Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Hawaii's Big Island: Volcanoes, Hilo and the Kona Coast
7 days from Hilo to Kona: a full day in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Akaka Falls and sunset on Maunakea, then manta rays at night, Kealakekua Bay, Kona coffee and Puuhonua o Honaunau.
7 days · Hilo to Kailua-Kona · up to 12 guests
Maunakea at sunset from Hilo, the Big Island Photo: Maplemoths, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Image_of_Mauna_Kea_from_the_Hilo_suburbs.jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 7 days, 6 nights
- Start and end
- Hilo to Kailua-Kona
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Longest drive
- 4 h on day 4No drive day is longer than 4 hours.
- Activity level
Moderate
Walks of 1 to 5 km most days on paved paths and uneven lava, with one optional crater trail (Kilauea Iki, about 5 to 6 km and 120 m down and back up). Akaka Falls is a 650 m paved loop with steps. One evening at about 2,800 m on Maunakea, near freezing after sunset. Two snorkels in open water, with flotation and a light board for the mantas. Every walk and swim has an easier alternative, and you can sit any of them out.
- Meals included
- 6 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners
- Room of your own
- + CAD 1,095 (estimated price)
- Season
- All year; December to April for humpback whales off the Kona coast
Highlights
Why this trip
- A full day in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park with a park ranger walk, and the caldera at dusk when Kilauea is glowing
- Across the floor of Kilauea Iki, a crater that was a lake of lava in 1959
- Sunset above the clouds at about 2,800 m on Maunakea, then the stars
- Akaka Falls dropping about 135 m into a rainforest gorge
- Reef manta rays feeding in the lights at night off the Kona coast
- A morning snorkel boat into Kealakekua Bay, below the Captain Cook monument
- A Kona coffee farm, and the royal place of refuge at Puuhonua o Honaunau
- Three nights in Hilo and three in Kona, so you unpack twice
What makes this trip different
Short drives, all published
Every drive is listed day by day, and none is longer than 4 hours.
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 1,095 (estimated price).
Day by day
Itinerary
The longest drive is 4 h, on day 4.
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in Hilo
Hilo airport (ITO) to Hilo, then the bayfront
- Welcome dinner
- Stay in Hilo
- Drive about 15 min
Fly into Hilo (ITO) on the wet, green, windward side of the Big Island, ideally landing by about 3 pm; from Canada most flights connect in Honolulu. Our driver meets you at arrivals for the ten-minute drive to your hotel near the bayfront. Hilo is the island's old working town, on a bay struck by tsunamis in 1946 and 1960, which is why much of the waterfront is park rather than a street of shops. If you land early, walk the Japanese-style Liliuokalani Gardens and the footbridge to Coconut Island, or look round the Pacific Tsunami Museum downtown.
Evening
On a clear afternoon Maunakea stands above the town, often with snow on its summit in winter; you will be on its slopes at sunset on day 3. At about 6 pm your See Sight Tours guide meets the group in the hotel lobby to talk through the week, then we walk to a welcome dinner nearby. Hilo is your base for three nights, so you unpack once.
Included
- Arrival transfer from Hilo airport (ITO) to your hotel
- Welcome meeting with your guide
- Welcome dinner in Hilo
Free time: Afternoon free before the welcome meeting
Activity: Landing after 6 pm? Your guide catches you up at breakfast.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Hilo to the summit of Kilauea, Kilauea Iki or the Crater Rim Trail, Nahuku when open and the Chain of Craters Road, back to Hilo
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Hilo
- Drive about 3.5 h
A full day in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site about 45 minutes from Hilo. We leave at 7:30 am to reach the summit of Kilauea before the day tours arrive from the Kona side.
Morning
At the Kilauea Visitor Center the rangers post what the volcano is doing that day, and we join the morning ranger-led walk where one runs. Then a choice: the Kilauea Iki trail, a loop of about 5 to 6 km (3 to 4 miles) down through tree ferns and across the floor of a crater that was a lake of lava in 1959, or an easier stretch of the Crater Rim Trail past steam vents and sulphur banks.
Afternoon
After lunch in Volcano village we walk through Nahuku, a lit lava tube, when the park has it open, and drive the Chain of Craters Road down about 1,100 m to the sea at the Holei Sea Arch.
Evening
When Kilauea is erupting we have an early dinner in Volcano village and return to the caldera overlooks after dark to watch the glow; when it is quiet, dinner is still in the village and we are back in Hilo by about 7:30 pm.
