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Kailua-Kona Tours
Big Island in a Day: Volcanoes Waterfalls Sightseeing and History
5

Big Island in a Day: Volcanoes Waterfalls Sightseeing and History

By Wasabi Tours Hawaii
Recommended by 98% of travellers
98% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
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Exploring Hawaii’s Big Island can be a big undertaking, but it doesn’t have to be. Avoid the stress of planning out all the details with this guided tour that includes round-trip transport, lunch, snacks, and bottled water for your convenience. Because there’s minimal walking distance during this tour, it’s perfect for people of all ages and fitness levels. Plus, if the weather gets dreary, rain gear is provided to keep you dry.
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation

Ages 4-99, max of 13 per group
Duration: 11h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: English
More

Highlights
  • All transportation included, letting you focus on the scenery
  • Learn about the unique ecosystem from your guide's commentary
  • Lunch, snacks, and bottled water included so you can travel light
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off in Kona makes for a seamless tour
Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best
2024

  • Small Group Tour Lead by a Professional Guide
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Lunch
  • Bottled Water
  • Luxury Mercedes Sprinter Van Transportation
  • All Fees and Taxes
  • Entry/Admission - Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
  • Entry/Admission - Akaka Falls State Park
What's not included
  • Gratuities

Start your day's adventure with pickup from your Kohala or Kona hotel in a comfortable tour vehicle, and then head out for the farther reaches of the Big Island. Be sure to bring good walking shoes and dress in layers, as the temperature can vary widely at different elevations. Enjoy traveling with a small group of fellow travelers, limited to just 13 people.  Pass Parker Ranch and into Waimea, where the landscape changes, and take in views of the scenery instead of fussing about directions and logistics. Stop at Waipo Valley lookout for some photo ops and listen to your guide's narrative about King Kamehameha. Wind down the Hamakua Coast toward Akaka Falls and Rainbow Falls, two of the area's most beautiful. Then, continue on to Punalu'u Beach for a stroll along the black-sand beach, before headinmg to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. On the way back to Kona, pass Kealakekua Bay and learn about the area's bloody battle history. Stop at a Kona coffee farm to learn about coffee before you're dropped off at your hotel.

Start:Multiple pickup locations offered.
    Pickup details
    • IMPORTANT: If you are staying on the Island of Oahu or Maui, please DO NOT book this tour. This tour is TOO LONG for a day trip from the neighboring islands. This tour only pick up from major hotels and resorts in Kona and Kohala Coast areas of the Big Island of Hawaii. We don't pick up or drop off at Kona Airport. We also pick up at the following locations: Yoga Barre at Queens' Marketplace (69-201 Waikoloa Beach Dr, Waikoloa Village, HI 96738) Foodland Farms at The Shops at Mauna Lani ( 1330 Mauna Lani Dr, Waimea, HI 96743 ) The supplier will send you a confirmation email with the exact pickup location and time. Please call the supplier if you didn't receive an email.
    Hotel pickup offered
    During checkout you will be able to select from the list of included hotels.
      End:This activity ends back at the meeting point.

        • Not wheelchair accessible
        If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 6651BIOD

        • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
        • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
        • Most travellers can participate
        • Operates in all weather conditions; please dress appropriately.
        • Children under 4 years old are not allowed to participate
        • This tour only departs from Kailua Kona and Waikoloa on the Big Island of Hawaii
        • Itineraries may change, and refunds will not be given for closures and itinerary changes out of our control. Tours run rain or shine.
        • Vegetarian or gluten free meals are available, please advise at time of booking if required
        • Not possible for travelers require walkers/wheelchairs
        • This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
        • This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund
        • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 13 travellers

        • For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.

