Which Oahu Driving Tour is Right for You?

There’s so much to do on Oahu, it’s hard to narrow it down. The island has hundreds of hiking trails, dozens of beaches, and loads of interesting cultural sites. Having trouble deciding what to do? No worries! Shaka Guide has done the work for you with our self-guided GPS audio driving tours. But, you still have to decide which tour to take! Don’t stress -- here’s a guide to help you choose the best Shaka Guide Oahu driving tour for your vacation!

	Grand Circle Island Tour	East Oahu Shoreline Drive	Legendary North Shore Loop	Honolulu's Backyard Rainforest Tour
Summary	Make your way to Oahu’s North Shore stopping at cultural sites, famous beaches, a waterfall, and some of the island’s most famous foodie spots along the way. This tour includes a lot of the same content and stops as our Legendary North Shore Loop Tour, but it travels counterclockwise around the North Shore, beginning on the Windward Side.	Drive along the island’s stunning south eastern coastline. On this scenic drive, you can hike two inactive volcanoes, explore seven beaches, snorkel at one of the island’s most popular spots, and visit a 400-acre botanical garden.	Spend the day on Oahu’s North Shore learning about the island’s surf history and exploring beaches, a cute seaside town, and historic sites. This tour includes a lot of the same content and stops as our popular Grand Circle Island Tour, but it travels clockwise around the North Shore.	Visit Honolulu’s lush, green forests with miles of hiking trails. You’ll discover Manoa Falls and the Makiki Valley where you can hike to a waterfall, take in Honolulu’s skyline from afar, and stroll through a 200-acre botanical garden.
Number of Stops	23	19	24	10
Approx. Time to Complete	6-8 hours, full-day	6-8 hours, full-day	6-8 hours, full day	2-4 hours, half day
Tour Starting Point(s)	Waikiki and Ko Olina	Waikiki	Waikiki and Ko Olina	Waikiki
Tour Ending Point(s)	Ends where you began	Waikiki	Ends where you began	Downtown Honolulu
Tour Direction	Counterclockwise	Counterclockwise	Clockwise	Counterclockwise

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 History…

Stone Buddha statue in front of a red Japanese temple with a pond and lush greenery, set against a forested mountain backdrop.

Grand Circle Island or Legendary North Shore Loop

All four of our Oahu driving tours tell the stories of Oahu’s past, but on our Grand Circle Island Tour, you’ll visit an ancient heiau (or temple) that overlooks Waimea Bay, learn about surf history while beach hopping to iconic spots, and listen to tales about the Hawaiian monarchy.

Second Place… Legendary North Shore Loop

We’d also recommend our Legendary North Shore Loop for history buffs! This tour is similar to the Grand Circle Island Tour in content and locations, but travels in the opposite direction around the island. Another key difference: this tour focuses on the island’s surf history. If you’re interested in surfing, sports, beaches, Hawaiian history or all of the above, this tour is the one for you!

If You Like Hiking...

Hikers at the summit of Diamond Head trail in Oahu, Hawaii, overlooking lush green ridges and the sparkling blue ocean below. DiamondHead_HTA_TorJohnson

East Oahu Shoreline Drive or Honolulu’s Backyard Rainforest Tour

Our East Oahu Shoreline Drive takes you to three hikes: Diamond Head, Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail, and Judd Trail. Each of these hikes is family friendly and offers completely different scenery. While you’re on this tour, you’ll also pass the trailhead for the Koko Head Stairs--if you’re up for it! Just beware: this challenging trail is for experienced hikers only!

Second Place… Honolulu’s Backyard Rainforest Tour

If you’re looking for hikes through Oahu’s lush rainforest, check out our Honolulu Backyard Rainforest Tour. The best hike on this journey is Manoa Falls. You’ll travel through a mystical forest before reaching a 150-foot waterfall.

If You Like Surfing…

Group of people watching surfers ride large waves at a sandy beach on Oahu’s North Shore. Bonzai Pipeline

Legendary North Shore Loop

Bonzai Pipeline is one of the most notorious surf spots in the world! Waves can reach up to 30-feet in the “winter” months. Visit Bonzai, Sunset Beach, and Waimea Bay on our Circle Island Tour. You’ll also learn about the history of the sport and surf legend, Eddie Aikau.

Second place… Grand Circle Island

As we mentioned earlier, The Grand Circle Island Tour has many of the same stops as the Legendary North Shore Loop, meaning you’ll still visit famous surf beaches and learn a bit about the sport’s greats like Eddie Aikau.

