This article is about How to Travel When you Have a Fear of Heights, not an article on how to overcome your fear of heights. A phobia like Acrophobia, the fear of heights is a very real condition, just as claustrophobia is, and many other phobias. Of course, if these are debilitating your life choices then you should get professional assistance. [clickToTweet tweet=”However, having a phobia like a fear of heights does not need to stop you traveling. #travel” quote=”However, having a phobia like a fear of heights does not need to stop you traveling.” theme=”style3″] So what if you never jump out of plane, or bungee jump?. Many people without a fear of heights don’t want to do these either. But let’s see how you can organize your travels to minimise the impact of this condition. The first image was to let you know it is ok, if you never choose to see this in real life, let alone walk inside this precarious house on the cliff.
Why am I writing this?
Contents
A friend has just returned from a trip to Singapore and had many meltdown moments because of his Agrophobia. This ranged from where he was staying, and a poor choice in a room on the 24th floor, to activities like taking the cable car to Sentosa Island. He has sworn off travel, but he does not need to if he takes some time to work through practicable solutions to counter his fear of heights.
Why I understand this fear of heights when you travel
I don’t like heights particularly, but then I have come to realize that when push comes to shove I can deal with many situations. Mine is a fear and not a phobia. I have avoided things that make me uncomfortable like climbing Saint Paul’s Cathedral, London and climbing the steps to the top of the Duomo in Florence, and my total panic attach climbing to the top of Sigiriya in Sri Lanka is well documented. But ..and herein in lies the difference between a fear and a phobia; I have caught the highest cable car in Zermatt, Switzerland BY MYSELF as it descended 3,883 straight down. I also went solo on the Rothorn, which sits at 3103 metres up in the Swiss Alps. So I am not a fan of heights, but it does not debilitate me, although it has at times.
A Fear of Heights is a Medical Condition
My mother has Type 1 diabetes, and when she travels she needs to take injections, and to make sure she eats at appropriate times, and the correct foods. She adapts and we adapt. So, what does this have to do with traveling when you have a fear of heights? Everything; as both are recognized medical conditions. A phobic fear of heights and in fact all phobias are medical conditions much like Type 1 Diabetes. Adapting to any medical condition means that you have to be a little more organized when you travel. It does not mean that you stop traveling, but rather adapt to address your condition.,a nd so should your traveling ompanions. This is what my friend and others need to do.
How to Adapt to a Fear of Heights When you Travel
1. Tell your travelling companions.
Tell your travelling companions that you have a very real fear of heights. There is nothing to be ashamed of. Show them a spider, a snake or something else if necessary to get your point across. Tell them that there are certain things that you may not want to do, and that it will be your choice. Let them know that you do not want to put into an uncomfortable situation, unless YOU CHOOSE TO. Use the diabetic analogy if you have to. Remember that you don’t have to do everything together. If they still hassle you, the solution is easy – don’t travel with them again.
Suggested Read: You don’t have to do everything together as a travel couple and Traveling with Other People – the Dont’s and the Dont’s
2. Flying
Not all people with Acrophobia have a fear of flying, though it is very common. I think this is when you call in the professionals to get you through the flight aspect. They may well offer drugs, hypnosis, breathing techniques, positive thinking and gradual desensitization. Use the professsionals to assist you.
Book an aisle seat. Put your headphones in and listen to music or a relaxation tape. Distract yourself.
Read: Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat on a Flight?
3. Hotels and Accommodation
Glass elevators and hotel suits on the 24th floor are going to send a person with a fear of heights into a tailspin. You need to plan this in advance and get a ground floor room, or the lowest level that the person is comfortable being in. This can be problematic if you are doing an organized tour, and just maybe you will have to shop around until you find the company that can cater to your needs.