        If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 6651BIOD

        From
        ₹22,395.07
        per adult
        Select date and travellers

        Similar experiences

        Itinerary
        • Pass by
          Kohala Coast
          Kailua Pier
        • 1
        • 2
        • 3
        • 4
          Pass by
          Hilo
        • 5
        • 6
        • 7
          Pass by
          Parker Ranch
        About the operator
        Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
        • Wasabi Tours Hawaii
          5,780
          United States
          Joined in May 2013
        • Kreegerp
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Fantastic tour!
          Aaron was a fantastic tour guide! Very detailed, kind, and kept a good pace throughout the day. Offered so much information—definitely got out money’s worth!
          Written 11 January 2025
        • 857stevenab
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Do it !
          Great time and excellent guide. Scott gives his all. Super knowledgeable! Great performance and personality. Excellent driver and Mercedes comfort van/ bus.
          Written 10 January 2025
        • Lisa N
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Waterfalls on the east side of the island puts you in touch with nature at its finest
          The waterfalls were amazing. I loved swimming in the cold pool. I didn’t get too close to the waterfall, but being close was so amazing. I highly recommend this tour.
          Written 10 January 2025
        • Lisa N
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          So much in one day!
          We packed a lot into 1 day. Traveling around all the volcanic areas. Donuts! Black sand! Coffee Farm! Lunch! Lava tube! Return to caldera at twilight where we could faintly see the remnants of the eruption. We finished off with stargazing of Saturn, Jupiter, and the moon.
          Written 10 January 2025
        • klb162016
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Another fantastic day with Wasabi Tours!
          This is our second tour with Wasabi Tours, the first was 2.5 years ago. Our driver/guide was Scott R. It was a fantastic day! It’s so nice to have a local take care of all the driving/directions/parking/potty breaks/lunch/dinner/phone pic tips—pretty much the entire day. He is a very kind and sweet human being that gave his spin on this amazing island. Having taken the tour before he also showed us two areas that we did not visit in the volcano park. We loved all his local tips and information. It was a wonderful day! Thank you Scott!
          Written 7 January 2025
        • E3125HUjanaw
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          GET Felix! Master tour guide!
          Start to finish, our tour guide Felix was incredible! Safe driver, beyond knowledgable of the Big Island; it's flora, towns, unique stops, paths and people. Every time we turned around Felix directed us to new sights. Very accommodating to our group of young and old, constantly watching out to keep even our rowdy boys safe. He had snacks, water, lights for the kids, jackets, binoculars, and even a laser pointer for constellations! His knowledge of this tour will go far beyond your expectations.
          Written 6 January 2025
        • Janice C
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Exceptional guide on the big island!
          We did 4 days with Drey Basaldua of Wasabi Tours and saw everything we wanted to see with all of Wasabi’s tours including Volcano National Park, the Waterfalls including a swim at the base of a private one, lava tunnels, visit to Kona coffee, Vanillerie, etc…. The experiences were beyond amazing but the highlight was our guide Dreu. He was so much fun and shared his love of the big island through his extensive knowledge of the history, legends, flora and fauna of the island. We really enjoyed his energy and consider him our Hawaiian teacher and friend! Mahalo!
          Written 5 January 2025
        • 609riche
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Top experience of the trip
          If you go to Hawaii, you have to go to the Big Island. If you go to the Big Island, you have to take this tour. If you take this tour, definitely ask for Dreu. This tour could not have been better. The top experience on the trip and one of the top all time. Volcanoes, black sand beaches, sea turtles and star gazing just to name some of the sights.
          Written 4 January 2025
        • sarahtbest
