volcano tours in hawaii usa wikipedia

Hawaii Volcano Tours in Volcanoes National Park

Hike the Most Epic Lava Tours in Hawaii

Hawaii Volcano Tour: The Greatest Show on Earth

• Most Popular!

Epic Hawaii National Volcano Park Tours

Have the experience of a lifetime with our unique tour of Hawaii’s Volcano National Park and learn about its history while seeing the park’s most fascinating features! Book online.

• Clock 5am, 2pm, 8:30pm
• Hour Glass 2 Hours

Currently we can only offer the Epic Volcano Park tour . It is two to three hours of fun education on the volcano with one of our expert guides… they are super passionate and know everything about Kilauea.

It is not possible to approach the lava safely in its current location but it can be viewed from the overlook areas. We bring telescopes and cameras to maximize your view and send you home with great high-end pictures and videos of the summit eruption.

• The 5:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. tours are two hours in the prime viewing times.
• The 2:00 p.m. has much less visual viewing of the glowing lava but is longer and is a more interpretative tour that lasts three hours.

Epic Night Time Photography Tour

Come with us into Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park when it is literally yours to explore! Capture the volcano and the stars in breathtaking detail as you find the night’s best locations and are amazed by the park’s fascinating landscapes. Book your Hawai’i volcano photography tours online!

• Clock 1 a.m.
• Hour Glass 3 Hours

Welcome to EpicLava Tours in Hawaii!

EpicLava is a once-in-a-lifetime adventure to the world’s most powerful force! Get ready for fun as we guide you to the current eruptive activity and the greatest attractions of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. We specialize in informative but relaxed tours that leave you with an understanding of the surrounding area, the basics of how our volcanoes work and the current activity that they are displaying.

We offer group and private tours, so feel free to contact us so we can help plan the perfect tour for your needs!

At EpicLava, our priorities are SAFETY and making sure your lava tours in Hawaii provides memories that will last a lifetime.

Explore Our Hot Reviews with EpicLava Tours!

I would recommend this tour to anyone wanting to get up close and personal with Lava! I have to say it was one of the best tours I have EVER done!

We had a fantastic guide Matthew guiding our group. He had us up early hiking out over the lava flows to the most active parts, and we were lucky to have a major flow erupt right by us while we were exploring.

To put it succinctly: the guides (Jon and Jeff) are THE people you want escorting you through the volcanoes. Jon’s energy is contagious, and Jeff’s stories are–literally–legendary. More than just a tour of the area, you get a tour through time, with personal stories that help color the experience. I would recommend these guys to anyone who has a real interest in experiencing the history, not just looking at the land. Thanks, guys!

Epic Lava has most experienced and friendly guides. They shared many stories of their experiences and they even helped us take amazing photos.

PRESENTED BY TRAVELODGE BY WYNDHAM

Everything to know about Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

With a hiss of steam, lava flowed from the park into the Pacific Ocean in January 2017. Similar flows of molten rock have built up the Hawaiian Islands over the course of more than 70 million years.

Established:   August 1, 1916 Size:   323,431 acres Annual Visitors:   2 million Visitor Centers:   Kilauea, daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Entrance Fees:   $30 per vehicle; $15 per individual

Exploring Hawaii Volcanoes National Park , on the Big Island of Hawaii , is like stepping foot on another planet.

Recent lava flows stretch out for miles in a rocky wasteland that more closely resembles the Moon than Earth. Huge waves send sea spray dozens of feet into the air along the wild, craggy coastline. Endangered birds waddle across the path on an ascent up the world’s largest single mountain. If the timing is right, visitors can catch a natural fireworks show of lava pouring into the ocean or see plumes of molten rock arching above one of the planet’s rare lava lakes.

Two celebrated volcanoes—one of them very tall, the other very active—frame this large national park. From glowing lava flows and earth-shaking tremors to wind, rain, and waves, the geological and meteorological forces that shaped our planet are fully on display on the Big Island. While volcanism rules the day, pockets of rainforest and grassland shelter rare Hawaiian flora and fauna.

“Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn and caldron bubble.” Shakespeare could just as easily have been describing Hawaiian volcanoes rather than a witch’s brew in Macbeth . No other national park produces so much drama on a regular basis.

Kilauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes. Its monthslong 2018 event destroyed hundreds of homes, sent massive plumes of ash rocketing into the air, and collapsed nearly 2,000 feet of the crater’s summit. Its most recent and currently ongoing eruption began in September 2021.

Hike the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail to see tide pools formed over the remains of old lava flows.

It abuts the southeastern slope of the older and much larger Mauna Loa , or “long mountain.” Active for some 700,000 years, Mauna Loa towers 13,677 feet above the sea. Measured from its base 18,000 feet below sea level, it exceeds Mount Everest in height. Mauna Loa’s gently sloping bulk—some 19,000 cubic miles in volume—makes it the planet’s most massive single mountain.

The national park stretches from sea level to Mauna Loa’s summit. Beyond the end of the road lies Mauna Loa's wilderness area, where backpackers encounter freezing nights and rough lava trails amid volcanic wonders: barren lava twisted into nightmarish shapes, cinder cones, and gaping pits. Kilauea, however, provides easy access to a greater variety of scenery and cultural sites .

Related: See volcanoes around the world

On the slopes of Kilauea, whose name means “spreading, much spewing,” lush green rainforest borders stark, recent lava flows. This natural laboratory of ecological change displays all stages of forest regeneration—from early regrowth of lichens and ferns to dense forest. The rainforest on the windward side of Kilauea’s summit gives way to the stark, windswept Kau Desert on the hot, dry southwestern slope. At the shore, waves create lines of jagged cliffs; periodic eruptions send fresh lava flows to meet the sea amid colossal clouds of steam.

Geological dynamism forms the park’s primary natural theme, followed closely by evolutionary biology. Thousands of unique species have evolved on the isolated Hawaiian islands. Cultural sites abound as well, reminders of the Polynesian pioneers who steered their great double-hulled canoes to Hawaii beginning some 1,500 years ago.

The United Nations has named the park both an international biosphere reserve and a World Heritage site . Many of the park’s intriguing native plants and animals, however, are in peril, defenseless against alien species including weedy invasive plants and feral pigs. The native species are carefully protected by the park, which has fenced the park’s borders off from feral pigs and taken efforts to eradicate invasive weeds.

Can’t-miss experiences

Two outstanding auto routes provide easy access to the park’s main attractions. Crater Rim Drive   hugs the edge of Kilauea Caldera and leads to viewpoints where visitors can gaze into the belly of the beast and inhale its pungent sulfur scent. Near the start of the route, the park Visitor Center   offers exhibits and important safety information, as well as an excellent film, “Born of Fire, Born of the Sea.”

( Volcano tourism is booming, but is it too risky ?)

Across the road, Volcano House   (built in 1846) is one of the oldest lodges in the entire National Park System; the back terrace is a great place to get your first glimpse of the crater. Located in another historic structure, Volcano Art Center   offers classes and workshops, a gallery dedicated to local artists, hula performances, and free guided hikes into the Niaulani rainforest .

When surface lava is flowing in the park, sightseeing boat tours offer the chance to watch molten lava hiss and steam as it met the ocean at Kamokuna. Explore Chain of Craters Road ,   which meanders 20 miles through tortuous volcanic landforms between Kilauea Caldera and Holei Sea Arch . Numerous places en route beg a stop, including lofty Kealakomo Overlook ,   the Martian-like landscape of Mau Loa o Mauna Ulu lava field, and the boardwalk trail that leads to the Pu‘u Loa Petroglyphs , where more than 23,000 images were rendered by native Hawaiians between A.D. 1200 and 1450.

Reaching the summit of Mauna Loa   is a herculean effort. A narrow, paved road ascends to a lookout point at 6,662 feet. The rest of the route is on foot, a 16-mile trail that quickly morphs from native woodland into lava rock wilderness. Most people undertake the trek over four days, with overnights in national park mountain huts.

