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10 virtual travel apps for oculus/meta quest 2.

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Travel is a major goal for many people, but it can be inaccessible even in the best of times because of financial and mobility-related barriers. As unfortunate as it is, some people may never have the chance to visit all the places they want to. But VR allows its users to not only explore virtual worlds but also get a better understanding of their own.

Between 360-degree breakdowns of the world, guided tour videos, and documentaries, VR allows people to get closer to the places of their dreams than was previously possible. Many travel apps even include interactive features, so the users can feel like they're actually able to connect with different cultures and topography. As systems like the Oculus/ Meta Quest 2 become more widely available, and as programmers and cinematographers put more effort into advancing the technologies, travel will truly be possible without having to leave home.

Traveling While Black

Traveling While Black is an Emmy-nominated VR experience that talks about the process of traveling, specifically focusing on the barriers that have been put in place for Black populations, in history and in the present. The experience takes advantage of every benefit VR offers, which helps its message connect with the audience.

While this is not a documentary that focuses on the freedom of VR, it does try to get its users to think outside their own bodies and life experiences to see how other people can be limited in their own freedom. It tells an incredibly important story, which deserves to be heard by those who have now gained a deeper level of freedom through the digital realm.

For those looking for a way to walk around the world, Wander is the app to download. The app's primary function is to allow users to navigate the world similarly to Google Maps' StreetView, allowing them to enter an address and be transported to that spot. This can be a great way to explore new areas or look back on places you used to live.

In addition to immersive imagery, users can use the historical jumping feature to see what different areas looked like over the years. Many famous landmarks even have the ability to be explored from the inside, giving users the feeling that they're really there.

BRINK Traveler

BRINK Traveler gives users the ability to see some of the most amazing places on Earth from the comfort of their own homes. While there are currently only 17 locations for users to visit, the additional features make each one a true travel experience that may push them to travel in real life as well .

Virtual guides can explain the features and history of each spot, and an in-app camera allows users to take all the pictures they would want if they were to visit in person. Another great feature is the ability to travel in multiplayer mode, which lets users meet up with friends from anywhere while getting a remarkable view at the same time.

OtherSight is one of the most interactive travel apps out there because it specifically focused on including usable objects in every location. Currently, users only have the option of going to four different locations, but there's a lot that they can do at each one.

Users can visit churches, streets, and museums and really get a sense of how it feels to be there. The scale, texture, and movement qualities of interactive features are especially well done. While this is a fairly limited app at the moment, the developers are working on new locations, which can provide future explorations.

The Ocean might not be the first place people think of when they try to imagine their travel plans, but it is one of the great untapped resources on Earth. There is far more to be seen and discovered in the Ocean than there is on land, and Ocean Rift gives users the chance to explore that realm.

There are 14 different habitats to explore, which can be used as an educational program or one for relaxation, depending on the settings. The sea creatures are extremely detailed, and users can actually interact with many of them, giving the perspective of a true underwater safari. However, those with a fear of the ocean and its creatures may find some modes a little too realistic for their comfort level.

Blueplanet VR Explore

Blueplanet VR Explore is one of the most expensive travel apps, but that's in part because it is so extensive. The app allows its users to travel to 40 different cultural sites, with some offering the ability to interact with the landscape or even hang glide over it.

One of the best qualities of this app is the spacial breakdown, where users can truly explore the location. It is a physically navigable terrain, which creates a greater level of immersion than standard point-and-click systems. The one downside to the app, beyond its price, is that it takes up a lot of space, requiring a lot of memory and a strong internet signal while downloading.

Alcove is not technically a travel app, but it does offer a number of virtual tour experiences for free. The app itself is a virtual home, where users can download different in-app features depending on their interests. The travel features do include a number of tours on the ground, under the sea, and even in the sky, narrated by some of the most thorough guides available in VR.

The limitation of the app is that each experience is entirely pre-determined. There are no interactive features that would make it more immersive. However, given that it is free and has such incredible visual quality, that might be a sacrifice worth making.

National Geographic Explore VR

National Geographic Explore VR is a highly-interactive app that allows users to take on the role of a National Geographic photographer. They have the ability to travel to Machu Pichu or Antarctica, where they can navigate the landscape and take pictures of the many sights to see.

Users feel the strain of rowing boats and climbing cliffs, which makes for a more immersive experience . However, the quest is fairly pre-programmed, which means that individual decision-making is only possible in the pictures a user takes rather than in the experience as a whole. Coupled with another, more interactive app, this could be a great way to feel the travel in a way that images themselves cannot achieve.

Nature Treks VR

Nature Treks VR isn't overly concerned with realism, instead focusing on making a relaxing experience. Users have the ability to go on a walk on a variety of virtual paths, with exotic animals meandering by and control of the weather allowing the user to fit the experience to their preferences.

Because it isn't definitively located in any real-world locations , users have the ability to mold the world as they see fit, interacting with the trees to summon animals and controlling the sound levels to be more immersive or more relaxing. The detail work and spontaneity make it an engaging experience, though users should be aware that it is not intended to be a completely realistic one.

ecosphere is a photo-realistic breakdown of the Earth's most beautiful locations and the people that are working to protect them. Intended as a way to help the average person connect with the environmental crises of our time , these immersive documentaries show the importance of caring for the Earth before the damage is irreversible.

This is distinct from other user-directed travel apps but also provides a sense of depth and significance far beyond what other apps can offer. There are only a handful of experiences, but they go beyond visuals to explain what really matters about the different locations they portray. As an added bonus, the app is free, making these videos some of the most accessible ways for Oculus users to travel in VR.

NEXT: The 10 Coolest Games To Play On Oculus Quest 2

8 Best Oculus Quest 2 Travel Games and Experiences (Must Have)

One of the wonders of virtual reality is that you get to explore entire worlds and have it feel as real as being there. Visually, anyway. One of these worlds is our very own, and if you’ve got an interest for exploring it in VR, you’re in the right place!

