Image Credit: Eclipso
TORONTO, Oct. 21, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Torontonians can soon experience the extraordinary journey to the summit of Mount Everest without leaving the city.
asserted
Torontonians → experience → city
Launching November 10 at Pocket Planet Canada, Everest: The First Ascent is a 35-minute immersive virtual reality experience that transports audiences into the historic 1953 expedition of Edmund Hillary, Tenzing Norgay and the Sherpa team who helped make their journey possible.
asserted
journey → launch → Hillary
From the streets of Kathmandu to high-altitude camps, vast glaciers and the final push towards the summit, visitors follow the expedition step by step, experiencing the breathtaking scale of the Himalayas and the physical and psychological challenges of the climb.
asserted
visitors → follow → climb
Through immersive VR, audiences are placed at the heart of the journey, gaining a new perspective on the altitude, exhaustion, uncertainty and determination behind one of the greatest achievements in exploration history.
asserted
audiences → place → history
-produced by immersive entertainment specialists Eclipso and Small Creative, the experience was created by Jean Dallac and Benjamin Auriche, with guidance from a scientific advisory board of Himalayan, mountaineering and cultural specialists.
asserted
experience → produce → specialists
Everest: The First Ascent was also selected for Venice Immersive at the 83rd Venice International Film Festival in 2026, placing it among an international showcase of innovative virtual reality, augmented reality and immersive works.
asserted
Ascent → select → reality
The First Ascent is an opportunity to experience this historic expedition not simply as a story from the past, but as a human adventure,” says Antoine Lieutaud, Founder and CEO of Eclipso.
asserted
Lieutaud → experience → Eclipso
“We wanted audiences to feel the scale of the mountain, experience the challenges faced by Hillary, Norgay and the Sherpa team, and connect with the human determination behind their achievement.
asserted
audiences → want → achievement
Very few people will ever have the opportunity to experience Everest firsthand, and immersive technology offers a remarkable way to bring that journey to life.”
asserted
technology → have → life
The Toronto launch marks a new experience for Pocket Planet Canada, bringing audiences closer to one of the world’s most extraordinary places through immersive storytelling.
asserted
launch → mark → storytelling
While the miniature world remains at the heart of the attraction, Everest: The First Ascent offers visitors a different way to explore the world, moving from looking at remarkable places in miniature to stepping into a defining moment in exploration history.
asserted
Everest → remain → history
“At Pocket Planet Canada, we’re always looking for new ways to inspire curiosity and help people see the world differently,” says Mark Vlassopulos, Founder of Pocket Planet.
asserted
Vlassopulos → look → Planet
“Bringing Everest: The First Ascent to Toronto is an exciting next step in that journey, and a powerful example of how immersive storytelling can bring different pockets of the world to life in a completely new way.
asserted
storytelling → bring → way
Suitable for visitors aged eight and up, the experience offers an engaging outing for families, school groups, history enthusiasts, adventure seekers and anyone curious about the people and places that have shaped our world.
asserted
that → age → world
The First Ascent opens at Pocket Planet Canada in Toronto on November 10.
asserted
Ascent → open → November
From the vibrant streets of Kathmandu and the culture of the Sherpa people to high-altitude camps, glaciers and the final push towards the summit, visitors will follow the expedition through the landscapes and challenges of the Himalayas.
asserted
visitors → follow → Himalayas
Through immersive VR, audiences will experience the journey alongside the climbers and Sherpas, gaining a deeper understanding of the physical demands, emotional intensity and human determination behind this historic achievement.
asserted
audiences → experience → achievement
Rather than simply watching the story unfold or viewing the photographs that made the expedition famous, visitors will be placed at the heart of the adventure.
asserted
visitors → watch → adventure
The experience brings audiences closer to the vastness of the mountain and the realities of high-altitude exploration, revealing the exhaustion, uncertainty and resilience that shaped the climb.
asserted
that → bring → climb
Developed with the guidance of a scientific advisory board of Himalayan, mountaineering and cultural specialists, Everest: The First Ascent combines immersive technology with historical and cultural research.
asserted
Everest → develop → research
By exploring the expedition from the perspectives of both the Western climbers and the Sherpas, the experience offers a broader understanding of the people, knowledge and teamwork behind the ascent.
asserted
experience → explore → ascent
ABOUT POCKET PLANET
Pocket Planet Canada is the flagship destination of Pocket Planet, a UK-based entertainment company creating permanent miniature attractions that combine exceptional craftsmanship, interactive storytelling and guest-first design.
asserted
that → base → craftsmanship
Located in the heart of downtown Toronto, the 45,000-square-foot attraction invites visitors to discover Canada through an intricately detailed miniature world, celebrating the country’s iconic landmarks, diverse communities and defining landscapes.
asserted
attraction → locate → landmarks
Building on this distinctive experience, Pocket Planet Canada is evolving into a broader immersive entertainment destination, introducing new experiences that bring remarkable places, historic moments and extraordinary stories to life through innovative technology and immersive storytelling.
asserted
that → build → technology
Guided by Pocket Planet’s global vision, the Toronto flagship brings together curiosity, playfulness and discovery to inspire new perspectives on the world and create memorable experiences for guests of all ages.
asserted
flagship → guide → ages
ABOUT ECLIPSO
Operating in France and expanding internationally, Eclipso is a network of virtual reality centres offering a new category of cultural entertainment.
asserted
Eclipso → operate → entertainment
Like a cinema, Eclipso offers a range of content for immersive experiences that are both educational and entertaining.
asserted
that → offer → experiences
Eclipso’s mission is to facilitate access to culture, travel, and entertainment through state-of-the-art virtual reality technology.
asserted
mission → facilitate → technology
The brand offers a unique opportunity to discover the unexplored and to learn many details of history in a new way.
asserted
brand → offer → way
Eclipso is also present in France (Paris, Bordeaux, Lyon, Nantes, Lille), Spain (Sevilla, Barcelona) and in the USA (NYC, Atlanta), with more venue openings planned across the globe in the near future.
asserted
Eclipso → plan → future
The Aporia