The park’s other iconic backcountry hike is the Kau Desert Trail, a rugged 18-mile trek that leads from the trailhead off of Highway 11 across undulating lava fields to Hilina Pali   cliffs and overnight campsites along the Pacific coast like Halape   with its sandy beaches and coconut grove.

Where to stay

Hotels:   Inside the park, the historic Volcano House has long captivated guests; recently renovated, it perches on the rim of Kilauea caldera, offering stunning views and a unique perspective. The elegant Volcano Village Lodge sits just two miles outside of the park.

Camping:   There are two drive-in campgrounds in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Namakanipaio and Kulanaokuaiki. The former offers rustic, but charming, camping cabins.

Off-season activities

Mauna Kea National Natural Landmark : At 13,803 feet, this volcano is the nation’s highest insular mountain, as well as the highest point in Hawaii. Onizuka Center for International Astronomy facilitates public stargazing on the peak.

Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail : This 175-mile coastal route around the Big Island features eight sites significant to native Hawaiian culture and history, including Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau and Kaloko-Honokōhau national historical parks.

Pu‘u O Umi Natural Area Reserve : Perched on the Big Island’s north shore, this remote reserve harbors 13 native ecosystems including rare montane bog and ‘ohi’a forest.

Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden : Just north of Hilo, this 17-acre preserve showcases more than 2,000 plant species including palms, bromeliads, and heliconias.

Related Topics

• NATIONAL PARKS

You May Also Like

Hiking Kazakhstan: a day in Charyn Canyon National Park

National parks overcrowded? Visit a national forest.

Free bonus issue.

10 national parks to avoid the summer crowds

How to visit Biscayne National Park

How to visit Lake Clark National Park and Preserve

Some U.S. national parks are trying to go carbon-free. What does that mean for visitors?

25 breathtaking places and experiences for 2023

• Perpetual Planet
• Environment
• History & Culture
• Paid Content

History & Culture

• Mind, Body, Wonder
• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Your US State Privacy Rights
• Children's Online Privacy Policy
• Interest-Based Ads
• About Nielsen Measurement
• Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
• Nat Geo Home
• Attend a Live Event
• Book a Trip
• Inspire Your Kids
• Shop Nat Geo
• Visit the D.C. Museum
• Learn About Our Impact
• Support Our Mission
• Advertise With Us
• Customer Service
• Renew Subscription
• Manage Your Subscription
• Work at Nat Geo
• Sign Up for Our Newsletters
• Contribute to Protect the Planet

Copyright © 1996-2015 National Geographic Society Copyright © 2015-2024 National Geographic Partners, LLC. All rights reserved

First-timer’s guide to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

Apr 18, 2024 • 11 min read

The scale and ferocity of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is a wonder to experience © Yiming Chen / Getty Images

Unsurprisingly, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on Hawaiʻi Island is one of the state’s most popular attractions.

This incredible landscape is home to two massive volcanoes – Kīlauea being one of the world’s most active – and stretches from sea level to the summit of Mauna Loa, one of the world’s largest. Sprawling across 333,259 acres on the island's southeastern side, the park is one of the most dynamic and diverse in the US.

Its ever-changing landscape boasts an assortment of terrain, from lush rainforests and barren lava fields to a volcano often dusted with snow every winter. Yes, even in Hawaiʻi!

So grab those hiking boots and binoculars and use our insider guide to get the most out of your first trip to this unique national park.

When is the best time to visit Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park? 

There isn’t an especially bad time to visit the park, which sees nearly two million visitors annually. The weather on the Islands doesn’t vary much, with temperatures fluctuating between 66-85°F throughout the year. Winter and early spring, though, tend to be rainier and cooler than other times of the year and hurricane season runs from June to November, which can mean tropical storms, whipping winds and torrential rain.

The busiest travel seasons in Hawaiʻi are summer and winter – summer is peak vacation time for families and winter lures travelers eager to escape colder climes. Expect more people on trails and longer waits for parking during these periods.

