Tour Price

Adults $90.62
Reserve Now: $81.56
Children 3-11 years $59.37
Reserve Now: $53.44
Children 2 years old $
Reserve Now: $

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Tour Photo Gallery:
Rainbow Falls [H1] Roasting Kona Coffee
Roasting Kona Coffee
Within 24 hours of picking, the cherry is run through a pulper, the beans are separated from the pulp, and then placed in a fermentation tank overnight. The fermentation time is dependent on the temperature and therefore on the elevation; about 12 hours at a low elevation or 24 hours at a higher elevation. The beans are rinsed and spread to dry on a hoshidana or drying rack. Traditional hoshidanas have a rolling roof to cover the beans in the event of rain. It takes 7–14 days to dry the beans to an optimal moisture level of between 10-13%. From here, the beans are stored as pergamino or parchment. The parchment is milled off the green bean prior to roasting or wholesale.
Grand Circle Island Tour [H1]

Marvel at the wonders of the Big Island in all their grandeur!

This tour will bring the wonders and excitement of the Big Island of Hawaii to life. You will enjoy a fully narrated 260 mile tour that circumnavigates the largest Hawaiian Island. Your tour will take you along the Kona coast to view Kealakekua Bay and visit a Kona coffee plantation where you will sample this flavorful brew. Your Hawaii Volcano Adventure continues with an extensive exploration of the incredible Volcanoes National Park which includes Kilauea Iki crater, steam bluffs, fern tree jungle and Thurston Lava Tube. You will survey the stark, volcanic landscape of the Park from the observatory, and browse Jagger Museum. You will visit an orchid and anthurium nursery, and drive past many cascading waterfalls on the Hamakua Coast. Your tour will travel through Parker Ranch lands, home of the original paniolos (Hawaiian cowboys) in Waimea.

Tour Highlights

  • Circumnavigate the island on this 260 mile tour
  • Tour the south coast and view Kealakekua Bay
  • Visit a Kona coffee plantation
  • See famed black sand beaches
  • Explore the incredible Volcanoes National Park, Kilauea Iki crater,
    steam bluffs, fern tree jungle and Thurston Lava Tube
    (Admission included)
  • Enjoy a no-host lunch
  • Browse through displays at the Jaggar Museum
  • Visit an orchid and anthurium nursery
  • See the many waterfalls of Hamakua Coast
  • Drive through the Parker Ranch lands in Waimea

Schedule Information

Pick up Information

Pick up is provided from major Kona hotels and Kona Airport. If we are meeting you at the airport, enter the name of your hotel, and flight numbers at time of reservation. Phone our Kona office at 808- 329-8008, 24 hours prior to tour to re-confirm your pick up time and place. We are not permitted to pick up in residential areas or at Bed and Breakfast establishments.

Departure Time and Return

Departs from:

  • Mauna Kea & Hapuna Prince area hotels: 6:00am
  • Mauna Lani & Orchid: 6:15am
  • Waikoloa area hotels: 6:30am
  • Kailua-Kona area hotels: 7:00am
  • Keauhou area hotels: 7:30am

If we are meeting you at Kona Airport please provide name of hotel or contact phone number. We require the flight number for your arrival and departure from Kona. If you reserve an air carrier other than the one we use for our One Day Fly Away tours and your flight is delayed we will not be able to hold the tour until your arrival.


Additional Information

Cancellation Policy

If this tour is canceled with more than 24 hours notice, the total amount less 10% is refunded. If the tour is canceled without 24 hours notice, full charges apply.

Tour Restriction(s)

This tour departs from Kona side of the Big Island.

Operates daily


Tour Testimonials

Been On This Tour? Tell Us About It!

Grand Circle Tour Experience

My wife and I had a fabulous time participating in the Big Island Grand Circle Tour. Our Tour Guide, John Mack, was outstanding! John was friendly, courteous, professional and extremely informative. Throughout the tour, John displayed encyclopedic knowledge of the island's history, geography, economy and natural resources. As a veteran educator, I was completely enthralled by John's narrative throughout the tour. My wife and I felt like we were students again. In addition to the information John provided to the group about the places we either visited or passed by, he also gave us valuable tips on other sites to visit that were not on the itinerary. For example, John recommended that we visit Kaloko-Honokohau, which ended up being one of the highlights of our trip. The area was completely uncrowded and we had an opportunity to take photos of sea turtles in their natural environment. Our only suggestion for improvement would be to allow a slightly longer stop in Waimea to allow members of the tour to grab a quick bite to eat at the shopping center. We understand that a longer stop would only be possible with a smaller tour group such as our own. Overall, we were very pleased with the Grand Circle Tour and would recommend it to others. Please send John Mack our Alohas and commendations for a job very well done! Sincerely, Ali Galedary

Big Island Tour is a Must

Big Island Tour is a Must Our driver Kimo made this a highlight of our nine day trip to Hawaii. He was extremely friendly, personable, and knowledgeable. His entertaining personality kept the long day entertaining.

We had a very enjoyable

5

We had a very enjoyable experience. The driver was informative and funny. We especially liked his stories about falling in love with Hawaii and coming here to make a new home. The pacing of the trip was also to our liking. Just about the time you got tired of the bus, we would stop at a totally delightful place. The 12 hours absolutely flew by. Reviewed by: L. D., USA, May 2010

Our driver had a great sense

5

Our driver had a great sense of humor and brought up interesting facts, whether factual or not, which kept us amused during the long trip. I liked being able to stop at some of the shops, but appreciated knowing that costs would not be as bad for the same or similar items in the ABC shops, etc. While I personally had wanted to see the Big Island Candy Store, I didnt see the value of it for most of the people on the tour. I believe I was the only person who got something besides ice cream from there. I would prefer fewer sales stops that give us a bit more time to shop, should we want to. I was VERY appreciative that our guide listened to the other drivers and took us to Akaka falls instead of rainbow falls since the water had been diverted from Rainbow. Akaka was a gorgeous stop and I was very pleased to have seen it. I also really liked seeing the volcanoes and would have loved some more information while there. The stories we did get were very interesting. I would definitely recommend both the trip and the driver, I believe his name was Jimmy or James. Reviewed by: M. S., USA, June 2010

Grand Circle Tour

5

Grand Circle Tour Experience

My wife and I had a fabulous time participating in the Big Island Grand Circle Tour. Our Tour Guide, John Mack, was outstanding! John was friendly, courteous, professional and extremely informative. Throughout the tour, John displayed encyclopedic knowledge of the island's history, geography, economy and natural resources. As a veteran educator, I was completely enthralled by John's narrative throughout the tour. My wife and I felt like we were students again. In addition to the information John provided to the group about the places we either visited or passed by, he also gave us valuable tips on other sites to visit that were not on the itinerary. For example, John recommended that we visit Kaloko-Honokohau, which ended up being one of the highlights of our trip. The area was completely uncrowded and we had an opportunity to take photos of sea turtles in their natural environment. Our only suggestion for improvement would be to allow a slightly longer stop in Waimea to allow members of the tour to grab a quick bite to eat at the shopping center. We understand that a longer stop would only be possible with a smaller tour group such as our own. Overall, we were very pleased with the Grand Circle Tour and would recommend it to others. Please send John Mack our Alohas and commendations for a job very well done! Sincerely, Ali Galedary

Big Island Tour is a Must Our

4

Big Island Tour is a Must

Our driver Kimo made this a highlight of our nine day trip to Hawaii. He was extremely friendly, personable, and knowledgeable. His entertaining personality kept the long day entertaining.