What Is Amazon Explore? Virtual Service Lets Users Stuck At Home See The World

Amazon has been on a tear with new product and service announcements lately, and the trend continues with Amazon Explore.

Launching on Tuesday, Explore is an interactive video streaming platform that allows users to tour in a variety of ways. This includes virtual visits to world landmarks with guides, virtual lessons with one-on-one instructors, and private sessions with personal shoppers. Only the viewer will be able to see the host on video, but both sides can communicate via audio.

So far, there are about 86 different options within Explore throughout 16 countries, according to TechCrunch.

All of these sessions will be priced individually, not available through Amazon Prime or a separate subscription model. Some examples, according to The Verge, include a $10 40-minute, U.S.-based shopping session, $70 for a 45-minute tour of a mansion in Lima, Peru, and a $129 homemade bagel cooking class.

Each session, which ranges from 30-60 minutes, is available on an “invite-only basis” and requires U.S. users to book a date and time. Sessions can be canceled or rescheduled at least 24 hours ahead of time. Bookings can be made via mobile, but the actual sessions can only take place via computer through Edge, Chrome, or Safari browsers.