Included
- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park entry
- Kilauea Visitor Center and a park ranger-led walk where one runs
- Kilauea Iki trail or the Crater Rim Trail and steam vents
- Nahuku lava tube when open
- Chain of Craters Road to the Holei Sea Arch
- Lunch and dinner in Volcano village
- The caldera overlooks after dark when the eruption is glowing
Easier option: The Crater Rim Trail past the steam vents, mostly level, about 2 km.
More active option: The Kilauea Iki trail, about 5 to 6 km, 120 m down to the crater floor and back up.
Activity: Walks are on uneven lava and can be wet; wear closed shoes and bring a rain layer and a warm layer for the evening. The summit area is about 1,200 m. Nobody can promise lava: Kilauea erupts in episodes that start and stop without notice.
Akaka Falls and sunset on Maunakea
Hilo to Rainbow Falls and Akaka Falls on the Hamakua Coast, a free afternoon, then the Saddle Road to the Maunakea Visitor Information Station
- Breakfast and dinner
- Stay in Hilo
- Drive about 3.5 h
A later start after yesterday's long day.
Morning
First Rainbow Falls on the edge of town, where the Wailuku River drops about 24 m into a deep pool and a rainbow often forms in the morning spray. Then 30 minutes up the Hamakua Coast to Akaka Falls State Park, there by about 9 am, where a paved loop of about 650 m with steps leads through rainforest to the falls, dropping about 135 m into a gorge.
Evening
Back in Hilo by late morning, the afternoon is free: the farmers market, a long lunch, or a rest before a late evening. At about 4 pm we drive the Saddle Road between Maunakea and Mauna Loa and turn up the mountain to the Maunakea Visitor Information Station at about 2,800 m, roughly 1 hour 15 minutes from Hilo. We watch the sun set above the clouds and eat a packed supper, then your guide shows you the night sky, with a telescope where the station or a local partner runs one. We do not go on to the 4,207 m summit. Back in Hilo by about 9 pm.
Included
- Rainbow Falls
- Akaka Falls State Park entry and loop walk
- Sunset at the Maunakea Visitor Information Station, about 2,800 m
- Stargazing with your guide, with a telescope where one runs
- Packed supper and hot drinks on the mountain
Easier option: Stay in Hilo for the evening instead of going up the mountain.
Free time: Late morning and afternoon free in Hilo
Activity: Days 2 and 3 are the two fullest days back to back, each about 3.5 hours of driving and back in Hilo in the evening; if you want a quieter night, take the easy option and stay in Hilo. It is often near freezing after sunset at 2,800 m; bring a warm jacket, hat and gloves. Not advised in pregnancy or with heart or breathing conditions.
Round the south to Kona
Hilo through Kau to Punaluu, then Puuhonua o Honaunau and Kailua-Kona
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Kailua-Kona
- Drive about 4 h
Today we cross from the wet side of the island to the dry one by the southern road, about four hours of driving in all, which is why it is broken into four stretches of about an hour. We leave Hilo at 8:30 am and pass the volcano again on the way into Kau, the island's quiet, ranching south. At Punaluu the beach is black sand made where lava met the sea, and green sea turtles often rest on the shore; give them at least 3 m.
Afternoon
Lunch is a sit-down meal in Kau. In the afternoon the road climbs round the southern flank of Mauna Loa and drops into South Kona, where coffee and macadamia farms line the slopes. At Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park a ranger or your guide explains the place of refuge, where those who broke sacred law could be spared if they reached its great stone wall; carved wooden images stand over the rebuilt temple.
Evening
We reach Kailua-Kona by about 5 pm, in time for sunset over the sea. Kona is your base for three nights.
Included
- Punaluu black sand beach
- Lunch in Kau
- Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park entry and walk
Optional experiences
- Luau on the Kona coast. Booked on request for this evening; the price is shown when you book
Free time: Evening free in Kailua-Kona
Activity: Total driving today is about 4 hours over about 205 km, in stretches of about an hour between stops. Puuhonua o Honaunau is a sacred site: stay on the paths and do not climb the walls.
Kealakekua Bay and Kona coffee
Kailua-Kona to Keauhou Bay, by boat to Kealakekua Bay, then a coffee farm in the hills above
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Kailua-Kona
- Drive about 1.5 h
Morning
An early breakfast, then a short drive to Keauhou Bay to board a licensed snorkel boat for the trip down the coast to Kealakekua Bay, a marine conservation district and state historical park. The water is usually flattest in the morning, before the trade winds rise. The bay is where Captain James Cook landed in 1779 and was killed the same year; a white obelisk marks the spot on the far shore. Below it the reef drops into clear, deep water, and spinner dolphins often rest in the bay; boats keep their distance, as the law requires. Masks, fins and flotation are provided, and non-swimmers can stay on board with a view through the glass.
