A Blind Traveller's Journey on Our Untamed Mongolia Small Group Experience
In the summer of 2024, we had the honour of welcoming Candie Styles, a fully blind, solo female traveller from the United States, on our Untamed Mongolia small group experience. While we’ve previously hosted travellers with Parkinson’s Disease, early-onset dementia, and Prader-Willi syndrome, these trips have always been private. Candie, however, chose to join one of our small group tours, although our Untamed Mongolia experience is not specifically an accessible tour in Mongolia, breaking new ground for us and our team.
A Remarkable Journey
Candie is an exceptionally brave and inspiring individual. Having travelled independently to numerous countries with the support of local companies and sighted assistants, she sought to do the same in Mongolia. Since she didn’t have a personal assistant accompanying her, she arranged for one of our trip assistants to join her, alongside the trip’s main trip assistant, ensuring she had the support needed for her adventure.
Candie expressed a strong desire to be treated like any other traveller. Respecting her wishes, we chose not to highlight her blindness when others booked the trip. Admittedly, this was a “heart-in-the-mouth” moment for me—I knew it could potentially impact the group dynamic or the enjoyment of other travellers. However, the intimate size of our tours, capped at six people, combined with the open-minded and adaptable attitudes of our guests, gave me confidence. This format allows everyone to create their own moments while respecting the needs of others.
Challenges and Triumphs
Before Candie booked the trip, I explained to Candie that none of us at Eternal Landscapes had prior training or experience working with blind travellers. Yet, Candie embraced every challenge with grace, participating in all activities alongside her fellow travellers. Her courage and determination were matched by the group’s willingness to accommodate and support her, ensuring she felt included in every aspect of the journey.
This experience highlighted the importance of flexibility and collaboration —not just within our team, but also among our travellers. We aimed to ensure that each guest had the freedom to shape their own experiences while respecting Candie’s unique needs. Although there were challenges, striking this balance between independence and inclusion resulted in a mostly fulfilling journey for everyone involved.
A heartfelt thank you goes out—not only to Candie for placing her trust in us—but also to the other group members for their remarkable understanding, adaptability, and kindness. Their graciousness in embracing Candie as part of the group, along with the care and support they so willingly offered, truly embodies the spirit of inclusive travel.
Inclusion in Travel: A Broader Perspective
At the Women in Travel International Women in Travel and Tourism Forum in June 2024, a session titled Making Travel Accessible to All emphasised the need for genuine inclusion in the tourism industry. A crucial question was raised: Is the industry doing enough to serve the accessibility needs of disabled travellers?
While progress is being made, barriers to participation still exist. Travellers like Candie demonstrate the immense value of inclusive small group trips—experiences that empower people with disabilities to embrace adventure without segregation or limitations.
Inclusion in Travel: A Broader Perspective
At the Women in Travel International Women in Travel and Tourism Forum in June 2024, a session titled Making Travel Accessible to All emphasised the need for genuine inclusion in the tourism industry. A crucial question was raised: Is the industry doing enough to serve the accessibility needs of disabled travellers?
While progress is being made, barriers to participation still exist. Travellers like Candie demonstrate the immense value of inclusive small group trips—experiences that empower people with disabilities to embrace adventure without segregation or limitations.
A Commitment to Change
By saying “yes” to Candie, we embraced an opportunity to grow and contribute to the broader changes needed in the travel industry. Recognising our effort, Richard Thompson, CEO of IncluCare and IncluPrive Travel, generously invited us to undertake complimentary training to enhance our ability to deliver inclusive travel experiences. This training will equip us with the tools to better support travellers with diverse needs.
Although we are a small company, we are committed to being part of the larger movement driving meaningful change in accessible tourism, with the goal of making our Mongolia small group tours more accessible.
Candie’s Reflection
Candie’s journey reinforced our belief in the transformative power of inclusive travel. Her story is a testament to the importance of fostering open-mindedness, understanding, and connection among all travellers. In her words:
"Thank you so much. I am very, very grateful I went on this trip. We had a good team of other tourists, and I learned an incredible amount. I have a lot to reflect on when I get home."
Looking Forward
Candie’s story is a powerful reminder that adventure truly knows no boundaries. However, to ensure we provide the best possible experience for all our travellers, we have decided to temporarily pause welcoming travellers with accessibility needs on our small group tours unless accompanied by their own support assistant. This decision reflects our commitment to gaining additional training and expertise to better meet the needs of all travellers. That said, we remain open and committed to welcoming travellers with accessibility needs on tailored or private trips as we continue to grow in our inclusivity journey.
At Eternal Landscapes, we are committed to making Mongolia a destination that everyone can explore and enjoy, regardless of their unique needs. Discover how we welcomed our first wheelchair user in 2024 here. Through ongoing learning, growth, and a willingness to embrace new challenges, we strive to create inclusive travel experiences that inspire and leave a meaningful impact—both for our travellers and the travel industry as a whole.
