrepid Travel's olive oil and wine tasting at Molino El Vínculo, Grazalema — Sample organic wine and olive oil on a tasting tour in Molino El Vínculo in Grazalema with Intrepid Travel. (Credit: Intrepid Travel/Tim Luck)

Small-group touring is a travel trend currently soaring, with many embracing it as an authentic, intimate and insightful way to visit a country – with VIP benefits to boot.

The small-group format, typically capped at five to 15 guests, is now accounting for around 62 per cent of group travel worldwide. And operators such as Intrepid Travel, APT Luxury Travel and Janesco Travel are among the frontrunners in this space, handling all navigation and insider experiences within an intimate group led by expert guides.

Seeking a Spanish sojourn? Small-group journeys to the vibrant southern Andalusia region are now topping bucket lists. Be mesmerised by flamenco dancers from a professional dance school (rather than touristy versions), learn how to make authentic sangria with a private class, skip queues at the Real Alcázar of Seville royal palace, and score a seat at the best Andalusian restaurants, sans waitlist.

Learning from the past in Japan

inside the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum — The Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum presents a sobering dive into the nuclear event. (Credit: Eleanor Edström)

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to experience a war-time atomic bomb, hopefully the closest any of us will ever get is a visit to Nagasaki.

While on a cruise excursion to the Japanese city aboard the Diamond Princess, you can visit the fascinating hypocentre of the Second World War bomb dropped to widespread annihilation in 1945. While there is no doubt this is heavy material to digest on a tour, it comes with a message of hope – that the horror of a nuclear war should never happen again.

There is also much more to this 11-day Japan Explorer Cherry Blossoms with Princess Cruises voyage. Witness the world’s most active volcano in Kagoshima, join a traditional tea ceremony in Kyoto and marvel at Mt Fuji in Shimizu. Also don’t miss the onsen experiences onboard the ship or its many mouth-watering local culinary offerings. Next departure is March 2027.

Supporting a typhoon-ravaged community in Vietnam

Zannier Bai San Ho — Time to kick back at Zannier Bãi San Hô. (Credit: Amber Hunter)

When typhoon Typhoon Kalmaegi ripped through Vietnam’s south-central coast in November 2025, it left a devastating trail of destruction.

And Zannier Bãi San Hô, an expansive 98-hectare beachfront resort, took a direct hit. An incredible five-month clean-up and restoration has now seen the Green Globe-certified retreat reopen, thanks in large part to the local community who rallied to help rebuild it. The support goes both ways; the 180-strong resort staff is made up of 177 locals – their livelihoods dependent on it.

You can help by simply booking a stay here. It’s hardly a punish, when you consider the beauty and luxury of this place; picture private pool villas and powder-white beaches. Take to the sapphire waters for water sports, visit local fishing villages and sweat it out at the onsite fitness centre. Or, if relaxing’s more your jam, simply loll by the pool with a good book.