Booking a plane ticket and exploring the world seems like a far-fetched dream with everything going on in the world right now, but for the weary souls, virtual travel is the next best thing. From wild African safari drives to a view of the elusive Northern Lights and tours of almost every prestigious museum around the world, the world is right at your fingertips. You can learn about different cultures and the history of places right from the comfort of your home.
Unknown to most, you can "travel" to various off-the-beaten-track destinations around the world with Google Maps' Treks. Journey through the Amazon Basin, discover the hidden treasures of a group of sacred valleys in Nepal known as the Khumbu, and learn the secrets hidden beneath the iconic facade of Petra, one of the great wonders of the world. Sure, it might not be as monumental as experiencing these destinations with your own eyes, but these virtual tours can help fuel your wanderlust and give you inspiration for your next trip.
Want to immerse yourself fully in the experience? Grab a pair of headphones and try out the Street View function, curated by Google's team of photographers and engineers who drive around to photograph the locations and align each image to its geographic location on the map. The photos are then stitched together into a single 360-degree image – resulting in a realistic image of each destination.
In case you've missed it, check out this kick-ass image of Singapore's flag projected on the Swiss Alps Matterhorn in solidarity, and don't miss the Time Out team's travel wishlist of the first place we'll go once it's safe to travel again.