4/28/2017
5.0The Big Island of Hawaii is the perfect family playground
By Pam Fritz - Regional Manager
from Central America & Hawaii
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Premiere & Casual Hotels*
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 View Scheduled Dates or Private Dates tabs.
Volcano House Hotel
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (2 nights)
* Casual Hotel
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.
Fairmont Orchid
Kohala Coast (3 nights)
A blissful resort on a half-moon beach offering abundant amenities and exceptional aloha hospitality. (pool, spa)
This Trip Is Rated Levels 1-3
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.
Daily Route Options (drag to see full )
| Daily Route Options |
| 1 |
Walking/Hiking |
3* |
100 |
4* |
200 |
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| 2 |
Biking |
10* |
500 |
29* |
600 |
30 |
2000 |
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| Walking/Hiking |
3 |
500 |
5 |
700 |
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| 3 |
Biking |
10* |
300 |
21* |
600 |
31* |
1600 |
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| 4 |
Walking/Hiking |
1 |
50 |
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| Kayaking |
& Snorkeling in Puako (3 Hours) |
| Kids |
Cultural Activities |
| 5 |
Biking |
8* |
600 |
16 |
1100 |
35* |
1600 |
44* |
2300 |
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| 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) |
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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 level 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.
Meals
All breakfasts, 4 lunches, 4 dinners
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! Read on for your available bike options for this trip or view our full bike fleet in further detail.
Backroads Titanium Bikes (Included in your trip price)
Our custom-built titanium bikes are specially designed for you—and we offer different models for varied terrain so your bike is ideally suited to the region. Our custom-made bikes are included in your trip price.
Touring Bike (Included)
Road Bike (Included)
For trips departing before 4/15/18, please see available bike options here.
Custom 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 all Backroads Family Trips, you'll find 20" and 24" bicycles for the younger set. They say good things come in small packages; when it comes to bikes for kids of all ages, Backroads is the expert.
Custom Kids Bikes (Included)
Burley Kazoo trailer bike (Included in your trip price)
The Burley Kazoo trailer bike, for children up to 85 pounds, attaches to an adult bike with your child providing some of the pedal power for a real team effort! It's ideal for kids who may be comfortable pedaling around the neighborhood but aren't yet ready for bike touring.
Burley Cub trailer (Included)
Also Included
- 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
Get the Straight Talk about This Trip
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
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 include highways with fast moving 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.
Volcanoes National Park – Climate
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is famous for its renowned volcanoes, Kilauea and Mauna Loa. The Park has distinct climate zones that vary by elevation and despite the tropical latitude it can be rainy and chilly any time of the year. While in the park, we will be approximately 4,000 feet above sea level and you should be prepared for a wide range of weather conditions.
Accommodations
Volcano House Lodge is a fairly rustic property in a stunning location on the edge of Kilauea Crater in Volcanoes National Park. Although clean and comfortable, the guest rooms are very basic and are not equipped with televisions.
Why Travel with Backroads in Hawaii
Like You, We're Family Experts
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.
Get the Most Out of Each Day
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 multi-adventure concept, and we're constantly adding new dimensions and fine-tuning the experience to make it even more enjoyable.
More Leaders to Support You
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.
Signature Backroads Picnics
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.
Everyone at Their Own Pace
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.
Our Superb Bikes Included
A great bike is obviously critical for a great multi-adventure 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.
The Best Leaders in Hawaii
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.
A Great Trip for Teens
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.
Leaders Focused on Families
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.
Your Hotels Are Locked In
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.
Your Trip Will Run. Period.
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.
Time Together, Time Apart
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!