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Super fun day out with Dreu
          We did the twilight volcanoes and stargazing tour with Dreu Basaldua, and it was truly fantastic. Be forewarned, it’s a VERY long day (when he tells you it’s 12 hours, it’s no joke) but Dreu does an exceptional job of exemplifying the aloha spirit. I don’t want to spoil any of the surprises, but on our tour, we drank coffee, snacked on pastries, saw honu snoozing on black sands, and took a lengthier walk up to a viewing area that featured amazing views of the recent Kilauea eruption. During that time, Dreu told us stories, played a fire playlist, joked around with all of our group, and generally made us feel like o’hana. I would absolutely recommend anyone visiting the island to take this tour, and specifically to find a way to tour with Dreu.
          Written 3 January 2025
        • Navigator34148766425
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Great start to our vacation.
          It was a great tour. We enjoyed every aspect of it. Dreu, the tour guide, was hilarious and very knowledgeable. Fantastic way to start our vacation in Hawaii. We ended up going back to some of the places he showed us or mentioned on the tour.
          Written 3 January 2025
        • Z7045EHkarens
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          The Best Tour (and Tour Guide),
          This was an amazing day! Derek took very good care of us and so much was included in the day. Volcano erupting was breathtaking! Turtles, black sand beach, donuts, lava tubes, stargazing… Perfect day,
          Written 1 January 2025
        • davidaL5748IQ
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Awesome guide and activities
          We had a fabulous experience with tour guide Scott. He was fun, interesting, knowledgeable, and conscientious. He kept the tour on pace and paid attention to activities in Kilauea and adjusted the schedule so we could see an eruption. He was awesome! Great tour stops and timing with bathroom breaks at the right times!
          Written 31 December 2024
        • Ty C
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          My perfect waterfall day on the Big Island!
          What an amazing day Stefan Perazich showed our small group of a dozen folks. The group ranged from 8 to 82, and we all had an adventure we will remember the rest of our lives. Our guide was patient, friendly and CRAZY knowledgeable about the island, waterfalls and volcanos. Each location we stopped at seem to be better than the previous one. We started at the Waipi’o Valley, and proceeded to FIVE stunning waterfalls. We stopped and had lunch under a bridge where a river and ocean meet. It felt like we stumbled on a secret spot… that only the locals knew about. (But with bathrooms and picnic tables. LOL) The second to the last waterfall we got to swim in! (That swimmable waterfall was on private property that we were invited to enter. So it was JUST our small group, and it made you feel like you were visiting a celebrity who had been handed “the golden ticket”.) This was an all day tour that left us wonderfully exhausted, and filled with the memories of what this island is all about. Out of FIVE stars, I give this tour an ELEVEN!
          Written 31 December 2024
        • Footprints96154
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          Best tour ever!
          We took a 2nd Wasabi Tour this trip because they are so fantastic! Dreu was a phenomenal guide- unlike anything I have experienced before. Our day was packed with information about the Big Island and the volcanoes, the Hawaiian culture and history. And we drove all over and saw so much! We loved the bakery, the south point, the black sand beach, our sit down dinner, and of course exploring Volcanoes National Park!! Book this tour for a special day you won’t ever forget!
          Written 29 December 2024
        • Footprints96154
          0 contributions
          5.0 of 5 bubbles
          A perfect day on the Big Islnd
          Stefan was a great tour guide! He was so knowledgeable about the history of the area. The waterfalls were beautiful. We were fortunate to swim under a private waterfall too. The Botanical gardens were a highlight! Stefan picked a beautiful lunch spot and kept our bellies full with snacks, drinks and a delicious picnic style lunch. Mahalo!!
          Written 29 December 2024
        See all 5,780 reviews
        These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

        Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

        Popular mentions

        5.0
        5.0 of 5 bubbles3,007 reviews
        Excellent
        2,868
        Very good
        100
        Average
        22
        Poor
        8
        Terrible
        9

        Rich P
        San Mateo, CA7 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Jan 2020 • Friends
        My brother and I had an outstanding tour around the big island. We saw huge waterfalls, a black sand beach with turtles, viewpoints of the crater, stopped by an awesome local fresh food stand and more. Our guide Derek was really what made the trip fantastic. He was kind, patient, knowledgeable and even took pictures for everyone who wanted. He was also an exceptionally safe driver, which I really appreciated because conditions were wet when we visited. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to get to see a lot of the main attractions on the big island, and learn about Hawaiin history and facts along the way.
        Written 14 January 2020
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        socialworkerme
        San Jose, CA27 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Apr 2021 • Solo
        My favorite about this tour was the inclusion of all the island's ecosystems and learning the history. The coffee tour is minimal and mostly to encourage the purchase of coffee. The pastry stop had a cute store and every pastry one would want...Plus very long lines if you wanted to spend the stop in a small crowded area. Having just had breakfast, I skipped that and enjoyed the lovely gardens to view and clean restrooms. Our turtle beach/black sand stop had one large turtle resting on the beach. Nature will provide if your stop has turtles, so we lucked out! The Volcano Park was interesting and thin rain jackets were provided, as it rained there. The lunch was tasty and that plus beverages were included. We went thru a well lit and easy -walking level floor lava tunnel. There are steps and incline walkways to get up and down in this rain forest area. Wear rubber soled shoes and dress to include warm, humid, cool and wet weather. Your tour drives thru small towns all over the island to then also include the main large city areas and harbors. History is shared throughout the tour and aligned with what you were seeing at the time. There were again steps and an inclined paved path to the lookout area. Handrails were provided throughout the smany site's, where helpful. There were two main waterfalls to exit the comfy van to see and smaller ones during the drive. Brian was our guide and safe driver. He cared about providing a safe enjoyable trip. He had granola bars for a mid afternoon snack. It is a long day but you will have seen much of what you wanted to see. He shared cautions about driving safely on your own as there are two lane roads often and construction, plus people drive and try to sight see. It is safer and easier on you to take a tour and enjoy the history and sites.
        Written 13 April 2021
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Sailorgirl619
        Bedford, NH66 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        A little background: I only wanted to do one tour while visiting a friend in Kona, and this was NOT my first choice. I was mainly interested in the volcanoes and had booked with a company specializing in geology who led small groups. I booked online but received a call the next morning that they made a mistake and had overbooked. Highly disappointed and now short on time, they said they would call around to other reputable tour operators to find availability. They recommended Wasabi and luckily there was one space left on the Big Island Circle tour. Although I’d hoped to focus on Volcanoes National Park, I’m now glad I was able to see so many other amazing sights on the Big Island. Brian was an incredible tour guide, providing commentary and personal accounts right until the last guest was dropped off. It was a long day and we’d seen a lot, yet I remembered many of the facts he’d told us and could recount them to my friend. As with any tour group, there were the annoying people who rudely chatted away while some of us in the back of the van strained to hear his commentary. As with any tour, there are places you wish you could linger longer and others you’d be happy to bypass. However, I felt this tour offered just the right mix and gave an excellent overview. Snacks and lunch were very good, bathroom breaks timed nicely. As a short person and one of the last to be picked up, my view from the back of the van wasn’t always the best. It wasn’t until after our last stop that people offered to switch seats. Overall, I was very glad I was able to get on this tour and would highly recommend it. (PS- the geology tour company was very apologetic about their error. They stayed in contact while searching for a substitute tour and refunded my money promptly).
        Written 25 June 2021
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Marcy
        1 contribution
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Mar 2020 • Couples
        Brian was an amazing tour guide today. We really had a great time and he was very informative and patient with our questions. He should be commended for a job well done and we would recommend him for any Wasabi tour of The big island of Hawaii.
        Written 7 March 2020
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Elaine Yu
        1 contribution
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Jun 2021 • Family
        Derrick has a passion on this job. He is a great tour guide, consistently narrating the history stories throughout the time on the bus. The tour itself is kinda too lengthy to me, but I guess a lot of people will think it’s worthy the price
        Written 3 June 2021
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Ambassador561195
        9 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        I have done a couple of these “island in a day” tours for multiple islands, and can tell you Wasabi Tours is one of the best! Mia (our guide), was AMAZING! She’s an allstar and I would recommend asking when she is touring if you want a true local. She grew up on the island and is incredibly knowledgeable about the island’s history, including Hawaiian legends, and transformation of the landscape over the past couple decades.

