Aloha and whoa! Animal: parrot fish, sea turtles, butterfly fish. Vegetable: rain forest, flower leis, fresh pineapple. Mineral: sea caves, volcanoes, beaches. Add warm water, epic views, stand-up paddleboarding, hiking, snorkeling, biking, tide pooling and cool culture. Hawaii has all the ingredients for the best family vacation.
Day 1 Hike along the coast from Hookena Beach Park | Hawaii's best scenery is on display—sweeping ocean vistas, beautiful valleys, lush tropical gardens and dramatic cliffs | Take a rest at Puuhonua, an ancient place of refuge and a sacred healing ground for locals today | Splash around in the warm waters of the Pacific.
Days 2-3 Explore a caldera with a local guide and walk through a lush forest in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, taking in the beauty of Kilauea, the most active volcano on Earth | Spin past giant tree ferns on Crater Rim Drive and discover Mauna Ulu, known locally as the growing mountain | Pedal from Volcano Village, an artists' community, down to the town of Hilo, located on a beautiful crescent-shaped bay.
Day 4 Kayak past rocky cliffs and secluded sea caves in the crystal clear waters around Puako | Plunge in for a snorkeling adventure among colorful parrot fish, Moorish idols and Hawaiian lionfish | Bask on a pristine beach or luxuriate at the Fairmont's stellar spa | Kids dive into traditional activities such as lei-making and hula classes.
Days 5-6 Spin along the sun-soaked Kohala Coast, tracing 30 miles of the Kona Ironman Triathlon's cycling course | Kids enjoy a beach day with paddleboards, hydro-bikes and a glass-bottom boat | Back at the hotel, snorkel with sea turtles or bliss out on white sand | Venture out in an outrigger canoe onto the Pacific at sunrise.
The Big Island of Hawaii is the perfect family playground. I'm always in awe of how much there is to see and explore - from snorkeling with colorful fish in the crystal-clear ocean to making traditional flower leis to hiking and biking in some of the island's most beautiful settings. The aloha spirit and hospitality are beyond compare! You can't help but fall in love with Hawaii's Big Island.- Central America & Hawaii
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. Read the 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.
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Accommodations may vary based on departure date. Any difference from what is listed below can be found by clicking on your desired date on the Dates & Prices tab.
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Originally constructed in 1846, this restored house has been catapulted into the 21st century while fully embracing the rich culture, environment and history of the surrounding region.
A blissful resort on a half-moon beach offering abundant amenities and exceptional aloha hospitality. (pool, spa)
There's no better way to find out about Backroads than by hearing it from the people who have traveled with us. For more about the Backroads Experience, read our Guest Testimonials.
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Comments about Hawaii's Big Island Family Multisport Adventure Tour:
The Big Island of Hawaii is the perfect family playground. I'm always in awe of how much there is to see and explore - from snorkeling with colorful fish in the crystal-clear ocean to making traditional flower leis to hiking and biking in some of the island's most beautiful settings. The aloha spirit and hospitality are beyond compare! You can't help but fall in love with Hawaii's Big Island.
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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.
Please click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
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AVAILABLE TO BOOKi GOING FASTi CONTACT USi PRIVATE TRIP - RESERVEDi
Interested in a Private Trip? Check out the Make It Private tab for private dates available, or call us at 800-462-2848.
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.
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| Daily Route Options | |||||||||||
| Day | Activity | EASYGOING | ACTIVE | AVID | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 4 | Level 5 | |||||||
| miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | miles | feet gain | ||
| 1 | Walking/Hiking | 3* | 100 | 4* | 200 | ||||||
| 2 | Biking | 10* | 500 | 29* | 600 | 30 | 2000 | ||||
| Walking/Hiking | 3 | 500 | 5 | 700 | |||||||
| 3 | Biking | 10* | 300 | 21* | 600 | 31* | 1600 | ||||
| 4 | Walking/Hiking | 1 | 50 | ||||||||
| Kayaking | & Snorkeling in Puako (3 Hours) | ||||||||||
| Kids | Cultural Activities | ||||||||||
| 5 | Biking | 8* | 600 | 16 | 1100 | 35* | 1600 | 44* | 2300 | ||
| Other | Optional Swimming, Tennis or Golf | ||||||||||
| Kids | Stand-Up Paddleboarding & Beach Day (3 Hours) | ||||||||||
| 6 | Other | Cultural Walk (1 Hour) | |||||||||
| Other | Sunrise Outrigger Canoe (30 Minutes) | ||||||||||
Note: On this Family Trip, our routes follow gentle terrain with some gradual climbs. Liberal van shuttling is incorporated into the itinerary.
* Includes shuttle.
Learn more about how we determine our activity levels and fully support a range of abilities and interests.
