Wheelchair Accessible Adventure Travel

Iceland

Older buildings may be difficult to enter, with steps and narrow doorways, but a growing number of shops and restaurants are accessible and proprietors are always willing to help if need be. New developments are now designed with less mobile people in mind and many features like pavement drop-offs (curb cuts) in Reykjavic are already in place.
With tour companies becoming more aware and attractions more accessible, everybody, irrespective of physical ability, can enjoy Iceland's frosty and fiery features.

ACCOMMODATION
Many of Iceland's larger hotels have accessible rooms, with Reykjavik's Loftleider and Grand Reykjavik even providing shower chairs. The situation is less comfortable if you are looking for accommodation in small guesthouses or B&Bs, but most can be contacted via email in advance and your needs discussed.
The Icelandic Tourism Board has been striding forward with this issue recently, and promise that in 2007 their website will be updated to indicate accessibility of hotels.
If you wish to explore rural Iceland, Icelandic Farm Holidays have evaluated the suitability of all their farms to visits by people with disabilities and are continually updating this information.

TRANSPORT

By air - Keflavik Airport has aisle chairs to help people to and from their seats on the plane, and there are wheelchairs to assist people within the terminal. Personnel will assist as needed and there are accessible toilets.
Taxis & Car Hire - Minibuses with lifts and ramps can be hired from Iceland Excursions (tel: +354 540 1312; mob: +354 660 1312; e-mail: iceland(at)grayline.is; web: www.icelandexcursions.is), although they are usually working for local schools so may only be available during weekends and holidays. If you use other taxi companies, you will need to be able to transfer into standard cars. If necessary, drivers are normally happy to help, although it's worth remembering that they are not trained in this skill. Although car rental companies offer vehicles with automatic transmission, none are yet fitted with hand controls.
By bus - A large percentage of Reykjavik's city buses, at least on the more common routes, have large doors, space allocated for wheelchairs and a 'kneeling' facility to allow easy boarding. Mindy Desens says that the drivers are normally prepared to help if need be, but warns that she did not see any sort of tie-downs on these vehicles.
Reykjavik Excursions now runs a large lift-equipped bus as one of their regular Fly Buses. This vehicle can be used for airport transfers or day trips and can accommodate many wheelchairs, but has to be pre-booked.

ACTIVITIES

Reykjavik's Laugardalslaug Swimming Pool and The Blue Lagoon geothermal spa both have accessible toilets and facilities for changing and showering. The former has a hydraulic lift chair into one of the pools and the latter has a wheelchair available for use on site (as the highly mineralised water can be corrosive). Several other pools in Reykjavik indicate from their descriptions that they are wheelchair accessible. One older indoor pool, Sundhollin, states that it's accessible in some brochures, but apparently it is not.

Various waterfalls and geyser sites have hard, flat paths to them, and the popular "Golden Circle" tour is possible using the lift-bus (if booked through Reykjavik Excursions). Although wheelchair users are not be able to get very close to the waterfall, they can still get a good view of it, and with minimal assistance, can easily reach the viewing area for the Geyser.

Whalewatching: Most boat crews will do their best to provide whatever help you need, but there are none with comprehensive facilities. The most accessible vessel is the Hafsulan on which the main viewing area is reached with good ramps; however, the indoor area is below deck via steep stairs, as is a small whale museum.
The Whale Museum in Husavik claims to be suitable for people with limited mobility, with bathroom facilities and several places for people to sit down and either rest, read or watch one of the presentations.

HEALTH

Doctors will know about 'everyday' illnesses, but as with anywhere, you must understand and be able to explain your own particular medical requirements. If possible, take all necessary medication and equipment with you, and it is advisable to pack this in your hand luggage during flights in case your main luggage gets lost.

SPECIALIST TOUR COMPANIES & FURTHER INFORMATION

Lucky Mindy Adventures (tel: +1 877-291-1053; email: luckymin(at)hutchtel.net; web: www.luckymindy.com) is a US-based operator that visits Iceland frequently. Mindy Desens who runs the company is a font of knowledge on access in Iceland.