Top 10 Self-Guided Tours

1.Haleakala Sunrise Best Self-Guided Bike Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 745 reviews · 7 hours (approx.) · from $272Our pick

Start before dawn at Bike Maui in Haiku, ride an air-conditioned shuttle to Haleakala’s summit, and watch sunrise above the clouds. After park stops, pedal 15 miles downhill at your own pace from 6,500 feet, then continue through Makawao and Haiku. Guides such as Eddie Buddy and Corey add local stories and humor.

“Awesome, dress warm for Summit. Ask for Russell, he was great and so knowledgeable. Really great experience.”

Check availability →Read our full review

2.Best Haleakala Downhill Self-Guided Bike Tour with Maui Sunriders

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 496 reviews · 4 to 5 hours (approx.) · from $139Top rated

Ride downhill from Haleakala’s 6,500-foot staging area with Maui Sunriders, then continue through Kula, Makawao, and Paia. You set the pace, stop for food or shops, and receive a bike, helmet, gloves, outerwear, map, shuttle, and roadside help. Guides such as Remy, Dane, and Matthias add local context.

“Great experience! Wonderful views, easy ride, very accommodating and informative. My husband and I really enjoyed this. (Age 67 and 68)”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Haleakala Express Self-Guided Bike Tour with Bike Maui

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 271 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $146

Start near Haleakala National Park at 6,500 feet, coast downhill on a Kona mountain bike, then shuttle through restricted sections to Makawao and Haiku. Guides such as Kimo, Dan, Tim, and Nico add local stories. Expect about five hours, with lunch on your own.

“Because of local rule changes the actual bike riding is only two 15 minute repeat loops. Tim did a nice job with tour to cover short ride but this was bike ride!! Also driver left first, instead of trailing bikers, one rider crashed with bloody injuries and had to ride down to van/trailer to get first aid???”

Check availability →Read our full review

4.Volcanic Valley Self Guided Walking and Hiking at Waimangu

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 248 reviews · from $46

Walk Waimangu Volcanic Valley independently with a guide sheet and optional app. Choose a route to suit your time, see Frying Pan Lake, Inferno Crater Lake, steam vents, forests, and Lake Rotomahana, then ride the internal shuttle back uphill.

“Absolutely loved this walk! The scenery on this walk was unlike anything I'd every come across before! It was stunning! I found the information provided very insightful and interesting to learn about the history and geography of the surrounding areas. The boat trip was also fabulous with stunning views across the lake!”

Check availability →Read our full review

5.Rotorua: Waimangu Volcanic Valley Ticket & Self-Guided Walk

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 104 reviews · from $38

Enter Waimangu Volcanic Valley independently, then follow marked walks past Echo Crater, Inferno Crater Lake, Frying Pan Lake, hot springs, steam vents, native forest, and Lake Rotomahana. Choose a short route or the steep Mount Haszard Trail, using the guide sheet and courtesy shuttle as needed.

“Great sites to see and very friendly staff. Highly recommend”

Check availability →Read our full review

6.Rotorua Railcruising: Self-Drive Rail Car with Audio Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 19 reviews · 2 hours · from $44

You drive your own petrol-electric rail car along the historic Rotorua Railway at up to 20 km/h. Choose Ngongotaha or Mamaku Station, listen to an audio guide, enjoy views toward Lake Rotorua and Mount Tarawera, then watch the cars turn for the return trip. Blankets, clear weather screens, and Mamaku refreshments are included.

“Not particularly exciting. If you’re looking to kill 2h and learn about a man that built a railway, then go for it… if you have kids thinking it’s a high-octane rail ride… then think again!”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Hawaii: Volcanoes National Park E-Bike Rental and GPS Audio

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 16 reviews · 4 hours · from $159

Pick up an e-bike at Bike Volcano in Volcano Village and follow a GPS audio app into Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. You’ll ride through native rainforest, visit steam vents, walk a lava tube, and reach volcano viewpoints. The four-hour trip is self-guided, private, and paced at your own speed.

“There were 6 in our party. We road e-bikes to the volcano and back. The highways were busy and a bit scary at first but the vehicles were very accommodating to those on bikes as long as you stick to the sides of the road and adhered to the parks regulations there were no problems. The audio/map app was a bit hard to navigate, but trails and paths were easily found. Lots of maps on the way to follow. The views of the volcano spectacular. Beautiful, fun and exciting adventure. Would do it again. The e-bikes from Hilo on Bikes, were top notch and easy to operate. Fun fun activity.…”

Check availability →Read our full review

8.Three Sister Springs: Self Guided Tour- Clear Kayak Rental

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 13 reviews · 2h 30m · from $55

Meet Lena or Captain Scotty at Waterfront Social Restaurant, get route advice, then paddle a clear-bottom sit-in kayak through King’s Bay toward Three Sisters Springs. This private, self-guided outing lasts 150 minutes, with manatee sightings most likely in January and February. Snorkel gear is available separately.

“verhuurster was makkelijk met de gebruik tijd. mochten zolang kajakken als we wouden.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Campania: Pompei+Herculaneum+Vesuvius audio guide

★★★★★★★★★★3.6 · 10 reviews · 5 days · from $11Best value

Use the ITGUIDES app to explore Pompeii, Herculaneum, Vesuvius, MANN, Oplontis, and central Naples at your own pace. Maps and geolocation help you find each stop, while sections for large houses and museum collections keep the commentary tied to what you see. Tickets are not included.

“I recently used this tour guide app on my trip to Naples and I must say I was impressed. The user interface was very intuitive and the maps were accurate. The app also provided interesting historical facts . I would highly recommend this app to anyone travelling to Naples and looking for a convenient and informative guide.”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Hakone: Self Guided Trip to Mt. Fuji // Made by Local Guides

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 7 reviews · 1 day

You receive a self-guided PDF for a full day from Shinjuku through Hakone, with routes, food ideas, transport advice, and local stops. Follow the plan to Moto Hakone, Amazake Chaya, the Old Tokaido route, Lake Ashi, and Owakudani. You travel independently, with no personal guide alongside you.

“we enjoyed being independent and going at our own pace but knowing everything was already planned for us”

Check availability →Read our full review