Take time to travel—virtual—via Zoom to experience various destinations and cultures. (Photo credit: Thought Catalog Unsplash.)

G Adventures’ Virtual Tours via Zoom

Take time to travel—virtual—via Zoom to experience various destinations and cultures. (Photo credit: Thought Catalog Unsplash.)
 
 

Traveling is about tackling distance, breaking down barriers, and bringing people from around the world together. G Adventures has always created community through shared experiences, and while travelers can’t come together in person right now, they can still connect and dream about where they want to go next virtually.

With the desire to connect and discover in mind, G Adventures is introducing new Virtual Travel Experiences, including the operator’s first live virtual small group tour‑to Italy‑departing today, April 21, 2020 at noon EST. Virtual travelers can sign up here.

“Wanderlust, curiosity and connection are in our DNA here at G Adventures,” says Lauren Michell, v.p. of marketing and customer experience.

Other Virtual Travel Experiences designed to keep travelers engaged include virtual walking tours and virtual backdrops future travelers can use for Zoom, because without a pic, did it really happen?

More information on each Virtual Travel Experience follows:

  • Live virtual small group tours launch on April 21, 2020 and are the first of their kind. This is as close as people can get to an actual G Adventures trip without opening their passports. G Adventures’ chief experience officers (CEOs) will take 16 ‘travelers’ on a cross-country experience in Italy, introducing them to five different locations in just under an hour. The travelers receive food/drink pairing recommendations in advance, “meet” the other participants in a live Zoom room, and can interact with their CEO in real time. The first tour in Italy is hosted by local CEO Stefano Paris and includes visits to Venice, Tuscany and even features a football match. Observers will also have the opportunity to follow along on the tour without joining the group. Future live virtual small group tours include Guatemala, Argentina and Vietnam.
  • Virtual walking tours launched with a virtual walking tour of Florence. This weekly series will feature cities including Buenos Aires, Antigua in Guatemala, Cape Town and Hanoi. Led by local CEOs and utilizing Google Maps and photos, CEOs will “walk” viewers around their city while sharing insider secrets, history and tips.
  • Virtual backgrounds are designed to liven up Zoom video conference call or hangouts. The first collection features each of the seven continents, so even if you’ve never been to Antarctica you can convince your friends and coworkers that’s where you’re hunkering down.

G Adventures CEOs are the beating heart of G trips. Their enthusiasm, energy, experience and knowledge bring destinations and cities to life for travelers. And just like on regular G Adventures trips, virtual tour-goers will have the opportunity to tip their guides if they so choose, via the guide’s paypal or venmo account.

“We hope that our new Virtual Travel Experiences will continue to fuel travelers’ curiosity and desire to see the world when the time is right,” says Michell.

With input from travelers, G Adventures will continue to add elements and destinations to the new Virtual Travel Experiences.

For more information visit gadventures.com/blog.