Accessible tours

Who this is for

Wheelchair users and people who find walking hard or tire quickly.

Also guests with visual, hearing or sensory impairments, and their families.

Our role

We plan the route, check places, choose transport, hotel and guide, and oversee every detail.

You pay partners directly, and we never hold your money. We take no commission from partners, and our fee is agreed in advance.

An honest approach

A fully accessible tour is still rare in Georgia, and we do not hide it.

We assess each place as it is: what you can see, where you will need help and where you cannot go.

That honesty protects you from disappointment during the trip.

What we check on site

We check the number of steps, door widths, ramp gradients and surfaces.

We check how far the parking is and whether there is a lift and an accessible toilet.

We send you photos and measurements before the tour so you can judge for yourself.

The needs profile

We ask what equipment you use and how far you can walk.

We ask about fatigue, tolerance of heat and how often you need a break.

Every person's needs are different, and we never plan a tour from a template.

Tbilisi's newer districts

Rustaveli Avenue, Vake and the newer districts, with wide pavements, are often easier.

But crossing a street often means an underpass with stairs only.

So we plan the route so that a car takes you to the other side.

Rike and the Peace Bridge

Rike Park by the river is flat and wide.

The Peace Bridge is a pedestrian bridge, and we check the way up to it in advance.

In the evening the lit bridge and the old town look especially lovely from there.

Old Tbilisi

Old Tbilisi is cobbled, steep and full of narrow streets.

The view of the old town is often best from the riverside.

A slow drive through the backstreets is an alternative to walking.

The cable car and Narikala

The cable car shows you the city easily, and we check the stations' accessibility in advance.

From the top station to Narikala fortress, though, the path is uneven with steps.

The view from the terrace below the fortress is impressive too, and often enough.

Holy Trinity Cathedral

Sameba Cathedral has a large courtyard and many steps.

A car can reach the cathedral grounds, and from there its beauty is seen up close.

We confirm on site whether going inside is possible.

Museums

Large museums often have a lift and an accessible entrance.

In large museums, including the National Museum, we check the lift exists and works in advance.

Small, historic house museums often have stairs.

Mtskheta

In Mtskheta the Svetitskhoveli courtyard is fairly flat, though cobbled.

Jvari Monastery is on a hilltop, with uneven ground from the car park to the courtyard.

The view from Jvari can be seen near the car park too, which is often enough.

Kakheti and wineries

Many wineries have a ground-level hall and courtyard, which makes a wine tour relatively accessible.

In a qvevri cellar there are sometimes steps down, and we check this in advance.

Sighnaghi's streets are steep, so we often see the town by car and from viewpoints.

Tastings and feasts

A wine tasting and a Georgian feast are the easiest and most enjoyable parts of an accessible tour.

Time spent sitting at a table demands no physical effort.

We choose a winery where the table and the toilet are easy to reach.

Kazbegi and the mountains

Kazbegi's mountain views are impressive from the road and from a hotel terrace too.

Gergeti Trinity can be reached by car, but the last stretch is on foot over uneven ground.

With a respiratory or heart condition, agree a high-mountain route with your doctor in advance.

Borjomi and the resorts

Borjomi park has flat, well-kept paths.

At the resorts some hotels and baths have accessible facilities.

We write about resorts in the health section.

Batumi and the sea

Batumi's boulevard is long, flat and wide, and one of the most convenient places.

Some beaches have a wooden path to the water, but a pebbly shore is hard for a wheelchair.

We check in advance whether accessible entry to the sea is possible.

Cave towns

Uplistsikhe and Vardzia are towns carved into rock, with rock steps and narrow passages.

Much of them is out of reach in a wheelchair, and we tell you so directly.

Often the view from below, photos and the guide's detailed story are still a worthwhile experience.

Monasteries

Many monasteries stand on hills or mountains, and the way up is often steep.

At some monasteries a car can reach the courtyard, at others not, and we research this in advance.

The calm of the courtyard and the view are often as valuable as the interior.

Caves

Some caves have a tourist path, but it often includes steps.

We confirm the length of the cave route and the steps in advance.

If the route is difficult, we suggest another natural sight.

Alternatives

If a place is out of reach, we look for a nearby viewpoint or a similar place.

Sometimes a museum holds objects that once stood in a cave town or fortress.

A well-chosen alternative does not make the tour poorer.

Transport

We choose a car or minibus that suits your wheelchair and your needs for getting in.

Minibuses with a lift are limited in number and booked early.

We brief the driver in advance on how to help you get in.

Journey lengths

Drives between regions in Georgia are often long, and sitting in a car for hours is tiring.

We plan a break every hour or two, at an accessible place.

We split a long distance over two days, with a night in between.

The guide

An accessible tour guide fits the pace, breaks and route to your rhythm.

They speak directly to the wheelchair user and offer help only with consent.

We choose a guide experienced with guests with disabilities.

The day's rhythm

On an accessible tour the days are short and the breaks frequent.

We prefer two main places a day to five.

We always leave time for rest at the end of the day.

Toilets on the route

An accessible toilet is one of the main questions on the route.

