{"id":28636,"date":"2018-08-07T10:44:46","date_gmt":"2018-08-07T00:44:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures?p=28636&preview=true&preview_id=28636"},"modified":"2024-11-14T10:21:46","modified_gmt":"2024-11-13T23:21:46","slug":"hawaii-group-travel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/hawaii-group-travel\/","title":{"rendered":"Why now is the best time for a group tour to Hawaii"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I told people I was going on holidays to Hawaii, the conversation went like this:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Them: \u201cGreat! Are you going by yourself or\u2026?\u201d
\nMe: \u201cI\u2019m doing an Intrepid trip.\u201d
\nThem (incredulously): \u201cIntrepid do trips in Hawaii?\u201d<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re after something a little more exciting than lounging around at a beach resort in Honolulu, here\u2019s why a small group adventure in Hawaii might be just what you\u2019re looking for.<\/p>\n

1. Hawaii is expensive (like, really expensive)<\/h3>\n
\"Maui

Maui sunset. Photo by loneroc.<\/p><\/div>\n

Flights into Honolulu are cheap (from Australia at least), but once you get there, expect to pay top dollar for your accommodation and activities. I was travelling solo, and going on a group trip was a much more affordable option. Not only can you share a room, but it meant that many of our optional activities were free as our ever-obliging tour leader, Charlie, could drive us around, meaning we saved money on hiring cars or booking day tours. Public transport is in short supply anywhere outside of Oahu.<\/p>\n

2. Group tour = instant friends<\/h3>\n
\"Cocktails

Happy hour! Photo by Claire Baxter.<\/p><\/div>\n

If I\u2019d gone on my own I\u2019m not sure I would have done half the things that we were able to do as a group, beginning with a sunset sail in Waikiki Bay and getting to know my new Australian, Swiss, German, South African and American friends over a Mai Tai or two.<\/p>\n

DISCOVER THE BEST OF THE USA ON A SMALL GROUP ADVENTURE NOW<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

3. Hawaii is made for adventure<\/h3>\n
\"Waterfalls

The stunning Waimea Valley. Photo by The Seven Layers<\/p><\/div>\n

After a quick flight to Kauai, we kayaked up the Wailua River, then trekked for an hour through beautiful (but muddy) forest trails to a waterfall for a swim. The next day, we took a helicopter flight over Waimea Canyon and the cliffs of the Na Pali Coast, followed by an afternoon hike through the Na Pali Coast State Park. In Kona, we snorkelled above coral reefs alongside tropical fish and dolphins, then enjoyed a night swim with manta rays. A small group of us paddled out to a platform, which was lit from below by fluorescent lights; the lights attracted plankton, which drew in the huge rays, who fed on the plankton while we looked on in awe. The graceful creatures are truly magnificent and being able to see them so close was a real privilege.<\/p>\n

4. The landscapes have to be seen to be believed<\/h3>\n
\"Wailua

Wailua waterfalls on Kauai. Photo by MNStudio.<\/p><\/div>\n

Craggy mountain ranges, dense jungle, colourful tropical flowers, stunning coastlines… I could go on and on. The landscapes in Hawaii are really something else. And sure, you can enjoy them just as much as if you were travelling on your own, but with a group there\u2019s always someone to \u2018ooh\u2019 and \u2018ahh\u2019 and \u2018hey, isn\u2019t that where they shot Jurassic Park?\u2019 with.<\/p>\n

5. Someone else takes care of the driving<\/h3>\n
\"Road

The famous Road to Hana. Photo by MNStudio<\/p><\/div>\n

When we arrived in Maui, Charlie suggested a driving tour of part of the famed Road to Hana. Some stats on this road: 52 miles (84 kilometres) long, 617 switchbacks, and 56 one-lane bridges. It\u2019s not an easy drive, and certainly not something I\u2019d feel comfortable doing on my own. The Road to Hana deserves its fame as one of the world\u2019s most scenic drives (and it was rated as a highlight by most of our group). There are heaps of spots to stop along the way, like waterfalls, lava tubes, bamboo forests, and ice cream shops (a must).<\/p>\n

RELATED: 6 REASONS TO DO A GROUP TOUR IN AMERICA (FROM AN AMERICAN GROUP TOUR SKEPTIC)<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

\"Travellers

Exploring. Photo by Claire Baxter.<\/p><\/div>\n

As a solo traveller, doing an Intrepid trip was really the best way to maximise my time in Hawaii and minimise the cost. All the activities I\u2019ve mentioned would have required transport to get to \u2013 either a rental car, taxi or day tour \u2013 plus some of them just weren\u2019t possible or safe for one person. Kayaking was in double kayaks, swimming with Manta rays at night by yourself would just be stupid, and if you self-drove the Road to Hana, you\u2019d miss half the sights from having to concentrate on the road. For me it was really the best way to truly experience all that Hawaii has to offer.<\/p>\n

\n

Urm, but what about the volcano? It\u2019s not safe to travel to the Big Island, right?<\/h3>\n
\"Lava

Lava flow. Photo by Rachel Blaser<\/p><\/div>\n

Since early May, reports on many news networks have been depicting the Island of Hawaii (aka the Big Island) as a burning inferno of spewing lava, ash clouds and toxic fumes, but this isn\u2019t entirely the case. Kilauea volcano has actually been erupting from a remote vent in its East Rift Zone since 1983, and has been belching out lava flows in parts of the Volcanoes National Park ever since. On May 3, following a 5.0 earthquake, cracks in the ground near a housing estate in Puna opened up, forcing the evacuation of residents; to date, there have been no reported fatalities.<\/p>\n

But in terms of safety, travel to the Big Island is totally fine. Travellers are obviously not allowed into the lava flow area, and are not in danger of breathing in any toxic gases (this is only a problem when lava hits seawater).<\/p>\n

SUBSCRIBE TO INTREPID\u2019S NEWSLETTER FOR TRAVEL TIPS, COMPETITIONS, GIVEAWAYS & MORE<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Are visitor attractions still open?<\/h3>\n
\"Kaumana

Kaumana Caves. Photo by orxy.<\/p><\/div>\n

They sure are. While most of the Volcanoes National Park is closed, there\u2019s still HEAPS to do on the Big Island, like hiking, exploring the Punalu\u2019u Black Sand Beach and Kaumana Caves, checking out a coffee plantation (and sampling their famous brew), or enjoying some beach time at Spencer State Beach, Beach 69 or Hapuna State Beach.<\/p>\n

So I shouldn\u2019t cancel my plans?<\/h3>\n

Definitely not. Hawaii needs our travel dollars more than ever right now.<\/p>\n

Ready to explore Hawaii’s spectacular islands? Book your spot on a small group adventure now<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Feature image by\u00a0Graig Zethner.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019re after something a little more exciting than blobbing at a beach resort in Honolulu, a small group adventure in Hawaii might be just what you\u2019re looking for. 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