Afternoon
Back on land by about 1 pm, we drive up into the coffee belt on the slopes of Hualalai and Mauna Loa for lunch and a visit to a small farm, with the harvest and roasting explained and a tasting. Back in Kailua-Kona by about 4 pm.
Evening
Farewell dinner tonight, since tomorrow evening is on the water.
Included
- Morning snorkel boat from Keauhou Bay to Kealakekua Bay, with masks, fins and flotation
- Kona coffee farm visit with tasting
- Lunch in South Kona
- Farewell dinner in Kailua-Kona
Easier option: Stay on the boat and watch the reef from the deck while others snorkel.
Free time: Late afternoon free in Kailua-Kona
Activity: Spinner dolphins and green sea turtles are protected: give dolphins at least 50 yards (45 m) and turtles 3 m (10 ft). Use only mineral reef-safe sunscreen.
Free in Kona, manta rays at night
Kailua-Kona at leisure, then the manta ray night snorkel off the Kona coast
- Breakfast
- Stay in Kailua-Kona
- Drive about 45 min
Afternoon
A free day, with nothing booked until late afternoon. Swim or snorkel at Kahaluu Beach near Keauhou, where green sea turtles graze on the reef; walk Alii Drive past Hulihee Palace, a summer home of Hawaii's royal family, and Mokuaikaua Church; or take a long lunch by the sea. Your guide can suggest a route for any of them.
Evening
At about 4:30 pm we drive to the harbour for the manta ray night snorkel with a licensed local operator. The boat anchors at a feeding site as the light goes, and after dark, holding a floating light board at the surface, you watch reef manta rays, which can be wider than 3 m, rise from below to feed on the plankton drawn to the lights. Sightings are frequent but never certain, and the operator gives a second chance on another night where it can. Masks and wetsuits are provided, with drinks and a light snack where the operator provides them. Back at the hotel by about 9 pm.
Included
- Manta ray night snorkel with a licensed operator, with wetsuit, mask and light board
- Transfers to and from the harbour
Easier option: Ride along on the boat and watch the mantas from the deck.
Free time: Morning and early afternoon free in Kailua-Kona
Activity: The manta snorkel suits confident swimmers; the operator sets a minimum age, which we confirm at booking. Seasickness tablets help if you are prone to it.
Depart from Kona
Kailua-Kona to Kona airport (KOA)
- Breakfast
- Drive about 15 min
Evening
A slow last morning after the late night on the water. Take a final swim or coffee on Alii Drive, or walk to Kamakahonu, the small bay beside the pier where King Kamehameha spent his last years and where the rebuilt Ahuena temple stands on its stone platform. We check out at about 10:30 am and drive about 20 minutes north across the lava fields to Kona airport (KOA), arriving by about 11 am, where our service ends. The terminal is open-air, so there is little waiting indoors. Kona has nonstop flights to the US West Coast; we confirm your options home when you book. Book a flight leaving after about 1 pm, or stay on: we can add nights in Kona at the group hotel, or link the trip with our Oahu and Maui itineraries.
Included
- Transfer to Kona airport (KOA)
Free time: Morning free in Kailua-Kona
Activity: Book your flight home to leave Kona after about 1 pm.
- Hilo3 nights
- Kailua-Kona3 nights
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: The Big Island has two climates a few hours apart. Hilo, on the wet windward side, gets showers in every month, which is why the falls and gardens are so green; the Kona coast is dry and sunny most afternoons. Coastal days run about 26 to 30 C all year. The volcano summit at about 1,200 m is cooler and often misty, and Maunakea is near freezing at night in every season. Humpback whales pass the Kona coast from about December to April, and reef manta rays feed off Kona all year, though sightings are never guaranteed.
