Which Big Island Tour is Right for You?

June 05, 2025

Shaka Guide

The Big Island is, you guessed it, the largest Hawaiian Island! From the scenic beaches along the Kona Coast to the lava-rock terrain along island's eastern coast. Check out our tour comparison to learn which tour is best for you!

	South Island Epic Coastal Journey	North Island Jungle Adventure Loop	Kona Big Kahuna Tour	Kohala Coast Backcountry Tour	Volcanoes National Park Tour
Summary	Our South Island Epic Coastal Journey covers a lot of ground. Literally! Covering more than 200 miles, this expansive tour includes the Kona Coast, South Point, a black sand beach, and the visitor center at Mauna Kea. *Can combine with Volcanoes Tour.	The North Island Jungle Adventure Loop explores the Big Island's lush northern coast. Go on a scenic hike, visit a historic ranching town, and check out a scenic overlook at Waipi'o Valley.	The Kona Coast is dotted with beautiful beaches and snorkel spots! We'll take you there on our Kona Big Kahuna Tour. Along the way, we'll regale you with stories of Hawaii's fascinating history!	The Kohala Coast Backcountry Tour explores this historic portion of the island with ties to King Kamehameha. We'll guide you to an ancient Hawaiian fishing village, a heiau, and a scenic hike!	Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park is truly a natural wonder. On this tour, you'll visit scenic overlooks, go on hikes through lava fields, and learn about the park's history.
Number of Stops	30	26	20	11	18
Approx. Time to Complete	8-12 hours, full day	8-10 hours, full day	4-6 hours, half day	4-6 hours, half day	4-6 hours, half day
Tour Starting Point(s)	Kona and Hilo	Waikoloa, Kona, and Hilo	Kona and Waikoloa	Waikoloa	Punalu'u and south of Hilo on the Hawai'i Belt Road
Tour End Point(s)	Where you began	Where you began	Kona	Waimea	Where you began
Tour Direction	Clockwise and counterclockwise	Clockwise and Counterclockwise	Counterclockwise	Clockwise	There and back

Now that you know the basics, we’ve looked at each tour to determine which would be the best for your trip, based on your interests. Check out our recommendations below!

If you like…

Beaches

Kona Big Kahuna Tour

Big Island’s Kona Coast is known for its sunny days and beautiful beaches. If you love to beach hop, this is the best Big Island tour for you! This tour visits a total of six beaches! Some of our favorites are Kua Bay Beach, Kiholo Bay, and Two Step Beach.

Second Place: South Island Epic Coastal Journey

The South Island Epic Coastal Journey is our second choice because it includes a visit to the popular and unique Punalu'u black sand beach!

Food

South Island Epic Coastal Journey

Foodies will love our South Island Epic Coastal Journey. This tour nearly circumnavigates the island and along the way, you’ll visit some local foodie gems! Drive through the Kona Coffee Belt and grab some local grindz (food) for the road; visit Paradise Meadows, a small orchid and bee farm with honey, coffee, and chocolate-covered treats; and check out Punalu’u Bakery, the southernmost bakery in the United States that makes delicious sweet bread!

History and Culture

All! But Kohala Coast Backcountry Tour

No matter which Shaka Guide tour you choose, you’ll hear loads of stories about the Big Island. But if you’re looking for a bite-sized history lesson, we recommend the Kohala Coast Backcountry Tour. Although this tour only takes about 4-6 hours to complete, making it one of the shorter tours on the island, it certainly packs in the content. You’ll learn about King Kamehameha the Great and visit an ancient heiau (temple) he built as he prophesied to unite the Hawaiian Islands. Not only that, you can visit Lapakahi State Historical Park to see an ancient Hawaiian fishing village. And, the tour will take you to Waimea Town where you’ll learn about the history of ranching in Hawaii.

Hiking

Volcanoes National Park

Volcanoes National Park is a truly unique place. During your visit, you’ll see terrain that’s been destroyed from volcanic eruptions, landscapes in a period of rebirth, and steam vents that exude mist from the ground. The trails in Volcanoes National Park are unlike anywhere else in Hawaii, and that’s why it’s our top pick if you love to hike. Whether you prefer leisurely treks or long journeys, Volcanoes has a hike for you.

Scenery

All! But, Volcanoes National Park

If you love scenery, you can have your pick of Shaka Guide’s Big Island driving tours! But, if we had to choose one, we’d pick the Volcanoes National Park Tour. Why, you ask? Well, the volcanic landscape is unlike anything else in the islands. And, there are loads of scenic lookouts along the tour route, which means you don’t have to hike or travel far to see spectacular views.

Snorkeling

Kona Big Kahuna Loop

Snorkeling in Hawaii is truly a dream come true. The water is crystal clear, the reefs are vibrant, and the marine life is plentiful. On the Big Island, we recommend the Kona Big Kahuna Loop if you want to swim with tropical fish up close. There are two great snorkel spots on this tour - Two Steps Beach and Kealakekua Bay, a marine life conservation district.

If you’re staying in …

Hilo

If you’re staying in Hilo, you can start the North Island Jungle Adventure Loop and South Island Epic Coastal Journey right from Hilo. We also recommend our Volcanoes National Park Tour as it’s more accessible from this side of the island.

Kona or Waikoloa

If you’re staying on the island’s west coast in the popular resort areas of Kona or Waikoloa, you have a variety of options to choose from. Our Kona Big Kahuna, Kohala Coast Backcountry, and North Island Adventure Loop tours all have starting points in Waikoloa. In addition, you can drive to Kona to start the South Island Epic Coastal Journey.

FAQs

1. Can I do multiple tours in one day?

Yes! If you're looking to combine multiple tours, we recommend the South Island Epic Coastal Journey and the Volcanoes National Park Tour. It will be a long day, but it's definitely possible if you plan in advance. You could also combine the northern part of the Kona Big Kahuna Loop with the Kohala Coast Backcountry Tour.

2. What should I pack?

Great question. You’ve probably seen that our tours have a bit of everything - hiking, beaches, attractions. Depending on what activities you want to do and how much room you have in your luggage, we recommend packing: