Volcano Explorer Tour from Kailua-Kona

This 8-hour Volcano Explorer tour takes you through the spectacular Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to the Kilauea Volcano, with minimal stops along the way. Admire the scenery that makes Hawaiʻi so special. Designed for visitors short on time, while leaving you free to explore the most amazing natural landscapes of Hawaiʻi Island without the usual tourist stresses. The Express tour includes: beverages, snack baskets, lunch or dinner, park fees, and transportation.

Tour pickup:
Begin your tour at the designated meeting point in central Kailua-Kona at the Target on Makala Boulevard. Relax in comfort en route to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park which is considered to be one of Hawaii’s top natural attractions. Leave your vehicle in peace knowing it is in a well-lit and monitored lot.

Punalu’u Bake Shop:
We stop at the southernmost bakery in the United States to enjoy freshly baked Hawaiian sweet bread and pastries. They are airy, deep-fried, and sprinkled with granulated sugar! You are in for a tasty treat, that is a local favorite! The bakery has a wide spread of flavors for its pastries and a full selection of goods available for purchase.

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park:
The crown jewel of the Big Island contains two of the world’s most active volcanoes – Kilauea and Mauna Loa. We explore the Visitor’s Center, feel the heat from the steam vents, and venture to the Kilauea and Kilauea Iki craters. It is then a short 20-minute hike through a 500-year-old cave called “Nahuku” or the Thurston Lava Tube. This cave sits at 3,900 feet elevation, which is only a fraction of the Mauna Loa peak at 13,679 feet elevation. The visitors’ center hosts interesting and interactive displays. Please note: In the event of an active lava flow or an eruption that poses a threat, we will not be able to access certain parts of the park for safety reasons.

Rainbow Falls/Hilo Town:
The scenery on this side of the island is the postcard-perfect example of Hawai’i — a lush rainforest that is home to the 80-foot-tall Rainbow Falls. The waterfall plunges over a natural lava cave and into the Wailuku River below. It is said that the Hawaiian goddess Hina, mother of the storied demigod Maui, dwells in the lava cave behind Rainbow Falls. On a sunny day, rainbows reflect off the mist of the falls, and it is perfectly magical.

Tour drop-off:
When your tour comes to an end, return in comfort to the drop-off point in central Kailua-Kona where your adventure began.

This 8-hour Volcano Explorer tour takes you through the spectacular Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to the Kilauea Volcano, with minimal stops along the way. Admire the scenery that makes Hawaiʻi so special. Designed for visitors short on time, while leaving you free to explore the most amazing natural landscapes of Hawaiʻi Island without the usual tourist stresses. The Express tour includes: beverages, snack baskets, lunch or dinner, park fees, and transportation.

Tour pickup:
Begin your tour at the designated meeting point in central Kailua-Kona at the Target on Makala Boulevard. Relax in comfort en route to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park which is considered to be one of Hawaii’s top natural attractions. Leave your vehicle in peace knowing it is in a well-lit and monitored lot.

Punalu’u Bake Shop:
We stop at the southernmost bakery in the United States to enjoy freshly baked Hawaiian sweet bread and pastries. They are airy, deep-fried, and sprinkled with granulated sugar! You are in for a tasty treat, that is a local favorite! The bakery has a wide spread of flavors for its pastries and a full selection of goods available for purchase.

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park:
The crown jewel of the Big Island contains two of the world’s most active volcanoes – Kilauea and Mauna Loa. We explore the Visitor’s Center, feel the heat from the steam vents, and venture to the Kilauea and Kilauea Iki craters. It is then a short 20-minute hike through a 500-year-old cave called “Nahuku” or the Thurston Lava Tube. This cave sits at 3,900 feet elevation, which is only a fraction of the Mauna Loa peak at 13,679 feet elevation. The visitors’ center hosts interesting and interactive displays. Please note: In the event of an active lava flow or an eruption that poses a threat, we will not be able to access certain parts of the park for safety reasons.

Rainbow Falls/Hilo Town:
The scenery on this side of the island is the postcard-perfect example of Hawai’i — a lush rainforest that is home to the 80-foot-tall Rainbow Falls. The waterfall plunges over a natural lava cave and into the Wailuku River below. It is said that the Hawaiian goddess Hina, mother of the storied demigod Maui, dwells in the lava cave behind Rainbow Falls. On a sunny day, rainbows reflect off the mist of the falls, and it is perfectly magical.

Tour drop-off:
When your tour comes to an end, return in comfort to the drop-off point in central Kailua-Kona where your adventure began.

What is the group size of a Volcano Explorer Tour? Kailani Tours prefers small-group experiences, generally booking no more than 12 guests per vehicle. The Mercedes fleet consists of 15 passenger vehicles. If you’re looking for something even more intimate, private tours can also be arranged.