Spring and fall are slower travel months and ideal times to visit the park. Trekking conditions are much more comfortable without the intense summer heat and you’ll likely find better airfare prices and hotel rates at nearby hotels. The park does get a surge of visitors during spring break and around the weekend of the annual Merrie Monarch Festival , a week-long hula competition based in Hilo around late March or early April.

Tuesday is the busiest day at the park – pick another day if at all possible. This is when the Pride of America , a cruise ship that sails around the Islands, docks in Hilo. Many of its 2000 passengers head to the national park, hitting popular stops like the Kīlauea Visitor Center , the Kīlauea Iki Trail , and Nāhuku (otherwise known as Thurston Lava Tube ). Winter brings yet more cruise ships to Hawaiʻi Island as thousands of North Pacific humpback whales migrate annually from Alaska to the warmer waters surrounding the Islands.

Though Kīlauea stopped erupting on Sept 16, 2023, the volcano still attracts visitors despite no visible lava fountains or flows. And it’s likely it will erupt again – the Puʻuʻōʻō eruption, which began in 1983 and lasted 35 years, ranks as the longest and most voluminous known outpouring of lava from Kīlauea’s east rift zone in more than 500 years. “If there is an eruption,” says Jessica Ferracane, the park’s spokesperson, “it is busy all day, every day, especially if it’s at the summit of Kīlauea.”

Planning tip: The park is currently undergoing a big disaster recovery project following the 2018 Kīlauea eruption and summit collapse. There could be temporary area closures, lane closures, reduced parking and other limited services for the next two years. Check the park website to check for construction closures and delays . 

Find out everything you need to know about what's happening in Hawaii throughout the year in  our guide to the best time to visit the Aloha State

How much time should I plan to spend at the park?

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park may not be as huge as Alaska’s 13.2-million-acre Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve – larger than Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park and Switzerland combined – but it does stretch from sea level to the summit of 13,681-ft Mauna Loa and across seven different ecological zones. You’ll need at least a full day to explore all the best parts of the park but two days are even better. 

Park staff recommend that visitors arrive by sunrise to hit the park’s most popular trails first – it's open 24 hours to allow everyone to maximize their time. Dusk is also a wonderful time to go exploring – the lack of light pollution provides dark skies that are perfect for stargazing.

There are a variety of hikes within the national park, from the easy 1.2-mile Kīpukapuaulu Trail to the challenging backcountry treks up Mauna Loa that can take two days. And having an extra day means you can visit the park’s quieter and less crowded Kahuku Unit on the southerly slopes of Mauna Loa. This 116,000-acre former ranchland is about an hour's drive from the Kīlauea Visitor Center and is open to the public five days a week. You can hike to the top of an old cinder cone, trek through a pristine Hawaiian rainforest or bike through scenic pastures with panoramic views of the ranchlands.

The tiny town of Volcano Village just outside the park is also well worth a visit, with its laid-back eateries and food trucks, art galleries, and  a vineyard and winery .

Is it easy to get in and around the park?

The nearest airport is Hilo International, about 30 miles northeast of the park (you can fly into the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keāhole, but the drive from Kailua-Kona will take about two hours). Getting to the park from Hilo is easy – take Route 11 (Hawaiʻi Belt Road) west until you reach the main entrance. The drive takes about 45 minutes.

Hele-On Bus is the island’s only public bus service, operated by Hawaiʻi County. The No. 11 Red Line runs between Hilo and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, stopping daily at the Kīlauea Visitor Center. The bus schedule is subject to change, so check ahead. There is no public transportation or shuttle service within the park, so you’ll need a car to get around.

Top things to do at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

Kīlauea iki trail.

One of the most popular hikes in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is the 4-mile roundtrip Kīlauea Iki Trail. The terrain is varied – it starts in a forest of native ʻōhiʻa trees and hapuʻu (Hawaiian tree fern) and ends with a walk across an otherworldly crater floor – and it’s short enough to complete in a few hours, giving you plenty of time to visit other parts of the park.

