In 2016, friends Alvaro Silberstein and Camilo Navarro completed a trip to Torres del Paine in Chilean Patagonia, one of the most rugged areas in South America. Like many travelers to the region, they were there to complete the W Circuit, the iconic multiday hiking route known for its tough terrain and even tougher weather conditions.
What made the trip notable, though, was the fact that Silberstein has been paralyzed since he was a teenager. Equipped with a special hiking wheelchair and the support of his friends, he became the first person to complete the route by wheelchair.
Tour operators may think that a ramp to access a tourist attraction is enough. But what if the bathroom at the attraction is not accessible? How could a visual experience be communicated and enjoyed by a blind person?
The adventure inspired the two friends to begin Wheel the World, an online travel booking platform with the mission to make the world more accessible.
Serving seniors and travelers living with disabilities, Wheel the World now operates in more than 50 destinations and offers a suite of fully accessible services, including vetted accommodations, accessible activities, private tours and nine new multiday group tours in New York City, Costa Rica, Greece, Israel, Morocco and Switzerland. (Group tours are limited to eight to 10 people and range from five to 10 days.)
If the company’s origin story in Patagonia is any indication, Wheel the World’s group tours are anything but boring: For example, The Jungle Adventure in Costa Rica Group Tour has space for four power wheelchair users and takes clients ziplining at a venue that is trained in adaptive ziplining. During the tour, clients can also go hiking on wheelchair-accessible (and monkey-studded) trails in Manuel Antonio National Park.
Wheel the World’s ziplining partner in Costa Rica has been trained on how to offer the activity to travelers in wheelchairs.
Credit: 2022 Wheel the WorldThe company will also be launching an affiliate program for travel agents on Feb. 15, which allows advisors to choose from a few models on how they would like to collaborate with the company on bookings.
Here, co-founder Silberstein shares insight into how Wheel the World creates these trips, how travel advisors can work with the company, and what advisors should know about creating trips for the nearly 1 billion people in the world living with disabilities.
What should travel advisors understand about their clients who are living with disabilities?
We should consider the full experience of travelers with disabilities. For example, tour operators may think that a ramp to access a tourist attraction is enough. But what if the bathroom at the attraction is not accessible? How could a visual experience be communicated and enjoyed by a blind person?
Wheel the World collaborates with our tour operators to pose these questions and carefully design travel experiences that are fully accessible, from accommodations and transportation to activities and pace of itineraries.
Are Wheel the World's group tours limited to those with mobility issues/using wheelchairs, or are these trips appropriate for travelers living with other types of disabilities?
Wheel the World designs inclusive travel itineraries for different types of disabilities, including mobility, visual and hearing. Additionally, people without disabilities who want to be part of an inclusive travel experience are welcome and encouraged to join Wheel the World group tours.
We have experienced that when diverse groups — those with different disabilities and able-bodied people — travel together, a special bond occurs within the group… The group is able to understand how different people perceive that new destination, and how diverse experiences can complement individual perspectives of a common experience.
We have experienced that when diverse groups — those with different disabilities and able-bodied people — travel together, a special bond occurs within the group. It is amazing to experience and makes the trips all the more special, because there’s an added element of camaraderie while taking in a new, wonderful destination. The group is able to understand how different people perceive that new destination, and how diverse experiences can complement individual perspectives of a common experience.
How much assistance can a group tour participant expect to receive?
The groups are assisted by trained tour guides. We also encourage travelers with disabilities to travel with a companion if special assistance is needed.
Tour guides are specially trained to provide assistance to travelers.
Credit: 2022 Wheel the WorldWhat destinations/trips are the most popular for the company?
Our group tours to Costa Rica and travel offerings in Chile are very popular.
How does Wheel the World’s affiliate program for travel agents work?
The working partnerships differ based on what type of travel agent is seeking partnership with Wheel the World.
For example, luxury travel agents work directly with their clients — so they have direct contact — and Wheel the World supports them through all the travel booking and planning processes to ensure that advisors are offering the best possible experiences for their travelers.
A new affiliate program allows for travel advisors to receive assistance from Wheel the World.
Credit: 2022 Wheel the WorldWhen working with accessibility-specific travel agents, organizations and websites, Wheel the World has direct contact with travelers to manage the entire process and ensure that travelers have an accessible experience.
Can you give us some insight on who makes up Wheel the World’s team?
We have three travel experts on our team who help our travelers coordinate accessible travel logistics. All are experienced (through education and personal experience) in the challenges that people with disabilities face when traveling. They coordinate with our group tour operator partners on all accessibility points that Wheel the World trips provide to travelers with disabilities.
What is the onboarding process?
All partners that join our team pass through our online accessible travel course called Wheel the World Academy. From our partners, we source detailed accessibility data from every accommodation, transportation service and experience offered.
To track these accessibility data points, we use our Accessibility Mapping System, an app that aggregates accessibility data that is then displayed on gowheeltheworld.com via our group tour and private travel listings. Each travel listing on the site outlines accessibility points so Wheel the World users can understand exactly which offers meet their accessibility needs.
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Wheel the World