We mark such places in advance and fit the day's plan to them.

In the regions such toilets are rare, and we build the route around that.

Restaurants

We choose restaurants on the ground floor with a step-free entrance.

When booking we confirm table height and space for the wheelchair.

At a Georgian feast the wheelchair user sits with everyone, as an equal.

Hotels

We check an accessible room by photos and measurements: door width, bed height and a step-free shower.

The word accessible in a hotel's advert does not always mean what you need.

We ask for a room near the lift with a short route from the entrance.

Visual impairment

For a guest with a visual impairment the tour becomes an experience of touch, sound, smell and taste.

The surface of a qvevri, wood carving, fabric and the aroma of wine tell the story in another way.

The guide describes in detail what can be seen.

Craft workshops

Enamel, pottery and cooking workshops give a hands-on, participatory experience.

In many workshops the work is done sitting at a table.

We check the workshop entrance and table height in advance.

Polyphony

Georgian polyphonic singing is one of the strongest experiences of a tour, and it does not depend on sight.

We arrange a live performance in a church or at a feast.

Some choirs also offer to teach guests a song.

Hearing impairment

For a guest with a hearing impairment we prepare the route and the history in writing.

The guide uses visual material, maps and photos.

A Georgian sign-language interpreter can usually be found; other sign languages are harder, and we search in advance.

Sensory sensitivity

For a guest on the autism spectrum or with sensory sensitivity we choose quiet hours and less crowded places.

We send the day's plan in advance, in detail, with no surprises.

If a place is too noisy, we always have a back-up option.

Chronic fatigue

For a guest with a chronic condition or fatigue, pace matters more than the number of places.

We plan rest days in the middle of the trip.

Every day has a short version that we switch to on the spot if needed.

Medicines

Medicine that needs refrigeration travels in the car in a cool bag.

We mark the nearest pharmacy and clinic along the route in advance.

A doctor gives medical advice; we arrange the logistics.

Assistance dogs

Rules on accepting assistance dogs vary between hotels and restaurants.

We ask each place in advance and request consent in writing.

We write about the rules for bringing animals in on the vet page.

Companions and helpers

We allow for a companion's seat in the car and room at the hotel.

If you need a professional helper, we find one through a specialist agency.

Medical care is a job for licensed staff.

Heat

Summer heat is especially hard on wheelchair users and guests with chronic conditions.

We plan outdoor places for the morning and an air-conditioned museum or rest at midday.

We always have water and shade in the car.

Winter

In winter snow and ice make cobbles and paths dangerous.

Mountain roads sometimes close, and we change the route accordingly.

We plan winter accessible tours mainly in cities and indoor places.

Flight and arrival

You request assistance for a passenger with reduced mobility from the airline in advance.

Our team meets you from the aircraft to the car.

We write about airport services in a separate section.

Equipment hire

We arrange hire of a wheelchair, walker or portable ramp on the spot.

This is especially useful if your own chair was damaged on the flight.

We write about hire on a separate page.

Group tours

Organisations and groups sometimes request an accessible tour for several guests.

We then plan transport, rooms and toilets for the size of the group.

A group tour takes a lot of preparation and starts early.

Family and child

For the family of a child with a disability we build the tour around the child's rhythm.

We look for the child's adaptive equipment in advance or suggest bringing your own.

We plan activities for siblings too, so the day is enjoyable for everyone.

Insurance

Travel insurance should also cover existing conditions, and we check this before the policy is bought.

Damage to or loss of equipment sometimes needs separate cover.

We write about insurance in a separate section.

Emergencies

We always know 112 and the nearest clinic on the route in advance.

The guide and driver have a short description of your needs, with your consent.

We take a family emergency contact in advance.

Respect

We speak to the person, not to their companion.

We avoid excessive fuss and pity; we offer help and wait for consent.

We ask the same approach of drivers, guides and hotels.

Photos and video

We send you accessibility photos and videos before the tour so you can judge for yourself.

The photos show the steps, doors, surfaces and toilets.

That says more than our word.

Feedback and knowledge

After every tour we record your feedback.

That way we build up accessibility records that help other guests.

If conditions at a place change, we update the record.

Price and extra costs

We add no surcharge for accessibility.

The partner sets the price of special transport or a helper, and you pay them directly.

We show you every cost in a spreadsheet before the tour.

Flexibility

Surprises often crop up on site: a lift out of order, repairs or a full car park.

So every day has a back-up option.

We change the plan on the spot, with your consent.

Planning timeline

We usually start an accessible tour several weeks ahead.

Checking places, special transport and rooms all take time.

In high season it is better to start earlier.

Common mistakes

Checking a hotel's or place's accessibility by its advert alone.

An overloaded day with no plan for breaks and toilets.

Checking the power-chair battery and vehicle size too late.

What we need from you

What equipment you use, and its size and weight.

How far you can walk, what tires you and what helps.

Dates, the places you would like to see and the number of companions.

Cost

Partners set the price of transport, hotels, guides and helpers, and you pay them directly.

We take no commission from partners and add nothing to their prices.

Our planning and coordination fee is separate and agreed in advance.