Please note that our distance and elevation figures come from Ride with GPS. Other sources (such as Map My Ride and Garmin devices) may give differing elevation figures due to different GPS and mapping technologies. Readings from a Garmin or a smart phone are influenced by other factors such as air pressure.
At Backroads we've honed our expertise in active family travel over many years and a lot of trips. We host at least 20 times more family guests than any other active company, so we're constantly gaining new insights that make our trips even better. Detailed planning, behind-the scenes logistics, unrivaled support from three Trip Leaders—all backed by a team that proudly creates the kind of experiences we'd want to share with our own families.
Coordinating multiple activities throughout a single day can be tricky, but with Backroads you'll never know it. When you explore Hawaii with us, you switch activities seamlessly without missing a beat. We invented the multisport concept, and we're constantly adding new dimensions and fine-tuning the experience to make it even more enjoyable.
On our Hawaii trips we have an extra leader supporting you along the road and trail—for a total of three, compared to the industry standard two. So we can be in more places at once, giving personal attention to guests traveling at their own pace. Here's more on our Trip Leaders.
Guests rave about our picnic spreads. Enjoy a welcome break in a scenic spot, or a quick refuel stop if you don't want to lose momentum. And because we have two vans, one can host lunch while the other is out providing support along the route.
We design and support our Hawaii trips to suit mixed abilities and varied interests—so you can set your own pace, then change things up as the day unfolds. And all guests are free to do the same, traveling together or apart, with no one cramping anyone else's style. Which sounds easy in theory, but it's hard to pull off. Here's more on how we do it.
A great bike is obviously critical for a great multisport trip; you don't want to gamble on one that's been sourced locally to trim costs. This trip features our acclaimed Backroads Custom Titanium bikes, expertly tuned and fitted, and included in your trip price. Learn why our titanium bikes are ideal for most riders.
Backroads has the best-qualified people to lead your trip in Hawaii, and our guests back that up, rating our Trip Leaders an average of 9.75 out of 10 for all-around quality of performance. Get the facts (and no fluff) on how we recruit and develop the very best people for your trip.
This Family Adventure, with its blend of challenging activities and cool places to explore, is ready to erase the doubtful looks of the toughest travel critics around: teenagers. We're not saying there won't be a single eye-rolling response (or the odd WhatsApp exchange with the gang back home), but this trip has plenty to keep teens in the moment and part of the family.
When everyone's together, there's lots going on; and when kids' and adults' priorities diverge, it can seem like two different trips. That's why our Family Adventures in Hawaii have three Trip Leaders—including a dedicated Kids Activity Expert who regularly takes younger travelers off to do their own thing. Other companies try to get by with two leaders; we step up and do it right. For more on our family focus, check this out.
It may seem obvious to say the great hotels we tell you about are the ones you'll actually stay in. But the fact is many companies haven't even booked the places they promise and are later forced to settle for inferior alternatives. We book our hotels and exact rooms long in advance—often over two years—so you stay where you expect to stay.
Under our Book with Confidence policy, your Backroads trip will run even for a single family of three or four people, subject to a nominal extra fee. Or transfer to another trip, and we'll give you a credit. It's all part of our trademark commitment to treating guests with integrity, transparency and total accountability. Read all the details.
Backroads is the leader in designing trips that ensure everyone, young and young-at-heart alike, has an amazing time. Your Backroads Family Adventure balances family activities with diversions designed exclusively for the kids—giving the adults a welcome break from making decisions, other than choosing whether to explore a few more miles or just enjoy each other's company. A family vacation where everyone gets to relax, recharge and have fun – what a concept!
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Gather your favorite people to share a Backroads adventure on a ready-to-book Private Trip - featuring all the legendary Backroads hallmarks from expert leaders to unforgettable activities. You can pick from the selection of dates below for your group of 8 or more. If your party has fewer than 8 guests, or your preferred date is not available, we'll create a departure just for you. Call or email us to reserve your date.
Click on a date below for specific pricing and possible itinerary variations.
8 AVAILABLE TO BOOK FOR 8 OR MORE GUESTS 16 AVAILABLE TO BOOK FOR 16 OR MORE GUESTS RESERVED
Don't see your ideal travel date? Make a Date! i
Invite your family and friends on an adventure that's entirely your own - for your group of 8 or more. Find out more
I simply can't imagine a better way to immerse yourself in the life of a region, to explore hidden corners and appreciate nuances while enjoying the benefits and enormous satisfaction of traveling under your own power. These are experiences you cannot have behind the wheel of a car, or on a train or a tour bus. Active travel is, at its heart, a way of connecting more authentically with the world. Sure, Backroads provides amazing leaders, superb accommodations and meals, and opportunities you could never arrange on your own. But all of our comprehensive planning and support is aimed at something far simpler: bringing you the immediate, highly personal satisfaction of discovering a new world on your own terms.
— Tom Hale, Founder & President
