Region Overviews: Hawaii Travel Guide: Overview
Made up of eight primary islands. Hawaii is home to postcard-perfect beaches and waterfalls, breathtaking sunsets, active volcanoes and ancient lava flows.
Multi-Adventure
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Hawaii's Big Island Multi-Adventure Tour - For Families with Older Teens & 20s
Volcanoes National Park & the Kohala Coast
One or more kids 17+ required (siblings 14+ ok) | Min age to ride e-bike 16+
Family — Older Teens & 20s
6 days 5 nights
Activity Level: 1-3
Premiere & Casual Hotels
From: $3,799 - $4,199 pp dbl occ
($1,000 - $1,900 for sgl occ)
This family trip is a perfect blend of flavors, colors and everything Hawaiian. Behold an active volcano from afar, then explore it up close. Bike through lava fields along the coast, kayak on a sparkling bay, then finish off the day lounging oceanside beneath the palms. An engaging, entertaining and exhilarating Hawaiian adventure vacation.
Walk/Hike
Bike
Kayak
Snorkel
Hawaii Big Island Multi-Adventure
Hawaii
Start Kailua-Kona / End Kailua-Kona or Kohala Coast
Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Highlights
- Engage with the Big Island's unique culture, savor fresh Hawaiian cuisine and walk in the footsteps of King Kamehameha
- Hike with a local expert and discover Volcanoes National Park, exploring the geological features of an active volcano
- Bike through lush rain forests and across lunar landscapes, and enjoy sweeping coastal views along the famed Ironman Route
- Swim, snorkel and kayak with your family in Puako Bay for an up-close perspective of Hawaii's fascinating marine life
Videos
Itinerary
Accommodations may vary based on departure date.
6 Days Premiere & Casual Hotels*
Accommodations may vary based on departure.
Days 1-2
Description
Explore a newly formed caldera with a local guide and walk through a dense forest in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, taking in the beauty of Kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes on Earth | Stargaze as you soak in a hot tub at our charming bed-and-breakfast | Explore the lush and tropical side of the island | Ride along the Red Road, showcasing some of the Big Island's most scenic coastal riding | Dip your toes in at a black-sand beach.
Accommodations
Kilauea Lodge
Volcano Village
| *Casual Hotel An up-country bed-and-breakfast with ideal access to Volcanoes National Park.
Days 3-6
Description
Travel through coffee farms and taste Kona's gourmet crop | Explore the islands South Coast, where Hawaii's best scenery is on display—sweeping ocean vistas, beautiful valleys, lush tropical gardens and dramatic cliffs | Visit Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park, an ancient place of refuge | Kayak past rocky cliffs and secluded sea caves in the crystal-clear waters around Puako | Snorkel among colorful parrotfish, Moorish idols and Hawaiian lionfish | At our oceanfront retreat, swim, find your balance on a stand-up paddleboard or bliss out on the hotel's half-moon beach | Start the day with a sunrise walk along the ocean on the Kahakai trail | Ride along the sun-soaked Kohala Coast, tracing 30 miles of the Kona Ironman Triathlon's cycling course | Learn about historic petroglyphs and King Kamehameha the Great on a coastal walk.
Accommodations
Fairmont Orchid
Kohala Coast
| Premiere Hotel A blissful resort on a half-moon beach offering abundant amenities and exceptional aloha hospitality. Travel + Leisure World's Best. (pool, spa)
Dates & Prices
The earlier you book, the more choice you'll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind — you won't be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due. View cancellation policy.
Click on dates for pricing, itinerary variations and to book your trip. Price is per person, double occupancy.
December 2023
Looks like you’re traveling with a smaller group
Our Private Trips are best for groups of 6 or more. We suggest joining a scheduled trip.
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Group size is required to show per-person pricing. Your group size can be approximate and can change.
From our Guests
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Activity Level: 1-3
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. Several routes and a range of levels are offered each day so you can choose how much or how little activity you want to do. Learn more about how we determine activity levels.
Daily Route Options
What's Included
Available Bike Options
The key to a stellar day's ride is a bike that's perfectly in tune with your cycling style… Backroads has you covered with the best bike fleet in the world! Please note that bike requests are subject to availability and prioritized based on the date they're submitted.
Click the gray arrow to see all bike options.
Backroads Cuba Bike - Touring with Drop Handlebars
Touring Bike with Drop Handlebars
Included in your trip price
A proven classic, our most popular custom-designed titanium bike is suited for a wide range of cyclists. It features a comfortable ergonomic seat and a long wheel base that add to the bike’s control and stability.
Backroads Touring Bike
Touring Bike
Included in your trip price
A proven classic, our most popular custom-designed titanium bike is suited for a wide range of cyclists. It features a comfortable ergonomic seat and a long wheel base that add to the bike’s control and stability.
Backroads Electric-Assist Bike
Electric-Assist Bike
Included in your trip price
Keep pace or zip ahead, pedaling with an electric boost. This bike provides plenty of power to flatten the hills and more than enough battery range to cover the distance.
Min. age to ride e-bike: 16+
Child's Bike
Kids' Bikes
Included in your trip price
Backroads is the only travel company to manufacture its own line of kid's bikes. While the wheels might be small, the performance is big—it's the perfect choice for kids. On our Family Trips, you'll find 20" and 24" bikes.
Also Included
- All breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners
- Expertise and services of our experienced Trip Leaders
- Snacks and beverages between meals
- Additional guides and experts from the region on many trips
- Van shuttles to support a variety of route options
- Comprehensive Travel Planner with detailed pre-trip information
- Private guided tours at museums, historic sites, wineries and other select attractions as noted in the Travel Planner
- All gratuities at hotels and restaurants
- Special events, including wine tastings and other select attractions as mentioned in the Travel Planner
- On biking and multi-adventure trips, use of fully equipped Backroads titanium bike plus helmet and accessories
- Trailercycles, carriers, and kid-sized helmets for Family Trips
- Equipment and experienced guides for kayaking, rafting, snorkeling, sailing and canoeing as described
- Park and other entry fees
- Fares for trains, ferries and other modes of travel as listed in the Travel Planner
- Select coach transfers
- Baggage transfers and porterage
Straight talk
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
Traffic & Highway Riding
Because the Big Island is rugged and covered in lava fields, there are a limited number of paved roads traversing the island. While Backroads strives to find roadways that are quiet and off-the-beaten-track, many of the routes on this trip follow highways with traffic. Of course, you are always welcome to jump in the shuttle to avoid the busier roads.
Shuttle Distances
In order to bring you the full gamut of the Big Island's splendor, we spend more time shuttling on this trip than on many other Backroads trips. Our time in the shuttles will allow us to experience the incredible variety of ecosystems, scenery and activities that Hawaii has to offer. So sit back and relax, knowing that someone else is doing the driving, and enjoy the beauty of the journey.
Accommodations
Kilauea Lodge is a fairly rustic property in a stunning location near Volcanoes National Park. Although clean and comfortable, the guest rooms are basic and are not equipped with phones or televisions.
Peak Season
The holiday and spring break months are a great time to travel; however, with days off and the desire to escape for sunshine many others have the same idea. While we always aim to get off the beaten path, during certain times of the year crowds and delays are unavoidable.
Weather on the Big Island
The Big Island boasts an astonishing array of climate zones. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is famous for its renowned active volcanoes, rain forests and weather that varies with the elevation. Despite the tropical latitude, it can be rainy and chilly any time of the year during our stay near the National Park and visitors should be prepared for a wide range of weather conditions, including heavy rain and strong winds. The Kohala Coast also experiences powerful winds, which may make cycling coastal roads difficult or require us to alter our planned activities.
We want to make sure you're on the right trip and that you have the best experience possible. Every Backroads trip is unique and this one is no exception.
Traffic & Highway Riding
Because the Big Island is rugged and covered in lava fields, there are a limited number of paved roads traversing the island. While Backroads strives to find roadways that are quiet and off-the-beaten-track, many of the routes on this trip follow highways with traffic. Of course, you are always welcome to jump in the shuttle to avoid the busier roads.
Shuttle Distances
In order to bring you the full gamut of the Big Island's splendor, we spend more time shuttling on this trip than on many other Backroads trips. Our time in the shuttles will allow us to experience the incredible variety of ecosystems, scenery and activities that Hawaii has to offer. So sit back and relax, knowing that someone else is doing the driving, and enjoy the beauty of the journey.
Accommodations
Kilauea Lodge is a fairly rustic property in a stunning location near Volcanoes National Park. Although clean and comfortable, the guest rooms are basic and are not equipped with phones or televisions.
Peak Season
The holiday and spring break months are a great time to travel; however, with days off and the desire to escape for sunshine many others have the same idea. While we always aim to get off the beaten path, during certain times of the year crowds and delays are unavoidable.
Weather on the Big Island
The Big Island boasts an astonishing array of climate zones. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is famous for its renowned active volcanoes, rain forests and weather that varies with the elevation. Despite the tropical latitude, it can be rainy and chilly any time of the year during our stay near the National Park and visitors should be prepared for a wide range of weather conditions, including heavy rain and strong winds. The Kohala Coast also experiences powerful winds, which may make cycling coastal roads difficult or require us to alter our planned activities.
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