In this article I’m going to be talking about the 8 best Oculus Quest 2 travel games and experiences. Namely:

• National Geographic Explore VR
• 360 Travel Videos
• Google Earth VR
• Flow (Bonus Entry)

First, let’s talk about the native Oculus experiences in more detail so you can see where you want to be going!

1) National Geographic Explore VR

Spit on that virtual camera lens and wipe it clean as you experience the wonders in National Geographic Explore VR. As an explorer, you’ll have to visit locations and capture the same photographs as the one who came before you.

The VR experience that will have you demanding more. Like, seriously. The biggest criticism of the game is that it’s only got two locations for you to dive into.

• An expedition to Antartica
• Machu Picchu, Peru 

Although the game doesn’t have the best graphics out there, it’s still worth checking out by VR standards. Survive a snowstorm, keep still during a mummy worship, and experience much more with National Geographic Explore VR!

Since there’s not much replay value with only two locations, you might want to wait for a sale to really get the most bang for your buck.

Get National Geographic Explorer for $9.99 on Oculus Store

2) ecosphere

ecoshpere is a collection of fantastic 360-degree exploration videos. But they’re not your typical 360 videos!

The ones in ecosphere are beautifully narrated documentaries that add to the element of immersion. You have over 10 episodes to download and start your virtual adventure. Learn more about locations such as Africa, Malaysia, and Indonesia from the comfort of your Oculus Quest 2.

What’s even more is that ecosphere is getting constant support with new updates and features, so the future for 360 travel is looking really good on this app!

Get ecosphere for free on Oculus Store

There’s one big reason I’d like everybody to at least give Alcove a try: variety. Okay, there are two big reasons. It’s also free. But let’s talk about the first one more.

While not being big on high-end graphics, Alcove does a fantastic job of letting you go on a tour in virtual reality. The game includes virtual tours across hundreds of landscapes and beautiful sites around the world. Ride hot air balloons or go for long drives in VR.

What’s more is that you can even take to the seas of Australia and the Pacific Ocean!

That’s not even where the possibilities end. Alcove allows you to customize your personal vacation home in VR, and invite your friends over to appreciate it even more. 

Although the majority of minigames like Chess and Puzzles are single-player, Alcove is constantly receiving fresh updates and new features. The opportunity to do more with your friends may not be far off!

Get Alcove for free on Oculus Store

4) 360-Degree Travel Videos

These are the travel experiences you’re looking for if your main goal is to explore the world. Leaving out the gaming and interaction parts, 360-degree travel videos are available across the Internet and have plenty of thrill to offer.

How do they work? All you have to do is load the video from within your browser in your headset.

Oculus Browser will do just fine, but some Quest 2 users recommend using the Mozilla Firefox browser. They experience higher frame rates and an overall better VR tour experience.

Since the durations of many 360-degree tour videos are short, you can look for multiple videos and add them to a playlist. Then, simply hit play and let yourself be taken around the world from the comfort of your couch.

For your convenience, here are two of the best VR tour compilations I came across:

The best 360° aerial footage by AirPano. Part I – YouTube

Virtual Travel (VR Experience) – YouTube

Wander is not your average adventure app, not by a long shot. 

And by that, I mean that this app lets you travel in time. With a unique feature, you get to actually visit different areas at different points in time . See your hometown since you moved away or the construction of Dubai from a desert. 

The magic of this app also integrates Google Street view to give you a truly one of a kind experience.

Even with time travel being an amazing feature, it doesn’t mean you can’t travel in the present. Wander lets you visit the world without restrictions. Explore the Wonders of the World in VR and live the traveling dream you always had!

Get Wander for $9.99 on Oculus Store .

Best PCVR Travel Experiences for the Quest 2

Since we’re talking about the best travel experiences you can have on the Quest 2, it wouldn’t be fair to leave out the PCVR possibilities!

You can immerse yourself in PCVR experiences on your Quest 2 through PC streaming options such as Virtual Desktop or Oculus (Air) Link. If you are new to VR and want to know more about how these options work, check out this article .

6) Google Earth VR

First, let’s address the elephant in the room: Google Earth VR. When it comes to travelling experiences, everybody should have at least heard of this app.

Google Earth VR lets you travel the literal world in your VR body. You get to float around in any location and take in the marvelous sites created by man and nature anywhere!

As a bonus, this app comes with preloaded tours for selected locations like the Amazon River and The Grand Canyon. All you have to do is not forget to enjoy the ride.

So whether it’s the Eiffel Tower, Pyramids of Giza, or the entire Great Wall of China, Google Earth VR is something definitely worth trying out!

Did I mention it’s free? Get it from Steam now!

7) Realities

With additional add-ons that are just as free as the game, Realities is a mesmerizing historical VR experience.

This app takes you to a bunch of different locations that are incredibly detailed for a VR game and lets you explore what once was. Photorealism is at the core of Realities as it abandons the traditional 360-degree approach to VR experiences in favor of greater and more realistic immersion.

You’ll especially like this app if you’re interested in knowing what the less popular “tourist sites” are like!

Get to explore the chill of the Alcatraz prison, the lifelessness of Death Valley, and the ruins of old castles with Realities.

Get Realities for Free on Steam

8) Bonus Entry: Flow

Not everybody wants to travel for the fun, the thrill, or the exploration. Some people want to visit new locations for the serenity and to discover new ways to relax.

If your next trip across the world in VR is like that, then Flow is the app for you. The locations in this app revolve around what Iceland has to offer, mainly because of the natural scenery there . 

The features of Flow revolve around meditation and calmness. Even the chosen locations from around the world are an inspiration to help the human brain feel more calm.

There’s also a specially curated playlist to help VR enthusiasts make the most of their virtual vacation.

Recharge yourself in all the soothing experiences that Flow has to offer on the Quest 2!

