All Reviews for Hiking Tours

Last year, I participated in this tour alone while my family went shopping, but this time they said they would join, so I participated for the second consecutive year.
The tour guide was a woman named Erika, and my companions were a young couple from Australia and an elderly couple living in LA who joined us locally. Since it wasn't a Japanese guide, a certain level of English proficiency is necessary, but Erika spoke slowly and clearly about the tour's points of interest and plant explanations, so even if you're not great at listening, you might not need to worry too much.
The itinerary wasn't too hard, but it seemed to have rained just before (it drizzled a bit during the tour), making the ground slippery, which required some caution. Because of this, the pace of the elderly couple slowed down, and we ended up taking longer than planned, which made us late for the next activity (the Australian couple seemed to continue on to an MTB tour). As a result, we had to take a taxi arranged by the guide to return, which was an unusual schedule (of course, the cost was covered by the tour).
Once we entered the mountains, the humidity was high and it was muggy, so it's better to dress coolly. However, since there are mosquitoes and to prevent injuries from branches and stumps, I recommend participating in long sleeves and long pants, and sturdy athletic shoes (though your shoes will get muddy).
Continuing from last time, we also saw the wild (though an introduced species) spotted poison dart frog, and you can enjoy a completely different side of Oahu compared to Honolulu, so I think it's a recommended activity.

　昨年、ショッピングに行く家族と別行動で1人でこのツアーに参加したのですが、今回は家族も行くと言うので、2年連続で参加しました。
　ツアーガイドはERIKAさんと言う女性、同行者はオーストラリアから来た若いカップルと、現地で合流して来たＬＡ在住の老夫婦でした。日本語ガイドではないので、ある程度の英語力は必要ですが、ツアーでの注意点とか植物に関する説明などは丁寧にゆっくり喋ってくれるので、ヒアリングが苦手でもそんなに気にしなくていいかもしれません。
　行程はそんなにハードではありませんが、直前に雨が降ったようで（途中も少し降られた）、滑りやすく、神経を使いました。そのせいか、老夫婦のペースが上がらず、予定より時間がかかってしまった為、次の予定（オーストラリアのカップルは引き続きＭＴＢツアーに参加するようでした）に間に合わなくなったようで、帰りはガイドが手配したタクシーで帰ると言う変則的なスケジュールになりました（もちろん費用はツアー持ちでした）。
　山に入ると湿度も高く、蒸し暑いので、涼しい格好の方がいいですが、蚊もいるし、木の枝や切り株などで怪我をするのを防ぐ為にも、長袖と長いパンツ、足元はしっかりした運動靴で参加する事をお勧めします（ただし、靴はドロドロに汚れます）。
　前回に引き続き、野生（移入種ですが）のマダラヤドクガエルも見られたし、ホノルルとは全く違うオアフ島の一面を楽しめるので、お勧め出来るアクティビティーだと思いますよ。

My first hike in Hawaii was an experience beyond my expectations. When I arrived at the entrance, I received water and snacks and prepared by applying insect repellent. There is also a rental option for waist pouches. There were seven other foreign participants besides me. The guide spoke only in English, so it might be tough if you don't speak any English at all. The jungle itself was easy at first, but in the second half, there were steeper inclines and muddy areas, and I definitely worked up a good sweat. The bananas we ate at the destination were delicious! The tour itself was fantastic, but I had to call after waiting over 30 minutes for the pickup. I connected directly with the guide, who mentioned that they had gone to a different location for some reason. The pickup arrived in about 10 minutes, but waiting in the heat was quite tough. However, I was satisfied with the tour! I highly recommend it.

ハワイで初めてのハイキング、思っていた以上に素晴らしい体験でした。入口前に到着すると、水、スナックを貰い、虫除けを掛けたり準備します。ウエストポーチのレンタルもあります。参加者は私以外に7名の外国人。ガイドももちろん英語オンリー、英語が全く出来ないと辛いかも。ジャングル自体は、最初は楽チンですが、後半思っていたより傾斜があったり、泥濘もあり、しっかり良い汗をかきました。目的地で食べたバナナの美味しかったこと！ツアー自体は最高だったのですが、ピックアップタイム30分過ぎても迎えが来ず、さすがに電話。ガイドに直接繋がり、私への案内と何故か違う場所に行ったとのこと。10分程で迎えが来ましたが、かなり暑い最中に待っていたのでそれが辛かったです。しかし、ツアーは満足です！オススメです。

This tour was worth every penny on its own, but our guide ELON made it even better!

We were picked up on time and taken up into the hills of Manoa Valley and went on a hike in the rain forest all the way to the waterfall and back. Hike was not super difficult, but definitely wear shoes (no flip flops).

Next part of the tour was lunch up on Mt Tantalus and then a 30 minute downhill bike ride down the mountain. We stopped halfway down for a pretty nice photo op. The views were amazing! Must point out that the staff made sure we were very safe on the downhill bike ride.

Once we got to the bottom, we were take to the marina, where we boarded a catamaran and went out to the Pacific and snorkelled at the "turtle cleaning station" for about an hour. We saw about 4 or 5 turtles and a ton of fish. Snorkel boat also had sodas and snacks.

We were returned to our hotel around 5pm after a full day adventure.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED and HUGE thank you to Elon!!!!!!

I am so glad we decided to take this hike through Veltra tours, we were provided with walking sticks (which you will definitely need), water and insect repellent. I am a 60 years young female with lower back arthritis, my girlfriend is 72 years young and we both survived and enjoyed it.. The scenery along the hike is beautiful. You should not wear your very nice gym shoes due to some mud and rocks along the way. Getting to the top (end of hike) seems to never come quick enough, but by the end of the hike when you see how beautiful the waterfall is, it becomes well worth it.

I saw someone mention that the staff was friendly, so I thought, "Alright, I'll give it a try on my own!" However... the feeling of being an outsider was overwhelming, haha.

The staff were white males and seemed friendly enough, but I was the only one participating alone and the only complete Japanese person there. By the way, my English skills are such that I only understand about half of what the guide is saying. The staff couldn't speak Japanese, so everything was in English, and it felt like they were treating me like, "This person probably doesn't understand English, so let's just leave them be," haha.

The weather was nice, and the scenery was beautiful, which felt great, but being there alone made me feel really isolated, and it left me feeling a bit unsettled.

スタッフがフレンドリーで、と書いている方がいたので、よし、わたしも１人で行ってみるか！と思い参加したのですが…　まぁ～～アウェイ感はんぱなかったｗ
スタッフは白人男性でまあフレンドリーだったような気はしますが、１人参加は私だけ＆完全な日本人も私だけ。ちなみに私の英語力は、ガイドさんの言ってることの半分くらいしか分からない程度。スタッフは日本語はできませんので全部英語なのですが、こいつ英語わかんないっぽいからほっとこ的な扱いでしたｗｗ
天気も良く景色はいいし、とても気持ちよかったのですが、ただでさえ１人参加なのにすごい疎外感でなんかもやっとしました。

It was said to be an intermediate course, but even I, who usually lack exercise (turning 60 this year), was fine. The guide mentioned that their Japanese wasn't very good, but since we were looking at flowers and trees, I didn't feel much inconvenience. They were considerate, showing us the names of things we found that are also in Japan. I had a wonderful experience with a family of five from abroad.

中級コースと言う事でしたが、日頃運動不足の私(今年還暦)でも大丈夫でした。ガイドの方は日本語はあんまりと言われていましたが、花や木を見ながらなのであまり不便は感じませんでした。日本にもあるものを見つけると名前を呼んで見せてくれたりと気を使ってもらってました。外国の親子５人と一緒に楽しい体験が出来ました。

The driver was knowledgeable - talkative - kind - and on time..
the whole experience was great

This tour is recommended for those who are proficient in English since the guide speaks English. All instructions from the guide are also in English. Especially during the cycling after the hike, it can be dangerous if you cannot speak English in case something happens. The hiking course is on a private lane with no other tourists, allowing you to enjoy it quietly and leisurely. You can experience a sense of the jungle more than on the main lane accessible to the general public, fully appreciating Hawaii's nature.

ガイドが英語なので、英語が得意な方におすすめのツアーです。もちろんガイドさんからの注意事項も全て英語です。特にハイキング後に行うサイクリングでは、英語が話せないと何かあったときに危険だと思います。ハイキングコースはプライベートレーンで他の観光客がいないため、静かにゆったり楽しめます。一般者が入ることが可能なメインのレーンよりジャングル感が味わえ、ハワイの自然を存分に感じることができます。

This is my second time going up Diamond Head Crater, but first time doing it in the morning. There is a difference from morning hike up to afternoon hike up. Enjoy the rewarding view each time. This time I caught a shot of a full rainbow across the ocean. A perspective to see it right from the summit.
Manoa falls was interesting hike, it rained most of the hike; which made it better! Did realize until I looked at the picture I took from the scene of Jurassic Park and then looking at the puddles, envisioning a T-Rex foot, this was that trail.

