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Experience an unforgettable island-hopping tour of tropical Hawaii, from Honolulu to Maui.

When you think of Hawaii, you might imagine a sun-drenched paradise full of sandy beaches, picturesque coastlines and laidback surfer types. You’d be right. The Essential Hawaii tour will let you explore all the hotspots of America’s archipelago state and, at the same time, relax into island life. Become one with the vibe of Waikiki beach, hike past spectacular craters, stroll on green sand beaches and experience the underwater world of beautiful marine life on your 9-day island-hopping adventure. From the buzz of Oahu’s North Shore to the prehistoric wonder of the Big Island, to the relaxed mood of Maui – say aloha to Hawaii and an unforgettable adventure.

This trip is for 18 to 29-year-olds

Some of our under-30 travellers prefer to get around with people their own age. If that’s you, you’re in the right place!

Over 29? We’ve got over 900 other great adventures to choose from for solo travellers, friends, families, food lovers, hiking enthusiasts, and more.

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Terms & Conditions
Start
Honolulu, United States
Finish
Kahului, United States
Destination
United States
Style
Basix
Theme
18 to 29s, Explorer
Code
SSYL
Physical rating
Ages
Min 18, Max 29
Group size
Min 1, Max 13

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Why you'll love this trip

  • Experience the tropical lifestyle of Honolulu for yourself and get some surf lessons on one of the world’s most famous coastlines: Waikiki Beach.

  • Take a group driving tour to Oahu’s North Shore, past rugged mountains, winding coastlines and gnarly surf breaks.

  • Take the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to swim with manta rays and marine life at sunset as an optional but highly recommended activity.

  • Get your hiking shoes on and visit Papakolea Green Sand Beach – one of only four of its kind in the world, and situated near the southern most point in the United States!

  • This trip allows you to see the best of Hawaii’s archipelago while also having free time to ‘hang loose’. Take a break and laze by the beach, or go all-out adventure seeker mode – the choice is yours.

Is this trip right for you?

  • With so much to see and do, Hawaii can sometimes be expensive. Expect to pay more than you would on mainland USA for a lot of things. It might be a good idea to do some research about places to eat, for example, before you arrive.

  • In order to see as much as possible in Hawaii, this trip covers a lot of ground and there are lots of flights to take. Please be prepared for long security queues at the airport and the occasional delay. The good news is that you'll have the company of your fellow travellers to keep you entertained.

  • Honolulu is a great place to explore, however it often isn't the picture-perfect Hawaiian location that many people expect. The city is full of high-rise buildings and is often packed with tourists. You’ll find deserted beaches lined with palm trees elsewhere, like on the island of Maui.

  • This trip involves either a partial or full camping experience, giving you access to more remote destinations at close proximity, and the joy of camping under the night skies and beside a campfire. This is a participatory trip – a fancy way of saying you’re not just along for the ride, but you are part of a team! Be prepared to roll up your sleeves and help out with camp activities like food prep and washing up. It’s all about giving your new travel mates a hand, and everyone knows there’s nothing worse than trying to put up a tent on your own!

  • While our leaders are knowledgeable about Hawaii and we try to ensure that they have experience on the actual islands, it's possible that your leader may be new to the region.

Map of Essential Hawaii including United States Of America
Traveller hiking in Maui
Hiking lava bed in Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii
Swim_Manta_Rays
Waikiki Beach in Honolulu, Hawaii
hawaii_kauai_wailua_waterfall_pool

Itinerary
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Aloha! Welcome to tropical Hawaii. Your adventure begins in Honolulu, the capital of the most populated island Oahu. Meet your group leader and fellow travellers at a welcome meeting at 3 pm at your hostel. If you do arrive early (recommended), there is a heap to do in Honolulu and surrounds. Spend the day checking out Waikiki, where you could hire a surfboard and take some lessons, soak up the sun on its famous shores, or check out the range of restaurants and outlet malls on offer. A little bit further out of town is Pearl Harbor, where you can learn about the beginning of America’s involvement in World War II with a tour of the Memorial and Museum. At night, head for a group sunset walk on the Diamond Head Crater trail – an extinct volcano with panoramic views of the iconic bay. Take a break at the top to watch day turn to night and the glistening waves shape, roll and break over the shoreline.
Accommodation
  • Hostel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Diamond Head Crater sunset walk
Optional Activities
  • Honolulu - Surf Lessons (per hour) - USD50
  • Honolulu - Pearl Harbor - Free
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance details and next of kin information at this time. If you are going to be late please let your travel agent or hostel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place. If you wish to visit Pearl Harbor Museum and Memorial, you'll need to make your own arrangements. You can pre-book tickets online, or if you arrive early enough, there are walk-in tickets available, but these often go very quickly. For online reservations, visit recreation.gov.

The day begins with a visit to Hanauma Bay, a nature reserve and snorkelling destination ideal for underwater exploration, a spot of swimming or simply admiring the views of white sand and crystal-clear water. Your group leader will then lead a driving tour to the North Shore of Oahu (yes, the one with world-class surf breaks, sandy beaches and the laidback Hawaiian vibe you’ve been yearning for). There will be time to stop at different lookouts along the way and scout some of the various movie locations dotted along the coastline, plus indulge in some delicious food truck eats. Grab a shaved ice and watch the planet’s best surfers search for some epic waves again and again.
Accommodation
  • Hostel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Hanauma Bay visit
  • North Shore driving tour
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
Luggage: Due to transport availability on Oahu there is limited space for luggage in the van on this day. You will need to leave the majority of your items securely at the Honolulu hostel and just pack a small overnight pack. We will pick up your main luggage on our return the following day.