Get Flow Free from SideQuest

Note! For more information on how to sideload an app onto your Quest 2, give this article a read.

That concludes my current list for the best travel experiences on the Quest 2. There are a few games that are currently only compatible with the Oculus Go that are slowly but surely making their way to the Quest 2.

Stay tuned for more, especially as new game releases and updates roll out! 

HARDWARE USED FOR TESTING AND WRITING THE ARTICLES : * Meta Quest 2 (My “daily driver” headset, which I absolutely love & recommend) * Lenovo Legion 5 Pro (AMD Ryzen 5 5600H, Nvidia Geforce RTX 3060, 16GB RAM) * TP-Link Archer C6 (budget dedicated router for Air Link, see my full setup tutorial ) ESSENTIAL QUEST 2 COMFORT ACCESSORIES : * VR Cover Foam Replacement (one of the easiest & cheapest ways to improve headset comfort) * BoboVR M2 Head Strap (reduce pressure on your head and improve the overall fit of the headset)

Martin Rakver

I am a software engineer and tech enthusiast. During my free time, I like to immerse myself in the world of virtual and augmented reality, which I believe will be more and more prominent in the years to come.

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10 of the Best Virtual Reality Travel Experiences

  With the time and expense required to travel being prohibitive to many, there are alternative ways of indulging your wanderlust – including via the burgeoning world of Virtual Reality.

(Photo: Cubicle Ninjas)

There are a huge number of VR companies all vying to create ever more unique experiences for consumers – and one of the biggest growth categories has been travel. And what better time to get a taste of exploration and adventure from the comfort of your living room, equipped only with a VR headset, than now, when travel is a luxury that many just can’t stretch to? We’ve picked out 10 of the best virtual reality travel experiences currently on the market.

So which VR headset should you go for? Our favourite is the Meta Quest 3, which launched onto the market in mid-2023 and is the successor to the Meta Quest 2. For immersive games and travel experiences, we believe the Meta Quest 3 is destined to become the leading VR headset over the coming years. It’s pretty affordable, too, and unlike other headsets, doesn’t require cords or a computer. You can purchase the Meta Quest 3 at Amazon.com.

Guided Meditation VR

Developed by Cubicle Ninjas, Guided Meditation VR is designed to bring peace, joy, and calm back into your daily life by teaching you ancient meditation practices in a cutting-edge way. It features over 40 lush environments to escape the everyday, 30-plus hours of guided meditations on anxiety, depression, maternity, resilience, sleep and zen, and hundreds of hours of calming musical audio tracks to help enhance your meditation experience. Users can also customise their sessions to their own specific preferences and needs, including the option to switch into Motion mode and gently float through beautiful vistas like you would on a lazy river, leaving the worries of your life behind before returning calmer and stronger.

PRICE £10.99 HEADSETS Meta Quest 3

Be anywhere in the world with anyone, instantly, in this captivating game developed by Wooorld Inc. Visit hundreds of cities, architectural landmarks, natural wonders, and vacation spots in incredible 3D detail, and get tips about the best places to visit, the hidden gems, where to get the best food and all the tourist traps to avoid. You can also create your own 3D avatars with face and body tracking and test your worldly knowledge by guessing where you are after being teleported to 5 random locations, with only the landscape, flora, architecture, and road signs for clues. The game can played as collaboratively as you wish, with options to explore the world with friends and meet new people, or hop into a Solo World without any distractions.

PRICE Free HEADSETS Meta Quest 3

(Photo: Wooorld Inc.)

Blueplanet VR Explore

(Photo: Blueplanet VR Explore)

Highlighting sacred and fragile locations of natural beauty and cultural heritage, Blueplanet VR Explore  is a collection of remarkable places across the world. With freedom to move around and explore, the virtual reality experiences are captured in volumetric 3D with great detail and accuracy. The scenes look and feel like these places do in real life, and enable you to freely move around to enjoy and explore these remarkable, fragile, and priceless environments. Concern for the environment often comes from direct experience, and being as close as we can get to experiencing a sense of actually being there, Blueplanet can help encourage people to appreciate and protect these treasures.

PRICE £18.99 HEADSETS Meta Quest 3

BRINK Traveler

Travel to some of the world’s most amazing natural wonders in fully immersive 3D and feel like you’re really there in this awe-inspiring game by Brink XR. Step into a scene akin to a postcard as you visit a total of 28 (with more on their way) of the most breathtaking places on Earth. In-game highlights include room-scale walkable areas in each destination, a virtual guide and assistant to learn about where you’re visiting, and the chance to shoot photos to share with friends. You can either play the game solo or with friends and family in multiplayer mode.

PRICE £11.99 HEADSETS Meta Quest 3

(Photo: BRINK XR)

National Geographic Explore VR

Created in partnership with National Geographic, a world-leading society in the fields of geography, cartography and exploration, this magical VR experience invites you to discover two of the most iconic locations on Planet Earth. Don your explorer hat and head to Antarctica for an exhilarating expedition. Navigate around icebergs in a kayak, climb a vast ice shelf and survive a snowstorm as you hunt for a lost emperor penguin colony. Visit the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu in Peru and get immersed in amazing digital reconstructions of the legendary site. Witness mummy worships, raise a cup of sacred chicha and encounter cute and furry alpacas as you match Hiram Bingham’s photographs from when he rediscovered the citadel. Be sure to take a camera as your best snaps may even make it into the prestigious National Geographic magazine.

PRICE £7.99 HEADSETS Meta Quest 3

(Photo: Force Field Entertainment B.V)

The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners

Fans of the hugely popular TV blockbuster The Walking Dead can now join the world of zombies in this new VR adventure. Travel through the ruins of New Orleans as you fight, scavenge, and survive, each day unravelling another mystery lurking within the city’s historic quarters. Encounter desperate factions and lone survivors who could be friend or foe. Whether you help others or take what you want by force, every choice you make has consequences. What kind of survivor will you be for the people of NOLA? Scavenge for anything that you can; weapons, food, tools, and clues. Be wary of the living and the dead, with spatial audio drawing attention to any loud noise. Craft makeshift gear out of scrapped material; blades, guns, medicine, and more. Test your morals and make difficult choices for yourself and others. It’s all here, bringing the small screen to life in a big way.

PRICE £29.99 HEADSETS Meta Quest 3

(Photo: Skydance Interactive)

Narrated by award-winning actress Anna Friel, this trail-blazing VR series opens the door to some of the planet’s wildest environments while redefining the limits of 3D-180 cameras. Meet the humans protecting our most precious wildlife, explore the great savannahs of Kenya, discover the ancient jungles of Borneo and dive into the rich coral reefs of Raja Ampat. Encounter elephants, orangutans, manta rays and some incredible humans, all in stunning cinematic footage filmed from the air and deep into the ocean. The series was produced in partnership with World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF),

(Photo: PHORIA)

The world is your oyster with this interactive, immersive VR experience that’s designed to be played by the whole family. There’s global travel and adventure in which your friends and family can join city tours, hot air balloon rides, back-country road trips, and plenty more. Or you can simply kick back and relax, practice meditation and get back to nature – all in the company of a guide or going solo, if you prefer. Other features include photo sharing, soundtracks, a range of fun games and media customisation.

(Photo: AARP Innovation Labs)

Rome Reborn: The Pantheon

Created by Flyover Zone, an American company specialising in virtual travel applications that present the world’s most important cultural heritage sites and monuments, Rome Reborn is one of five applications that present different areas of ancient Rome. This particular one transports users over the entire ancient city, focussing on the Pantheon, perhaps the best-preserved building from antiquity. In the company of two virtual guides, you’ll get to explore the exterior forecourt and interior sanctuary of the reconstructed complex as you listen and learn about the Pantheon’s design and decoration, as well as the nature of the religious cult once housed within it.

PRICE £3.99 HEADSETS Currently only available on Oculus Rift

(Photo: Flyover Zone Productions)

Monte Fitzroy is Argentina’s most famous mountain landmark and is even used as the logo for outdoor retailer, Patagonia. It is a place that immediately evokes a sense of adventure. At the foot of the mountain is a beautiful and remote glacial lake known as Laguna Sucia. Most people who visit Monte Fitzroy view it from a location that is much easier to access. Laguna Sucia requires a much tougher hard-to-access trail that culminates in one of the most beautiful and remote glacial lakes in existence. You are rewarded with a sense of almost meditative stillness as you approach this untouched natural amphitheatre. This VR experience utilises Pterovision, a 3D technology that integrates computational photography, 360 Video, and gaming and allows you to take off like a bird, fly around the lake, visit the waterfalls along the edge, and fly over glacial formations beneath the mountain peaks. Numerous narrations will tell you about the challenges we faced when filming in this location, as well as educate you about the geology, culture, and history.

PRICE $2.99 HEADSETS Currently only available on Oculus Rift 

(Photo: Specterras Productions)

Gala360 – Travel & Relax

Taking you on awe-inspiring virtual adventures across the globe, Gala360 is the result of the magic touch of an array of exceptionally talented photographers who have captured their globe-trotting trips in all their glory before being rendered into VR form. In professional 6K resolution, more than 300 tours around the world are featured, with some also including narration which allows you to listen to the stories behind the trips. Most of the tours are free, but you can pay a small fee to unlock more.

PRICE Free HEADSETS Currently only available on Oculus Go (soon available on Quest 2)

(Photo: Gala 360)

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8 Best Virtual Travelling Apps for Oculus Quest 2

Virtual Reality, VR, Immersive Technology & Simulated Environment

Recently updated on February 17th, 2022 at 11:28 pm

In this article, we would like to share with you the best virtual travelling apps for Oculus Quest 2 from our perspective. This might be useful for you who are also looking into the apps for the virtual tour and trip purpose as well. Without waiting much longer, here is the list…

This is one of our most favorite apps and the best virtual travelling apps that you must have!! Wander apps allow you to travel nearly around the world. You can move forward, backward and turn around in 360-degree. You also able to become a Time Traveller where you can teleport yourself in different time frame at the same location. Damn fun!

However, the images surrounding you are static. You can feel like you are in a time freeze or bullet time moments like in “ The Matrix ” film or “ Max Payne ” game. But it does not stop you from having fun.

Main Highlights: You can join group tours or organize your own virtual tour with family and friends. Nice feature!

2) Oculus TV

Oculus TV is one of the apps that we use quite regularly. It contains many wonderful and high quality virtual tour videos that can make mesmerized. Some of the content creator produce videos with awesome quality like AirPano .

You can turnaround and rotate 360-degree or 180-degree (depending on the video). Unfortunately, you cannot move forward and backward like Wander.

Main Highlights: Good categorization of videos such as “Immersive Videos”. Furthermore, it is frequently updated with new contents. And, it is FREE!!

3) BRINK Traveler

BRINK Traveler is one of the wonderful virtual tour apps that can bring you to some of the most majestic and breathtaking locations on earth. Some example of the locations are Haifoss in Iceland, Horseshoe Bend, Death Valley National Park and Mount Whitney. The good thing about this apps is that you can rotate and move around in 360-degree and also able to move forward and backward within certain area.

Unfortunately, the list of contents is not rich enough since it only got few locations. At this moment, there are 12 locations with 18 spots available for you to enjoy. Nevertheless, in the future, there will be more coming in to satisfy your hunger of travelling.

Main Highlights: Sharp photorealistic images and you can also pick up some stones and throw it away.

4) YouTube VR

We think everybody already know what YouTube is. There are many virtual trip videos that you can watch on it. The challenges is you need to spend some time to find the good 360-degree video with high resolution. But once you found it, then it is really a gems.

