We’ve all been stuck at home at some point, whether it’s due to the pandemic or otherwise. While it might be costly to tour the world in real life, touring the world in virtual reality is easy and much cheaper.
The possibilities are endless in places you can visit in virtual reality. You can try everything from national parks to flying through the solar system. Become a national geographic explorer and start exploring.
With the endless stunning locations the world offers, you should indeed travel the world. If you’re bored at home, here are our top picks for virtual travel experiences you’ve got to check out.
Winner
Grand Canyon VR Experience
This VR is a great immersive experience that lets you travel through the national park in a virtual kayak. You can choose between 2 settings and stop at various points for sightseeing.
Runner Up
Mount Everest VR
Surely climbing Everest isn’t for everyone. Traveling through it in virtual reality is something anyone can try out. If you enjoy mountain climbing, try out this unique experience.
Also Great
The VR Museum of Fine Art
This VR experience is one of the best virtual travel experiences for history lovers. You can watch the art pieces in detail without the usual restrictions of a museum.
Now that we’ve looked into our top picks let’s look into the detailed review of each.
Best VR Travel Experiences - Top 3 Reviews
#1: Best Realistic Nature VR Travel Experience- Grand Canyon VR Review
In this tour, you will be able to enjoy the VR experience to the fullest, while on a kayak. Although you will not be able to steer the kayak, you can still control the speed settings.
In this virtual world, you can also stop at various points, and interact with the artificially intelligent wildlife. The online video comes with two settings, allowing users to visit the heritage sites during the day or under the cool starry sky.
Additionally, the experience allows a unique perspective for the viewers and lets them explore the beauty of the National Park. The video is compatible and can be viewed using Valve Index, Oculus Rift, or the HTC Vive.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy Grand Canyon Virtual Reality
Price
This virtual reality video is an affordable option for all nature lovers. If you already own a headset that is compatible with the video, you can easily purchase the video and start exploring.
Genre
This virtual tour comes under the category of nature experiences. It’s said to be the “Most realistic nature environment in VR available today” by its developer.
Mobility
The speed of the kayak is adjustable and can be altered to your preference. Even though you are not steering the kayak, you can still stop at some points to interact with the virtual wildlife around you.
Headset Compatibility
This virtual travel video is compatible with the HTC Vive, Valve Index, and Oculus Rift. These are some of the headsets compatible with a lot of virtual reality videos and many people already own them as well.
- Compatible with many headsets like the Oculus rift
- Affordable
- Nature Setting
- Relaxing
- Good visual and sound quality
- Does not have background information
- Short timeframe
Best Realistic Nature VR Travel Experience
The best realistic nature VR is Grand Canyon VR because it’s affordable, relaxing, and includes artificial wildlife.
#2: Best Thrilling VR Travel Experience- Mount Everest VR
Everest is one of the most thrilling virtual tours available. The summit is a part of world heritage sites and is one of the coldest places around the world. If climbing the mountain is on your bucket list, the cost or risk might be some of the factors stopping you.
If you’re still determined to check it off your list, this virtual adventure is for you. You can experience the expedition in five steps from the comfort of your own home.
The 5 virtual experiences include the Basecamp, Khumbu Icefalls, spending the night at Camp 4, going up the Hillary Step, and finally reaching the top of the mountain. While climbing the summit, you’ll also be able to enjoy the breathtaking view of the Himalayas in virtual reality.
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy Mount Everest VR
Price
This VR video is more costly compared to its competitors. However, there are 5 stops on the tour which make up for the price.
Genre
This virtual tour comes under the category of nature experiences as well. Perfect for all mountain climbers, this tour takes you through the highest mountain above sea level.
Mobility
From its first-person perspective, you can climb ladders and use hand grips to get to the top of the mountain.
Headset Compatibility
This VR is compatible with Valve Index, Oculus Rift, and HTC Vive. So if you own another VR headset like the Oculus Quest, you will have to purchase another headset.
- Breathtaking views
- Fit for all mountain climbers
- Interactive Experience
- First-person perspective
- Comes with narration
- May feel slow
Best Thrilling VR Travel Experience
The best thrilling VR is Mount Everest VR because it’s set on the highest mountain in the world, and has a first-person perspective
#3: Best Interactive VR Travel Experience- The VR Museum of Fine Arts
Home to the famous Water Lilies painting by Monet, this Museum of Fine Arts is a must-visit for all art geeks. Because the tour is in virtual reality, there are no closing hours so you can stay as long as you like.
