Big Island one-day excursion - Hawaii Volcanoes National Park tour - Kona, Big Island

Explore Hawaii's Big Island and visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park!

Hawaii Island, nicknamed Big Island, is the biggest and youngest island of the Hawaiian archipelago. It's home to numerous natural sites and varied landscapes: the lush valleys and tropical forests give way to immense volcanoes and lava flows. When it's time to unwind, the beautiful black sand beaches are ready to welcome backpackers in search of tranquillity.

You'll be picked up from your accommodation and set off to explore the island of Hawaii. Head to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987. Located on the south-eastern side of Big Island, it's home to two active volcanoes: Kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, and Mauna Loa, the tallest volcano in the world. Parts of this 88,000-hectare park are closed to the public as they are either protected areas or zones considered too dangerous. 

Volcanic eruptions are frequent and result in lava flows that radically change the landscape of the park. Sites currently open to the public include the Kilauea Visitor Center, the steam vents, the Thurston Lava Tunnel, and parts of the famous Chain of Craters Road that runs alongside the Kilauea volcano. 

During your tour, you'll see
- The Royal Kona Coffee Mill & Museum: considered one of the best coffees in the world.
- Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Park: a sacred site where you'll learn about Hawaiian culture and history.
- Punalu'u Black Sand Beach: one of Hawaii's most famous black sand beaches, full of pretty turtles.
- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: 
Lunch (not included) at the volcano house restaurant overlooking Halema'uma'u crater
Kilauea Visitor Center where you'll see exhibits and information about the development of the park
Steam vents, which correspond to underground water that seeps into hot volcanic rocks and forms clouds of steam
Thurston Lava Tunnel, which stretches across several tens of meters
- The visitor centre at the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut plant: Here you'll find out more about the cultivation of the famous Macadamia nut
- The town of Hilo: home to the King Kamehameha statue and the Shinmachi Tsunami Memorial.
- Rainbow Falls: impressive waterfall measuring 24 metres high and almost 30 metres wide.

At the end of the day, you will be driven back to Kano via the famous Saddle Road, which offers impressive views of the volcanoes.