Ed Jackson’s ascent in Kyrgyzstan highlights a powerful truth: making adventure travel accessible isn’t just inclusion, it’s a business opportunity waiting to be seized. Robbie Hodges reports

In recent years, the topic of accessibility has been gaining ground within travel. Whether it’s neuroinclusive aircraft cabins from the likes of Emirates that account for sensory overload or leaders like Virgin Atlantic creating accessibility advisory boards – change is afoot. But there’s one niche that has long seemed insurmountable: adventure travel.

Are those perceptions justified? A recent expedition to Kyrgyzstan suggests not. In August, a team of three adventurers with varying disabilities set out to conquer a peak never-before climbed in the Tien Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan. While described as a ‘trekker’s paradise’ in Globetrender and Intrepid Travel’s Not Hot List 2026, these hills are known for their punishing terrain. The expedition, in aid of Millimetres to Mountains Foundation and CDI Children at Risk, was the first recorded ascent of a high altitude mountain by a climber with a disability. 

Among the team was Ed Jackson, the former professional rugby player for England and Wales who, in 2017, suffered a spinal cord injury so severe that he was told he’d never walk again. Through his subsequent rehabilitation, Ed has managed to regain some physical mobility and acquired an entirely new perspective. He came to see how people with disabilities are often excluded from it, and why they stand to benefit the most from the profound perspective, challenge and joy that adventure travel can offer.

Fresh from his record-breaking climb, Ed explained to Globetrender why adventure travel is especially important for those with disabilities and how brands can adapt their offerings to keep pace with demand for adaptive adventures.

You have and were travelling with people who have a wide range of disabilities. How did this impact your experience of the destination?

Travelling with Will, who is blind, and Hannah, who cannot use one of her legs, completely reshaped how I experienced Kyrgyzstan. They interpret the mountains in ways I never could. Will through sound, touch, trust, and humour, and Hannah through her resilience and creativity on terrain that many people would shy away from. Seeing the landscape through their perspective made the whole trip feel deeper and more meaningful. It reminded me that adventure is not just about the summit, it is about how you get there and who you share it with.

What are your biggest takeaways from the expedition?

One big lesson was that so called “limitations” often reveal new strengths. I watched people who have been written off by society take on raging rivers, brutal ridges, and endless boulder fields, and in the process prove that the outdoors really does belong to all of us. The other big one was the power of community. Between the nomads who welcomed us into their homes, the team looking out for each other, and the support network back home, it became clear that adventure is never a solo pursuit.

Why is it important that people with disabilities are able to embark on expeditions like this?

Because adventure is life in concentrated form. It is challenge, perspective, joy, and connection. To deny someone that because of a disability is to deny them a fundamental human experience. When people with disabilities take part in expeditions like this, it challenges old narratives about what is possible, and it sparks change far beyond the mountains.

How did experiencing severe disability impact your perception of, and appreciation for, travel experiences?

Breaking my neck and being told I would never walk again stripped life right back to basics. Suddenly just leaving the house felt like an expedition. That perspective has stayed with me. Now, when I stand on a summit in Kyrgyzstan or sit around a smoky kitchen table with nomads, I do not take any of it for granted. Travel is no longer about ticking destinations off a list, it is about connection, growth, and gratitude for the fact I get to be there at all.

What steps would you advise an adventure holiday provider take to make their trips more accessible to people with disabilities?

It starts with mindset. Do not assume what people can or cannot do. Create space for conversations and adaptations. That might mean building flexibility into itineraries, offering different kit options, or even just making sure there are extra hands to help if needed. Often the barrier is not the mountain, it is the lack of imagination in how the experience is put together.

Have you seen any inspiring brand initiatives you think should be emulated?

The Berghaus Adapts project is a great example. Its team is working with people who have disabilities to co-design and reimagine outdoor kit, rather than just tweaking existing gear. It is not about charity, it is about collaboration, and that approach makes the outdoors genuinely more accessible. Seeing big brands put that kind of thought into inclusion is something I would love to see more of.

What role (if any) do you think technology will play in creating a more accessible future for adventure travel?

Technology is already changing the game. On our Kyrgyzstan expedition we used a custom built solar powered Starlink system to share updates live from basecamp, which showed that off grid does not have to mean out of reach. Beyond that, tech can bridge a lot of gaps. Navigation apps designed for blind users, adaptive gear using new materials, or even AI tools that help people prepare for trips more safely. It will not remove the challenges, and it should not, but it can open the door to more people experiencing wild places.