by wallyg

Hawaii Volcano Tours: Island Guide

Hawaii volcano tours are a “must-do” when visiting the Hawaiian Islands, yet there are a lot of volcanoes to choose from. You probably won't have time to see them all during the course of your vacation, so how do you know which one to go to? Here's a brief guide that highlights what you'll see at each one.

Hawaii Volcano Tours of the Big Island

The Big Island probably has the most famous Hawaii volcano tours, and for good reason. Not only can you see active lava flows coming out of Mount Kilauea, but you can also hike on the tallest and biggest mountains in the world (Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, respectively.) Mauna Kea also has the world's largest astronomical observatory, as well as the only place in the entire island chain where skiing can be done during the winter!

Hawaii Volcano Tours of Maui

Maui is comprised of two volcanoes: Haleakala and the West Maui Mountains. West Maui is worth visiting, if only for Iao Valley, but it is likely Haleakala that you'll be coming to visit if you opt for a Hawaii volcano tour in Maui.

Haleakala's summit is 10,023 ft above sea level, and there are several ways to tour the volcano itself. You can hike and camp in several places within Haleakala's moonscape-looking crater, ride horses around its slopes, ride bicycles from summit to base (or from base to summit, if you're up for the challenge!) and no trip to Haleakala is complete without catching sunrise from the summit as it sheds light over the valley below.

Hawaii Volcano Tours of Oahu and Kauai

Diamond Head Crater, of Oahu, affords an excellent opportunity to spend the day hiking to scenic overlooks featuring the valley below, and is a great way to spend your time if you're kicking around Oahu.

Olokele, of Kauai, is also worth your while since it allows the opportunity to hike into the Alakai Swamp.  The swamp is near one of the wettest spots on Earth and thus affords numerous opportunities to swim and hike to waterfalls.

As you can see, Hawaii volcano tours are a diverse experience depending on which island you tour. No matter which one you pick, however, make sure to bring a warm jacket – it's considerably colder up there!