Top Wheelchair-Accessible Destinations in the World
Published on: September 6th, 2017
Last modified: January 21st, 2022
There are many wheelchair accessible tours in the world, from exploring Italy's art and food to discovering India's mystical cities.
Here, our experts weigh in on travelling around their favourite destinations and what we can do for you.
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South Africa
Not only is South Africa one of our favourite destinations, but it’s also very easily accessible for travellers with wheelchairs. It was a natural choice for this list, according to our Africa expert, Byron. He recommends the following itinerary:
Start your trip with a few days in Cape Town, exploring the amazing food and art scenes. You can take a trip in the cable car to see the spectacular views from on top of Table Mountain – the experience is completely wheelchair-friendly. Then we recommend spending your days exploring the city’s incredible art scene and visiting some of its coolest galleries – and even meet some artists!
We also have a great foodie tour of Cape Town that you can take to get a behind-the-scenes look at Cape Town’s burgeoning artisanal food scene. If you’re feeling really adventurous, you can even go paragliding! After that, you can head out to the winelands to discover some of the amazing wines (and estates) in the area. It’s a must-do for oenophiles and casual wine drinkers alike.
If you want to tick a few items off your bucket list, South African Airways flies commercially from Cape Town to Victoria Falls, and wheelchair and scooter access is not a problem. Known as the biggest waterfall in the world (and one of the earth’s seven natural wonders), it’s absolutely worth the trip. You can even then add on a safari to the end of your itinerary.
India
Famed for its mystical cities, India has a great selection of wheelchair accessible hotels and sights. We can arrange for a guide to accompany you and your aide to ensure the entire journey is seamless, whether you want to see the Taj Mahal or try and get a glimpse of some elusive tigers. India is fascinating for its history, culture, art and wildlife, so there’s an endless list of things to do while you’re there. We recommend starting with the cities and more rural areas of Rajasthan and then heading to Ranthambore to take in the wildlife.
Argentina
Focusing on the art, culture and scenic beauty, a lovely Argentinian trip would start in Buenos Aires for a few days of discovering the city. There are endless things to do, from taking in the architecture and museums to seeing a tango show and trying some of their world-famous steak. All of which, of course, can be done to your comfort. From there, you can head to the Mendoza region – famous for its wine, but also a remarkably pretty spot nestled under the Andes. There is a blossoming art scene too, so you can spend your days exploring galleries and tasting wine – what better way to have a holiday?
Heading up into Salta next, we can arrange a relaxing stay and tours of the landscape by private vehicle. We also recommend a tour of the James Turrell museum at Colome. Flying back into Buenos Aires, you can then end the trip with a relaxing stay at a Gaucho ranch outside the city in the Pampas. It’s a place to relax, watch a polo match and slow down the pace of the trip before a flight home.
New Zealand
New Zealand is another fantastic place, very easily accessible for travellers in wheelchairs. We have some wonderful guides on the ground who can company you for the whole trip, making things as seamless as possible, as well as having access to various different vehicles to ensure comfort. The great thing about New Zealand is that the majority of accommodation (and houses for that matter) are single story.
Katie, our Head of Australasia, suggests travelling around New Zealand in March/April or November/early December and to stick to one island to minimise travelling. Her top choices are the Bay of Islands, staying at the lovely Kauri Cliffs and Rotorua – where you can experience a lot of the Maori culture, including a private tour of a local Maori artist’s gallery and an have opportunity to watch the artist work and even create something for yourself. She then suggests a final stop in the Hawkes Bay where you can visit wineries, take in the art deco culture and style of the area as well as spend more time with local Maori artists in the beautiful coastal town.
Italy
If you’re into art and delicious food, then why not head to Italy? Florence has plenty of art galleries full of world famous art, as well as some amazing architecture. You can also immerse yourself in the city with a visit to the local markets with a guide that has a passion for antiques. From Florence, you can then head to the Tuscan countryside to soak up some of that famous Italian sun (and charm!). There, you can meet local artisans who specialise in marking ceramics, go wine tasting, hunt for truffles and eat incredible food. To avoid the heat and crowds, we recommend going in the spring, when the days are longer but not too hot.
Wherever you want to go, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.