Kilauea Volcano

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The geologic creation of the Hawaiian island chain, a timeless battle between the elemental forces of fire and water, is one of the world’s greatest natural history stories. There’s not a better place on earth to witness and understand the awesome nature of volcanoes than at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. At the park you’ll see splendid native rain forests, visit a lava tube, discover remarkable volcanic formations and a splendid diversity of geography and climate. Through detailed geologic and natural history interpretation, small walks, and driving, you will explore and learn about the world’s most active volcano. Evidence of Kilauea’s activity is everywhere in the park; you’ll see,  feel and smell steam vents where vapor is escaping the ground.

Twilight Volcano Tour

This Kilauea Volcano tour has a late morning start time and offers volcano viewing at sunset. If lava is visible – it shows up the best just before dark! The drive back from Kilauea will of course be after dark.  There is no better way to explore the park than in the company of one of Hawaii Forest and Trail’s Interpretive Naturalists. They will show you the “must see” places within the park while you learn about their geological and historic significance.  You’ll really get an idea of how big the Big Island is during the course of this 11-12 hour full-day tour. And you’ll appreciate that someone else is doing the driving. Starting from Kona, you will travel up the coast over desolate lava flows for about a half hour before proceeding up the rolling pasturelands on the flanks of Mauna Kea. Turning onto the Saddle Road that traverses the island between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, you’ll see a dramatic and diverse landscape of ranchland, sub alpine dryforest and rainforest, with striking features such as cinder cones, lava flows, lava tubes and kipukas. You’ll stop for a short break and deli lunch. Continuing on, you will drop down to near sea-level on the way through Hilo where you begin the final climb to the summit of Kilauea and the lush entrance to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

A picnic dinner is served en route during your adventure through the park. Depending on what’s happening with the active flow, you may walk out to view red hot lava! Close encounters with an active flow do not happen every day; viewing conditions change frequently and sometimes the lava pauses, goes underground, or happens in a remote area where it is too far to hike. Kilauea expresses its activity in several places, and there is currently an active vent that has been spewing rock, ash, and fume from the summit caldera which is easily visible from the overlooks. Ocean entries come and go; most days you will see steam clouds from the entry points.

By the end of the day, you’ll have traveled over 300 miles and experienced an elevation change (the tour goes up and down a few times!) of over 30,000 feet.  This is a laid back tour and you will see the glow from an overlook.

Schedule: Daily

Pick up: Between 10am and 10:30am depends on where guests are staying

Check In:  Departure is from the Hawaii Forest and Trail Store (73-5593 A Olowalu St., Kailua-Kona, HI 96740 Click to view map) OR the Waikoloa Queen’s Marketplace (69-201 Waikoloa Beach Dr, Waikoloa, HI 96738 Click to view map). Select your departure point when selecting a tour in your reservation form.

Duration: Approximately 12 hours

Reservations: For those staying in Hilo, we don’t recommend this tour as a large portion of the cost of this tour is for transportation to and from the Kona side of the island.

Tour includes: All entrance fees. Deli style lunch (turkey, ham, tuna, or veggie) with assorted soft drinks, juices and bottled water. Choices for dinner include Hawaiian Teri Chicken, Braised Kalbi Beef Ribs, and Yellow Thai Curry (vegan and gluten free).  All meals include rice, salad, and sweet potato Haupia Pie, assorted beverages, bottled water, and hot cocoa.

What to Bring & Wear: Comfortable walking shoes, long pants, and a light jacket.  Close toed shoes are required.

Gear Provided: Day packs, walking sticks, warm clothing and rain gear.

Group Size: 12

Restrictions: Guests should be in reasonably good physical condition and able to hike on uneven or rocky terrain. This tour sometimes encounters cool, wet, or muddy conditions. Twilight Tour has a minimum age of 8.

Sunset Lava Walk

After explore the Volcanoes National Park experiencing what Kilauea Volcano has to offer, you will travel down the “Red Road.”  The scenery will amaze you as the tour weaves through the rainforest.  Stop at overlooks to take in the jagged cliffs above the crystal blue waters of the Pacific Ocean.

Then hike out to both the active lava flow front, and ocean lava ocean entry.  The hike is 3.5 miles round trip, an see lava in motion as it descends down to the sea.  The sea becomes alive in the darkness as the sun sets!  This hike is the shortest distance to and from the active flows anywhere on the island.

Schedule: Daily

Pick up:  7am in Waikoloa, 7:45am Kona, 8:10am in Keauhou, and 9:45 in Hilo

Duration: Approximately 14 hours

Tour includes:  Lunch, snacks (chips, mac nuts, granola bars), Aloha juice drinks, water and local dinner (choices include pineapple pork ribs with mac or green salad, shoyu ginger chicken with mac or green salad, tofu stir fry with rice, and Hawaiian nachos with lomi salmon and kalua pork)

What to Bring & Wear:  Comfortable clothing in layers, and covered walking shoes are required.  Bring pants for walking over lava in evening.   Recommend a backpack than a large purse.  Don’t forget your camera!

Gear Provided:  Flashlights and water resistant jackets.

Group Size:  11 pax

Restrictions:  Minimum age 5 and all children less than 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.  Children are required by law to have proper safety seats for travel in the van. Natural sulfur gases may affect those with respiratory problems.

Cancellation / Weather Policy: Tour itinerary may change due to weather or volcanic activity.   Views of Pu’u O’o vent and molten lava are subject to volcanic activity at time of tour.

General Information

Note: Volcanic emissions, including sulfur gas, may affect those with respiratory concerns.

Cancellation Policy: Cancellations must be made at least 48 hours before the start of the event.

Cruise Ship Passengers

This Kilauea Volcano tour is oriented toward people who are staying in resorts on the Kona side of the Big Island and does not work for cruise ship passenger either in Hilo or in Kona. We suggest the Volcano Bike Tour as an excellent way to experience the volcano.  Another great option for Hilo cruise ship passengers is the Hilo Cruise Ship Volcano & Waterfall Tour.