Main Highlights: A lot, lot, lot of video contents in VR or 360-degree format. And it is also free to download from Oculus Quest Store.

5) Blueplanet VR Explore

Blueplanet VR Explore is a wonderful virtual tour apps with great scenic view. It consists of 40 volumetric experiences of popular and historical locations all around the world such as Bears Ears National Monument in United States.

Furthermore, it looks super realistic because they are using the high level photogrammetry and art direction approach to generate the environment. However, the price is a little bit pricey if compare to others.

Main Highlights: You can fly above the scenic, terrain environment using virtual glider.

In Alcove apps, there is a feature that enable you to travel around the world in selected places. For example diving in the Greet Barrier Reef of Australia. The content is in the form of video in 360-degree format and the quality is also great. It seems that the Alcove team already select the best of the best for us to enjoy it.

Main Highlights: You can also invite your family and friends to travel together with you. Besides travelling, you can do many more social activities as well with your friends. And it’s free.

7) National Geographic Explore VR

National Geographic Explore VR apps focuses on two great locations in the world which are Antarctica and Machu Picchu in Peru. Although the number of locations is just two, but the number of activities that you can do is still significant. For example, navigate around icebergs in kayak, search for lost emperor penguin colony and witness the mummy worship. Sounds great, huh?

Main Highlights: It comes from National Geographic Society , a famous organization that has tremendous works in the form of magazines, documentaries, nature films. This is legend.

8) ecosphere

Ecosphere is an apps with great and high quality virtual tour video in the 360-degree format. However, the destination choice is very limited because it only has three locations which are Raja Ampat , Kenya and Borneo .

Although the choice is limited, but the cinematic experiences are stunning where you can meet orang utans, manta rays, elephants and many more. Just to add, before you enjoy the scenery, you must download the file first which is quite large. Be patience, guys…

Main Highlights: Yeap, it’s free.

Lastly…

That’s are the list of top virtual travelling apps that we have for now. You can get all these apps from the Oculus Quest Store . In case if there is any good travelling apps in the future, we will definitely add it here. In case you want to see other top games and apps based on other genres or categories, we hope that this article can help you with it.

Are you now getting excited to try VR after you read this? If you don’t have a VR headset yet, we think this is the right time for you to get it 🙂 Happy travelling!

About Author

I am a guy who is very excited on anything and everything related with virtual reality. My mission is to spread the love of VR to the world.

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2 Responses

Great list . Thank you. After finishing the set up, it’s hard to choose what to do/see. This helps a lot.

Thank you for your remarks. Really glad that we can help you on this. Cheers 🙂

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The threat of the COVID-19 means international travel is mostly off the table for the foreseeable future, especially for us Americans.  But, if you miss the feeling of genuine discovery that comes with international and adventure travel, now might be a great time to get a pair of Virtual Reality (VR) goggles.

I'm an avid traveler, and one of the saddest things for me about this pandemic was knowing it will be a long time before I travel internationally again. Recently, and somewhat begrudgingly, my husband and I purchased a pair of Oculus Quest VR goggles for my teen daughter who's been begging for a pair.  We figured it might be a good escape for her during quarantine.  As it turns out, they're great fun for all of us!

While my daughter is using them to ride incredibly “ Epic ” roller coasters or play Beat Saber , I've been having a blast traveling to places like Mt. Everest, Angel Falls, and Petra.  The immersive, 360° experience provides me nearly the same feeling of wonder as I feel when I travel.  In fact, the experience is so good that my husband and I agreed not to travel virtually to places on our bucket list because it's too good a preview of the real thing.

Virtual Reality Basics

VR goggles run the gamut from inexpensive headsets that use your phone as the screen all the way up to high-end computers that you wear on your face , but no matter your budget or needs, there will be opportunities for you to virtually explore the world.

At the most basic level, companies that specialize in VR content have created videos you can watch on the integrated YouTube app in the headset.  In fact, you can preview these videos on your computer before you even put on your headset.  Search “360 VR travel” in YouTube , and you’ll find thousands of 360 videos from all around the world.  Many of these short videos fly you over famous travel destinations such as Petra or the Matterhorn by using circular, drone-based, video cameras to capture experiences you’d never get by just being there.

Just a word of caution:  if you have a fear of heights, don’t look down!

Best VR Travel Apps for Oculus Quest

We decided the Oculus Quest (which has been hard to find since the pandemic began) was the best option at the best price point for our family. It can be used as a wireless, standalone headset, or optionally connected to a PC for more intense gaming experiences. Since I have the most experience with Quest, here are my recommendations for the best travel apps on that system.

Wander uses Google Street View to allow you to go anywhere around the globe.  You can teleport using the integrated map, or let the app choose a random destination for you.  While looking around on the map was fun, I was a bit overwhelmed by being able to go literally anywhere, and the random destination was sometimes just a bit too random. Luckily, Wander has a feature called “Collections” where you can choose interesting starting points in various destinations. I tried using Collections for Singapore since I’ve never been. I was able to visit some of its famous temples, look up at the amazing skyscrapers, and walk under the Supertree Grove .‌‌

National Geographic Explore VR

National Geographic has created an immersive travel game for two destinations, Machu Picchu and Antarctica .  The game starts you out at a National Geographic base-camp where you’re given a photography assignment. Once you choose your destination, the virtual guide helps you navigate the location as well as interact with objects and historical re-enactments.  I found myself in awe at how steep the cliffs were at Machu Picchu and at how high above me the glaciers were in Antarctica.  There were limited “walking” opportunities, however, so unlike Wander, I couldn’t go wherever I wanted within the destination. For instance at Machu Picchu, I wanted to explore more of the citadel, but the app made me stay in only a few locations of programmed interactions.‌‌