If You Like Beaches...

White sandy beach with turquoise water, palm tree shadows, and two small offshore islets at Kailua Beach, Oahu. Kailua Beach

East Oahu Shoreline Drive

The North Shore is known as a surfer’s paradise, but these beaches aren’t the best for the average beachgoer. The huge waves and massive shore breaks make these spots great for surfing but not so much for swimming. If you want to enjoy some of Oahu’s pristine beaches and actually go for a swim, the East Oahu Shoreline Drive is your best bet. You’ll visit beautiful white-sand beaches in Waimanalo and Kailua, as well as the Hollywood-famous Halona Beach Cove.

If You’re a Foodie…

Hawaiian-style garlic shrimp served over white rice in a takeout container.

Tie! Grand Circle Island Tour or Legendary North Shore Loop

This was a hard choice. All the tours offer some amazing food options, but ultimately, the North Shore has some of the best food trucks on Oahu. Maybe you’ve heard of Hawaii’s famous garlic shrimp? Well, you’ll have ample options to choose from when you visit the Kahuku Shrimp Trucks with Shaka Guide. Yearning for a shave ice? Mutsumoto’s -- one of the island’s top spots -- is in Haleiwa on the North Shore. And, we can’t forget about malasadas, kalua pork, poke, or a plate lunch, which you can also find along the tour route for both of these tours. Our mouths are watering just thinking about it!

If You Like Scenery…

Panoramic view of Honolulu and Diamond Head from Tantalus Lookout at sunrise. Tantalus Lookout

East Oahu Shoreline Drive or Honolulu's Backyard Rainforest Tour

Our East Oahu Shoreline Drive takes you along one of the most scenic roadways on the island. You’ll want to jump out of the car for pictures -- and don’t worry, you can! We understand how perfect this drive is for photo ops, so the tour stops at lookout points, white sand beaches, and family-friendly hiking trails.

Second place.. Honolulu’s Backyard Rainforest Tour

This tour doesn’t have as many scenic spots as the East Oahu Shoreline Drive, but there’s one spot that gives it the credentials to make it our second choice and that’s Tantalus Lookout. Visit this site to sit high above Honolulu where you’ll take in views of the city’s skyline.

If You Like Snorkeling...

Two snorkelers exploring clear turquoise waters and coral reefs in Hawaii. Snorkeling_HTA_TorJohnson

Grand Circle Island or East Oahu Shoreline Drive

There are two major snorkel spots on Oahu -- Hanauma Bay and Shark’s Cove. Explore Hanauma Bay on the East Oahu Shoreline Drive or swim at Shark’s Cove on our Grand Circle Island adventure. Both spots have hundreds of species of marine life to see. The choice really depends on your other interests!

If You’re Staying in Waikiki...

Young couple listening to audio tour while walking between rows of surfboards in Hawaii

Any! All four Oahu driving tours have a starting point in Waikiki. This means that if you’re staying at a Waikiki accommodation, you’re conveniently located to hit the road and start exploring with Shaka Guide.

If You’re Staying in Ko Olina...

Aerial view of Ko Olina coastline with resorts, sandy lagoons, and mountains in the background.

Ko Olina is known for its luxury resorts and blue-water lagoons, but did you know that both our Legendary North Shore Loop and Grand Circle Island tours have a starting point in Ko Olina? You can rent a car at one of the nearby hotels then visit all the beaches, cultural sites, and food stops these tours have to offer.

If You’re Staying on the North Shore...

Staying on the North Shore and looking to get our for the day? You can join our Grand Circle Island Tour mid-way from any point along the North Shore. Once you reach Honolulu, you can pick up the beginning parts of the tour you missed by heading back to the Windward Side on Likelike Highway (SR 63).

Still not sure which tour to choose? Check out our Oahu Tour Bundle! The bundle includes EVERY Shaka Guide driving tour for the island. Added bonus: You’ll also get our two Oahu walking tours that visit the historic neighborhoods of Waikiki and Downtown Honolulu.

FAQ

1. Can I do multiple tours in one day?

We don’t recommend it. Most of the driving tours - aside from the Honolulu Backyard Rainforest Tour - take about a full day to complete. If you want to make the most of your day, pick a tour and take your time experiencing the stops and making memories along the way! However, you can easily do both of our walking tours in the same day.

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: