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.
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 experience.
THIS ITINERARY: 6 days, 5 nights
ACCOMMODATIONS: Premiere & Casual Hotels*
Start Kailua-Kona / End Kailua-Kona or Kohala Coast
Start/End locations may vary. Do not book flights until your trip details are confirmed.
Hike along the southern coast to the Green Sand Beach where Hawaii’s best scenery is on display—sweeping ocean vistas, beautiful valleys, lush tropical gardens and dramatic cliffs | Visit a coffee farm and taste Kona's gourmet crop | Stargaze as you soak in a hot tub at our charming bed-and-breakfast | Explore a newly formed caldera with a local guide and walk through a lush forest in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, taking in the beauty of Kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes on Earth | Spin past giant tree ferns on Crater Rim Drive and discover Mauna Ulu, the “growing mountain."
An up-country bed-and-breakfast with ideal access to Volcanoes National Park.
Bike the Red Road, some of the Big Island's most scenic riding | 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 paddle in a traditional outrigger canoe | Spin 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.
A blissful resort on a half-moon beach offering abundant amenities and exceptional aloha hospitality. Travel + Leisure World's Best. (pool, spa)
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.
Every Backroads trip is designed to appeal to a wide variety of interests and fitness levels. We know your pace may vary from one day to the next—and your traveling companion's may differ somewhat from yours. So we present a range of mileage options, and each day you decide exactly what and how much you want to do. LEARN MORE.
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! Read on for your available bike options for this trip.
This custom-designed titanium bike is lightweight and responsive, featuring Shimano Ultegra Di2 electronic shifting, 11-speed compact gearing, a premium Mavic Ksyrium Pro wheelset and a full carbon fork.
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.
Our newly redesigned titanium e-bike is a lightweight yet powerful machine unique in the world of e-bikes. It provides plenty of power to flatten the hills and more than enough battery range to cover the distance.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Made up of eight primary islands. Hawaii is home to postcard-perfect beaches and waterfalls, breathtaking sunsets, active volcanoes and ancient lava flows.
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