The trailhead is at an overlook of the crater formed from an eruption in 1959 that was marked by fountaining lava over a half-mile long and a plume reaching a world-record 1900ft high. The first part of the trail is a descent through a lush rainforest lined with native ʻōhiʻa and koa trees. Look for the white-rumped ʻapapanae , a nectarivorous Hawaiian honeycreeper, often found flitting from tree to tree. The switchbacks end at the crater floor, a vast moonscape that sharply contrasts with the surrounding native forests.

This lava tube – also known as Thurston Lava Tube – was created by a river of 2000°F (1093°C) molten lava about 500 years ago. Discovered in 1913, this massive lava cave is very accessible, with a flat rock floor and ceiling height of more than 20ft in places. Electric lights illuminate most of the path, though you may want to bring a flashlight – it takes about 20 minutes to stroll through the tube. The rainforest that surrounds Nāhuku is brimming with native birds, including the scarlet ʻiʻiwi , a Hawaiian honeycreeper listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

Hōlei Sea Arch

At the end of the Chain of Craters Road – about 18 miles from the Kīlauea Visitor Center – is the Hōlei Sea Arch , a 90-ft-tall rock formation cut into the cliff of an ancient lava flow about 550 years ago. In 2020, the park opened a new viewing area about 1000ft past the gate at the end of the road and set back away from the cliff edge.

Puʻuloa Petroglyphs

There’s an area of Pānau Nui on the southern flank of Kīlauea with numerous pecked images, or petroglyphs, in the hardened lava. Puʻuloa, which translates to “long hill” in ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (the Hawaiian language), is a sacred place to Native Hawaiians. The archaeological site here boasts more than 23,000 petroglyphs – the largest collection in Hawaiʻi – with motifs of circles, canoe sails, human forms, feathered capes and other geometric shapes.

Devastation Trail

This half-mile hike is suitable for everyone as it's wheelchair and stroller accessible. The paved path meanders through a stark yet beautiful landscape buried by falling cinder from lava fountains of the 1959 Kīlauea Iki eruption. You might find volcanic debris in the form of glass-like droplets and strands called Pele’s Tears and Pele’s Hair, respectively, named after the revered Hawaiian goddess of fire and volcanoes. Nēnē (Hawaiian geese) frequent this area; refrain from feeding or interacting with this threatened species.

My favorite thing to do at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

Unfortunately, there aren’t many places in Hawaiʻi where you find native forest birds anymore. Their populations have plummeted due to habitat destruction, predators like feral cats, mongoose and non-native mosquitoes that spread avian pox and avian malaria.

But at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, where native habitats are protected and able to thrive, you can see – and hear – a variety of these special birds, from the friendly ʻelepaio (Hawaiian flycatcher) to the elusive ʻōmaʻo (Hawaiian thrush), which can only be found in the montane rainforests on Hawaiʻi Island. The bright orange ʻākepa , an endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper with an odd-shaped beak, can be spotted in the high-elevation forests of the park’s Kahuku Unit. And if you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of the endemic ʻio , the only hawk species native to Hawaiʻi.

I love wandering along the 1.2-mile Kīpukapuaulu Trail, an easy loop through pristine native forestland in an area known as a “bird park.” A kīpuka is an area of land that’s surrounded by younger lava flows, like an “island” within a sea of lava. There are more native tree species per acre here than any other forest in the national park, which means you’ll find native forest birds that rely on the native trees that grow here.

How much money do I need?

Park entry costs $30 for a private car, $25 for a motorcycle, and $15 for pedestrians and cyclists. The park has gone cashless, so payment has to be made with debit or credit cards in person or online .

If you're also planning to visit Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park near Kailua-Kona or Haleakalā National Park on Maui, consider buying the Hawaiʻi Tri-Park Annual Pass for $55. This allows you to enter all three of these parks in a single, private vehicle.

The National Park Service offers free admission to everyone on the following days: Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the first day of National Park Week in April, Juneteenth, the Great American Outdoors Act, National Public Lands Day and Veterans Day.