Best VR 360 Videos for any VR Headset

With more and more 360° VR videos being produced every day, the options to travel the world are endless. To find any of these videos, simply access the YouTube app on your headset (or on your smartphone in the case of phone-based VR headsets ), and search for wherever you want to go. The videos are shot using circular cameras on drones or carried by the photographer with a camera pole.  Personally, I like to watch these on a swivel chair so I can look at the view in all directions.‌‌

LIFE VR, Sports Illustrated - “Capturing Everest”

LIFE VR and Sports Illustrated teamed up to create a collection of short minute videos that follow climbers as they climb Mt. Everest.  While I have climbed some tall mountains such as Mt. Kilimanjaro, I’ve never quite had the courage to attempt Mt. Everest.  But this made it easy!  Crossing a treacherous Khumbu Icefall crevasse on a bendy aluminum ladder?  No problem in VR.   Sleeping at Camp 4 in a tent that barely clings to the snowy slopes knowing you’ll have to wake at 10pm for your all-night summit bid?  Way more restful in VR.   When I stood at the top of Everest and looked out at the endless views in every direction, I was genuinely relieved I didn’t have to go back down.  So while I know I’ll never climb Everest, these videos made me feel like I actually did!  ‌‌

AirPano VR 360

Russia-based AirPano 360 makes short, 360° drone tours of awe-inspiring places around the world.  The videos are accompanied by robotic sounding voice-overs and subtitles, but the information provided gives you a good overview of what you’re seeing.  One of the most impressive videos was the Angel Falls experience that takes you from the bottom of the highest falls in the world in Venezuela (3000') all the way to the top of the plateau where the waters make their perilous dive off the cliffs. You can spin around to look either at the falls, or out at the incredible view of the valley below.  I don’t know how many times I exclaimed, “Wow,” as did the rest of my family when I made them watch this video.  Seeing as how a regular trip to Angel Falls requires a plane trip from Caracas, a day-long riverboat ride, and then a hike up to the falls, this VR experience might actually be better than the real thing!  ‌‌

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Brink Traveler Offers Some Of VR's Best Travel Content Yet Using Photogrammetric Captures

Brink Traveler is available now for Oculus Quest and PC VR, allowing you to travel to a selection of stunning locations that are displayed in full volumetric 3D by way of photogrammetry-based capture technology.

The app was announced a few weeks ago and launched more recently for Oculus Quest and PC VR via the Oculus Store and Steam. After jumping into the app on Quest and trying out a few of the locations yesterday, it’s clear that Brink is one of the best travel apps available on the Quest.

It’s also fair to say there’s not a huge amount of content here, nor is there a large amount of interactivity. However, the content that is available can be absolutely stunning to behold at times and the quality more than makes up for the smaller quantity. Each location places you in a different environment represented in true volumetric 3D, displayed at real-world scale. This is possible thanks to high quality 3D scans taken on location using photogrammetry and LIDAR technology. The end result is absolutely beautiful and the true 3D environments go a long way to making you feel a sense of immersion.

There’s 12 locations available at launch, with more coming soon and plans to release new locations regularly. Each location features a short narrated guide, which you can then follow up further by finding three ‘points of interest’ at each location for more information. You can move around within a set area for each location, and some have secondary areas with a different perspective of the same general location.

It’s an impressive, intuitive experience all round. Not only do the highly-detailed captures make each location feel very tangible and present, but there’s some fantastic ambient noises and lightly animated elements that help sell the effect too. The birds flying over the Horseshoe Bend were a really nice touch.

You can also take in-game photos of each location by putting your hands together in front of your face to make a classic photo frame gesture. A photo of the area that you framed then appears suspended in the position that you framed your hands, which you can grab and move around to re-frame the photo however you like. When you’re happy, you can save the photo and share it outside of the app.

The photo framing gesture — using your index and thumbs to make a rectangle — would most commonly be achieved in VR by pressing the grip button to make your other three fingers into a fist. This isn’t an option in Brink and the actual way you achieve the pose is by awkwardly rotating your controllers until the virtual hands snap into the right position. It seems like it was designed to feel intuitive, but it didn’t to me. Also, the only way I could find to export or share the photos outside of the app was by posting them to my Facebook wall with large watermarks placed on top. It makes sense from a promotional perspective for the developers, but I don’t really want to take photos of the environments if I’m only able to share them to Facebook with large promotional watermarks.

On Quest, Brink launched without support for hand tracking. Similar to my feelings on Puzzling Places , it feels like a large omission given it’s a slow-paced, immersion-focused app. It’s especially odd in Brink’s case because the UI, controls and menus all feel very polished, thought out and intuitive — in many ways, it feels like a menu and control system designed with hand tracking in mind. The scrolling mechanic — which lets you simply swipe your virtual hand over a curved bar to scroll — is a perfect example of a smart yet simple input method that would seemingly work as well with hand tracking as it does with controllers. Here’s hoping it gets added in an update.

Brink Traveler is still a stunning app to have loaded onto your Quest. It’s unlikely to be one that you return to often in your own spare time, but it falls into the category of essential apps to keep installed for when you’re introducing someone to VR and want something that’s easy to understand yet impressive to behold. It may be a bit light on content at the moment, but given the nature of the app and the quality of what’s already on offer, that seems okay for now.

Brink Traveler is available now for Oculus Quest, Oculus Rift and SteamVR for $9.99. A mobile AR version is also available on iOS and Android .

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8 Fascinating VR Travel Apps for Oculus

I haven’t mentioned it much, if at all, on this blog, but I LOVE VR . There’s a whole debate about whether or not it’s worth it… if it’ll survive or just die out.. how well it compares to more traditional gaming platforms… etc.

IMO we’re on track to be living some version of Ready Player One relatively soon.

By the way if you haven’t read that book OMG doooo it ! One of my personal favorites.

This seems like a good moment for me to remind you that there are some affiliate links used on this site, if you buy anything through them it won’t cost you extra, but it does help support the blog, thanks!