My husband and I enjoyed exploring Hawaii through the hiking shuttle to Diamond Head and Manoa Falls. I would highly recommend this for others visiting Oahu!

Our driver was very friendly and when half of our friends hadn't come down on time he was very forgiving. He gave us plenty of info and everything ran on time. He gave anple time at both hikes to get it all done. It was a great day!

It was exciting walking through a rain forest and also a good cardio workout. Our group had walking sticks so it was beneficial where it was a bit rocky or wet. Just take your time going up or back down and enjoy the scenery.

It was a jungle hike.
We crossed a small stream and went through a bamboo grove.
We climbed muddy areas and steep slopes.
I thought it might be tough for small children and elderly people.
I got bitten by a lot of mosquitoes.
The guide provided water, cookies, insect repellent spray, and a small pouch.
There are no restrooms, so we were told to go in the mountains.
In addition to my friend and me, there were six other participants, all from the mainland United States.
The entire tour was in English.
It was a valuable experience.

ジャングルハイキングでした。
小川を渡ったり竹やぶを通ったりしました。
ぬかるんだ場所や急な坂を上ったりしました。
小さなお子さんやご年配の方には厳しいかと思いました。
たくさん蚊にさされました。
水、クッキー、虫除けスプレー、小物入れポーチはガイドさんが用意してくれます。
お手洗いはありませんので、山の中でどうぞと言われました。
私と友人の他に6人参加していましたが、
皆さんアメリカ本土からの方でした。
すべて英語でのツアーです。
貴重な体験でした。

Loved our guides...well informed and enjoyable. Suggestions...half sandwich not enough. Also the activities should be more accurately described regarding difficulty. Too difficult for 1 of our party. Also children under 10 should not be included as they hold up the progress of the group especially in the bike.

I was the only Japanese participant. Both the guide and the participants mainly spoke English, so if you don't understand English to some extent, you might just end up following along. At first, I felt refreshed walking through the "tropical rainforest" with the sounds of birds, but it changed to a bamboo grove along the way, which didn't really feel like a "tropical rainforest." The waterfall we reached after walking for just over an hour had a thin flow, which was different from what I expected.

I think it was good to experience another side of Hawaii. However, from the 8 AM hotel pickup to the 1 PM drop-off, there was no chance to use the restroom, which was tough.

日本人参加者は私一人。ガイド、参加者ともほぼ英語オンリーで、英語をある程度理解できないと、ただ着いていくだけとなる可能性があります。最初は鳥の声が響く「熱帯雨林」を歩いて気分爽快でしたが、途中から竹林に変わり、その部分は「熱帯雨林」という感じではありませんでした。1時間強かけて歩いて到着した滝は、流れが細く、期待とは異なりました。
ハワイの別の一面を体験できたのは、良かったと思います。
8時のホテルピックアップから、13時の送りまでトイレに行くチャンスが無く、厳しかったです。

The whole adventure was excellent. The only tip i want to make for future hikers is to make sure you apply extra mosquito repellent on your hike. Besides that, this is a must recommend.

It was a bit raining in the morning but the Monoa Falls was very very nice.
Our guide explained us very kind and neatly so we understood well.
You must need a shoe to go with.( Some people went there by Beach sandals and slipping over the mud)

I want to thank you for a wonderful excursion. My nephew and I did the bike, sail, and snorkel in August. Vacationing with a 12 year old and keeping him entertained was not easy, but this trip was PERFECT. He really enjoyed the activities and the guides were thoughtful, creating a safe environment for him. I personally enjoyed seeing the honu! Hopefully, we can do it again with the entire family next year. Thank you again!

We were picked up on time by a friendly driver who explained everything we needed to know regarding our hike. He was right on with his explanation. We walked along with several others up the trails which we easy then got to some of the curves and switchbacks where the footing was a little difficult. Be sure to wear good tennis shoes or hiking boots not sandals or heels for this hike. We came to a series of steps that were steep then into a tunnel that was a few minutes long. Outside the tunnel there were 2 routes to the top. One set of steps much steeper than the other but can stop and rest along the way if needed. Once on the top the views were spectacular and well worth the climb. I'm 65 years old and have 3 stents in my hear and made this "moderate " hike with only a few stops. There are some rough areas in this hike so people with walkers, wheel chairs and buggies will not make it. We will definitely do this event next time we're in Hawaii. We did the hike up to the top, looked around for 15-20 minutes and hiked back down in 1 - 1/2 hours.

