06/12/2026
Life Of A Blind Girl: Sicily with my best friend: Our accessible girls trip
May 31, 2026
It’s wild to think that blogging introduced me to my best friend Elin back in 2015. We were united through our lived experience, something I’ll forever be grateful for.
11 years of friendship later, we recently returned from our first girly holiday. We made memories we’ll treasure for a long time, and had experiences we never could have imagined. That’s why it deserves a blog post, if you ask us.
A trip had been on the cards for a while. For one reason or another, we never quite made it happen. With the added extra layer of accessibility, there was tons of things to consider. It made us a tad overwhelmed just thinking about it.
That’s where Seable comes in. They provide accessible holidays designed for blind and visually impaired people.
Seable offer both group holidays and tailored holidays. We decided on a tailored holiday for the two of us.
We made a pact that 2026 would be the year we made our plans happen. That’s exactly what we did!
Booking our holiday
At the start of the year, we started to put our plans in place. By February, we had everything booked.
The first decision we had to make was which destination we were going to. That was a hard choice.
I must start by saying that the members of staff at Seable are lovely. Their care, attention to detail and genuine love for what they do is clear right from the start.
After making an initial list of three places we wanted to visit, we had a call with Emma, a member of staff from Seable. Emma talked us through the options, the pricing, and the activities we might expect on each trip.
She then went away to pull an itinerary together for us. That’s when we decided on Sicily.
After several email exchanges, we had a further call to start the booking process. Once booked, we then had paperwork to fill out individually, payments to sort, and everything else that comes with a holiday.
One great thing about Seable is that they can book your flights for you if you wish. We took that option. We knew which airport we wanted to fly from, so they kindly hopped on a call to get that sorted, along with our special assistance.
Our flights and assistance were soon booked. It was now countdown and prep time!
Day one: Travelling to Sicily
The months flew by, and 15th May was here in a flash. It was holiday time!
After spending the weeks prior getting everything sorted, and doing the mammoth task of packing, it was time for our adventure to begin.
My original plans of getting to the airport didn’t work out thanks to the joys of trains, so my mum and dad kindly dropped me off at the airport.
It was then where I was reunited with Elin! Given that we speak every single day, it felt like a catch up more than anything.
Holly and Elin standing in the terminal at Manchester Airport. Elin wears glasses, a cream cardigan, a black top and black trousers. Holly wears glasses, a black cardigan, a black top with white stripes, and black trousers. A sign is high on the wall behind them, that reads “Manchester Airport departures.”
After our excited hellos and hugs, we headed to the special assistance desk where I explained that we both had assistance booked. We were told to take a seat in the waiting area where a member of staff would come and assist us.
We weren’t waiting long before a member of assistance staff made themselves known. They took us through security and to the gate for our flight.
They asked whether we needed to get anything to eat or drink before the flight, something you don’t always see with assistance.
It was soon time for us to board our flight. Once on the plane, we were given an accessible briefing of the safety equipment by a member of cabin crew.
After a short delay, it was time for take-off!
Around three hours later, we’d touched down in Sicily. We were duly met by a member of the assistance team at Catania airport once the passengers had left the plane.
They assisted us through passport control and through the arrivals hall where we were quickly met by our lovely guide from Seable, Serena.
She took us to the hotel in the town of Aci Castello, where she helped us check in and gave us an orientation of the room. We did the joyous task of unpacking before heading to bed.
Day two: Ascending the slopes of Mount Etna
Our first morning in the hotel meant getting ourselves acquainted with the breakfast. With so much choice on offer, it was hard to choose. Serena was there to assist us right from breakfast.
Once we were fuelled for the day, it was time to ascend the slopes.
Even our car journey on the way was interesting – she filled us in on the history, and our surroundings. Glorious sunshine filled the sky, and we passed clusters of orange and lemon trees on the way.
As we made our way towards the mountain, there was a drop in temperature. It was fascinating how quickly the weather changed. We went from not a cloud in the sky to the chilliest temperatures when we reached 2000 metres. We’d of course come prepared.
The plan was to go up the mountain in the cable car, although it was far too windy, meaning it wasn’t safe. We were treated to a bus ride up to the 2500 metre point instead. You could feel the winding, twists and turns of the mountain as we made our way up.
Stepping off the bus, our feet were met with the crunch of the volcanic lava, and the cold wind biting at our faces.
