SHARED Big Island Big Volcano Adventure

This full-day tour crosses the Big Island from the Kona, Kohala, and Waikoloa area to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and back, covering rainforest, coastline, lava fields, and volcanic craters along the way. Pickup is available from Kona, Kohala, and Waikoloa, and the route varies on the return depending on where guests are staying. The day moves along the Hāmākua Coast with stops at Laupāhoehoe Point and ʻAkaka Falls State Park, where a short walk through rainforest leads to a tall waterfall plunging into a fern-filled gulch. A stretch of Old Māmalahoa Highway passes through historic plantation countryside before the route heads south into Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. There, the tour explores the Kīlauea summit area, including craters, steam vents, lava fields, and native forest. Stops inside the park adjust based on weather and current volcanic conditions. Guests returning toward Waikoloa and Kohala travel Saddle Road between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, while those heading back to Kona stop at Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach. Lunch, snacks, water, juice, National Park entrance fees, and ponchos if needed are all included.

PRIVATE Heavenly Hamakua from Kona

This private tour travels from the Kona side of the Big Island through the highlands of Waimea and down the Hamakua Coast to Hilo, covering backroads that wind through jungle gulches, cross rivers, and pass sea cliffs. Stops along the way include Waipio Valley, carved into the eastern flank of Kohala volcano; Laupahoehoe Point, where tall sea cliffs frame a rugged coastal peninsula; and Akaka Falls State Park, where a rainforest walk leads to a tall waterfall dropping into Kolekole gulch. Rainbow Falls in Hilo and the Kaumana Caves lava tube, formed by Mauna Loa volcano, are also on the itinerary. A stop at Tex Drive In for malasadas, a Portuguese doughnut, is part of the experience. The return route follows Saddle Road, climbing through several of the island's microclimates. The itinerary may be adjusted based on guide and guest preference, so travelers are encouraged to inquire about their specific tour date. The tour is weather dependent.

Choose Your Own Adventure From Kona

At the start of the day, a guide sits down with the group to discuss interests, pace, and priorities, then builds the route around those preferences and current conditions on the island. Possible stops include volcanic landscapes, lava fields, craters, waterfalls, scenic coastlines, rainforest valleys, small towns, and backroads that larger tour vehicles cannot access. Short walks and photo stops are optional and paced to the group's comfort. The guide adjusts the plan throughout the day based on weather and conditions rather than following a fixed schedule, and additional stops on the return drive are possible when time allows. Lunch, snacks, water, juice, and National Park entrance fees are included. The Mauna Kea summit and Green Sand Beach are not part of this tour, as those locations require specialized vehicles and additional permits. Additional food purchased along the way and gratuity are not included.

SHARED Kilauea Summit to Shore from Kona

This full-day shared tour departs from the Kona side of the Big Island and travels south and east, circling around Mauna Loa toward Kilauea volcano. Along the way, the route passes through Kona Coffee country on the western slopes of Mauna Loa, then continues through vast lava fields toward the southern coast. A lunch stop at Punalu'u Sweet Bread Bakery includes malasadas, a Portuguese-style doughnut. Punalu'u Black Sand Beach offers a chance to see Hawaiian sea turtles resting on the shore. The tour then enters Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, where guests view Kilauea's caldera and other volcanic features. A stop at Kaumana Caves lava tube shows the underground channels that once carried molten rock from Mauna Loa. The return to the west side follows Saddle Road, climbing through rainforest, cloud forest, high desert, and open prairie across several of the island's distinct microclimates. The itinerary is a general guide and may shift based on guide and guest input. Because conditions vary, the tour is weather dependent.

SHARED Heavenly Hamakua from Kona

This full-day van tour travels from the Kona side of the Big Island across to the Hamakua Coast, passing through the highlands of Waimea before winding down backroads through jungle gulches, river crossings, and coastal terrain to Hilo. Hotel pickup is included, and the difficulty level is easy, making it accessible for travelers who want to cover a lot of ground without strenuous hiking. Stops along the route include Waipio Valley, carved into the eastern flank of Kohala volcano, and Laupahoehoe Point, where sea cliffs meet a rugged windward coastline. Rainbow Falls in Hilo is another stop, along with Kaumana Caves, a lava tube formed by Mauna Loa. The return trip follows Saddle Road, climbing through rainforest, cloud forest, high desert, and open prairie across several of the island's microclimates. The itinerary is a general guide and may shift based on guide and guest input.

Choose Your Own Adventure From Hilo

Choose Your Own Adventure From Hilo is a private, fully customizable tour of the Big Island run by The Volcano Van. Rather than following a fixed itinerary, travelers choose what they want to see, and the guide builds the day around those interests. Options include waterfalls, hikes through Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, coffee farms, macadamia nut plantations, and other stops across the island. Hotel pickup is included, so the day starts at the door. The booking covers the van and guide exclusively for the traveler and their family. No other guests share the vehicle or the schedule, which means the pace and destinations stay in the hands of the people who booked. The operator runs this tour daily and can accommodate small family groups. This tour suits travelers who want a flexible day on the Big Island without committing to a set route in advance.

PRIVATE Big Island Big Volcano Adventure from Kona

This full-day private tour crosses the Big Island from the Kona and Kohala side to the eastern coast and back, covering a wide range of landscapes in a single day. Pickup is available in Kona, Kohala, and Waikoloa, and the routing is adjusted based on weather and current park conditions. The day moves along the Hāmākua Coast with stops at Laupāhoehoe Point and ʻAkaka Falls State Park, where a short rainforest walk leads to the falls. From there the tour continues to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to explore Kīlauea's summit area, including lava fields, craters, and steam vents. Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach is a stop on the return route, where Hawaiian green sea turtles may be resting on the sand. The tour also passes through high-elevation terrain on Saddle Road between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. Lunch, snacks, water, juice, ponchos if needed, and national park entrance fees are all included. Close-toed shoes and a light jacket are recommended.

PRIVATE Big Island Big Volcano Adventure from Hilo

This private full-day tour covers a wide sweep of the Big Island, moving through cattle ranch country, coastal cliffs, waterfalls, rainforest roads, and volcanic terrain. A stop at Laupahoehoe shows how the Pacific has carved rugged rock formations into the shoreline. From there, jungle roads lead to Akaka Falls, which drops into the Kolekole gulch below, and lunch is a stop at Hilo Sharks in Honomu for local wraps. The afternoon centers on Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, where the tour reaches Kilauea's summit caldera and travels Chain of Craters Road through pit craters, lava fields of different ages, and steaming ground. The difficulty level is easy, making this a good fit for travelers who want a comprehensive land tour without strenuous activity. The itinerary can shift based on guide and guest preferences, and the tour is weather dependent.

PRIVATE Kilauea Summit to Shore from Kona

This private tour departs from the Kona side of the Big Island and travels south and east to explore Kilauea volcano from its summit caldera down to the shore. The route passes through Kona Coffee Country on the western slopes of Mauna Loa, where coffee plantations cover the hillsides, then continues through broad lava fields as the tour moves into the southern area of the island. Lunch is picked up at Punalu'u Sweet Bread Bakery, where the stop also includes malasadas, a Portuguese doughnut. Punalu'u Black Sand Beach is a stop where Hawaiian sea turtles can be seen resting on shore. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park brings the group to Kilauea's caldera and surrounding volcanic sites. Kaumana Caves, a lava tube created by Mauna Loa, rounds out the volcanic geology portion of the day. The return follows Saddle Road back toward the west side of the island, climbing through rainforests, cloud forests, high desert, and open prairies. The tour is rated easy, and the itinerary is flexible, with adjustments possible based on guide and guest preference.