Cluj-Napoca is a very walkable city, especially within the Old Town where the majority of landmarks are in close proximity to each other. In addition to this, the surfaces (bar the cobbly Unirii Square) make for an easy roll for wheelchair users with drop curbs in appropriate places.
One of the main city landmarks is, of course, Saint Michael Church located in Unirii Square. One is able to simply walk in FREE of charge with a large portion of the main area being wheelchair accessible…
Other notable landmarks including Dormition of the Mother of God Metropolitan Cathedral are just a stones throw away making it perfect for a slow wander…
However, it is worth noting that the majority of shops and restaurants do have steps to enter. The plan was for one to visit the Turnul Croitorilor fortification before heading back to Cluj International Airport, however, several flights of steps made one think again.
One will be surprised to discover that we are still in Cluj-Napoca, let me briefly explain! Last week, I pulled ones shoulder whilst working out and, essentially, made it a whole lot worse when visiting Turda Salt Mine thus a change of plans were in order for today.
When it comes to mountain ranges, Romania is famous for the Carpathians which form a ring around the country. Said mountain range has always been of interest, perhaps because of its name association with the Titanic? After a quick Google, it appeared that the Western Carpathians run approximately 90 minute drive from Cluj-Napoca within the Apuseni Natural Park hence becoming our new destination.
As I mentioned, one has been hiring a Renault Austral, perfect for storing luggage and a manual wheelchair…
Driving around Romania and, indeed, Cluj-Napoca, it is clear to see that the choice to join the European Union in 2007 has created a sense of pride in addition to the numerous infrastructure projects being funded.
The scenery changed drastically as one headed into the Apuseni Natural Park from flat rolling hills and plains to winding roads producing spectacular vistas…
There are many restaurants dotted around the area, however, it seemed appropriate to choose one located on the banks of one of the lakes, tranquillity at it’s finest…
Tomorrow, the plan is to roll around the Old Town which has yet to be explored on foot before heading back to the UK via Cluj International Airport and to Superbunny!
One of the highlights of the Transylvania region that has gain attention recently is the Turda Salt Mine (Salina Turda). This attraction has been born out of a former salt mine and contains fairground rides and shops.
During research, the website stated that the salt mine is partially accessible for wheelchair users, however, the ticket office simply looked at ones wheelchair and said ‘not possible due to steps’. Disabled individuals can enter for FREE providing that they can provide evidence of disability.
Indeed, there is an elevator to access the main area of the mine, however to get to said elevator, one must first descend a series of staircases, some easier than others…
To add to this, steps are present when exiting the elevator, however, the sight once at the bottom is spectacular…
It must be said that the majority of surfaces are on the rocky side meaning a bumpy ride for wheelchair users. In order to access the very bottom and the lake, it is necessary to descend another elevator. From here, one can hire boats. Now, when one says boats, I mean paddle boats. Although there are no assistance features, seeing the salt mine from the water is a surreal experience…
Tomorrow, one leaves Cluj-Napoca and heads down to Brasov through the Carpathian Mountains to visit the famous Bran Castle the following day.
After a short 2.5 hour flight from London Luton and a rather precarious ramp into the Ambulift, one exited Cluj-Napoca International Airport. As mentioned previously, this trip is slightly different as one has decided to hire a car for the duration rather than wheelchair accessible transportation. More details on that to follow.
For the next two nights, one is staying at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Cluj-Napoca located around a 20 minute walk from the Old Town. As the hotel is a new development, accessible rooms contain ample space for wheelchair users plus a spacious wet room…
Tomorrow, we head out of Cluj-Napoca to Salina Turda, an underground salt mine turned tourist attraction. The website states that it is only partly accessible for wheelchair users, let’s find out!
Romania, especially the region of Transylvania has been full of myth and magic for centuries. It has also been on ones bucket list, however, as of 2025, the Transylvania region has some way to go in terms of accessible infrastructure.
Of course, when one thinks of Transylvania, it is probable that images of Bran Castle come to mind due to its association with Count Dracula. Unfortunately, a large proportion of this famous attraction i.e. the castle itself is off limits to most wheelchair users due to an unfathomable amount of steps. The region, surrounded by the Carpathian Mountains is also home to the Turda Salt Mine just located outside of Cluj-Napoca.
When planning this trip, one toyed with various ideas as to how to best explore Northern Romania including driving the WAV down from the UK! However, as Superbunny would be unable to access Bran Castle and a proportion of the Turda Salt Mine regardless, it seemed appropriate to leave said wheelchair in the UK and hire a car for the duration.
For the first two days, one is staying in Romanias second largest city, Cluj-Napoca to visit the Turda Salt Mine before heading down south to Bran Castle which is around a 4 hour drive. One has then booked a (cheap) hotel nearby before heading back to the airport in Cluj-Napoca.
Steeped in history and mystery, Jordan is a country overlooked by many individuals due to issues with the preconceived infrastructure. Whilst this is true to an extent, companies such as Alpha Bus and Limousine Co. are making strides to ensure inclusivity despite these barriers, especially for foreign tourists.
It is worth noting that only a limited number of hotels in Jordan are fully accessible for wheelchair users i.e. wet rooms. This also applies to international hotel chains such as Marriott and Hilton hence one would recommend that it is checked out before booking.
Although it is clear that Jordan is becoming more inclusive, one cannot ignore the issues with the current infrastructure and it is important to work in harmony with it rather than perceiving it as an obstacle. This is evident driving around Amman where drop curbs are limited in addition to tree roots blocking the pavements. For this reason, one would highly recommend hiring a driver and accessible vehicle.
For one, staying at the Movenpick Dead Sea Resort enabled more freedom despite its isolated location. Superbunny was able to roam around the vicinity of the hotel without needing to step into crazy traffic in contrast to staying in the heart of Amman.
However, it must be said that there is a caveat to staying at the Dead Sea. Nearly all the hotels will not allow any type of food to be taken in, presumably so said hotel can charge extortionate prices. A shopping centre is located around 5-10 minutes walk containing a number of much cheaper restaurants. Rather cunningly, the street lights have been turned off between the hotels and shopping centre but if one is prepared to roll a little with very limited lighting, it is definitely worth it budget wise.
One of the highlights of Jordan is, of course, Petra. Due to the lack of information regarding the accessibility of the site for electric wheelchairs, oneself and Superbunny were flying blind. However, there was no need to worry providing that one is prepared for a bumpy ride at times, especially on the way to the Treasury.
Thanks again to Alpha Bus and Limousine Co. for opening up the beautiful country of Jordan to wheelchair users, definitely a ‘must see’ country…
A ‘must see’ city whilst in Jordan is its beautiful capital of Amman. During the planning stages, one watched various ‘walking tour’ videos on YouTube to gain a sense of its accessibility and ‘rollability’. It was clear that one was going to encounter some of the same issues as Chennai in terms of the lack of drop curbs in addition to trees, traffic lights and other street furniture being located in the middle of pavements with little room to get past. It was for this reason that one decided it best to get chauffeured around the city in the wheelchair accessible van.
After a quick drive around the financial district, one arrived at the King Abdullah I Mosque which is believed to be the oldest mosque in Amman. Although steps lead up to the structure, a ramp (a lump of concrete) is located around the rear. Due to pavement issues and parking, it is necessary to roll up the main road to reach said ramp, however, drivers are courteous to ones presence…
Rather surprisingly, one was allowed into the mosque in Superbunny (after being denied access in Istanbul) to marvel at the architecture…
The next stop was the Citadel which stands proud over Amman and provides citywide views from every corner…
From previous research, one knew that the area was relatively accessible for wheelchair users. Again, disabled individuals can enter for FREE but companions must pay. It is worth noting that the main paths around the site consist of smooth paving. Of course, if one decides to take a detour, this may become a little bumpy…
Regarding accessibility of restaurants, a large proportion have one or two steps thus prior planning is recommended. However, ones private driver was able to seek an accessible traditional restaurant after making a few calls…
Driving through Downtown Amman, it seemed appropriate to stop off at the Roman Amphitheatre. Compared to the other places of interest, the entrance was up a flight of steps hence the manual wheelchair was used. As usual for Jordan, disabled individuals can enter for FREE. What is baffling, however, is that several ramps are located within the complex despite steps to enter…
There are also a few museum exhibits but, yet again, these have steps to enter. Before heading back to the hotel, one stopped by Rainbow Street which one was led to believe was a market area. In reality, it is simply a quirky art installation…
Tomorrow, one heads back to London Luton via Queen Alia International Airport.
One cannot visit the country of Jordan without a trip to Petra, one of the wonders of the world. Today, we stepped into uncharted territory due to the lack of information regarding accessibility of the site, especially for electric wheelchairs.
Petra is located around a 3 hour drive from the resorts surrounding the Dead Sea. However, a perk of having a private driver meant that one could take the scenic route across the Jordanian desert. This meant winding our way through canyons taking in breathtaking views…
Upon arriving at Petra, one was surprised to see a fairly modern entrance complete with ramps etc. It is also worth noting that disabled individuals can enter for FREE, however, any companions must pay…
As the trails inside of Petra span 5km, one had to be conscious of Superbunnys battery life hence decided to stick to the ‘main’ trail. Despite this, said trail still takes between 3-5 hours to complete.
Leaving the visitor centre behind, one must roll around 15-20 minutes down to the start of As Siq. This is where the famous Treasury is located. Granted that this initial section is a little bumpy under foot, however, it is possible to pave a smooth (ish) path…
Once the entrance of As Siq is reached, its a further 2km of twists and turns before reaching the Treasury. 90% of this section has been paved over making for an easy roll for wheelchair users…
However, a potential issue for a wheelchair user comes within the other 10%. Every so often, the smooth paving gives way to rather large cobble stones which one can only assume have been left for preservation reasons. Indeed, it is somewhat possible to navigate a smoother route, however, Superbunny still struggled without assistance.
After around 2km, the famous Treasury unveils itself…
It is worth noting that the paving gives way to a sandy and rough surface here. However, it is still possible for a wheelchair user to navigate the area…
At the Treasury, it is possible to purchase refreshments albeit at a high price.
As one had already rolled around 3km, it seemed sensible to carry on just for another kilometre. It is worth noting that, after the Treasury, the surfaces become a lot more rough and sandy. However, if one keeps to the tracks made by the transportation buggies, it is not a problem.
Just a short walk away is the Street of Facades and the Theatre. It is possible to enter into the rock, however, the area seems to be used more of a toilet nowadays…
In conclusion, if one is content with a bumpy ride, Petra is definitely doable in an electric wheelchair. The only potential issue is combating the cobble stones on the way to the Treasury, however, if one can seek assistance, this can be overcome.
Tomorrow, we take a trip around Amman courtesy of the wheelchair accessible van.
One of the reasons for coming to Jordan was to be able to ‘float’ in the Dead Sea hence it made sense to base ourselves within the ‘tourist’ area containing a myriad of hotel chains. Now, as you have the likes of Hilton and Marriott within said area, one would think that it would be easy to find an accessible room. It appears not, as during the planning, one discovered that nearly all accessible rooms do not have a wet room with a shower chair. It is for this reason that the Movenpick Dead Sea Resort was chosen.
Jordanian hospitality thus far has been very welcoming, especially towards oneself as a disabled individual. Prior to ones visit, a member of staff, Ahmad, was very keen to ensure that everything was in place in preparation. This extended to his physical interaction with oneself on arrival i.e. ensuring that one could see the hotel map whilst explaining…
The accessible room has ample space for a wheelchair user plus an adequate wet room with a shower chair which one was craving for during travels last year…
Akin to many hotels in the area, the Movenpick Resort has a private beach where one can ‘float’ in the Dead Sea. One is able to roll from the hotel to the waters edge (literally), however it is worth noting that said path contains rather steep hills. There is an option to hop on an electric buggy, however, this isn’t wheelchair accessible…
Like Ahmad, the patrolling Life Guard was very willing to assist where necessary i.e. lending a hand to get oneself into the (very salty) water to experience this…
N.B. Salty water hurts the eyes!
Back on dry land, the Life Guard, again assisted wherever possible i.e. covering oneself in Dead Sea mud (and bringing the hose pipe!)…
Tomorrow, one jumps back in the wheelchair accessible van for the drive to the world famous Petra. Let’s see how Superbunny (or an electric wheelchair) navigates the UNESCO site…
Jordan has been on ones bucket list for some time now, mainly to experience Petra and float in the Dead Sea. However, it has been pushed back due to the lack of wheelchair accessible transportation in the country. Granted, one could have explored in the manual wheelchair but if famous UNESCO sites such as Petra were to be rolled around, it had to be with Superbunny! Only last year did Alpha Bus and Limousine Co. make it possible to explore Jordan in an electric wheelchair.
After a 5 hour flight from London Luton, one touched down at Queen Alia International Airport. It is worth noting that baggage handlers will not release oversized baggage (such as Superbunny) until they have cross referenced the relevant information hence it’s handy to have your baggage receipt at the ready to make a quick getaway.
The driver met one at arrivals and walked us out to the wheelchair accessible vehicle that we will be using over the next week. It has to be said that said vehicle must be one of the most luxurious and spacious that Superbunny has ever rolled into. A rear lift makes for easy access and a set of tie down points are available enabling a wheelchair user to choose where to sit…
The vehicle also has ample space for luggage meaning that it was even possible to fit the manual wheelchair in without the need for folding.
Tomorrow, one is remaining at the hotel (Movenpick Dead Sea Resort) to take a dip in the famous Dead Sea courtesy of a private beach!
