The 15 Big Island Volcano Tours That Earn Their Price

1.Big Island in a Day: Volcanoes Waterfalls Sightseeing and History

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6,569 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $264Our pick

Travel from Kona or Waikoloa in a small Mercedes Sprinter van for an 11-hour loop around Hawaii Island. Visit a Kona coffee farm, Punalu’u Beach, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, two waterfalls, and Waipio Valley, with lunch, drinks, hotel pickup, and a guide such as Chris, Drew, or Kavika.

“They will learn so much about the big Island of Hawaii. Folks will learn about the history, indigenous culture, plant life, animal life, etc. The tour is jam packed with information. The locations we stopped at were always interesting and beautiful. Our guide Dave was amazing. I think we were lucky to have gotten him.”

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2.Hilo Shore Excursion: Volcanoes National Park & Black Sand Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,338 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $159

From Hilo Port, visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Kilauea’s steam vents, Sulphur Banks, a lava tube, Richardson Black Sand Beach, and a macadamia nut farm. Guides such as Robert, Jess, Donna, and Hannibal add local stories and practical help. Allow for weather and changing park access.

“I would highly suggest you were close toe shoes for walking around—good time…Evelynn was fantastic! Someday soon they should deal with the windows situation…it would have been nice to have clear sight out the windows for good pics”

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3.Big Island GOAT Experience: Mauna Kea Summit, Sunset & Stars

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,706 reviews · 7 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $289

Ride from Hilo, Waikoloa, or Kona to Mauna Kea with a small group, watch sunset near the summit, then study stars through a Celestron telescope. Guides such as Kella, Tay, John, Chris, and Val share astronomy and Hawaiian stories. Coats, gloves, snacks, drinks, and a night photo are included.

“So worth it! Val was so genuine and informative. Shared knowledge and took great photos! Dress warm!”

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4.Small Group Big Island Twilight Volcano and Stargazing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,619 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $297

Travel from Kona or the Kohala Coast to a Kona coffee farm, Punalu’u Black Sand Beach, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, Thurston Lava Tube, and a dark Saddle Road stargazing site. Guides such as Felix, Derek, Todd, and Dreu add lively island context. Expect a long, weather-dependent day with plenty of driving.

“This tour was a long day, but 1000% worth it. We were so lucky to see the volcano erupt and have clear conditions. Our tour guide, Felix, was awesome - very knowledgeable and took great care of us. Definitely do this tour!”

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5.Big Island: Mauna Kea Summit and Stars Small-Group Adventure Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,545 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $329

Ride a 4x4 van up Mauna Kea with a small group, eat a hot picnic dinner, watch sunset above the clouds, then study planets and galaxies through two telescopes at 9,000 feet. Guides such as Jeff, Jason, Wilson, and Eugene add astronomy, Hawaiian culture, and safety advice.

“A amazing tour, our guide was knowledgeable,even the lava land near the road he could tell the year.”

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6.Big Island: Mauna Kea Summit Tour with Free Night Star Photo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,449 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $280

Travel by 4x4 van to Mauna Kea’s 13,803-foot summit with guides such as Wes, Chris, or James. Enjoy a sandwich, warm clothing, sunset views, telescope stargazing, and free DSLR photos. The small group size, maximum 12 people, keeps the outing personal.

“It was very relaxing and a great experience. Stunning views with everything taken care of. Our guide, Chris, was amazing and very knowledgeable. He learned everyone’s names by the time we got to the mountain which was very impressive! He took care of everything, and help my partner and I soak up an unforgettable experience care free. Would 10/10 recommend.”

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7.Big Island Highlights: Coffee, Volcano, Black Sands & Waterfall

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,054 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $299

Spend 11 hours crossing the Big Island in a small group of up to 13, with hotel pickup, lunch, drinks, coffee, and snacks included. Visit Greenwell Farms, Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach, Volcanoes National Park, Big Island Candies, and Rainbow Falls. Guides such as Kawika, Derrick, and Chris bring local stories to the drive.

“So informative - learned so much more about the beautiful island of Hawaii! Our tour guide, David (Hawaiian name Kawaka?) was the best!”

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8.Deluxe Volcano Experience with Restaurant Dinner

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 620 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $341

Spend 11 hours crossing Hawaii’s Big Island with a small group of up to 13 people. Taste Kona coffee at Greenwell Farms, visit Punaluʻu, explore Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park with a park-certified guide, and finish with dinner at Kīlauea Lodge. Guides such as Grant, Dave, Shelby, and Toby are known for strong island knowledge.

“An amazing day! Stops at a Kona coffee farm, Bakery, Black sand beach, Volcano, excellent dinner at lodge, volcano tube and a stop on way back to star gaze. Unbelievable view of stars and the Milky Way. Be prepared lots of time in travel but was comfortable and informative along the way. 11 hour excursion in total. Highly recommend. Our tour guide Dave was just amazing so knowledgeable and informative.”