Punctual and friendly driver. Water and bug spray is provided. Good price and good
value.

I applied because I wanted to ride a bicycle. When I participated, I was the only Japanese person there. The announcements were in English, so I listened carefully to everything. We traveled by car from the meeting point to near the mountain summit, and from there, we rode mountain bikes down slowly. It's fine for beginners. We took breaks along the way, but since it was mostly downhill, we hardly had to pedal.

After coming down, having lunch (sandwiches) with all the participants in a small park was exceptional.

The eco-hiking afterward was amazing! We were allowed to walk on private land, and before entering, we were given rubber boots along with snacks like peanuts and dried fruits. I thought there might be some muddy spots, but we walked for about 30 minutes through a pretty muddy forest. Some people lost their balance and fell on their backs ( ﾟДﾟ). The destination was a small waterfall. It wasn't stunning, but I felt a sense of accomplishment from walking through the primeval forest. The snacks of peanuts and dried fruits we had there were exceptional.

The problem was... the return trip... We had to walk endlessly down through muddy paths. It felt more like walking through a bamboo forest than a primeval forest. My leg muscles definitely got a workout.

After reaching the foot of the mountain, I returned the muddy rubber boots and boarded the bus heading to Ala Moana Beach, where we dispersed. Some people continued on a cruise, but I got off there.

Being the only Japanese person, I experienced an overseas tour for the first time in a while!

自転車に乗りたくて応募しました。
参加してみると、日本人は私だけ。英語でのアナウンスだったので、注意深くいろいろ聞いてました。集合場所から車で山頂付近まで移動し、そこからマウンテンバイクにのって、ゆっくり下っていく。初心者でも問題ないです。途中に休憩をはさみながら行きますが、基本下りなのでペダルをこぐことはほとんどないです。
降りてきて、小さな公園で参加者皆さんとランチ（サンドイッチ）は格別です。

その後のエコハイキングがすごい！
私有地を歩かせてもらいましたが、そこに入る前に渡されたのは、長靴＋お菓子ピーナッツ＆ドライフルーツ。
多少ぬかるんでいるところもあるのかな？と思っていましたが、かなりぬかるんだ林の中を30分歩きました。途中バランスを崩して尻もちつく方もいらっしゃいました( ﾟДﾟ)
目的地は小さな滝です。見栄えはすばらしい！ってほどではないですが、原生林を歩いてきたという達成感が感じられます。ここで食べるお菓子ピーナッツ＆ドライフルーツは格別です。

問題は・・・帰り。。。
足元がぬかるんでいる下りを延々と歩きます。原生林というより、竹林の中を歩きます
なかなか足の筋肉をつかいましたね。

ふもとまで降りてきて、どろんこ長靴を返却しバスに乗り込んでアラモアナビーチに向かい、そこで解散。
その後船にのってクルーズする方もいらっしゃいましたが、私はここで下車しました。

日本人一人なので、久々に海外のツアー！を体感しました。

Our Transportation to Diamond Head was waiting for us as we exited the hotel about 5 minutes early. He was very nice and professional. He gave us good information about Diamond Head's history and the hiking trail. He returned, as promised, to pick us up and take us to Manoa Falls. Again he was very interesting and gave us info about the rain forest and the hike. Providing water and a hiking pole was very appreciated, and helpful. The company was very reliable, friendly and informative. We are in our 60's and were able to do both hikes in the same day.

We all had a wonderful time and learned a lot about the island, plants and the culture of Oahu with Terry. We highly recommend the trip. It is a rustic hike to the beautiful waterfall, but very worth the hike, even in the rain and mud And our bike ride down the mountain had gorgeous scenery and was wind through your hair fun. We saw several sea turtles and different varieties of fish on the sail and snorkel on Captain Krash's catamaran. He was fun to sail with and Rudolph was very knowledgeable about the snorkeling as well as giving helpful knowledge about the island and city.

We loved the downhill biking! It went by really quick, but we did enjoyed it. Wouldn't recommend it on its own, since it went by so quick. But in combination with the snorkelling was fantastic! Guides are very knowledgeable and respectful of the area. Swimming with turtles was a unique experience!

Fantastic tour, great guide. Highly recommend taking this tour. It was one of the highlights of my trip,

Two years ago, I participated in the "Manoa Falls Hiking Tour" and had a great experience, so this time I wanted to try a different tour and chose this one. In addition to wanting to enjoy the tropical rainforest, I also hoped to see the introduced and now wild Madara Yadokugaeru (poison dart frog) and Jackson's chameleon if possible.

