Kauai is the oldest and most verdant of the Hawaiian islands, and you can experience it sightseeing on land, on (and in) water, and from the sky on these tours. If some of Kauai looks familiar to you, it may be because this beautiful island has provided the setting for many films, ranging from Elvis Presley's Blue Hawaii to Steven Spielberg's Jurassic Park to James Cameron's Avatar. Each of these Kauai sightseeing tours can be purchased online with confidence.
© Adjustafresh/Creative Commons.If you're only going to take one helicopter sightseeing tour on your trip to Hawaii, do it on Kauai. The terrain is varied and lush, and many of the most dramatic sights are inaccessible by any other means of transportation. On this hourlong flightseeing journey, you'll have panoramic views of Kauai's pristine deserted beaches, its deep canyons and waterfalls, Waialeale Crater (the wettest spot on earth), and more. Your narrator will point out spots where
South Pacific,
Raiders of the Lost Ark, and
Fantasy Island were filmed along with the geographic splendors of Kauai.
Feel more comfortable traveling on the ground than via air? This bus-and-boat ride takes you to the valley Mark Twain dubbed the "Grand Canyon of the Pacific," i.e. Waimea Canyon. More than 3,500 feet deep, Waimea Canyon is also ten miles long and one mile wide. There will be ample stops to get out and make photos on the seven-hour sightseeing tour. You'll also get to board a small boat and sail the Wailua River to Kauai's famous Fern Grotto, site of many unforgettable weddings.
Active couples will like this moderately strenuous, four-mile hiking tour, which first leads you to a Green Hill lookout for sweeping mountain and ocean views. Then its onto Kalihiwai Valley. You'll cross streams, pass five-tiered Kalihiwai Falls, and descend a 10-foot rock wall to reach your reward: a refreshing stream to swim and float in. Lunch is provided. Then it's more hiking till you're back at the bus that drives you back to your hotel.
Imagine the two of you in kayaks for two surrounded by dolphins, seals, and sea turtles. The marine animals will be your companions as you paddle along Kauai's pristine South Shore, sightseeing on this seven-mile tour. You'll pass the famous Spouting Horn blowhole, pull up your kayaks onto the beach where Queen Emma kept her summer home, pass Palama's Point volcanic craters, and then pause in protected Wahi'awa Bay for lunch. This tour is available September through May, and the spring and fall offer the best opportunities to see humpback whales.
There’s no better place to learn how to surf than in Hawaii, where it all began. You have the option of a private or semi-private lesson that lasts two hours. The learning takes place at scenic Hanalei Ba. It's the largest bay on Kauai's North Shore, provided the backdrop for scenes in the movie
South Pacific, and was named the top American beach in 2009 by Stephen "Dr. Beach" Leatherman. A professional certified instructor work with newbies on techniques, timing, and of course safety. Soft-top training boards are provided.
Considered one of the most beautiful parts of Kauai, the 15-mile-long Na Pali coast encompasses verdant cliffs that tumble down to the impossibly blue ocean. You'll travel to a snorkeling spot via a 50-foot catamaran from the Port Allen Marina Center and have breakfast on the way. Once you land, snorkel equipment is provided. A buffet lunch is available until your return sail launches. All told, this sailing, snorkeling, and sightseeing tour takes about five and one half hours.
Do your Kauai sightseeing on this tour through the treetops on this vacation adventure that starts with a two-mile kayaking trip and a short walk past waterfalls to get to a covered wagon that carries you to Kipu Ranch, which provided a scenic backdrop to exciting moments from
Jurassic Park and
Raiders of the Lost Ark. There you break for lunch and then soar over trees in the Haupu Mountains for an 800-foot span. Afterwards, trek over a suspension bridge and zipline in tandem for a distance of 1,800 feet. On your walk back you're free to jump into the pools you pass or use the exciting T-Bar water zipline that lands you with a splash.
Kauai's Na Pali is one of the prettiest stretches of coastline in Hawaii, and you can do your sightseeing of it on a 65-foot catamaran tour that includes cocktails and appetizers. Let the gentle breezes surround you as you sail back to Port Allen to watch the sunset together and kiss in this unforgettably romantic setting.
