The Big Island of Hawaii is a tropical paradise, with pristine beaches, epic snorkeling, and lush rainforests. Its stunning landscape is shaped, in large part, due to its volcanoes—the Big Island is, in fact, home to Kilaueau, one of the most active volcanoes, and Mauna Loa, the largest subaerial volcano on the planet! Here’s 9 awesome volcano tours on the Big Island so you can get up close and personal with these incredible geological wonders.
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Big Island Tours of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
1. Private Guide In Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
- Duration: 3 hours and 30 minutes
- Includes: Trekking poles, bottled water, snacks (note that this tour does not include admission to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which is $30 per private vehicle, or free with an America the Beautiful Pass)
- Pick-up offered? No
On this private tour, for up to 8 guests, you’ll see the best of what Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has to offer, including exploring the Thurston Lava Tube, a 600 foot underground cave that was carved through the ground by lava and snakes below the park’s dense rainforest; hiking the Rim Trail around the Kilauea Crater and getting to peer into its steam vents and fissure cracks; and spotting some of the park’s unique flora and fauna.
The guides with this tour company are extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the geology of the volcanoes and the unique animals and plants found throughout the park. Plus, they’re incredible at tailoring the tour to your needs, making this a great option if you’re traveling with kiddos, seniors, or travelers that may need some extra attention.
2. Private Tour: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Eco Tour
- Duration: You have the option of either three or six hours.
- Includes: None
- Pick-up offered? No
Okay, if you’re looking to truly dive into the nature and geology of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and skip some of the more touristy stuff of bigger group tours, like candy stores and gift shops, this is absolutely the right choice for you.
On this private tour, your knowledgeable guides will take on some of the more under-the-radar sections of the park, where you won’t be packed in with a bunch of other tour groups. For example, you’ll hike along the Devastation Trail, which winds through a section of the park that was buried under spewing lava fountains of the 1959 Kīlauea Iki eruption, and drive along the Chain of Craters Road to see incredibly rare volcanic rock formations. And when there’s an active lava flow in the park, they’ll get you right up close to the action—way closer than any other tour group!
Instead of boxed lunches or the other frills of most volcano tour options, this company is instead laser focused on sharing tons of information about volcanism, as well as Hawaiian mythology with its guests.
Big Island Helicopter Tours of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
3. Circle of Fire Helicopter Tour
- Duration: 50 minutes
- Includes: None
- Pick-up offered? No
Guys, what could be cooler than seeing Kilaueau and Mauna Loa from ten thousand feet in the air?!
On this Big Island helicopter tour, you’ll leave from the Hilo Airport, on the east side of the island, flying over the town of Hiloand the southeastern shore of the island, which is constantly being reshaped from Kileaua’s eruptions (as recently as January 2023!).
But the big event, of course, is flying over the sprawling landscape of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which is actually bigger than the entire island of Oahu! From thousands of feet in the air, you’ll fly over the Kilauea Volcano to see its steaming vents, fissures, and if you’re lucky, even active lava! Throughout the entire tour, your pilot will share the geology and history of the island and its incredible volcanoes, all while you’re taking in a birds-eye view of the volcanic landscape below.
Big Island Tour of the Mauna Kea Volcano
4. Mauna Kea Summit Sunset and Stars
- Duration: 7 to 8 hours
- Includes: Snacks, hot drinks, and warm layers
- Pick-up offered? Yes, from Kona, Hilo, and Waikoloa
For a totally different kind of experience than most of the volcano tours on the Big Island, join this option to Mauna Kea, a dormant volcano that’s not only the tallest point in the entire state of Hawaii but also technically the tallest mountain on the PLANET (yep, it beats Everest when it’s measured from the seafloor to its summit!).
You’ll be picked up in a 4×4 van in the afternoon and make your way as a small group, with no more than 14 people, to the summit of Mauna Kea. This may sound like a small feat, but the only way to make your way to the summit is by climbing up the grueling Mauna Kea hike or, alternatively, driving along an incredibly gnarly and unmaintained road that would undoubtedly be a breach of your rental car agreement.
