There are endless adventures to be had in Hawaii, no matter which island or islands you choose to visit. From helicopter tours and snorkeling cruises to ziplines and luaus, the choice of guided tours and excursions can be overwhelming.
That’s why we’ve curated these top tours by island, so planning your visit and securing your spots on tours is just a little easier.
We book our Hawaii tours on Viator, a TripAdvisor company. The site is easy to navigate, and most bookings come with a cancellation policy, usually 24 or 48 hours. That makes it easy to reschedule or cancel if the weather chooses not to cooperate or your plans change.
Plus, Viator also offers a “Reserve Now, Pay Later” option on most tours, so you can book well in advance but you’re not out of cash until it’s almost time to take your tour.
We’ve taken numerous Viator tours on each of the four large islands over the years and so far we’ve been pleased with the quality of the tours.
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Happy booking!
TOP-RATED KAUAI TOURS
KAUAI HELICOPTER TOUR
There is no better way to view Kauai than from a helicopter, soaring over such bucket-list sights as the Na Pali Coast, the Waimea Canyon, and Jurassic Falls. In fact, from the air is the only way to see many parts of the island’s rugged interior.
Our top choice? The Hughes 500 4-passenger doors-off helicopter tour!
NA PALI COAST SUNSET CATAMARAN CRUISE
The towering cliffs of Kauai’s legendary Na Pali Coast, which rise up right by the blue Pacific Ocean, are the stuff of picture postcards. There are only 3 ways to visit: from the air, by water, or hiking in on the Kalalau Trail.
We love this afternoon catamaran cruise, because the light falls on the cliffs, perfect for photography.
NA PALI COAST SNORKELING TRIP BY RAFT
Want an extra dose of excitement arriving at the Na Pali Coast? Consider a raft snorkeling tour! You’ll not only snorkel at one of Kauai’s best coral reefs, you’ll also zip in and out of sea caves and under waterfalls on the Na Pali cliffs.
If you don’t mind rough waves and getting wet, this exhilarating ride is a thrilling Kauai adventure.
TOP-RATED OAHU TOURS
OAHU CIRCLE ISLAND TOUR
Planning to be based in Waikiki and don’t want to rent a car? You can explore major sights on the island by booking a circle island tour! On a full-day group tour, you’ll drive up the east side and visit Oahu’s north shore, stopping at various points of interest like the Dole Plantation and the Byodo-In Temple.
TURTLE CANYON SNORKELING TOUR FROM WAIKIKI
Just off the coast of Waikiki is Turtle Canyon, a cleaning station for Hawaiian green sea turtles. The turtles arrive at the reef here to have their algae “cleaned” by the reef fish, and a boat tour from Waikiki allows you to watch them! Turtle sightings are very commonplace here, so these tours are popular.
TOA LUAU AT WAIMEA VALLEY
Considered one of the top luaus on Oahu, Toa Luau at Waimea Valley on Oahu’s North Shore is a must for the pre-dinner cultural activities, the food, and the show. And if you arrive a little earlier you can also tour the gorgeous botanical garden and walk to pretty Waimea Falls.
TOP-RATED BIG ISLAND TOURS
BIG ISLAND IN A DAY TOUR FROM KONA
Visiting Kona on the Big Island and don’t want to rent a car? This Big Island in a Day tour is the perfect way to see the major sights in the rest of the island in one active day. From waterfalls to volcanoes and black sand beaches to jaw-dropping viewpoints, this tour is a BIG adventure on the Big Island!
NIGHT MANTA RAY SNORKELING TOUR FROM KONA
If you enjoy underwater exploration, there’s one THRILLING excursion from Kona you have to do: night manta ray snorkeling! These gentle giants of the sea with their enormous wingspans are harmless, and on a snorkeling tour you’ll be above them as lights are shone down, lighting up the plankton the rays eat.
MAUNA KEA SUNSET AND STARGAZING TOUR
The summit of Mauna Kea is the highest point in all of Hawaii and a renowned sunset viewing spot. You need a 4X4 to drive to the summit. On this guided sunset + stargazing tour, you’ll enjoy sunset at the summit and private stargazing (with a telescope) at 9,000 feet.
TOP-RATED MAUI TOURS
MOLOKINI +TURTLE TOWN SNORKELING TOUR
Molokini Crater and Turtle Town are two top snorkeling spots in Maui. The crescent-shaped Molokini is home to several hundred varieties of marine life and the visibility is excellent. And at Turtle Town, you can snorkel with honu, Hawaiian green sea turtles. This must-do Maui snorkeling tour departs from Maalaea Harbor.
HALEAKALA SUNRISE TOUR WITH BREAKFAST
Watching the sun rise from the summit of the Haleakala volcano is a memorable Maui experience. It’s on the bucket lists of so many visitors that you now have to reserve ahead if you want to drive up. Book this Haleakala sunrise tour instead, to avoid booking and parking hassles and be driven up in comfort for nature’s show!
SUNSET CRUISE FROM KAANAPALI WITH OPEN BAR
Board right from picture-perfect Kaanapali Beach onto the catamaran for an epic sunset cruise off the leeward coast of Maui. Take in views of Lanai, Molokai and Kahoolawe, look for dolphins, and observe a colorful sunset over the water as you enjoy unlimited drinks from an open bar.