Tour Egypt's historic sites online, including a 5,000-year-old tomb – here's how

A mosque, a synagogue, a monastery and an ancient tomb are among the Egyptian sites people can now virtually visit

A screenshot of the virtual tour of Tomb of Menna in the Theban Necropolis. Courtesy American Research Centre in Egypt

With more people staying indoors and their travel plans postponed until further notice due to the coronavirus crisis, virtual tours may have become the second best way to experience the world, thanks to 3D technology.

One breathtaking addition to the thousands of virtual tours available today comes from Egypt.

Over the past week, the Egyptian Tourism Authority has launched a number of virtual tours of prominent historical sites from different parts of the country.

From the 5,000-year-old ancient tomb of Queen Meresankh II, who was the queen of Egypt, to the Red Monastery in Souhag, viewers can virtually walk through these locations and examine closely the intricate details on their walls and in their spaces. The digital tours are also supported with historical background information.

Other tours include the catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, a historical archaeological site in Alexandria; Tomb of Menna in the Theban Necropolis in Luxor; Beni Hasan, an ancient Egyptian cemetery site in Menia; the Ben Ezra Synagogue in Old Cairo; and Mosque-Madrassa of Sultan Barquq, which dates back to the 14th century.

The virtual tours include guided information. American Research Centre in Egypt

The tours are part of the country's Experience Egypt from Home campaign leading up to World Heritage Day, which falls on Saturday, April 18.

Join us as we share a piece of our rich culture with you every day

"People all over the world will be celebrating World Heritage Day to bring awareness to sites that comprise their cultural identity," the Egyptian Tourism Authority said in a post on its official Instagram account. "In Egypt, we will shed light on the iconic landmarks declared by Unesco as World Heritage Sites. Join us as we share a piece of our rich culture with you every day. Wait for a special surprise on Saturday."

You can find the tours on Experience Egypt's Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts