Wheelchair accessible guide
Things are definitely improving when it comes to accessible tourism.
Accessible vacations around the world
The days are thankfully long gone when accessible vacations meant you were limited to identikit resorts or vast cruise vessels. No-one is denying that there is still much more to do, but the fact is that travel has never been so wide-open for people with disabilities, especially those that are prepared to rough it a little in order to see the world. Traveling with special requirements does involve detailed planning on your part and that of the operator, but with time and flexibility, practically any challenge can be overcome. We have a growing number of suppliers ready and willing to adapt their itineraries to make them as inclusive as possible. From small ship cruises in Alaska and Antarctica to African safaris, watersports in Croatia or horse-riding in Catalonia, Cuban road-trips in classic cars and even skiing in India, this page showcases some of our most exciting and accessible vacation destinations.
1.
Alaska
2. Antarctica
3. Catalonia
4. Costa Rica
5. Croatia
6. Cuba
7. Egypt
8. India
9. Japan
10. Rwanda
11. South Africa
12. Sri Lanka
2. Antarctica
3. Catalonia
4. Costa Rica
5. Croatia
6. Cuba
7. Egypt
8. India
9. Japan
10. Rwanda
11. South Africa
12. Sri Lanka
Alaska
1. Alaska
The remote and ruggedly beautiful Alaskan wilderness is far from inaccessible when you travel with small, family-run operators capable of flexibility when it comes to their clients’ needs. If you have limited mobility, hearing or vision, or specific dietary requirements, these are no barrier to trekking, canoeing and camping around majestic Denali National Park, or cruising the Kenai Peninsula in search of bears, whales and sea lions.
Our top selling trip: Denali National Park vacation in Alaska
Our top selling trip: Denali National Park vacation in Alaska
Antarctica
2. Antarctica
From Drake Passage to the Wilhem Archipelago, explore the frozen wonder of the Antarctic Peninsula aboard a luxurious expedition vessel as part of a small ship cruise. Wheelchair-adapted cabins and lifts between all floors are available, and weather-permitting Zodiac excursions to shore can be adapted by trained staff to ensure that everyone can take part in visits to the Antarctic’s islands and bays. Note that wheelchair-users will need to travel with an able-bodied companion.
Our top selling trip: Luxury Antarctica cruise
Our top selling trip: Luxury Antarctica cruise
Catalonia
3. Catalonia
Catalonia wins the prize for most committed place in the world for inclusive tourism. The tourist board website is superbly accessible and packed with inspiring info that makes you feel just like a tourist, not a tourist ‘with issues’. Take a balloon ride, kayak, trek the St James’ Way, lounge on adapted beaches, discover nature reserves, ski at accessible resorts and celebrate all that is captivating about Catalonia.
Our top selling trip: Catalonia family mountain biking & activity vacation
Our top selling trip: Catalonia family mountain biking & activity vacation
Costa Rica
4. Costa Rica
As if Costa Rica needn't any more to recommend it, this small but nature-packed country is among the best destinations in Latin America for accessible travel. Tour operators here can unlock Costa Rica for travelers with mobility, vision and hearing issues, as well as cognitive conditions. Hotels, restaurants, attractions and transfers are all checked to ensure accessibility, because adventure should be open to everyone.
Our top selling trip: Wheelchair accessible vacation in Costa Rica
Our top selling trip: Wheelchair accessible vacation in Costa Rica
Croatia
5. Croatia
Multi-activity vacations around the historic Croatian capital Dubrovnik and the gorgeous islands off the coast can be adapted to accommodate people with vision, hearing and cognitive issues. Depending on the severity of your condition you may need to travel with a companion, but tailormade trips are able to moderate walking, cycling, kayaking, even river rafting, with on-the-ground support available according to your needs.
Our top selling trip: Watersports activity vacation in Croatia
Our top selling trip: Watersports activity vacation in Croatia
Cuba
6. Cuba
Travel Cuba to discover its historic and cultural highlights, from Havana to Cienfuegos, the Bay of Pigs and Trinidad, in a handsome vintage car. Transport and excursions can be adapted for people in wheelchairs or with limited mobility so that you can enjoy everything from Cuban cookery classes to performances of the Buena Vista Social Club, tours of cigar factories and the Che Guevara Mausoleum. Guests with vision and hearing disabilities can also be accommodated.