We took the opportunity to feel the different types of volcanic rocks which were surprisingly lightweight. One step you could feel the lava on your feet, and the next you were stepping on patches of snow. That’s an experience for sure.
Serena informed us about the history of the mountain, and made sure we had all the sensory experiences.
A snow-capped Mount Etna under a deep blue sky. The mountain is so high, the peak appears within the clouds. In the foreground, there is a pylon for the cable car. Black volcanic rock can be seen breaking out from the snow.
We made the wise decision not to stay up the mountain for too long, and made our way back down to a warmer climate.
We enjoyed a lunch at a restaurant on the mountain, where all the produce is sourced locally. My first true Italian meal, and I wasn’t disappointed. Something that became a pattern throughout the holiday.
Full from lunch, we had one last wander around before heading back to the car and making our way to the hotel.
After spending some time at the hotel, it was time for our evening meal. It was the first time we’d had chance to explore the local seaside town of Aci Castello. We were meters away from the sea. The sound of the waves was instantly calming.
We took a leisurely stroll along the seafront on the way back to our hotel to end the day.
Holly and Elin standing near a grey stone wall on a seaside promenade. The sea is in the background, and rock formations rise from the water in the distance. Holly has shoulder-length brown hair which is blowing in the wind. She wears glasses, a black top, black and white patterned trousers, and black shoes. She’s holding her long cane. Elin has chin-length brown hair, also wears glasses, a cream off-the-shoulder top, high-waisted tan trousers and white shoes. She’s also holding her long cane which is folded.
Day three: The history of Ortigia and Syracuse
We were up and ready for the day on Sunday, as we were about to embark on a tour of the island of Ortigia and Syracuse.
We headed south on the island along the coast.
First on the agenda was a visit to the Papyrus Museum. This was particularly significant as the region is the only place in Europe where the papyrus plant grows wild. This is especially famous in the city of Syracuse, something that’s now a definition of the city.
Upon arrival at the museum, we were introduced to the director. She showed us a video for which we learned about its history, right through how it’s used now.
We were then lucky enough to be guided to a room in the museum where we were treated to paper making from the plant. We got to feel every step of the process which made the experience so much more enriching.
After the tactile session, we explored the museum some more before heading to a local restaurant for lunch.
After our meal, it was time to explore the city. Serena gave us a guided tour of the streets and local markets.
My cane made me aware of the transition of the smooth marble ground to the ancient stone.
We made our way to the church of Santa Lucia, where she once again gave fantastic descriptions of the stunning artwork inside and told us about the patron saint of Syracusse.
We had a quick pitstop before making our way through the winding streets. We were soon immersed in the sounds and smells of the bustling market with locals and tourists alike, all enjoying the hot weather and delicious food.
Holly and Elin standing with their arms around each other in a large sunlit square in front of an ornate stone cathedral. Holly wears sunglasses, a multicoloured floral patterned dress and black shoes, and holds her long cane. Elin wears a halter-neck dress with a light green and white pattern, and white trainers. The stone steps lead up to the cathedral in the background, and historic stone buildings line the square in the distance.
Our day wasn’t done yet. Next up was a visit to the Neapolis Archaeological Park. Serena did an amazing job of describing all the sights to us, along with sharing her incredible local knowledge.
The ancient Greek theatre was brought to life. We were blown away by the acoustics of a limestone cave, called the Ear of Dionysius which is famous for its incredible echo. It was unlike any sound I’d heard before. Every sound echoed up to the high ceiling. Remarkable.
It was a hot day, so we made our way back to the hotel for a quick rest before heading for a meal at another local restaurant. It was the best pizza I’ve ever tasted!
Day four: Immersing ourselves in the city of Catania
It was time for us to explore the local city of Catania. We hadn’t seen anything other than the airport yet, so I couldn’t wait to experience it for myself.
First up was a visit to the tactile museum. There’s very few tactile museums in Europe, so I was excited to experience it. I’d never been to anything like it before.
It’s also closely linked with the Italian Union of the Blind which felt like a connection to my disability work. The tactile museum is designed for blind and vision impaired people, but is also an educational experience for sighted visitors. A win all round.
We felt 3D models and sculptures of famous landmarks within the city including the cathedral, the church of San Giuliano, the Elephant Fountain, the opera house, and many more. Each model is made with such attention to detail. I was in awe of their talent. WE also felt tactile maps, to bring to life the breadth of the island and countries surrounding it.