At the summit, you’ll learn about the history and mythology of Mauna Kea, which ancient Hawaiians believed to be the realm of the gods, and enjoy what’s widely regarded as the Big Island’s best sunset, as the sun sinks beneath the clouds at your feet.
Mauna Kea also happens to be one of the best places on the planet to stargaze, thanks to its high elevation and limited light pollution. As thousands of stars light up the night sky, your informative guide will point out constellations and even bust out a professional Celestron telescope so you can get a better look at the planets and galaxies above. Your night will end with a hot cocoa or other cozy drink to warm up, as well as a photo of the night sky from your guide’s professional camera.
Tours of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Other Highlights of the Big Island
5. Big Island in a Day: Volcanoes, Waterfalls, Sightseeing, and History
- Duration: 11 hours
- Includes: Lunch, bottled water
- Pick-up offered? Yes, from location around Kona and the west side of the island
If you’re staying on the west side of the island and are trying to squeeze in seeing as much of the national park and the eastern side as you can into your Big Island itinerary, this is going to be one of your best options.
You’ll start by touring around the stunning Bay View Farms property, as you sample their homegrown Kona coffee.
From there, you’ll head to Punalu’u Beach, one of my favorite beaches on the Big Island. Not only does it offer a wide stretch of dramatic black sand and swaying palm trees, but it’s also one of the best places on the Big Island to see sea turtles! During my husband, Justin’s and my recent visit to the Big Island, we went to Punalu’u Beach three times and saw honu on each occasion!
From here, you’ll spend about two hours at the main event—Hawaii Volcanoes National Park! You’ll stop at some of the best viewpoints in the park, such as the Halema’uma’u and Kilauea Iki crater lookouts, and hike along the rim of the crater and through an ancient lava tube. While your time in the park is limited, the guides do an excellent job of sharing tons of fascinating information and engaging stories about the volcanoes and the history of the island.
From here, you’ll hit some of the other best spots on the east side of the island, including Rainbow Falls, which is so named because you can actually see rainbows in its mist on sunny days; Akaka Falls, a 442-foot waterfall (one of the biggest on the island!) which dramatically plunges over a basalt cliff; and the Waip’o Valley Overlook, which offers a postcard-worthy view of the enormous sea cliffs on the west side of the island.
6. Hawaii Small-Group Volcano Experience with Lunch and Dinner
- Duration: 11 hours
- Includes: Picnic lunch, dinner, snacks, non-alcoholic drinks, binoculars
- Pick-up offered? Yes, from locations around Kona and the west side of the island
If you are looking for one of the most jam-packed volcano tours on the Big Island, this small group option (with a maximum of just 13 travelers!) should absolutely be at the top of your list.
This tour starts at noon at Greenwell Farms, one of the best Kona coffee plantations. You’ll learn how the coffee is grown, roasted, and turned into a delicious cup of joe, plus enjoy a picnic lunch on Greenwell’s lush property.
Afterwards, you’ll head south—in fact, to the southernmost point in the United States! There’s a small plaque commemorating this superlative, but more importantly, the Punalu’u Bake Shop, which offers homemade goodies, like malasadas.
Next up is the stunningly beautiful black sand of Punalu’u Beach— keep a lookout for honu here!
Finally, what you’ve been waiting for—Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. You’ll spend an hour and a half here, exploring the summit of the Kilauea volcano, one of the most active volcanoes in the world! You’ll get a tour from certified guides to see hardened lava lakes, ancient lava tubes, and steaming vents.
You’ll grab a (surprisingly delicious!) dinner at the nearby Kilauea Lodge and Restaurant and, if you’re lucky enough to be visiting during an active flow, will head back into the park to see molten lava get spewed from the Earth. Waiting until nightfall to see an active lava flow is definitely a power move—Justin and I visited during an eruption of Kilauea and were AMAZED at the fiery orange glow from the lava and its steam at night.
