Volcanic trails
Volcano
Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park
World-class volcanic hiking, from the Kilauea Iki crater loop to the Thurston Lava Tube.
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Active and restorative
Hike a volcano, then exhale.
The most varied terrain in Hawaii, met with the spa days you will have earned.
Design This TripBy day you push: the Kilauea Iki crater loop across a hardened lava floor, fourteen waterfalls by zip line on the Hamakua Coast, the cliff descent into Pololu Valley.
Then the island restores you, with an oceanfront volcanic-stone ritual at Hualalai or a holistic lomilomi rooted in Hawaiian tradition at Mauna Lani.
The pairing is the point.
A Mauna Kea summit-and-stars evening followed by a slow spa morning, a manta night snorkel framed by gentle recovery days. We sequence effort and rest so neither one wins.
What’s inside
- A Kilauea Iki crater-floor hike in Volcanoes National Park
- Waterfall ziplining on the Hamakua Coast
- A Mauna Kea summit and stargazing evening
- An oceanfront volcanic-stone spa ritual or lomilomi
- The Kona manta ray night snorkel
A sample rhythm
- 01
Volcano on foot
The Kilauea Iki crater loop, then an easy oceanfront evening.
- 02
Height and stars
A Mauna Kea summit sunset and stargazing under the telescopes.
- 03
Restore
A long spa morning, a quiet swim, a slow lunch.
- 04
One more rush
Waterfall ziplining or the manta night snorkel to finish.
The Big Islandwe’d build in
The pieces that fit this trip.
On foot
Across a crater floor.
This is the island for walking on a volcano, then chasing waterfalls down the lush Hamakua Coast on the same trip.
Kilauea's eruption status changes often, so verify trail and park access live with the National Park Service before you go.
Coastal cliff hike
North Kohala
Pololu Valley Lookout & Trail
A jaw-dropping North Kohala overlook with a steep descent to a wild black-sand beach.
Visit official siteEasy waterfall loop
Hamakua
Akaka Falls State Park
A short paved loop to the 442-foot Akaka Falls through dense rainforest on the Hamakua Coast.
Visit official siteLookout only
Hamakua
Waipi'o Valley Lookout
The iconic Valley of the Kings overlook, with valley-floor access currently restricted, lookout only.
Visit official siteThe signature days
Stargazing on Mauna Kea, coffee in Kona.
Only here can you stand near the summit of the tallest sea mountain on Earth for the stars, then tour a working Kona coffee estate by afternoon.
Summit + stargazing
Departs Waimea
Mauna Kea Summit & Stars
Hawaii Forest & Trail's permitted 4WD summit sunset and stargazing tour with telescopes.
Visit official siteEstate Kona coffee
Captain Cook
Hala Tree Coffee
A family 100 percent Kona estate with farm tours and tastings under an ocean-view pergola.
Visit official siteOrganic cloud-forest
Kailua-Kona
Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation
USDA-organic coffee in a cloud forest of lava tubes, with free tours and roast tastings.
Visit official siteWaterfall ziplining
Hamakua
Umauma Experience
Nine zip lines over fourteen waterfalls on the Hamakua Coast, plus a guest-only falls viewpoint.
Visit official siteCanopy adventure
North Kohala
Kohala Zipline
A canopy course with sky bridges and a rappel, with resort transport on offer.
Visit official siteSpa and stillness
Lomilomi by the water.
The resort spas lean into place, with volcanic-stone rituals, open-air waterfall hales and a serious commitment to Hawaiian healing traditions.
Five-star ritual
Kohala Coast
Hualalai Spa
Five-star oceanfront treatment rooms and the signature volcanic-stone Hualalai Ritual at Four Seasons.
Visit official siteHolistic Hawaiian
Kohala Coast
Auberge Spa at Mauna Lani
Holistic, Hawaiian-rooted wellness with lomilomi massage and a strong cultural program.
Visit official siteWaterfall hales
Kohala Coast
Spa Without Walls
The Fairmont Orchid's award-winning open-air treatments in waterfall hales and oceanfront cabanas.
Visit official siteOn and under the water
Manta rays after dark, dolphins by day.
Kona's calm, clear water is the island's headline act, home to the world-famous manta ray night snorkel and the sheltered reefs of Kealakekua Bay.
Manta sightings are wild and never guaranteed, but Kona hosts a resident population and the night snorkel runs year-round.
Manta night snorkel
Kailua-Kona
Manta Ray Night Snorkel Hawaii
A top-rated small-group specialist for the once-in-a-lifetime Kona manta ray night snorkel.
Visit official sitePremier dive op
Kailua-Kona
Kona Honu Divers
Among the most-reviewed dive operators in the Pacific, the gold standard for the manta night dive.
Visit official siteKealakekua catamaran
Keauhou
Fair Wind Cruises
Family-run since 1971, the flagship morning catamaran to Kealakekua Bay and the Captain Cook Monument.
Visit official siteSighting guarantee
Keauhou
Sea Paradise
Two manta tours nightly with a sighting guarantee, a free re-book if no manta appears.
Visit official siteEco shore-entry
Kailua-Kona
Manta Ray Advocates
A conservation-led shore-entry manta snorkel guided by marine biologists.
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Adventure & Wellness
Let’s design it around you.
Share what you can already picture. A concierge fills in everything still open and sends back a plan, not a quote.