Starting out from Kona, Kilauea tours travel up the coast over desolate lava flows for about 30 minutes before proceeding up the rolling pasturelands on the flanks of Mauna Kea. Turning onto the Saddle Road that traverses the island between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, you'll see a dramatic and diverse landscape of ranchland, sub-alpine dry forest and rainforest (with striking features such as cinder cones, lava flows, lava tubes and kipuka).
Stop for a short break and continental-style breakfast before continuing to drop down to near sea-level on the way through Hilo where you'll begin the final climb to the summit of Kilauea Volcano and the lush entrance to Hawaii Volcano National Park. On the way back, the Small Group Hawaii volcano tour travels along the Hamakua Coast and passes through Waimea before returning to Kona. By the end of the day, you'll have traveled over 300 miles (480 km) and experienced an elevation change (you go up and down a few times!) of over 30,000 feet (9,150 meters).
Tour departs from Queen Kaahumanu Highway at 6:50am or Waikoloa Kings Shops at 7:30am.
Duration: 12 hours approximately
|