Ever wanted to see the Grand Canyon? No need for a flight, thanks to Google

Tech giant Google has launched a new service offering panoramic views of the most beautiful spots in the Grand Canyon.

Click here to view the gallery of some of the panoramic pictures

Google surprised many five years ago in 2007, with the addition of Streetview to Google Maps. They used cars, motorbikes, and even snowmobiles to capture images from across the world, steadily populating Streetview with interactive panoramic shots.

But now the Google Maps team have gone one further, and entered territory that can't be reached by any vehicles, by using 'Trekkers' - Android-operated backpacks carrying a 15-lens camera system. The Trekkers are designed to be carried on foot through narrow or tight spaces and allow stunning images to be captured where before they were out of reach.

The team managed to capture more than 9,500 panoramas across the Grand Canyon, and launched the new service yesterday, along with a video explaining how it works.

Google Maps' Product Manager Ryan Falor wrote of the project: "These beautiful, interactive images cover more than 75 miles of trails and surrounding roads, making our map of this area even more comprehensive, accurate and easy to use than ever before."