Overview
Experience one of the most immersive Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park tours on the Big Island. This full-day, fully guided adventure takes you deep into a UNESCO World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Reserve, home to two of the world’s most active volcanoes—Kīlauea and Mauna Loa. From steaming craters and lava tubes to sweeping coastal views, you’ll witness firsthand the powerful forces that built the island, all while learning about the geology, culture, and ecology that make this place so unique.
Duration
8–12 hours (two tour options)
Meeting point
Guests are picked up directly from their place of lodging for maximum comfort and convenience.
Cancellations
Guests receive a full refund when canceling at least 72 hours before the scheduled tour.
Group size
Up to 7 guests for a more personal, small-group experience.
Accessibility
Strollers can be accommodated. If a child requires a car seat, guests must provide it.
We can host guests using wheelchairs as long as the chair is collapsible and the guest can enter and exit the vehicle independently.
Activity details
Set out on an in-depth Big Island volcano tour that blends sightseeing, education, and comfort. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is one of the best places on earth to experience active volcanism. With expert naturalist guides leading the way, you will:
Walk along the rim of Kīlauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world
Learn how lava flows, eruptions, and time have shaped the island
Hear stories that connect Hawaiian culture to the land and the volcanoes
Our guides provide clear, engaging commentary throughout the day, helping you understand not just what you’re seeing, but why it matters. Expect a full, rewarding day surrounded by dramatic volcanic scenery, native forests, and sweeping views.
We offer two versions of this Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park tour:
8-Hour Tour (departs 8:00 a.m.)
Ideal for guests who want a slightly shorter day while still enjoying the park’s major highlights.12-Hour Tour (departs 9:00 a.m.)
A more extensive experience that allows time to venture farther off the beaten path, travel Chain of Craters Road all the way to the coast, stay after dark if conditions allow, and finish the day with a sit-down dinner in the town of Volcano.
What’s included
Admission to all venues and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Pick-up and drop-off at your place of lodging
Lunch: Picnic-style lunch enjoyed within the beauty of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Dinner (12-Hour Tour): Relax with a sit-down meal at a local restaurant in Volcano, featuring locally sourced ingredients and Hawaiʻi-inspired cuisine
Snacks: Trail mix, fruit snacks, granola bars, beef jerky, chips, chocolate
Non-alcoholic beverages: Water, juice, soda, hot tea, coffee, and hot chocolate
Patagonia rain jacket and Nano Puff for changing mountain weather
Nikon ProStaff binoculars for close-up views of wildlife and distant features
Black Diamond hiking poles for added stability on uneven terrain
Flashlights and umbrellas
Fully guided naturalist tour with educational materials and detailed commentary from top-tier guides
Complimentary photo package: 20–25 professionally edited images, delivered via Adobe Cloud or iCloud links
Itinerary
On the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes In-Depth Adventure, you will visit a curated selection of key sites within the park while enjoying guided interpretation throughout the day. Your guide will share stories about the island’s natural history, endemic species, and cultural significance.
Typical stops include:
Guided walk along the rim of Halemaʻumaʻu Crater
Wahinekapu Steaming Bluffs, where you can feel the warmth of volcanic steam rising from the ground
Nāhuku (Thurston Lava Tube) – a short forest walk leading into an ancient lava tube
Picnic lunch in a scenic area inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
A full exploration of Chain of Craters Road, from the summit area down toward the ocean
Sit-down dinner at a local restaurant in the town of Volcano (12-Hour Tour only)
If there is an active volcanic eruption and conditions are safe, the 12-hour tour may stay past dark so your guide can lead you to the best legal and accessible viewpoint for nighttime lava viewing.
Highlights
A full day dedicated to exploring one of the most active volcanic regions in the world
Small-group experience with highly trained naturalist guides
Comfortable round-trip transportation from your lodging
Access to areas that many standard tours skip, including the full length of Chain of Craters Road
Educational, photography-friendly, and designed for guests who want more than a basic sightseeing loop
Route overview
After pickup, your adventure begins as you travel along Saddle Road between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa—two of the tallest mountains on earth when measured from the seafloor. The route often includes a brief pass by Hilo before the final approach to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
Inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
Start by walking along the rim of Kīlauea, taking in expansive views of Halemaʻumaʻu Crater. Your guide will explain how recent eruptions and collapses have reshaped this landscape in just the last few years.
Continue to Wahinekapu Steaming Bluffs, where heated groundwater rises as steam, giving you a tangible sense of the volcano’s internal heat.
Move on to Nāhuku (Thurston Lava Tube) for a half-mile walk through native forest and into a roughly 600-foot section of lava tube. Learn about the plants that surround the trail and imagine the immense volume of molten rock that once flowed through the tunnel.
Venture deeper into the park along Chain of Craters Road, traveling from the higher elevations all the way down toward the sea. Few tours cover the entire stretch, but this itinerary is designed to take you from summit landscapes to coastal views. Along the way, your guide customizes stops and viewpoints based on your group’s interests.
Evening eruption viewing (when applicable – 12-Hour Tour)
If a volcanic eruption is active and viewing is allowed, your guide will extend the tour into the evening and lead you to the best safe and legal viewing location. Seeing glow or activity after dark is often a highlight of the 12-hour experience.
Volcano dinner (12-Hour Tour)
Wrap up your day with a relaxing sit-down dinner at a local restaurant in the town of Volcano. Enjoy a hearty meal featuring local ingredients before heading back to your lodging feeling satisfied, inspired, and filled with new memories of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
