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The following report is filed by Lieven and Ingrid Vandoorne from Belgium:

Just back from a week trip to India and very enthousiastic about an organisation who offers trips for people in a wheelchair to India.

To introduces ourselves: me, Ingrid paraplegic (car-accident in 1995,small wheelchair,about 60 cm) and my husband, 40 years old. We travel very frequently,always on our own,never in group and normally we organise all the arrangements ourselves.

This time, related to this destination, it was ofcourse much easier if someone would take care of us. After research on the internet, we found an organisation named Timeless Excursions and we just tried it out! In fact it was great.

Once, the managing director, Mrs.Renu Tawadey, met a Norvegian tetraplegic and she was so enthousiastic about his way of living and his courage that she decided to do utmost to make as  many places accessible as possible. She negociated with hotels over two years and finally she
attainted that some rooms were made accessible. 3 in Delhi, 3 in Agra and 6 in Jaipur.

We met her personally,in fact she invited us,because she wanted to know herself personally about our expierences with her agency.

     Brief story of our trip:

flight Lufthansa : Brussels-Frankfurt-Delhi. Lufthansa was very good, transfers were arranged well and the staff was very friendly.

At arrival we met Mr Rakesh from the agency, the car was ready and we went to the Ashok hotel.

Indeed, the room was accessible and the bathroom has a roll-in shower. 

In front of the hotel there are steps but you can enter very easely from the back of the hotel. In fact all this details, you can read on their website (http://www.timelessexcursions.com/dis.htm ) and they
are correct and detailed.


Fathepur Sikri

We did a guided tour (personal guide and a personal helper! Never it was so easy for my husband!). In Delhi you can find some ramps in some tourist places (due to a recent visit of
Stephen Hawkings to Delhi) but in other cities as Agra it is very poor. And there are steps! But of course if you have a personal assistant it is a pleasure to be able to see all those magnificant buildings!


Agra Fort

We went also to Agra in an air-conditionned ambassador car. The Claks Shiraz hotel was ok and we visited  beautiful monuments as Fathepur Sikri, the Agra Fort and of course the Taj Mahal.


Taj Mahal

We never thought we could go to India on such a 'relax' way. The people of the agency do everything they could to make you feel comfortable and we think that Mrs Tawaday made great efforts for the disabled. Just go and see!

Also the food was delicieus!

http://www.timelessexcursions.com/index.htm

     Lieven and Ingrid Vandoorne- Belgium