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9.Big Island: Fat Tire E-Bike Tour through Volcanoes National Park

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 546 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $199

Meet Nicole, Derek, Tyler, Scott, or Bill near Kilauea Lodge for a safety briefing and guided ride into Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. You will pedal roughly 12 to 15 miles on paved roads and paths, visit a lava tube and major viewpoints, and learn about volcanoes, plants, wildlife, and Hawaiian history.

“This was a great way to visit the Hawaii Volcano National Park. We felt like we saw alot of the park that we would miss if we drove through the park. Nicole's explanation of the history of Hawaii's volcano, surrounding plants, nenes and the lava tube was excellent. We would do this again. Plus the e-bikes were easy and fun to ride. 3 hours flew by.”

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10.Big Island, Hawaii: Volcanoes National Park Safari

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 545 reviews · 55 minutes (approx.) · from $379

From Hilo Airport, Safari Helicopters takes you over Volcanoes National Park in a small helicopter limited to six people. Pilots such as Andrew and Jim explain Hawaii’s geology, culture, and eruptive past while pointing out lava flows, calderas, waterfalls, orchid farms, and native forest. Weather may change the route.

“We loved the helicopter ride. It’s a must do. Jim was our pilot. Very professional and informative. Just the right amount of time. We saw the volcano vents and many craters. The weather was mostly clear.”

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11.Hawaii Volcanoes, Waterfalls, Beaches & Hilo Highlights Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 391 reviews · 6 to 7 hours (approx.) · from $186

Spend 6 to 7 hours with Justin of Makaio Tours exploring Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hilo’s market and waterfalls, Liliʻuokalani Gardens, Big Island Candies, and Richardson Ocean Park. Pickup is available from Hilo hotels, the port, and airport, with a Kona or Waikoloa meeting point for drivers.

“Justin was awesome. Can't say enough nice things about him. Very knowledgeable, great at time management, we got to see everything we wanted and had extra time for shopping etc. We threw him a curve ball with an unexpected handicap and he was a trooper helping and watching out for us. Would highly recommend this excursion”

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12.Hilo Shore Excursion: Volcano Safari Lava Caves & Black Sand

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 363 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $154Best value

This six-hour Hilo excursion visits Rainbow Falls, Kaumana Caves, Lava Tree State Park, Pohoiki, and areas changed by Kilauea. Expect a small group of up to 14, local guides such as Ellen, Troy, Dave, or Lori, uneven walking, and a local food stop.

“Ellen was a fantastic guide. She was incredibly knowledgeable and timed our stops when other big bus tours weren’t going to be there.(less crowded). We loved having only 14 in our group. The van was so comfortable. It was the best way to see Hilo. Highly recommend.”

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13.Small-Group Big Island Tour: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Kona Coffee Farm

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 343 reviews · from $209

Travel from Kona or Waikoloa in a small group of up to 14 with hotel pickup, coffee tasting at Greenwell Farms, Punaluʻu Beach, a lava tube, crater views, lunch, dinner, and guidance from hosts such as Katie. Expect a full, scenic day with a lot of driving and short walks.

“First time on the Big Island and the tour was an excellent way to explore different parts of the island. Katie is a great tour guide; she provided a lot of information about the volcanoes and all the other areas we visited. The lunch, snacks, and the coffee tasting were delicious. The lava tube was unique and the black sand beach as well. Enjoyed seeing the turtles sunbathing at the beach and all the other wildlife we saw during the tour (mongoose, Hawaiian goose, etc.).”

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14.Volcano National Park Adventure From Kona

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 339 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $259

Spend about 11 hours crossing the Big Island from Kona with a small group of up to 14. Guides such as David, Dan, Erik, and Zane explain volcano science, island history, and changing ecosystems while you visit a Kona coffee farm, Punaluʻu Beach, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and more.

“Great day! It really is a full day out so be prepared ! We will see SO many things in the island ! They really do take you all over ! The only thing is that I wish we had a little more time on the beach for example so people could swim if they wanted to, but that’s more personal preference. However, the tour was so good ! Really didn’t expect it to have so much packed into one day!”

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15.Private Tour: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Eco Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 276 reviews · 3 to 6 hours (approx.) · from $160

Spend three to six hours exploring Hawaii Volcanoes National Park with a private Kilauea EcoGuides guide. Walk through rainforest, lava tubes, steam vents, crater trails, and coastal sites while learning about geology, native plants, birds, and Hawaiian culture. Morning and afternoon departures are available.

“This private tour is well worth the price. Tyson was an awesome and knowledgeable guide. He educated us about volcanoes, plants, animals and culture. He has a degree in geology and a love of Hawaii, so he made the tour personal and very educational. He even gave us a recommendation for delicious shave ice!”

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