Sightseeing / Guided Tours

Tour guide was very fun & knowledgeable.
Saw lots of the island.
Nice that there was only 3 others besides myself & my husband.

Entertaining & educational emcee.
Wonderful food.
Very good dancers.

Meixai was very fun & knowledgeable.
Bummed we missed the eruption by just over a day, but that's nature.
Saw many craters & went in a Lava tube.
Again nature thwarted us for the stargazing as the moon was too bright.

This tour offers more than just what is on the pamphlet. First of all, the trip to the Dole Plantation provided different attractions that are relaxing and self paced with beautiful backgrounds for pictures. There was a ... more large gift shop for those who enjoy a little vacation shopping with a food court where everyone should try at least one of the special pineapple menu items. Secondly, the stop to Haleiwa was a short distance from Dole, and there's so many shops to visit just by walking in a straight line. If you keep moving, you're bound to find something you that interests you, like the shaved ice, surf shops, and snoopy store. For each stop, the tour provides about an hour or two for you to explore yourselves, which is plenty, so you won't have the feeling have being rushed.

I'm sure you'll enjoy the two main stops of the tour, but what made the trip so memorable is the staff and driver of your bus. Our driver was Marlon, and he made it his second priority to make sure everyone in our group knew what options they had before reaching each stop so that we could plan accordingly once we arrive. Of course his first priority was ensuring our safety and comfort, making the tour easier for us to kick back and enjoy. During the extra free time, he even took us to a nearby coffee shop that grows and grinds their own beans. That's something he added to the tour himself since we had free time, but also because he wanted to show us more of the island. He has an excellent sense of humor, and everyone in our group felt comfortable approaching him. He even speaks multiple languages for the passengers that may not be fully fluent in English. During the stops, I noticed him walking around offering to take family photos, starting conversations with people about the places we visited, and answering any questions they had. He is an amazing driver, awesome tour guide, and overall just a friendly person you'd want to have with you when visiting new places.

The ride down the river was so peaceful and beautiful. The walk through the fern grotto was also very pleasant.. beautiful things to see.

After researching several options, we chose the Ultimate Hawaii Circle Island Sightseeing tour from Veltra for our mid-April 2026 trip, and it did not disappoint. Our guide, Marcus, was total pro, wWith 15 years of exper... moreience, his knowledge and storytelling made the 10-hour journey fly by.

The Highlights:

1) Coffee Farm: Stunning views and a great tasting session in the gift shop.

2) Punaluu Black Sand Beach: We were lucky enough to see sea turtles basking on the sand!

3) Volcanoes National Park: Seeing the steam vents and the scale of the active volcano was easily the highlight of the day.

4) Rainbow Falls: The best panoramic view is actually from the side of the park; the hike to the top isn't strictly necessary for the best photos.

5) Waipio Valley Lookout: Absolutely breathtaking photo opportunities.

The logistics were seamless with a prompt pickup at 7:20 am from the Fairmont Orchid. While it is a long day covering 2/3 of the island, Marcus kept us entertained throughout. Lunch, dinner, snacks, and water were all provided, making for a stress-free experience. Highly recommended!