Table of Contents

There’s a new list of VR travel apps here if you’re interested in some options specifically for the Quest.

I have an Oculus Quest . It’s definitely not the most robust VR headset option, but probably the biggest draw for me about the Quest was not being attached to anything by a cord, and being able to travel with it and use it anywhere .

Right now there’s a whole other advantage to VR: Traveling, without actually going anywhere, because 2020.

See a timeline of all the crazy 2020 events here.

VR Adventures in the Age of ‘Rona

There are a lot of VR games, apps , and videos out there. Which you can use depends on the headset you have access to. The Oculus Go has some games that aren’t compatible with the Oculus Quest, and visa versa.

The good news is that game and app libraries for all VR platforms are growing constantly.

So when many of us are stuck at home for a good chunk of our days, going slowly insane from staring at the same. rooms. day. in. and. day. out . VR offers some awesome escapes while keeping the risk of getting Covid to a happy minimum.

Once you’re ready to get back out into the real world – here’s a list of 50 great travel apps to get you started!

Oculus Quest Games for Virtual Exploration

There are a lot of great VR games out there (Beatsaber is seriously addicting) but for the sake of this post I’ve put together a list of the best VR travel apps and games.

I should probably give a bit of a disclaimer here: This is a relatively non-traditional VR travel list. The Quest doesn’t have a ton of purely travel-centric games, so I found ones that scratch the wanderlust itch, even if they’re not strictly “travel” genre.

I also went a little outside the box when picking apps for the other Oculus headsets as well, because some of the best vr games and apps for avid adventurers , in my opinion, aren’t 100% just “we’re going to the place.” It’s about the overall experience, ya know?

They’re picked either for being purely travel-centric or involving some sort of exploration adventure .

Outdoor Adventures

National geographic explore vr.

I couldn’t pick a more obvious choice for this list, I mean , it’s National Geographic.

As of now you can explore 2 VERY different places within this app: Antarctica and Machu Picchu. I hope they’ll be adding more at some point.

This is designated as an app in the oculus store but I felt like it leaned more toward an actual game. There are small but interesting objectives along each trip, and you constantly have the option to pick up your camera and snap some cool shots.

I expected this to be more of a cinematic experience, where you’re basically along for the ride, but you’re in control of most of your actions. You can explore relatively freely and check out the surroundings at your leisure.

I was pleasantly surprised by the quality and entertainment of this VR adventure.

Available on Oculus Quest | Go

This probably feels the most like a traditional video game – with the bonus VR immersion. You get to climb your way through multiple environments around the world, working your way through levels and challenges, and the views are amazballs.

It’s not for those that have any sort of vertigo issues, and you may want to opt for sitting down while playing. I found myself leaning quite a bit and every now and then feeling a bit unsteady when I looked down.

Available on Oculus Quest | Rift

I also just put together a guide on IRL hiking boots for those that are looking to get back into the real world – check it out!

Purely Travel

This is the most straightforward, nail-on-the-head, travel app for Oculus.

If you get mesmerized by the visuals of new places or want to re-experience somewhere you’ve been before, Wander might be your dream Oculus app.

I really like photography , drone videos, 360 videos etc. because I get really interested in the visuals of places I visit. I enjoy getting lost in looking if that makes sense? Wander essentially gives you the next best thing to actually traveling to a new place.

Using Google Streetview, Wander allows you to “wander” through almost any part of the world. It’s a 360 view so you can really take in everything around you.

You can choose a place to visit by searching, or randomly select a spot. You can navigate your way around using a mini-map, or simply pick a direction and follow the arrows. You can also choose to travel by available years to see the areas during different points in time.

I wandered through Amsterdam (one of my favorite cities), revisited a small town in England, including the place I stayed when I was there, and checked out some historical sites in Spain.

Available on Oculus Quest | Go | Gear VR

Otherworldly Exploration

Fujii takes you through what I would best describe as a psychedelic garden world . I can only assume the creators decided to make the game after a good shroom session.

It is a beautiful, relaxing experience. It’s calm, colorful escapism.

I didn’t love the controls, because you have to teleport everywhere, rather than “walk” smoothly, and figuring out how to orient myself took a minute. You also have to figure out how to move on through sort of “organic” puzzles. It’s hard to describe.

I’d still recommend it even with the few drawbacks because it’s just a lovely world to be immersed into. It would also be a great game for kids, if that’s a concern for you when searching for VR games.

Tour of Six Real Exoplanets

Ok fine! I’m cheating a bit here. It’s not a “game” per se. It’s a video. From Youtube. But it’s 360 and you can watch it with basically any VR system that you can access Youtube on. And it’s RAD.

Genuinely one of my favorite (and first) VR experiences as far as videos go. The narration is great, the information is interesting, the visuals are STUNNING.

It’s my blog. I love space videos and photos, they’re amazing. I’m putting this video on the list. Deal with it. I realize I’m getting a little defensive about this and to be fair you haven’t even said anything yet because I literally have not published this ( unless you’re currently reading it, then I have ) BUT STILL.

(but also for sure go check out the video I think you’ll really like it)

Trips Through Time

Chernobyl vr project.

Ugh. I am SO upset this isn’t available for the Quest. Chernobyl is one of my bucket list spots (abandoned/haunted/creepy places hold a special place in my heart) but to be fair, I have no desire to go there right now…

Even though I guess the Chernobyl fires don’t actually “pose a risk” to people…?

I’mma still say no though. For now.

But I would LOVE if they made the Chernobyl VR Project available for Oculus Quest. As it stands you can use it on Oculus Rift .

Apparently, the developers actually went to Chernobyl in order to get the video and photos they needed to model the VR experience. Call me peanut butter and jealous , amiright?

Available on Oculus Rift

Wonders of the World

A travel experience in more ways than one – around the world, and through time! I have a thing for historical places. I think they speak to that same interest in cultures and places that are vastly different from your personal norm.

