The ongoing pandemic has put paid to all travel plans, but Airbnb has introduced online experiences led by world-class hosts that are unique. Airbnb’s virtual journeys can be availed of while staying safely at home. And they are all affordable.

These are not documentaries or slideshows. They are immersive, interactive sessions as if you were really undertaking a tour with a guide. A little ice-breaker game helps you get to know your fellow virtual travellers. The groups are not large with a maximum of 10 people. If you want to join a larger group of more than 10, the pricing is different.

You can book your journey from https://www.airbnb.com/s/experiences. To begin with, as is the Airbnb style, you will be provided with a resume of your host. Your hosts are professionals in their own fields, so they bring that involvement to the experience. The sessions are conducted over Zoom. If it says it is for one hour, it generally lasts for 45 minutes — the exact time allowed for a free Zoom session. But if you need more time or choose an experience that is longer, you will have to opt for the premium version of Zoom. Download Zoom for free on a laptop, desktop or mobile device. After you book, you will get an email with a link and details on how to join.

To prepare yourself for the journey all you need is a computer, tablet or smartphone with a stable Internet connection. If you are taking part in a cookery session, you will be told what ingredients you need to buy so that you can cook as you participate. Your host will literally hold your hand as you learn, and you can pause and ask any questions you have. If you are undertaking a historical journey, you will need a notebook and pencil.

Say, you are interested in learning how to make street tacos with a professional who is passionate about Mexico’s culinary traditions and is also a well-known cooking show host on TV. It is an experience that reflects the richness and variety of tacos. In a one-and-a-half-hour session, which costs around Rs 1,764, you start by meeting your fellow guests, learn about the class structure and all about Mexican tacos. You will then cook, step by step, a delicious taco from scratch. You will be taught how to make the filling, how to make handmade flour tortillas and salsa. You will also be provided with practical recipes that you can follow at home.

Graciela, your host, is humorous and easy-going and shares a lot of useful information and context that helps you understand the history and culture surrounding the dishes. My favourite was the salsa.

If you are a teacher or student, the French Revolution interactive journey is tailored for you. Its costs Rs 972 a person and lasts for an hour and 25 minutes. You can travel back in time with your host, Thierry, to 1789 France and dabble in questions such as did Marie-Antoinette really say, “Let them eat cake”; was Louis VI really a bad king; and why did the National Assembly that had just proclaimed the “Rights of Men” turn into a dictatorial government. You can walk in the footsteps of Voltaire, Lafayette, Robespierre or Dr Guillotin through a slide show. Your host is a history buff with numerous stories to tell. He will also reveal little-known secrets of Paris to you.

You can walk the streets of Prague in the plague years or meet the descendants of the Chernobyl dogs who were abandoned when their owners fled during the disaster. All these experiences are deeply immersive and you will not miss not being there in person.

Any experience can be cancelled and fully refunded within 24 hours of purchase, or at least seven days before the experience starts. To protect your payment, never transfer money or communicate outside of the Airbnb website.