neejas

I'm wanting to take gct china and Yangtze 21 day trip. My questioned is to those who have been on this trip. My mom is semi handicapped with some mobility issues and can't walk for great distances. Is this gct trip tollerable to semi handicapped individuals? I always assist my mom and she has a 12 pound collapseable wheelchair she always takes on trips and a walking stick for walking. Anyone familiar with this trip and/or major sites as to wheelchair accessibility? Also there are 5 inner country flights. Are the planes accessible from easy terminal access or the tarmac? I know there are daily excursions to many sites and optional tours. Willing to be selective as to certain excursions. I've read some posts about the many steps to get to the river cruise. I really have wanted to take this trip but will not go unless my mom can as she also wants to go. Any information or comments appreciated.

shelleyk

I did not go with GCT, but I did a trip with a similar itinerary a few years ago. I would not take this trip with a person who has mobility issues. Not only are there many steps to contend with getting to and from the ship, but the ship may not have an elevator. I know GCT has a "warning" on some of it's trips about the need for people to be in good physical condition in order to enjoy the trip. Although I think they would allow you to take the trip, if I were you I would choose another trip which would be easier for you and your mother to negotiate with a walker/wheelchair than this one.

PeterN_H

Airports even in smaller towns in China tend to be more modern and superior to the average in many a more developed nation. But the rest of the news is bad. The cruise ships on the Yangzi are small, originally built to cope with the Gezhou Ba (dam) widths, and unless new vessels have been added recently (doubtful, considering the reduced demand) are unlikely to have elevators. The Yangzi is steep-sided (they aren't called gorges for nothing, although much less impressive than promoted) and once off ship every direction is up. Chongqing, likely to be the point of embarkation and disembarkation is nothing but hills.

There are more general points about wheelchair access for China in this thread:

http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...s-in-china.cfm

Peter N-H

Lolo12

I took a Viking trip to China 2 years ago.
There was a woman in her 70s who, although she could walk, was rather frail and didn't have the stamina for a full day of sightseeing on her feet. She had a wheelchair and arranged for someone to wheel her around. The ship had an elevator, so that wasn't much of a problem.

Getting on and off the boat was a challenge in many of the areas. There are locals who make a few bucks by carrying elderly folks up the stairs to where the buses await.

She was wheeled around the area by the Great Wall, but obviously couldn't navigate the steps. However, I was there right after the summer Olympics in '08 during the Special Olympics for the handicapped. There were tons of disabled folks along the great wall in their wheelchairs.

In Xian she was wheeled all around the Warriors exhibit and didn't miss a thing.

This woman did not do many of the daily excursions - she was more selective. I guess it's all about your mom and how adventurous and capable she is.
Most of the airports have some type of cart that can transport folks to the gate.

If your mom can do some moderate walking, has a cane and a wheelchair, she should be able to do most sightseeing.

I would say - go for it.
Worse come to worse, she can always sit while you do your thing.

GCT is known for catering to elderly passengers - what do they recommend for her??

neejas

Thank you for your comments. I contacted gct on this particular trip and it is a fast paced nonstop trip. Indicated that a person with mobility issues may have difficulty on this trip. My desire to go is leaning me in the direction of booking this trip. Gct represenative indicated that the customer or traveler would be responsible for their own care. I agree.

I would expect to hit the major sites and my mom could take some breaks on some days. I feel from your comments that it depends on certain areas in china, terrain, and locations. I'm mentally trying to get a grasp on what itenary I can handle with my mom in China.

I traveled to Egypt with gct in 07 for first time and my mother did fine.

Also would like to know the weather in various areas in China in November. Warm clothing I'm sure.

I'm going to continue to do some research into the places gct is travelling and think about your comments to decide to go or choose another vacation.

Still give me feedback and thanks for your comments.

rkkwan

It depends on which airport and often your luck whether you'll board and deplane with stairs. Some airports while modern, still board significant amount of flights with stairs, like Shenzhen SZX. And one time at Chengdu (CTU), while the flight was parked at a jetway gate, we were bused from a different gate, and then climbed the stairs next to the jetway.