        This tour was well worth the money if you are trying to have an action packed day to see all the things - everything from coffee, malasadas (Portuguese donuts), black sand beach, lava fields, volcano craters, lava tube (cave), rainforest, waterfalls and dramatic cliff side views to end your day. The tour picks up early in the morning (at your hotel or close by) and drops you off about 12 hours later in the same spot. You receive lunch during the tour typically around the beach stop (teriyaki chicken bento box). Mia was also prepared for everything - complimentary water/juices, umbrellas, rain jackets, sunscreen, first aid kit, etc. We felt very taken care of during our time with her on this tour.

        Highly recommend this company for this tour and I am confident you will receive the same experience with any of their other tours!
        Written 11 November 2022
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        deborahbB3746SZ
        San Francisco, CA35 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Mar 2020
        From our first stop in the morning, a Kona coffee plantation with free sampling, to our last, star-gazing at the night sky on rural point, Dreu filled every moment of the all-day tour with his enthusiastic far-ranging knowledge of his beloved Big Island. We had a delicious lunch at a famous island bakery and deli and dinner at a picturesque tavern near the national volcano park.
        And believe me, Dreu saw to it that we were able to work up an appetite with walking excursions to a black beach and a wondrous short hike around the volancoes, including a fantastic lava cave.
        We went through a lot of climate changes in one day and Dreu was prepared with gear for all of us. And the enormous store of facts, stats and island lore he has command of is phenomenal. A day with Dreu gives us the optimal Big Island experience.
        Written 17 August 2020
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Shania C
        1 contribution
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Feb 2020 • Friends
        This is a fantastic way to start your vacation on Big Island! Our guide, Brian, was so knowledgeable—it blew my mind. He was also hilarious and his jokes were wonderful and comforting. The van was super comfortable and the stops were breathtaking. The stops also lasted the perfect amount of time. Wasabi has definitely mastered the art of putting as much into this trip without it being boring or overwhelming. Thanks so much Brian!
        Written 1 March 2020
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Amanda M
        Wilmington, NC9 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Our tour guide JJ was phenomenal and I heard everyone in the van say they were also very pleased with her sharing of history, cultural stories and fun facts, that kept us entertained and energized all day.
        The tour was well organized so that we were on and off the bus at regular intervals. The lunch and snacks were delicious and the vehicle was comfortable.
        Most of all our guide made the day fascinating and memorable.
        Written 21 January 2020
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Wendy P
        2 contributions
        5.0 of 5 bubbles
        Jun 2022
        We booked a private tour for 5 adults and 3 kids (7, 8, and 13) and chose the Big Island in a Day Tour (called the Circle Tour on their website), so we could get a little taste of an assortment of things on the big island. Dreu was amazing! He was so funny and charismatic. His love of people and his love of Hawaii really just shines. It was a long day, but everyone enjoyed the sights and we all loved hearing Dreu's stories. The day went quickly and we learned a lot. The tour had a nice mix of sights of great natural beauty and a few little places to stop and shop. The provided meal was tasty and they easily accommodated the pescatarian in our group. I highly recommend doing the tour during the early part of your vacation. You don't get much time at any one spot, but it's a great overview and can help you plan how you want to spend the rest of your vacation. Do you want more lush tropical places? More lava? More history? More malasadas? At the end of our trip, when we were talking about what we liked best, the 8 year old said that Dreu was one of his favorite parts of the trip, because he was so funny! He kept everyone in our group from 7 - 70 years old entertained for 12 hours. It was impressive. I will absolutely sign up for another tour if/when I get back to the big island!
        Written 20 June 2022
        This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

        Showing results 1-10 of 2,996
        *Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.

        Big Island in a Day: Volcanoes Waterfalls Sightseeing and History provided by Wasabi Tours Hawaii

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