Average costs at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

• Basic room for two at Volcano House: $80 to $385 per night
• Airbnb in Volcano: $150 average per night
• Cup of coffee: $3.50
• Midrange meal: $15-$20 per person
• Local beer: $10
• Gas (regular) in Hilo: $4.81 per gallon

How to travel in the park consciously

With two active volcanoes and ongoing construction to repair damage caused by the 2018 Kīlauea eruption, it’s important to stay on marked trails and overlooks and keep out of closed areas. And no matter what you may have seen on social media, please leave the rocks alone and unstacked. Park staff often use ahu (stacked rocks) to mark trails; it’s not an invitation to do the same. Not only is it culturally insensitive but it can be disorienting to hikers who rely on the ahu to guide them along trails. It’s also long believed that taking lava rocks brings bad luck. Hundreds of people return rocks they’ve taken from the park every year.

There are many culturally significant sites within the park, itself a Unesco World Heritage Site. These include petroglyphs, historic trails, fossilized footprints, shelter caves, heiau (Hawaiian temples) and stone walls of canoe sheds and corrals. Many of these sites are listed in the National Register of Historic Places – please be respectful when you get the chance to see them close up.

The land within the park is sacred to Native Hawaiians, with moʻolelo (stories) and mele (songs) tied to this area. They believe Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of fire and volcanoes, lives in Halemaʻumaʻu Crater at the summit of Kīlauea. If you come across Native Hawaiians performing cultural rituals in the park, keep a respectful distance. Let them – and others – connect undisturbed with nature.

This article was first published September 2021 and updated 2 days ago

Explore related stories

Festivals & Events

Mar 29, 2024 • 5 min read

From freezing darkness and empty ski slopes to endless sunshine and cruise crowds, each Alaskan season has its pros and cons. Find your perfect time to go.

Mar 25, 2024 • 8 min read

Mar 24, 2024 • 7 min read

Mar 19, 2024 • 5 min read

Mar 5, 2024 • 12 min read

Feb 2, 2024 • 6 min read

Dec 27, 2023 • 8 min read

Dec 1, 2023 • 6 min read

Oct 4, 2023 • 9 min read

Aug 3, 2023 • 7 min read

• Skip to global NPS navigation
• Skip to this park navigation
• Skip to the main content
• Skip to this park information section
• Skip to the footer section

Exiting nps.gov

Alerts in effect, learn about the park.

Last updated: March 20, 2024

Park footer

Contact info, mailing address:.

P.O. Box 52 Hawaii National Park, HI 96718

808 985-6011

Stay Connected

Hawaii Geo Tours

Explore kilauea caldera, learn. explore. play..

With personalized attention and insider insights, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation for the Big Island’s unique culture and geography. Explore unique places that are rarely seen by visitors. Our small group tours feature a sit-down lunch and a full day of guided exploration in our Mercedes Sprinter Vans. For those wanting a personalized experience, we offer private VIP tours anywhere on the Big Island. Book Now for a Volcano Adventure on the Big Island!

Discover the Best of the Big Island with Hawaii Geo Tours

Unparalleled geology, volcano, and island life insights await.

As Hawaii-based experts, Hawaii Geo Tours is proud to offer the best tours and activities on the islands. If you’re seeking a custom private tour with an unparalleled geology experience, our local guides have you covered. From lava fields, tropical mountains to black sand beaches, Hawaii is no ka oi, and we’re here to help you discover the best of the Big Island.

Our volcanic tour is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the raw power of nature. Led by experienced geologists and guides, our tours will take you on a journey of discovery through the island’s most stunning landscapes.

Join Us For A Full Day Of Exploring Hawaii’s Landscapes

Your guide will give you a historical and geological journey through the park making it exciting and educational. We strive to provide a unique experience that includes short hikes, sightseeing, and photography to some of the less frequented areas of the park.

Take a private tour of Heavenly Hawaiian coffee farm.

Look for sea turtles black sand Punaluʻu Beach.

Spend the day at Volcanoes National Park for a fulfilling volcanic experience.

Amazing views of the Pacific Ocean.

Relax & take photos at the crowd favorite Rainbow Falls.

Relax in comfort as you travel around the island in our luxurious Mercedes Sprinters, ensuring a smooth and enjoyable ride while you explore the island’s volcanic features with unparalleled insight from our geology focused guides.

