Round the World Trip in 40 Days As a Wheelchair User
This story was submitted by Sofia from Justgo by Sofia, a passionate traveler and wheelchair user who embarked on a 40-day journey across three continents. Through careful planning, determination, and a love for discovery, she navigated different countries, cultures, and challenges, proving that the world is meant to be explored—no matter the obstacles. Read on as she shares her experiences, motivations, and advice for fellow travelers with disabilities.
What's Ahead?
What is a favorite accessible travel memory of yours? What made it so memorable?
It was 40 days of adventure, a trip around the world, 3 continents, different countries, several cities, many challenges, some surprises, first-time experiences, disappointments, some risks, and many triumphs.
The itinerary:
- Lisbon –> Dubai –> Kuala Lumpur
- Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur
- Australia: Sydney –> Airplane –> Brisbane –> Road trip –> Byron Bay –> Gold Coast –> Brisbane
- New Zealand: Queenstown –> Road trip –> Haast –> Hokitika –> Christchurch –> Airplane –> Auckland
- French Polynesia: Tahiti –> Boat –> Moorea –> Boat –> Tahiti
- USA: Los Angeles (Santa Monica) –> Road trip –> Monterey –> (17-Mile Drive*) –> Carmel by the Sea –> San Francisco
- San Francisco –> Toronto –> Lisbon
"It’s not just a trip, but a challenge and a test of endurance, which helps us discover more about ourselves individually."
A round-the-world trip in 40 days obviously has many disadvantages, as such a short trip doesn’t allow for visiting many places, everything is a bit rushed, and it becomes much more expensive. But on the other hand, it’s about fulfilling a dream and getting to know distant places where I wouldn’t visit more than once.
It’s not just a trip, but a challenge and a test of endurance, which helps us discover more about ourselves individually.
As a person with a disability, in a wheelchair, it was also a physical challenge. After Kuala Lumpur and Sydney, I arrived in Brisbane very tired and perhaps a little dehydrated. Here, I slowed down a bit and recovered.
We experienced heat, cold, rain, mild weather, beaches, countryside, cities, and we traveled by train, subway, boat, bus, car, and plane. We stayed in decent hotels, some better than others, but good enough for what we needed. We mainly visited accessible places, and the hotels were well adapted, except for one in Papeete.
There were high moments and less high moments, but overall, it was an incredible experience, and the result was positive.
The success was due to the detailed research of the locations and the planning done in advance.
Despite the challenges associated with traveling with a disability, what motivates and inspires you to embark on new accessible adventures?
Traveling is much more than just discovering new places; it gives us freedom and makes us feel that we belong to the world. It’s an opportunity to get to know new cultures, discover new perspectives, explore unseen places, and meet people from different realities. We challenge ourselves, step out of our comfort zone, and break the routine of everyday life. We enrich our knowledge, expand our minds, and become more creative.
I love to travel, and being in a wheelchair changes things a bit, but it’s possible. There are many places where it’s possible to go and enjoy the world.
"I love to travel, and being in a wheelchair changes things a bit, but it’s possible. There are many places where it’s possible to go and enjoy the world."
What advice would you offer to someone who is hesitant to travel?
My advice is: just go! The world is huge, and there are many beautiful and accessible places to discover. Not everything always goes well, but that's life, and there's always a way to solve things. We have to adapt, not give up, and we’ll be amazed by everything that is possible to do while in a wheelchair. I share my experiences on my blog Justgo by Sofia.
Make sure to follow Sofia for more of her adventures:
Comments ()