You can either examine the paintings from up close or take a 360° of the sculptures. Informative holographic plaques are present next to famous paintings that allow you to have an educational experience.
There are no guards situated next to the paintings or sculptures either so you can even touch the artwork!
No one here will stop you from exploring however you want.
You even receive a brochure you can read for a real museum-like experience!
Factors to Consider Before you Decide to Buy The VR Museum of Fine Arts
Price
This VR video is free for all. It can be downloaded on the device of your choice and watched anytime, anywhere. You only need a compatible headset to start exploring the museum.
Genre
This tour is about history and art. You can explore paintings by famous creators in virtual reality at your own pace. The video provides an educational experience to its viewers as well.
Mobility
We mean it when we say explore at your own pace! You can stop at whatever place you like and even see the sculptures up close without anyone stopping you. Because the museum is, well, virtual, there is no risk of damaging the pristine artwork.
Headset Compatibility
This video can be enjoyed on an HTC Vive headset, an Oculus Rift, or a Valve Index. It’s easy to set up on any of the above mentioned headsets to start the experience.
- Lots of Fine Art
- Extensive collection
- Can be explored from up close
- Relaxing
- Good visual and sound quality
- No voice narration
Best Interactive VR Travel Experience
The best interactive VR is The VR Museum of Fine Arts because it can be toured at any time, has amazing pieces of fine art along with informative plaques.
Buyers’ Guide
Price
Price is an important factor when looking to buy virtual tours. Although virtual travel is cheaper than real-world traveling, you should still look for affordable options. You will be able to find some virtual travel options for free as well.
The virtual travel experiences are available over a wide price range. Depending on your budget, you’ll be able to find many options.
Genre
The genre of virtual reality videos depends on the type of viewer you are. There are a lot of amazing places you can tour ranging from city tours to wonders of the world.
If you’re into nature, you should look for nature-related videos you find on national geographic. Virtually visit the famous house of Anne Frank or roam around the Earth with Google Earth VR. No matter your preferences, you’ll surely find something that fits you.
Mobility
Another factor you should consider before purchasing a virtual travel video is the mobility it offers. It’s important to check if it supports your preferences and will let you get the most out of your experience.
Headset Compatibility
There are a lot of headsets available in the market. You may even own one that works just fine. It’s best to buy a VR video that is compatible with the headset you already own. It’s no use buying one that isn’t compatible as you won’t be able to enjoy it.
If virtual travel is the reason you’re thinking of purchasing a headset, we recommend surfing the internet. Look for videos that interest you and purchase a headset compatible with those. Some options widely compatible are the Oculus Rift, Valve Index, and HTC Vive.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which VR Headset has the best visuals?
HTC Vive Pro 2 is the latest VR headset for the PC and is designed for people looking for the best image quality. The headset offers easily the most amazing visuals as well as sound effects.
What is the best virtual reality experience?
A few of the best virtual reality experiences are:
- Google Earth VR
- Ghostbusters: Dimension, NYC
- Solar System VR
Can you go on virtual tours with virtual reality?
With Virtual Reality, it’s easy to travel anywhere and never leave the house. Bring headphones for an immersive experience. With mixed reality, take a virtual journey to the most amazing cities without worrying about booking a flight ticket or hotel reservation.
What is the most realistic virtual reality?
All the different headsets excel in different qualities. Some of them that are both beginner-friendly and have a good performance our:
- Oculus Quest
- HTC Vive Pro 2
- Oculus Rift
Final Verdict
With that, we conclude our roundup of the VR Travel Experiences. There are endless places you can travel from rich coral reefs at the bottom of the ocean to mountain peaks. Tours of iconic cities and great pyramids are a few to be mentioned.
Our winner of this roundup is the Grand Canyon VR. The journey around the landmark is like none other with the natural sounds surrounding the viewers. The experience is affordable and can be enjoyed in amazing quality.
Adjust the speed of your kayak to your liking and travel across the peaks. Take in the breathtaking views and make the most of your time. We hope you liked the above-mentioned virtual travel experiences and will go exploring soon.