• Experience exclusive access to hidden gems and knowledge with our experienced guides.
• Enjoy a delectable lunch at Lava Rock Cafe, a sit-down restaurant where you choose from a menu of delicious options.
• Walk out to the Kilauea Overlook to see the lava.
• Explore the famous Chain of Craters Road which includes vistas, craters, lava flow walks, and sea arches.
• Explore a lava tube, see diverse vegetation and more.
• Enjoy a unique tour designed exclusively for Hilton Grand Vacations timeshare holders, available every Wednesday. Please, inquire with Hilton regarding this tour.

Our Happy Customers Say…

Read what our other guests have said about our guided trips of Hawaii’s Volcanoes National Park.

Fantastic Tour

Amazing tour! Our guide Dave was absolutely fantastic, very knowledgeable and funny, kept everyone entertained over the trip.

Well worth the time and money

David was an outstanding host and tour guide. He was very knowledgeable and entertaining. I highly recommend this tour. You will see a ton, learn a lot about the island and enjoy a delicious lunch.

Geo adventure family trip for the win!

David has a vast knowledge of so much of the island it’s amazing and he charmed us with a ton a factoids the whole day. Highly recommend if you are short on time on the island but want to see as much as you can in little time.

Bolt says Geo Tour Big Island

Dave was a great guide. Very informative tour. I really enjoyed the geological aspect and lots of information on how the islands were formed and keep growing. Many interesting stops along the way including a walk through a lava tube. Very cool! Great experience!

Very Best Geo Tour on the Big Island of Hawaii

Zane found his calling. He is incredibly well educated in geology, has traveled the world and knowledgeable about not only the local history, but the flora and fauna of the island too. And he is super personable and able to keep all 10 of interested for almost twelve hours of the day. We conversed about what we wanted to see on a big scale and he narrowed it to specifics based on weather, crowds and our groups patience. He was a saint. If you want to enjoy the very best island tour and get educated on the land and history, hire Zane and you will write the next five star review!

Best Island Tour!

A must tour experience! Such an incredible day. What is unique about This tour, is how much you learn about the island formation and the flexibility in where he takes you! We traveled with friends and booked the VIP tour…if you can swing it, definitely put Geotours on your itinerary! Erik will not disappoint. You can see that he is passionate about the island and what he does. Mingled well with our group, lots of laughs, great energy and had a BLAST!!!

Highly Recommend!!

Zane was incredibly knowledgeable about the island! If you want to go on a tour with a geologist, this is the one to take!! As a privately owned company, he was able to hit all of the major island highlights as well as take us to places on the island that other tour companies don’t visit. We learned so much about the history of the island and the volcanos on the island all while having a fantastic time! HIGHLY recommend!!

One of the best tours ever

What an excellent way to get to know the Big Island and learn about its unique place on Earth. Our tour guide Eric picked us up on time at our rented villa along with a number of other visitors and we proceeded to spend one of the better days on a tour of the island. Eric is one of the proprietors of the tour, is a degreed geologist and is truly an engaging and friendly person. The tour was excellent which combined both interesting sights and a tremendous amount of local knowledge about lava flows and local history. To say that this was worth the day spent would be to put it mildly. Even at twice the price, I would happily do this again and recommend the tour to anyone.

Awesome adventure!

We couldn’t have made a better choice!!! Definitely the guides know their stuff, from history of the island and its people to the geological topics that kept me entertained throughout the trip. We just about went around the island in vip style, the guys were well known everywhere they took us as well as knew their way. Will recommend it to a few friends that are planning to visit the island, it’s a must in your itinerary and couldn’t have made a better choice in tour guide services

Hawaii Geo Tours are the best!

Wow! Fantastic tour of the erupting volcano!!! The guides are geologists and explained so much about the volcano and how all the Hawaiian islands were created. The pictures I got during the day, and especially at night were incredible! The food and winery tasting were good too. I’ve done this tour twice in the past year and recommend it highly! I wish I could give more than 5 stars!!! 🤙

• (808)900-6070
• 100% Refund Policy

Volcano Tours From Oahu

Depart from oahu by air.