Holly stands in the historic city square in Catania in front of a stone cathedral and an elephant fountain. There is an elephant sculpture carrying an obelisk on its back in the background. She wears dark sunglasses, a beige sleeveless crop top, a long multicoloured floral patterned skirt, and a black crossbody bag.
After exploring the different rooms in the museum and finding out what it had to offer, we made our way into the sensory garden where we took a wander round basking in the sunshine. We smelt local plants, and felt a freshly growing lemon which was huge!
It was such an inclusive experience. The models, sculptures and tactile maps really helped to bring the city and the history to life in an accessible way.
As we had some time before lunch, we wandered around some of the food markets. We tried pistachio, and felt some of the textures of local products. Our noses were filled with the smell of fresh Sicilian ingredients, and our ears were blessed with Italian music.
We made our way through the streets of Catania, feeling the lava stone underfoot. It felt a bit like the streets back home, although somehow more elegant. Serena audio described the details of the historic buildings to us including a street with a number of churches, allowing us to experience their beauty in our own way.
It was soon time for lunch, where we enjoyed alfresco dining and more delicious pasta.
In the afternoon, we visited the main square in Catania which is the heart of the city. This is home to much of the architecture of the models and sculptures we felt earlier, now in their life-size form. Visiting the tactile museum beforehand helped to bring them to life. Serena engrossed us in the history of the city, helping paint a picture in our minds.
It was soon time for us to head back to the hotel before one final meal at the pizza restaurant we’d visited the night before, a place that had become a firm favourite.
With our trip drawing to a close, it was sadly time for us to start packing up our bags for our flight home after our gorgeous last meal.
Holly and Elin standing under a canopy of bright striped umbrellas on a narrow street, smiling at the camera. Above them, dozens of small umbrellas in red, yellow, green, and blue are suspended in rows, creating a vibrant ceiling against a clear blue sky. Holly wears glasses, a sleeveless beige crop top, a colourful floral patterned skirt and a black crossbody bag. Elin wears glasses and a sleeveless dress with a green floral pattern, and a white crossbody bag.
Day five: travelling home
Our holiday seemed to fly by, and was somehow over before we knew it. After enjoying one final breakfast where I took the chance to try an Italian pastry (it’d be rude not to), we made sure we had all our belongings packed before heading to the airport.
After saying a huge thank you to Serena for all her amazing support, we said our goodbyes and got our assistance for our journey.
We were assisted by various members of staff at the airport through security, to the assistance lounge, and taken to the airport vehicle called an ambulift which took us to our flight.
On touchdown back in rainy Manchester, we waited for our assistance long after everyone else had departed the flight and staff started to board for the next take-off. There was a slight miscommunication between staff at the airport, and we could have been on a flight to Malta.
It all worked out though, and we were each reunited with our family.
Holly and Elin standing in the historic city square in Catania in front of a stone cathedral and an elephant fountain. There is an elephant sculpture carrying an obelisk on its back in the background. Holly wears dark sunglasses, a beige sleeveless crop top, a long multicoloured floral skirt, and a black crossbody bag. Elin wears glasses, a white green dress, and a white crossbody bag. They’re both smiling at the camera.
Now that I’m back home and had chance to reflect, I still don’t have the words to sum up the trip. It was the most incredible holiday from start to finish, with my best friend by my side.
The accessibility was exceptional.
Our guide, Serena, made the trip! Her dedication and passion for what she does was second to none. She went above and beyond to make sure that everything was not only accessible, but that we had the best time.
Her local knowledge is admirable. We learned so much about the history and the culture.
It was such a liberating feeling doing the trip with my best friend by my side. The independence it gave us was something else.
I’d do it again in a heartbeat! We might already be thinking about our next trip.
Holly and Elin standing in front of a stone building. There is a large, headless stone statue of a robed figure in the background. Elin wears glasses, a long white summer dress with a green leafy pattern and a white crossbody bag, and is holding her long cane which is folded. Holly wears glasses, a beige sleeveless crop top, a long skirt with a colourful floral pattern, and a black crossbody bag, and is holding her long cane.
Thank you to Seable for helping us have the trip of a lifetime.
Thank you to Serena for being an absolute superstar. You made our trip!
Thank you to Elin for even more laughs and endless fun for the memory book.
Ciao for now!
Holly x
My best friend and I recently embarked on an accessible trip to Sicily, thanks to Seable Holidays. This is our experience.
