This summer, I’m sending my children up Mount Everest with a yeti for company. Thankfully for my reputation with social services, both are virtual.

Verne: The Himalayas is a new children’s app made by Google as a showcase for its Google Maps service – and also its abominable-snowman creation skills.

“Verne: The Himalayas is a new app that invites you to explore Google Maps’ 3D imagery of the Himalayas alongside a 500 foot Yeti named Verne,” explains Google on the Android-only app’s website.

“As Verne, you can run up Mt. Everest in seconds, skate across icy lakes, chase yaks, discover bits of information, ride a jetpack, play traditional Himalayan instruments, and more.”

If you’ve ever played with the Google Maps satellite-imagery mode or Google Earth with your children, you’ll know how fascinating these kinds of interactive map can be on their own. The addition of Verne can’t hurt.

Anyway, the app looks really good fun as well as educational, although it’s a shame it’s not also available on iOS devices. For now this is only on Android.

Verne: The Himalayas is a free download for Android from the Google Play store.