Founder's personal experience

Tharith Tep, who previously worked in online travel and business tourism, suffered a double stroke in 2017 that left him in a wheelchair and forced him to pause his professional activities. After a rehabilitation period of 1,170 days, he began exploring the idea of creating a travel company for people with disabilities, inspired by interactions with others during his hospital stay and a trip to London with his physiotherapist.

Company's focus and offerings

Tharith Tep and his brother Rithy Tep founded Le Monde en Fauteuil in 2024, a tour operator specializing in accessible travel for people in wheelchairs. The company offers trips designed for wheelchair users, with group sizes limited to four travelers to accommodate mobility needs, comfort, and transportation logistics.

Travel options and design

The company's initial offerings include three-day, three-night stays or five-day, five-night stays in various French destinations, including Normandy, the Morbihan, the Beaujolais, Lyon, Champagne, the Côte d'Azur, and Corsica. The program is designed to avoid over-scheduling, respecting each person's pace and potential for fatigue.

Transportation and expansion plans

Transportation is a significant challenge, and the company works with AMC Transport Express, a provider specializing in transporting several people in electric wheelchairs. The company plans to expand its customer base by targeting social and economic committees (CSE) and local authorities, who can reference the stays and potentially contribute to their financing.

Future goals and support

A donation fund was created in 2025 to assist individuals with more modest incomes and to support broader initiatives in accessible tourism. In the long term, the company aims to develop stays abroad, particularly in Spain and Portugal, as well as river cruises. Tharith Tep hopes to use his experience in tourism to serve a public still facing obstacles and to give back to a sector that supported him during his rehabilitation.