Full Day Island Tour, Pickup

Kauai Full Day Tour with Cruise ships or Kauai Airport Pickup runs through Tournet Hawaii, Inc.. Rated 4.5 across 23 reviews. Runs 7 hours (approx.). From $240.

Check park access before you go. Stops inside state parks (Waimea Canyon, Koke'e, Wailua River and Secret Falls) follow current DLNR notices and can be closed. Check the booking page for which stops are running on your date.

Overview

This is a seven hour loop of Kauai's west and south sides, run by Tournet Hawaii with a driver-guide and a cap of 15 travellers. The route climbs into Waimea Canyon and up to Kalalau Lookout, then works back down through the towns and shorelines below. Pickup is part of the package, including from cruise ships and the airport as arranged at booking.

The stops begin with Hanapepe for a short look around, then Waimea Canyon State Park, where the entrance fee and parking are already covered in the tour price. Kalalau Lookout is a short photo stop, and the town of Waimea gets the longest block of free time on the schedule. After that the tour turns toward Kauai Coffee Company, where admission is not included, and finishes along the south shore at Poipu Beach Park and Spouting Horn.

Lunch and gratuities are not included, so budget for a meal along the way. The order of stops can shift with the weather. Overall it suits travellers who want to see a lot of the island in one day without renting a car.

What's Included

Itinerary

1. PickupHotel, cruise ship or airport pickup as arranged at booking, with a professional driver-guide.
2. HanapepeA 20 minute stop in Hanapepe, free admission.
3. Waimea Canyon State Park20 minutes at the canyon, with entrance fee and parking included in the tour price.
4. Kalalau LookoutA 15 minute photo stop; admission is not included in the tour price.
5. Waimea40 minutes of free time in town, the longest stop on the schedule.
6. Kauai Coffee CompanyA 15 minute stop; admission is not included.
7. Poipu Beach Park15 minutes at the beach, free admission.
8. Spouting Horn and returnA final 15 minute stop at the blowhole, free admission, then the drive back to your pickup point.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will shape the day, based on the listing and what travellers report.

• Food and drink. Lunch is not included, so plan to buy food during the long stop in Waimea.
• Pace and walking. One reviewer noted the tour requires some hiking, so limited mobility is a real consideration. The listing also says the tour is not wheelchair accessible.
• Group feel. The vehicle takes a maximum of 15 travellers. One reviewer found the day did not feel rushed, and another said their guide gave the group as much or as little time at each stop as they wanted.
• Guide quality varies. Reviews of the guiding are mixed. Many praise the history and culture commentary, while others found it thin or scripted.
• Weather matters. The listing warns the stop order may change depending on weather. Conditions on the day can affect the views and the schedule.
• Wildlife and photos. One reviewer described seeing a turtle and a seal near the end of the day, and another mentioned a turtle as well. One reviewer also appreciated the guide pointing out photo opportunities when rainbows appeared, so keep a camera handy.

Common issues. The tour is not wheelchair accessible and infants must sit on laps, so it is a poor fit for some travellers with mobility limits. Several stops are short, at 15 to 20 minutes. Narration quality varies, with some finding it informative and others calling it thin. The operator can cancel for weather or if a minimum number of travellers is not met, offering a different date or a full refund in those cases. Kalalau Lookout and Kauai Coffee Company admissions are not included, and lunch and gratuities are extra.

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