G Adventures is launching its first live virtual small group tour this Sunday as part of its new collection of ‘Virtual Travel Experiences’ designed to keep travellers inspired, wherever in the world they may be.
G Adventures is going next level when it comes to virtual travel innovation by launching the world’s first live virtual small group tour – to Italy – departing this Sunday, April 26, 2020 at 10.00 am AEST.
The live virtual small group tour is part of the operator’s suite of new Virtual Travel Experiences, which has been designed for armchair travellers to connect with the world around them, to discover new places and cultures.
Ready to go?! Virtual travellers can sign up for this Sunday’s tour here.
Adrian Piotto, Managing Director G Adventures, Australia and New Zealand, believes that the Virtual Travel Experiences tap into the sentiment of travel perfectly.
“Travelling is about tackling distance, breaking down barriers, and bringing people from around the world together,” says Piotto.
“G Adventures has always created community through shared experiences, and while travellers can’t come together in person right now, they can still connect and dream about where they want to go next using the gift of technology.”
Adrian Piotto, Managing Director G Adventures, Australia and New Zealand
So how does the virtual tour work exactly?
The Live virtual small group tours launch on April 26 and are the first of their kind. Sign up for the tour here.
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 ‘travellers’ on a cross-country experience in Italy, introducing them to five different locations in just under an hour.
The travellers 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. Pretty cool stuff.
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.
What else is there to discover?
Virtual Walking Tours
There are also virtual walking tours launched firstly with a virtual 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.
Find out more here.
Virtual backgrounds
Designed to liven up Zoom video conference call or hang out, G Adventures 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.
Download them for free here.
Your Virtual Moments
Virtual moments are experiences live events hosted on G Adventures Instagram and Facebook pages, where CEOs lead engaging activities for virtual travellers to develop skills that they can then use on their next adventures, or for entertainment while self-isolating.
During these sessions, virtual travellers can learn to salsa, speak Italian, or master the art of Vietnamese cooking.
The next Your Virtual Moment session will kick off at 10am on Monday the 27th of April, AEST, where CEO Shoichi Maruyama will teach the art of origami.
G Adventures CEOs are the beating heart of G trips. Their enthusiasm, energy, experience and knowledge bring destinations and cities to life for travellers. 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.
Find out more here.
“Wanderlust, curiosity and connection are in our DNA here at G Adventures,” says Piotto.
“We hope that our new Virtual Travel Experiences will continue to fuel travellers’ curiosity and desire to see the world when the time is right.”
With input from travellers, G Adventures say they plan to add more elements and destinations to the new Virtual Travel Experiences.
For more information visit www.gadventures.com/blog