4. Sightseeing
One of the most important things to relaise when you are travelling with someone with a morbid fear of heights, is that it is a real medical condition, quotecorner pharmacy, and one that they have little control over. Cajoling them to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower is unfair, when you not only embarrass them, but make them feel inadequate. Besides looking up at the Eiffel Tower is stupendous anyhow. Avoid known trigger factors like cliff lookouts, and taking cable cars.
[clickToTweet tweet=”Of course knowing that the person is suffering from Acrophobia is never that clear cut. #travel” quote=”Of course knowing that the person is suffering from Acrophobia is never that clear cut.” theme=”style3″] Everyone who has a fear of heights is different, Some can cope with some things, and others can’t. The onus does lie with the person to let others know what they are going through, and even to recognise that they do have a real condition. I know. I was the master of hiding from this. It is funny, but I have got so much better since I travel so frequently. This means that for me gradual desensitisation has worked. I will let you know when I do climb to the top of the Duomo without making a total dick of myself.
I hope this helps people with a fear of heights and people who travel with these people.
Anyone,even those with a fear of heights should go to at least the first and second levels of the Eiffel Tower, but severe acrophobia sufferers may want to skip the top floor of the Eiffel Tower. The Empire State Building’s observation decks should also be visited by anyone, even those with a severe fear of heights. The observation decks of both the Eiffel Tower and the Empire State Building have high chain link fences that are higher than a person’s head. Those are iconic landmarks with famous observation decks that should be visited by all, including severe acrophobia sufferers. The Eiffel Tower has two restaurants, one on the first and second levels that are really famous and should be visited by everyone. I have only visited the Empire State Building and I like going up tall structures and other high experiences.
Unfortunately some people have a very very real fear of heights and even these suggestions are too much for them. Looking at these structures from a comfortable position on the ground is all many can achieve.
Hi there,
Do you know if there’s any travel advise for people with fear of heights? I want to go to Italy or Greece but don’t want to book the holidays and once there find I can’t access either the hotel or the beach. I was going to Monaco last summer and a few hundred mts after leaving the motorway we had to turn back. I really tried with breathing tecniques etc. but couldn’t do it.
Thanks for your help :0)
I wrote an article on this, and hope that it helps. https://contentedtraveller.com/travel-fear-heights/
Hi, this linked just back to this article… any suggestions on where to actually go?
My fear is debilitating and sets off panic attacks but I so do want to travel.
I hear you. I think you can go anywhere, just insist on ground floor accommodation, and don’t even attempt to do anything that scares you. You should have seen my performance when I tried to climb the Duomo in Florence, and then had to run down against the people on the tiny spiral staircase. A cruise could be ok too
I can definitely relate to your fear of heights, Paula, as I suffer from that, too. Unfortunately I love going to the top of mountains for the superb views so it usually means a cable car ride to get there. I make sure I sit in the cable car so that I’m facing uphill and usually shut my eyes or just focus on the horizon. The few minutes of fear is worth it, in my experience, for the outcome.
I’ve only managed to get to the first level of the Eiffel Tower and have no inclination to go any higher.
I know, it doesn’t seem rationale but it is an affliction regardless. I have started that stare at the horizon thing too, and it helps a bit. And I am more used to cable cars now too, because of skiing.
I appreciate that you at least went partway up the Eiffel Tower and I feel that is a place that everyone should go at least partway up. I have never been to Paris, but I am fascinated by the Eiffel Tower.
so much better in real life.
Tears, panic, shaking,nausea, refusal to move, yep, done all of those! But my drive to go to certain places is stronger than the fear, so long as I don’t let it beat me. Other things, like staying in tall hotels or climbing buildings, I just don’t do because they’re not important to me. Nothing was going to stop me getting up to Everest, although years ago in the Himalayas I did totally refuse one bridge, I climbed down and back up the valley instead. Chocolate helped too, large mouthfulls of it while repeating mantras, looking straight ahead as I crossed those bridges.
Total admiration for you Alyson, I know it not easy at all. Chocolate you say? I will be following up on this. I will let you know how it goes.