Wonders of the World lets you explore ancient cities while learning about the history and culture of the places you’re visiting.

During each experience, you’re given a new character and role to take on which relates to the context of the historical setting.

The graphics in Wonders of the World aren’t the most impressive, but they look like they’re meant to be stylized to some point. This game is also currently free, so it won’t even cost you anything to check it out.

Available on Oculus Go | Gear VR

Meeting Rembrandt

Another historical trip, albeit this one is quite a bit different from Wonders of the World. This VR experience takes you to 1600s Amersterdam to… well, meet Rembrandt.

Spend time and interact with the painter who is brought to life by a real actor as you move through the virtual world with him.

It’s a magical blend of VR and real humans brought together beautifully to tell the story of a famous historical figure in a much more personal way. The graphics aren’t perfect but any lack is made up for by the overall experience. A truly unique and wonderful VR project.

Traveling While Black

I cannot recommend this VR experience highly enough. It’s particularly relevant considering the current state of the U.S., but it would be noteworthy at any time.

It’s SO well done, guys. It’s a short movie-going (ish) experience. You’re moved from place to place as the story is told, between past times and the present. You start in a theater but are soon moved to physical places more relevant to the narration and storytellers.

You’ll hear stories and experiences of being black in America, past and present, from some people you may be familiar with, some you may not. The focus is of course on “traveling while black” but it’s not completely restricted to that.

For those who are unfamiliar with The Negro Motorist Green Book or The Negro Travelers’ Green Book – AKA the “Green Book” – it was a guide created by Victor Hugo Green to help black travelers find businesses they could utilize while traveling in a time when many were explicitly or implicitly “whites only.”

This VR experience is also FREE, so there’s not excuse not to check it out!

Available on Oculus Quest | Rift | Go | Gear VR

How are you doing?

That’s the end of this particularly unique list of Oculus travel apps, so I just want to check in with you real quick.

How are you doing with everything that’s going on in the world right now?

Is there anything you do, like VR, to get a brief break from the chaos?

Along with VR and Netflix binges , I really like taking drives and walks in the forest with my dog.

Tech obsessed professional dog-petter with a camera and a website or two. Sometimes wine's involved, usually Starbucks.

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Can You Take A VR Headset On A Plane In 2024?

So can you take a VR headset on a plane? And can you travel with a VR headset on carry-on?

VR (Virtual Reality) headsets are getting popular, and obviously it’s because of the incredible world we are heading to and the future toward experiencing the Metaverse .

A lightweight VR headset can be placed in your suitcase since you won’t need to pack so many items.

But are VR headsets permitted on planes and in security checkpoints?

Let’s find out more about taking Virtual Reality headsets on planes.

we may receive a small commission ( and with no additional cost to you) if you purchase an item from the links in this page, we really appreciate it!

Can You Take VR Headset Through TSA?

Since the TSA ( Transportation Security Administration) did not mention VR headsets on its websites.

I checked Twitter for some answers and found Ambar already asked the TSA if he could bring his VR headset on a plane.

The TSA replied that Virtual reality headsets are allowed on planes without any restriction.

The TSA require to remove any electronics larger than a cell phone from your carry on bag to be X-rayed separately.

Take VR Headsets In Carry On Luggage?

VR headsets are allowed to carry on luggage on most airlines, the only thing you should make sure is if your headset has the right size and weight of the airline you are traveling with.

You can take your Oculus Quest and the Oculus Go in your carry-on baggage. Just make sure that you protect your Headset well if you are planning to pack it inside your carry on bag.

Also if you don’t use your VR equipment keep it stowed under the seat in front of you when flying. 

Take VR Headsets In Checked Baggage?

Most VR headsets have rechargeable lithium batteries, VR headsets containing batteries are allowed in carry-on and checked baggage.

Before boarding check your Headset and ensure that it is protected and operates well.

However electronics and any item of value it is preferable to not place them inside your checked baggage to avoid any possible damage.

Can I Sue My VR Headset During My Flight?

You can take your VR headsets which are fully standalone or all-in-one VR headset you can use during your flight.

There are no restrictions on using VR headsets on airplanes, instead of playing on your phone or playing a classical game you play on your VR instead.

If you are have a portable headset such as the Oculus Quest or Oculus Go, you may notice that the battery last for 2-3 hour and your device will run low at some point during your flight;

make sure that you have the correct charging GEAR like  a portable power bank , a cable for your device to accompany your external battery.

How To Pack Your VR Equipment For A Flight?

Before heading to the airport make sure to double check that you bring all your VR equipment, charging cable, headphones, and the controllers.

If you are traveling with Oculus Quest 2 it is perfect for traveling because it is lightweight 1.83 Pounds and with small dimensions 10.2 x 7.4 x 5 inches to easily take in carry on baggage.

How To Protect Your VR Equipment When Traveling?

If you want to make sure that your VR Headsets are safe and well protected, investing in a VR headset solid Travel Case is important. The case will help provide protection for your headset, touch controllers, charging cable, adapter, and extra batteries, while keeping everything together during your journey.

What Is The Best Virtual Reality Headset To Choose?

When traveling standalone headsets offer the greatest physical freedom by completely removing the cables and not requiring an external device to handle processing.

Just as stated above Oculus Quest All-in-one VR products stay on the top of VR Headsets with its Wireless simplicity, you can set up the device with your Oculus mobile app and start playing anytime and anywhere,you don’t need to be limited to your living room.

Conclusion: Can You Take A VR Headset On A Plane?

You can bring VR headset in your carry-on and checked baggage on most airlines, the only thing to consider is the Batteries, because lithium batteries with more than 100 watt hours have to be in your carry-on bags with the airline approval.

Uninstalled batteries two spare batteries are allowed per passenger, uninstalled lithium batteries are prohibited in checked bags.

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