travelling-blogger

comments

I've you've ever wanted to spot wild and wonderful creatures on the Galapagos islands, scale Mount Everest or visit Captain Scott's hunt in Antarctica, but don't have the budget, all you need to do is log on.

You won't actually feel the snow beneath your feet, or breathe in the air of the Rio Negro, but neither will you exhaust your piggy bank.

Google Street View (GSV) is about to take you on a 360-degree adventure to some the world's most exotic destinations.

Up close and personal: You don't need to leave the comfort of your sofa to get a good look at the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer, in Rio de Janeiro

Christ the Redeemer - Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

It's the city of the moment, but if you weren't lucky - or rich - enough to bag a ticket to the World Cup, GSV can take you to the 98ft Christ statue above Rio de Janeiro's Corcovado mountain. While you won't be able to behold the full splendor of Corcovado on screen, you also won't have to climb a 2,300-foot mountain.

Follow in Darwin's footsteps: The Galapagos Islands are a dream destination for wildlife fans, but you can 'virtually' visit without breaking the bank

Sierra Negra Volcano Crater - Galapagos Islands

Walk - or at least imagine walking - in the footsteps Charles Darwin, among unique endemic species such as the giant Galapagos tortoise and the blue-footed booby. By logging on to GSV, you'll be transported to pristine beaches, mangrove swamps, and volcanic rock formations.

Under the sea: Google Street View can even take you for an underwater adventure, visiting coral reefs and shipwrecks

Hourglass Reef - Bermuda

No Padi? No worries. Cruise the big blue without donning your dive mask. GSV offers a selection of ocean tours, including an 1864 shipwreck, coral reefs and swimming with marine life.

Effortless adventures: You can scale Mount Everest, in Nepal, without even standing up

Mount Everest Base Camp - Nepal

Not all of us were born to scale Everest, check out the views from Mount Everest Base Camp in Nepal by switching on your computer and pressing a couple of buttons instead. 

Amazonian adventure: Cruise along the Rio Negro, the Amazon River's largest tributary, without having to brave the insects

Rio Negro - South America

It's the rainforest - but without the gruesome bugs. Virtually sail down the Amazon River and trundle through the rainforest with Google Street View.

Great explorations: Take a peek at Captain Scott's snow-clad cabin in the South Pole, Antarctica

Scott's Hut, Cape Evans - Antarctica

Always wanted to reach the South Pole? These days it is much more accessibale that it was in the time of Scott and Shackleton, but it's easier still thanks to GVS. You can check out Scott's historic cabin, a selection of world flags planted in the ice, and of course plenty of penguins.

Back in time: The arresting Wieliczka Salt Mine in Poland dates back to the 13th century

Wieliczka Salt Mine - Wieliczka, Poland

You can travel back to the 13th century, when you virtually visit the Wieliczka salt mine in Poland. It features a cathedral carved out of rock salt and an underground lake, as well as salt artifacts contributed from various artists.

Access all areas: You can even visit the world's largest particle physics laboratory in Geneva

Large Hadron Collider Tunnel, CERN -  Geneva, Switzerland

The European Organization for Nuclear Research, known as CERN, in Geneva, is the world's largest particle physics laboratory, used by the world's best physicists and engineers - but you don't need to be a genius to peek inside.

Truly magnificent: Inside the Sheik Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque - Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

It's the size of five football fields and once banned Rihanna, thanks to some provocative photos she posed for on site. Your online journey can take you around the marble facade and plazas inlaid with gold and precious stones inside the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.