Just because you’re staying in Waikiki doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the thrills of the Big Island. Volcano tours from Oahu include round-trip air travel from Honolulu to Hilo and fully guided experiences in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Tours from Oahu

Oahu to Hilo: Helicopter & Volcano Adventure Tour

Difficulty rating.

Easy to Moderate

Tour Duration

Oahu to Hilo: Volcano Adventure Tour

Frequently asked questions.

Read our answers to our customers’ common questions about volcano tours from Oahu. 

Everyone who visits Hawaii Volcanoes National Park wants to see lava.  You go there hoping to see lava fountaining into the air like on a National Geographic magazine.

Sorry to tell you, most visitors do not see lava.

Here’s why: Lava is dangerous. As soon as lava is fountaining or flowing in a certain area, Hawaii Civil Defense determines if it is safe to allow people near it.  Usually it is not safe and the area is closed off.

How to see lava on a volcano tour

The best way to be sure you will see lava is to take a helicopter volcano tour. You will see it from hundreds of feet away, but it is still magnificent.

The chances of seeing lava from a helicopter are very high, but not guaranteed. Volcanoes are extremely unpredictable. Volcanic activity changes every day. The lava flow moves and the surface cools.

Do not make the mistake of going on a volcano tour to see lava. There are so many other reasons to go on a volcano tour. Our volcanoes have an amazing history, cultural significance, biological uniqueness, geological wonder, and a beauty like no other place in the world.

People who go just to see lava and don’t see it are disappointed.  People who go to appreciate everything else about the volcano enjoy themselves. If you do see lava on a volcano tour, it is a bonus and you are a lucky one.

You want a quick answer? Sorry, the answer is constantly changing.

As we mention all over this site, the volcano is active. That means that it is moving and hard to pin down. You might see photos from a friend who saw lava flowing into the ocean a month ago, but now it is nowhere to be seen.

This is why a  volcano tour  is the best way to view the volcanoes. Tours will take you to see the sights in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Then the guide will use his contacts to find where you have the best chance of seeing lava.

Sometimes it is best viewed from inside the National Park. Sometimes it is by the shore in Kalapana. Sometimes it can only be seen from helicopters. Some days you can’t see lava anywhere you look.

The key to an enjoyable visit to the Big Island volcanoes is to go for the volcanoes and consider any sighting of lava as a bonus. If you’re whole purpose is to see lava, you could be setting yourself up for disappointment.

If you insist that lava is your focus, then a  helicopter tour  has the best chance of seeing lava. The pilots search for lava and communicate where the sighting is the best.  When you get close, you can actually feel the heat from inside the helicopter.

Five different Volcanoes are on the Big Island of Hawaii:

• Kilauea volcano

Mauna Kea Volcano Summit. 13,796 ft. Photo https://flic.kr/p/4h5JWS

Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain in Hawaii. It is also the tallest sea mountain in the world. From it’s base at the bottom of the ocean floor it is 33,000 feet taller than Mount Everest.  Mauna Kea hasn’t erupted for thousands of years, but is still considered dormant and could erupt again.

Mauna Loa is the largest volcano on earth in terms of volume.

Kilauea is the volcano that most visit us to see.  It is the most active volcano in the world. It began erupting in 1983 and continues to erupt today.

Vog is volcanic fog. It is similar to smog in that it is dirty with particles that are not in typical fog.

Vog is formed when gases from the erupting volcano get into the air, mix with sunlight, oxygen and moisture.

Like smog, vog is not healthy for humans, plants or animals. Many people living near Kilaeau, experience headaches and respitory issues from vog.

Visitors on our tours will see and breath vog, but we rarely have visitors who complain of health issues as a result. Generally, complaints come more often from prolonged exposure by those living near the volcano.

Nevertheless, we encourage all visitors to pay attention to their bodies and take the following precautions:

• Drink lots of fluids
• Don’t overexert
• Don’t smoke

Does vog smell like sulfer? A little bit.