How crowded does it get at the stops on a Volcano Explorer Tour? While we cannot predict the crowds at popular destinations, we can assure you that our tours have itineraries best suited to avoid the most popular windows of time at specific destinations. We also have daily standing reservations with the Winery to ensure our groups are shown priority attention.

Can you accommodate wheelchairs? Though we have a compact collapsible wheelchair available for guests, our guides cannot push/assist with wheelchair mobility. Our tours are active and require some physical exertion. While on tour guests may experience some or all of the following: a large step up into the van, tight aisles, steep hills in either direction, stairs, uneven surfaces, wet surfaces, and loose sand. If you have any questions or would like to know more details about the physical aspects of your specific tour, please contact Kailani Tours staff at 808-938-4057 or [email protected].

What should I bring on a Volcano Explorer Tour? Kailani Tours Hawaii will provide your meals, snack baskets, beverages, hiking gear, jackets, parkas, umbrellas, flashlights, other related gear for all weather conditions, and items to help with car sickness/nausea. Please come prepared with close-toed shoes, a hat, sunscreen, and a camera.

Is this tour all-inclusive? This tour includes a variety of refreshments and snacks in the vehicle and covers all tastings, meals, and entrance fees required. We work closely with coffee roasters, wineries, and other establishments on the island to bring you exclusive tastings and experiences.

Can you accommodate dietary needs and restrictions on this tour? We want to accommodate dietary restrictions and allergy requests as much as possible for each of our guests. Please, notify us immediately if anyone in your party is vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, lactose-intolerant, or has any food-related allergies. By notifying us early, we can be best prepared for your tour meal/snack basket/beverage needs. Should there be no contact by 2:00 PM, the day prior to your tour, the meals ordered on your behalf will default to regular with no restrictions. Since gathering these details is time sensitive, we look forward to hearing from you soon.

Who is this tour suitable for? This is the ideal Big Island tour for families, couples, friends, and solo travelers who want to see what the Big Island has to offer in a shorter amount of time. We achieve this schedule by picking up at one centralized location in Kailua-Kona. We welcome ages 5 and up on this public Volcano Explorer Tour. Choosing a private tour option is required for children under 5 years of age.

I’m traveling with children, what should I know? Infants, toddlers, or children under 5 years of age are not permitted on public tours, a private tour will need to be secured for families traveling with small children. To abide by Hawaiʻi State Law all children 3 years and younger must be in a proper safety seat. Children ages 4 to 7 who weigh between 40 and 80 pounds and are less than 57 inches tall must be in a booster seat. We have all child seat options available upon request. Please, notify us of your children’s age and seat requirements as soon as possible.

How much walking do you do on a Volcano Explorer Tour? This tour allows people to explore the island at their fitness and comfort level. It is our “Easy” tour. You will be given the opportunity to exit the vehicle to enjoy the lush and unique landscapes of Greenwell Coffee Farm, Punalu’u Black Sand Beach, Volcano Winery, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, and Rainbow Falls. All walks are optional and it is up to you how far you walk at these destinations. The Thurston Lava Tube is the most strenuous part of the tour with roughly 15 steps down, a twenty-minute or 1/3 mile hike through the tube, and roughly 20 steps up.

Is alcohol allowed on tour? Hawai’i laws do not permit the consumption of or an open container of alcohol in any vehicle. There are stops on the tours that offer adult beverages that you are able to purchase specifically. We ask you to remember restrooms are not always readily available and motion sickness is already a common occurrence on island roads. We ask that you drink responsibly while in our care. Kailani Tours reserves the right to ask a guest to disembark if necessary.

What locations do you pick up from? In order to keep our driving time to a minimum for the Volcano Explorer Tour we offer only one centralized location for this tour. You will meet your guide at the Kailua-Kona Target parking lot near McDonald’s on Makala Boulevard.

Are tips or gratuities required? Tips and gratuities are not required, they are greatly appreciated though. Your guide works hard to keep you safe, entertained, and satisfied for 11+ hours. The wealth of information you’ll be exposed to is impressive. The guides spend a lot of time training and perfecting their skills for you. So, if you enjoy yourself, if your guide gives impeccable attention to your needs, and if you feel safe in their care, then show them your appreciation for a job well done! Of course, this is only a recommendation but common tipping for full-day excursions ranges between $20-$40 per person.

What are the benefits of a Private tour? The most common reasons for guests to choose a private tour over a public tour include: the ability to go at your own pace, a customizable itinerary with tour flexibility, customizable timing, customizable pickup/drop off locations, upgraded meals/snack baskets/beverages, no other personalities/strangers, not waiting on rouge public participants, more intimate, any age is permitted, and you’ll be placed with a tenured guide. We have luxury SUVs available for smaller parties (1-5 passengers) and Mercedes Sprinter or Streamliner Vans for larger parties (5-12 passengers).