Fly to Kailua-Kona on the island of Hawaii. A lesser-known fact is that the Big Island of the Hawaiian archipelago, home to the Kilauea Volcano, is also named Hawaii! The town of Kona, as the locals call it, is a lively town on the west coast of the island. Your day is free to explore Kona and its surrounds. You have the option at night to attend a traditional luau, full of Hawaiian food and vibrant dancing – a highly recommended activity and definitely a fun experience to have at least once in your visit.
Accommodation
  • Hostel (1 night)
Optional Activities
  • Royal Kona Hawaiian Luau - USD82
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

Take the opportunity with a free day to explore some of the stunning beaches (some with black sand) and clear lagoons on Hawaii. Your group leader will be able to direct you to a hidden cove or secret lagoon, so maybe pack a picnic, take your snorkelling gear and set off on an underwater expedition to spot sea turtles and tropical fish. For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, think about booking a night snorkel with manta rays. The underwater ecosystem comes to life under beams of light streaming from the surface, and with the rays circling, you have the opportunity to get up close and personal with these flat, UFO-like marine creatures.
Accommodation
  • Hostel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Kona - Snorkel hire
Optional Activities
  • Manta Ray Night Snorkel - USD100
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

Leave Kona today and head to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the southern side of the island. On the way, you’ll stop at Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park, where you can learn about the ancient Hawaiian belief system of kapu: a code of conduct that underpins traditional island life. Then, put on your hiking shoes to experience one of only four green sand beaches in the world: Papakolea Green Sand Beach.
Accommodation
  • Camping (with facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park
  • Papakolea Green Sand Beach hike
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

Today is the day to hike sections of the mighty Hawaiian volcano, Kilauea. After breakfast, head out to explore the park with your leader. The first stop will be a park ranger talk at the Kilauea Visitor Centre. The group leader will then take you on a driving tour, and along the way there are plenty of times to stop and take a hike, from brief trails through lava tunnels to longer hikes across an actual crater. Seeing glowing lava was once the main attraction, but since Kilauea Volcano’s eruption in May 2018, a visit to the Kilauea Caldera and Halema’uma’u Crater will give you an understanding of how the landscape of the Big Island is constantly being shaped by these regular eruptions.
Accommodation
  • Camping (with facilities) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Kilauea Visitor Centre & Ranger Talk
  • Hawaii Volcanoes National Park - leader led tour
  • Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (Entrance Fee)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

After leaving the Big Island, fly to the paradise that is Maui and arrive in Kahului. Using this as the base, you’ll have time to explore the island and plenty of opportunity to relax on one of Maui’s beautiful beaches. If adventure is on the agenda, head out of town to Pe’ahi, where monster waves (not for the faint-hearted) often occur, and you’ll understand why this break deserves its name: Jaws.
Accommodation
  • Hostel (1 night)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

Hit the road on a Road to Hana driving tour. Hana is a region on the eastern shore of Maui, considered one of the last unspoiled Hawaiian frontiers. This is a full day activity but there is a lot to see and do along the way, and even though it is a relatively short driving distance, the narrow one-lane bridges and hairpin turns along the coast lend themselves to cruisy driving because of the stunning views. Think waterfalls, bamboo forests, lava tubes, and dense rainforest meeting the ocean at colourful sandy beaches.
Accommodation
  • Hostel (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Road to Hana day tour
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

Say a big mahalo (thank you) to the group leader as there are no activities planned on this day. If you’re wanting to stay in Maui, now is a perfect opportunity to go on any optional activities that take your fancy. Perhaps head to Haleakala National Park to its dormant volcano early in the morning to witness spectacular sunrise views, or (season depending) consider a whale watching adventure to see the humpback giants up close. Otherwise, pull up a towel on one of the many beaches and soak in the Hawaiian sun.
Optional Activities
  • Lahaina - Haleakala Sunrise Tour - USD120
  • Lahaina - Whale Watching (in season) - USD40
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.

Meals

No meals are included on this tour

Transport

Plane, Private vehicle

Accommodation

Camping (with basic facilities) (2 nights), Hostel (6 nights)

Included activities

  • Diamond Head Crater sunset walk
  • Hanauma Bay visit
  • North Shore driving tour
  • Kona - Snorkel hire
  • Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park
  • Papakolea Green Sand Beach hike
  • Kilauea Visitor Centre & Ranger Talk
  • Hawaii Volcanoes National Park - leader led tour
  • Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (Entrance Fee)
  • Road to Hana day tour

Dates & availability

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There are currently no scheduled departures on our Essential Hawaii trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

1. Full passport details are required at time of booking.
2. Luggage limits apply. See Essential Trip Information (Packing) for information.
3. Please note that in North America, the cost of checked baggage usually is not included in the price of an airline ticket and is subject to additional payment at check-in. If you wish to check in luggage on the internal flights on this trip then you will need to pay for this on arrival at each airport. Each airline calculates fees differently, sometimes on the number of bags, sometimes by weight, however the fee is usually in the vicinity of US$25 per bag payable by credit card. TIP: Sign up to Hawaiian Airlines membership program 'Hawaiian Miles' for discounted baggage fees.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

View Essential Trip Information

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