On the drive back to Kona, you’ll ride along the Saddle Road to Mauna Kea, where you can partake in its famed stargazing and can even try to spot the Milky Way.
Throughout the entire tour, your guide will provide interesting background about Hawaiian culture and history and about the geology of the island, with a healthy amount of dad jokes sprinkled in. All in all, this is an incredible option, especially if you’re short on time on the Big Island or don’t want to drive yourself down to the southern coast of the island.
7. Small Group Big Island Twilight Volcano and Stargazing Tour
- Duration: 12 hours
- Includes: Picnic lunch, dinner, snacks, non-alcoholic drinks
- Pick-up offered? Yes (from locations around Kona and the west side of the island)
Honestly, this small group option is incredibly similar to the tour above, but is a bit cheaper—with stops at a coffee farm (this time, Bay View Farms), Punalu’u Bake Shop, Punalu’u Beach, and finally, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and the Saddle Road of Mauna Kea.
The biggest difference with this tour is that you’ll stay in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park exclusively during the daylight hours—so if there’s an active lava flow, you’ll miss seeing the fiery glow of the lava at night and see the spectacular stargazing in the park. On the other hand, you’ll typically get more time to marvel at the night sky in Mauna Kea.
Considering the guides with this company are equally as knowledgeable and funny as the similar tour above, I’d personally choose this tour for the cost savings if there wasn’t an active lava flow in the park and the tour above if there is (pssst… you can check here to see if there’s active lava in the park!).
8. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Hilo Highlights Small Group Tour
- Duration: 5 hours and 30 minutes
- Includes: Bottled water
- Pick-up offered? Yes (from select locations around Hilo)
This is one of the only volcano tours on the Big Island that actually departs from Hilo, making this a perfect option if you’re staying on the east side of the island (pssst… wondering whether you should stay on the west or the east side of the island? We wrote a whole article all about Kona vs. Hilo!).
You’ll spend the majority of this small group tour (with no more than 12 participants!) in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. For example, you’ll get stunning views into the Kilauea Crater and its steam vents, hike through the Thurston Lava Tube, and drive along the famed Chain of Craters Road, renowned as one of the most scenic drives on the planet.
Additionally, you’ll make stops at some of the best spots around Hilo, including Rainbow Falls, an 80 foot waterfall cascading down a lush cliffside; Big Island Candies for some locally made chocolates and macadamia nuts; and Liliʻuokalani Gardens, which is actually the largest authentic ornamental Japanese garden outside of Japan!
The guides with this company are really knowledgeable about the volcanoes and the history of the island and do an awesome job at sharing a more local perspective. They’re also great at making the tour interesting and engaging for all of the participants in the group, from 5-year old newbie travelers to senior adventurers.
9. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park from Hilo
- Duration: 4 to 5 hours
- Includes: The guides usually provide fresh fruit, but that’s not included in the tour’s official description—so you may want to bring your own snacks just to be on the safe side!
- Pick-up offered? Yes
This option, also leaving from Hilo, makes the same stops as the tour above, including Liliʻuokalani Gardens, Rainbow Falls, Big Island Candies, and, of course, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
You’ll hit all of the best spots in the park, like the Crater Rim Trail, to peer into Kilauea’s three mile long crater and marvel at its steam vents; and the Thurston Lava Tube.
In full transparency, this tour is very similar to the one above, with a similar small group environment (with a maximum of 14 guests) and a similar itinerary. This tour, however, is quite a bit more pricey—and the only real advantage that I can distinguish is that it’s offered daily, as compared to the tour above, which is offered sporadically a couple of days of the week. So this is a great option if you’ve only got a few days on the Big Island and the option above isn’t available.
I hope you have an incredible time on one of these volcano tours on the Big Island seeing these incredible natural wonders! Do you have any questions about the tours or the stops above? Let me know in the comments below!
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