Accessible travel: active holidays for people with disabilities

Accessible active holidays often sound like an impossible challenge – but they don’t have to be. Travel providers such as SailWise in the Netherlands show how water sports can be made possible for people with a wide range of disabilities.

SailWise organises fully accessible sailing trips and stays on its own water sports island, "Robinson Crusoe", including canoeing and water skiing:

"We organize a real active holiday,” explains Michiel Meijers, Manager at SailWise. “With us, people with disabilities can sail or spend time on the water sports island – with many activities they might not otherwise be able to experience so easily."

The trips are designed as group tours: participants register individually and are matched to suitable groups – for example, for people with physical or visual impairments, learning difficulties or acquired brain injuries.

"It’s also important to us that everyone joins a group where they feel comfortable," Meijers emphasises.

During the sailing trips on the accessible ship Lutgerdina, guests experience something new every day – from drying out on the mudflats in the Wadden Sea to exploring Frisian harbour towns and visiting the Wadden Islands.

On land, everything is also geared towards participation: in addition to accessible boats, SailWise offers accommodation with care beds, lifts and other assistive devices. If needed, care and daily support are organized.

"Accessibility is a given for us. We take care of the entire organization. Participants don’t have to worry about a thing," says Meijers.

The Dutch company also ensures that its services are not only physically but also financially accessible.

"People with disabilities often have to organize more and pay more for holidays. We want our offer to be accessible not just physically, but financially as well."

A houseboat vacation can also be designed to be both accessible and community-oriented. The project "Huckleberry Finn" is Germany’s first inclusive houseboat, inviting people with and without disabilities to spend time together on the water.

It was initiated by sailing instructor and offshore sailor Arnold Schnittger, who has taken many sailing trips with his son Nico, who has had a severe disability since birth. Out of the wish to make such experiences accessible to others as well, the inclusive houseboat project was born.

Together with the association Nicos Farm e. V. and in cooperation with Allianz pflegende Angehörige e. V., a place was created where people can meet away from everyday routines. On board the houseboat, the focus is on relaxation as well as shared experiences – regardless of physical abilities.

Cruises are among the most popular forms of travel – including for people with disabilities. Many cruise lines offer accessible cabins, Braille signage, induction loops, and technical assistance systems such as light signals or vibrating alarms. In addition, there are often dedicated onboard teams to assist with individual needs.

Accessible cruising is available with companies such as AIDA Cruises, Costa Cruises, or TUI Cruises. Experiences shared by travelers like Volker and Iris Westermann as well as Jenny Bießmann show that many obstacles – on deck, in cabins, and even during shore excursions – can be overcome when the right services are in place.

If you’re interested in accessible sea travel, take a look at these related articles:

• Going on a cruise: Accessibility included
• Accessible travel from booking to dream destination: ship ahoy

Whether traveling in a motorhome, caravan, campervan, or converted minibus – having both transport and accommodation in one compact package makes independent and self-determined travel possible. It also removes the hassle of searching for suitable hotels or apartments.

Another advantage is that essential assistive devices are always within easy reach, as they can be transported in the camper. And Europe now offers a wide range of accessible campsites. No wonder that camping vacations in a motorhome are a popular choice among people with disabilities.

It’s not only local adaptations that make travel possible for people with disabilities. There is also a wide range of assistive devices that support travelers on the road – or make trips possible in the first place.

Andrea Mocellin of Revolve Mobility has developed the Revolve Air, a wheelchair with foldable wheels and frame that is the world’s first active wheelchair to meet the size and weight requirements for airplane carry-on luggage. Its design reduces the volume by around 60 percent when folded. This eliminates the need to check it as oversized luggage and reduces the risk of damage during transport in the cargo hold.

In addition to the Revolve Air, there are other mobility solutions designed specifically for travel. The electric wheelchairs from ergoflix are also foldable and can be easily transported by car, plane, or train.

Another compact option is the ATTO folding scooter from MovingLife. According to the manufacturer, it fits into any vehicle and can even be stored in the airplane’s overhead compartment. Many users report that it opens up new possibilities for traveling independently and flexibly.

The following video demonstrates how the ATTO can be folded and unfolded:

Originally published on: June 28, 2023
Last updated on: August 08, 2025