Our top selling trip: Cuba tours
Our top selling trip: Cuba tours
Egypt
7. Egypt
It might be full of ancient wonders, but Egypt has a far more modern approach when it comes to catering for people’s access needs, particularly for those with mobility issues. Travel with a specialist operator with years of expertise in creating itineraries around Egypt’s cultural gems for wheelchair users, with tip top accessible accommodation and transport. Or see Egypt from the Nile, staying on a 5* luxury adapted small cruise boat.
Our top selling trip: Wheelchair accessible Nile cruise
Our top selling trip: Wheelchair accessible Nile cruise
India
8. India
From the iconic Golden Triangle around Delhi, Jaipur and Agra, to the beaches, backwaters and tea plantations of Kerala and even skiing in Gulmarg, India is developing superbly when it comes to accessible travel. Tailormade tours are fully assisted by trained professionals, able to provide suitable accommodations, transport and inclusive experiences for any type of disability in a real effort to break down barriers in travel.
Our top selling trip: Accessible Golden Triangle tour in India
Our top selling trip: Accessible Golden Triangle tour in India
Japan
9. Japan
Conscientiously crafted tailormade tours of Japan ensure that you know what to expect in terms of accessibility from every stage of your itinerary. The Japanese public transport system is notoriously excellent for wheelchair users, with accessible lifts in train stations, prompt assistance at platforms and defined spaces in carriages. Furthermore, many key attractions, including iconic temples, are now equipped with ramps. People with hearing, vision and cognitive issues can also travel in confidence their needs will be met.
Our top selling trip: Wheelchair accessible vacation to Japan
Our top selling trip: Wheelchair accessible vacation to Japan
Rwanda
10. Rwanda
Trekking to see the endangered mountain gorillas through the forested terrain of Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda is possible for travelers with limited mobility and wheelchair-users. Porters can be hired to carry you either on stretchers or throne chairs, which while not an entirely comfortable journey, is sure to be outweighed by this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Accessible accommodations and restaurants can also be factored in to ensure the rest of your Rwanda trip runs smoothly as well.
Our top selling trip: 3 day Rwanda gorilla safari
Our top selling trip: 3 day Rwanda gorilla safari
South Africa
11. South Africa
With accessible accommodations, door-to-door transfers available, and the option to hire private driver-guides, South Africa is growing to be a very inclusive destination for people with limited mobility, hearing or vision. You might tour the sublime Garden Route, indulge in some wine tasting, take a safari in Kruger National Park and perhaps opt for a two-center tour, finishing up with a few days relaxing on the beach in Mauritius.
Our top selling trip: Self drive South Africa vacation
Our top selling trip: Self drive South Africa vacation
Sri Lanka
12. Sri Lanka
Unfold the stunning landscapes, wildlife and cultural marvels of the teardrop-shaped island on family vacations that can be adapted for people with accessibility issues. Like many countries Sri Lanka still has a way to go, but tailormade itineraries allow for plenty of support where it’s needed for guests with limited mobility, cognitive conditions and impairments with hearing or vision.
Our top selling trip: Sri Lanka family vacation
Our top selling trip: Sri Lanka family vacation
Our Accessible travel Vacations
Wheelchair accessible Kerala tour in India
Culture, Nature, Wellness all together in God's own country
From
€2500 to €6000
10 days
ex flights
Learn Spanish and walking vacation for partially sighted people
Trained guides and lessons based around listening and speaking
From
€719 to €837
7 days
ex flights
Accessible activity vacation in Catalonia, Spain
Accessible country hotel with activities for everyone.
From
€345 to €765
8 days
ex flights
Catalan countryside hotel, Spain
Eco Costa Brava countryside sports hotel with 25m pool
From
€49 to €109
per person per night incl breakfast
Wheelchair accessible Nile cruise, Egypt
Egypt wheelchair accessible Nile Cruise
From
£1789 to £3175
8 days
ex flights
Wheelchair accessible vacation to Japan
Wheelchair-friendly version of Japan's highlights
From
US $4750
11 days
ex flights
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Accessible travel or need help finding a vacation to suit you we're very happy to help.
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Our travel team is always happy to discuss your particular requirements when it comes to accessibility. If we know early in the process exactly what you need then through communication with suppliers we can make appropriate vacation recommendations, and ensure that every aspect of your trip will meet your needs, from accommodation to meals and support.