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Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- Travellers who want the Big Island properly in a week, the volcano and the sea, without driving it themselves
- Anyone who wants Kilauea, Maunakea and the Kona coast explained by a guide
- Swimmers who want the manta rays and Kealakekua Bay included rather than added on
- Solo travellers and couples who like a small group and free time in each base
Not for you if you want
- A beach resort holiday with long lazy days
- Travellers who want Oahu, Maui or Kauai too: see our three-island and four-island Hawaii trips
- Anyone who cannot manage altitude near 2,800 m in the cold, open-water snorkelling or walks on uneven lava (each has an alternative, but they are the heart of the trip)
- Travellers who would rather drive themselves
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
6 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Hilo3 nights
- Kailua-Kona3 nights
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 6 nights: 3 in Hilo and 3 in Kailua-Kona
- Central hotels of a 3-star-plus standard, near the Hilo bayfront and within walking distance of Alii Drive in Kona; we name each hotel when we confirm your dates
- Hotel taxes and mandatory resort fees
- Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement
Transport
- Arrival transfer from Hilo airport (ITO) and departure transfer to Kona airport (KOA)
- A vehicle and driver for the group for the whole trip, from a local partner
- The snorkel boat to Kealakekua Bay and the manta ray night snorkel boat
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide with the group from the welcome meeting on day 1 to the airport on day 7
- Park rangers and licensed local operators where sites and boats require them
Activities
- Hilo side: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park with a ranger-led walk, the Kilauea Iki or Crater Rim walk, Nahuku lava tube when open, the Chain of Craters Road and the caldera after dark when the eruption is glowing; Rainbow Falls; Akaka Falls State Park; sunset and stargazing at the Maunakea Visitor Information Station
- On the way: Punaluu black sand beach and Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park
- Kona side: Kealakekua Bay snorkel boat with gear, a Kona coffee farm visit with tasting, and the manta ray night snorkel with gear
- All park and state park entry fees for the visits above
Meals
- 6 breakfasts
- 3 lunches
- 4 dinners: a welcome dinner in Hilo, dinner in Volcano village, a packed supper on Maunakea and a farewell dinner in Kona
Not included
- Flights to Hilo and home from Kona
- US entry documents: an ESTA or visa where needed
- Travel insurance
- Meals not listed above
- Drinks
- Tips for your guide, driver, boat crews and local guides
- Optional activities, such as a luau
- Personal expenses
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 1,095 (estimated price)
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
What does the Big Island trip include?
Six nights in central hotels with taxes and resort fees, 6 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 4 dinners, a vehicle and driver throughout, your See Sight Tours guide, and every visit in the day plan with its entry fee: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Akaka Falls, Maunakea at sunset, Puuhonua o Honaunau, the Kealakekua Bay snorkel boat, a coffee farm and the manta ray night snorkel.
How big is the group?
The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests, so the group fits in one small vehicle, one snorkel boat and around one table at dinner. If you want fewer people, the private version is for your party only, on a date you choose.
Who leads the trip?
A See Sight Tours guide travels with the group from the welcome dinner in Hilo to the Kona airport. A local partner provides the vehicle and driver, licensed local operators run the two snorkel boats, and park rangers lead the ranger walk in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
How fit do I need to be for this Big Island tour?
Moderately fit. Most days have 1 to 5 km of walking on paths and uneven lava, and the Kilauea Iki crater trail is the hardest walk, with an easier rim walk instead. The two snorkels are in open water with flotation, and you can stay on the boat. Maunakea at about 2,800 m is cold and thin-aired; ask your doctor if you have heart or breathing conditions.
I am travelling solo. What does a room of my own cost?
A room of your own is CAD 1,095 on top of the small-group price, shown before you book. If you would rather share, we can try to pair you with another solo traveller of the same gender; tell us when you request to book. Solo guests take part in everything on the same terms as couples.
Will we see lava at Kilauea?
Maybe. Kilauea has erupted in episodes at its summit since December 2024, and when it is active we stay in the park after dark to watch the glow from the caldera overlooks. Eruptions start and stop without notice, so we cannot promise lava, but the caldera, the Kilauea Iki crater floor, the steam vents and the lava tube make the day on their own.
Do I have to be a strong swimmer for the manta rays?
You need to be comfortable in open water at night, but you do not swim far: you float at the surface holding a light board while the mantas feed below, in a wetsuit with a mask. If you would rather not go in, you can ride along and watch from the deck. The operator sets a minimum age, which we confirm at booking.
When is the best time to visit the Big Island?
The trip runs all year and the coast is warm in every month. From about December to April humpback whales pass the Kona coast; summer is drier and the sea often calmer for snorkelling. Hilo is wet in any season, Kona is sunny most afternoons, and Maunakea is cold at night all year.
Why stay in Hilo and Kona rather than one hotel?
Because the island is large: Hilo to Kona is about two to four hours by road. Three nights in Hilo put the volcano and Maunakea close, and three in Kona put the mantas, Kealakekua Bay and the coffee farms close, so no day is spent driving to the sights and back.
How does booking work?
Choose the small-group or private style and your start date, then send a request to book. We check hotels, boats and entries for that date and confirm your trip within 24 hours. No payment is taken until we confirm.
Can we travel on our own dates?
Yes. The private version runs for your party only, on a date you choose, with your own guide and vehicle. If you would rather travel independently without a guide, ask us from the dates section for a separate quote for the same hotels, boats and entries.
Do I need a visa or ESTA for Hawaii?
Hawaii is part of the United States. Canadian citizens need a valid passport and no visa for a visit of this length. Many other visitors need an ESTA under the Visa Waiver Program or a US visa, arranged before you fly. Check the rules for your passport when you book.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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