Lara Paxton at our supplier, The Small Ship Cruise Collection:
“Some of our boats are old Russian expeditions ships and just don’t have the access, but a lot of the newer ships do have access, and so it is really good to see that this is available for some people, especially if they don’t want to do the massive cruise liner thing. They want the different experience that we offer on small ship cruises, to actually get off the boat – and not just point to a destination from on board, which is completely what we don’t agree with. The boat is just a means to get from A to B and the vacation is all about exploring and getting off the boat, more than anything. And so now it is available on many of them.”
“Some of our boats are old Russian expeditions ships and just don’t have the access, but a lot of the newer ships do have access, and so it is really good to see that this is available for some people, especially if they don’t want to do the massive cruise liner thing. They want the different experience that we offer on small ship cruises, to actually get off the boat – and not just point to a destination from on board, which is completely what we don’t agree with. The boat is just a means to get from A to B and the vacation is all about exploring and getting off the boat, more than anything. And so now it is available on many of them.”
Martin Heng, Accessible Travel Manager & Editorial Adviser, Lonely Planet (Australia) has travelled around the world in a wheelchair shares some thoughts on top disabled access vacation destinations: “Baby boomers are now retiring with access issues, whether they identify as disabled or not, but they are increasingly subject to varying degrees of disability, whether it is hearing, sight or mobility. And this is a market that I think the smart national tourism bodies are actually thinking about. Examples of these are England, Scotland and Wales, on the back of the last Olympics and Paralympics in London – but also Catalonia and Germany.
Ahmed Fayez, from our supplier Memphis Tours in Egypt:
“Many tours are accessible these days in Egypt. Boat trips are adapted to disabled passengers with assistance always available. Even the ancient sites in Egypt are now accessible to wheelchairs and walking with just a few limitations at certain sites. The Red Sea resorts also offer a range of activities which disabled clients can also be involved in with diving and snorkelling. Accessible tourism is much higher in demand these days due to disabled people being more adventurous in traveling; therefore adapting to suit their needs has become common place. Therefore, standards have improved greatly over the last 10 years.”
“Many tours are accessible these days in Egypt. Boat trips are adapted to disabled passengers with assistance always available. Even the ancient sites in Egypt are now accessible to wheelchairs and walking with just a few limitations at certain sites. The Red Sea resorts also offer a range of activities which disabled clients can also be involved in with diving and snorkelling. Accessible tourism is much higher in demand these days due to disabled people being more adventurous in traveling; therefore adapting to suit their needs has become common place. Therefore, standards have improved greatly over the last 10 years.”
More about Accessible travel
This accessible vacation guide aims to show you the world can still be your oyster, no matter what your special need - it's also a call to action to the travel industry to cater better for those with various disabilities and needs.
Wheelchair accessible vacations have seen huge advances in recent years, and while the tourism industry as a whole is still a long way from perfection on this, we’re thrilled to see more and more exciting destinations and experiences opening up for wheelchair travelers.
Our fantastic and diverse range of limited mobility vacations will encourage you to get out and see the world one step at a time, because not everyone is content to just stay close to their accommodation the whole time
Many of the accessible vacations that you’ll see on our site can be adapted for travelers that are deaf or hard of hearing, with operators always happy to go the extra mile - your hearing may be impaired, your enjoyment of the vacation won’t be.
What do hiking in the Spanish Pyrenees, fascinating cultural tours of Japan and ski trips in the mountains of India have in common? They’re all available in our amazing range of blind and partially sighted vacations.
Traveling with cognitive issues needn’t limit your options if the trip is well organised before departure - our cognitive issues vacations are able to accommodate a wide variety of conditions, blending practicality with inspirational activities.
Accessible vacation activities are definitely on the up, and not just vacations purposefully created for people with special needs - mean really full-on stuff, like watersports, gorilla trekking, horse riding and more.
Accessible tourism is about tourism for all, no matter your needs - here are some tips on how best to teach tourism operators about your disabled access vacation requirements, as well as any other requirements that you might have.
Our disabled access vacation advice comes from some of our most celebrated travelers with various special needs - the overall advice is get out there and have fun, not just opt for the boring option because they are catering for your needs.
Responsible accessible tourism vacations are a weird concept, because in many ways, every responsible tourism vacation should address equal access.
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