I had some concerns about not having a Japanese guide, but I thought it would be fine and decided to join. Besides me, there was a group of three from California. The guide was a local named Terry.

When we arrived and I mentioned wanting to see the Madara Yadokugaeru and Jackson's chameleon, Terry seemed a bit surprised but said, "I think the Madara Yadokugaeru is probably here. The chameleon is around, but it's slow-moving and hard to spot."

The destination was actually near Manoa Valley, and although the route and the waterfall were different from the Manoa Falls trekking, it was quite similar. I thought this course was a bit narrower and steeper, making it more challenging, but it was by no means a difficult course.

Terry provided detailed explanations not only about the names of the plants but also their origins and the history of Hawaii's vegetation. However, since he spoke completely in native English, it might be a bit challenging to understand (^_^;)

And happily, a boy in our group found the Madara Yadokugaeru, and we were able to take pictures of it! Because I made a somewhat niche request at the beginning, both the guide and the other participants helped look for it.

There was a sense of accomplishment when we reached the waterfall, and above all, I was thrilled to finally see the poison dart frog, so I was very satisfied. Unfortunately, we couldn't find the Jackson's chameleon, but I felt it was worth participating.

　2年前に「マノア滝ハイキングツアー」に参加してなかなか良かったので、今回は違うツアーに…と思ってこのツアーを選びました。
　熱帯雨林の自然を満喫したいというのに加えて、出来たらハワイに移入されて野生化しているマダラヤドクガエルとジャクソンカメレオンの姿を見てみたい希望もあったのです。
　日本語ガイドでないというので一抹の不安はありましたが、まあ何とかなるだろうと思って参加しました。
　僕の他にはカリフォルニアから来た母子３人組。ガイドはテリーさんと言うハワイ生まれの方でした。
　現地に着いて「マダラヤドクガエルとジャクソンカメレオンが見たい。」と言うと流石にちょっと驚いた風情でしたが、「マダラヤドクガエルは多分いると思うよ。カメレオンはいるにはいるが、動きがゆっくりしていて見つけづらいんだ。」と言ってくれました。
　目的地は実はマノア渓谷の近くで、マノア滝トレッキングとはルートも目的の滝も違うものの、よく似たコースです。今回のコースの方がちょっと狭くて勾配も強く、難易度が高いかなと思いますが、決して厳しいコースではありません。
　テリーさんは、植物の名前だけでなく、由来、更にはハワイの植生の歴史まで丁寧に説明してくれました。ただ、完全にネイティブ・イングリッシュなので、聴き取って理解するのはちょっと大変かもしれません(^_^;)
　そして、嬉しい事にマダラヤドクガエルを同行者の男の子が見つけてくれ、写真に収める事が出来たのです！
　冒頭にマニアックな発言をしたものだから、ガイドさんだけでなく、同行者も一緒になって探してくれたおかげです。
　滝に辿り着いた時の達成感もありましたし、何と言っても念願のヤドクガエルを見られたのだから、大満足です。残念ながらジャクソンカメレオンは見つけられませんでしたが、参加してよかったと思っています。

Both hikes were fantastic! My grandson enjoys hiking and loved both experiences. He especially enjoyed the Manoa Falls Trail hike. The sky was overcast and we got rained on several times, but that just added to the experience! We thoroughly enjoyed it!!

Beautiful and interesting hike through the lush rainforest but not at all physically challenging. Really enjoyed the hike but the downhill bike part was so boring! The guides pretty much wrapped us in cotton wool, they wouldn't let us go any faster than 5 miles (and it was purely downhill road, no cycling required!), and they kept stopping us for one reason or another. I'd recommend the tour though, the scenery was great and the guides knowledgeable and nice.

It rained quite a bit during our hike, but I was very satisfied to see the river swollen with water that you can only see on rainy days! My sneakers and jeans were soaked and muddy, but I really had a great time! We were in rain gear for part of the mountain biking, but after lunch, it cleared up, and it felt wonderful to ride down the mountain with the wind in my face. I’m really grateful for the kindness shown to us, even though we don’t speak English! Thank you very much!

ハイキング途中からかなりの雨でしたが、雨の日にしか見れない川の増水みれて大満足でしたっ☆
スニーカーもGパンも泥まみれの雨でぐっしょりでしたけど本当に楽しかったです！！マウンテンバイクも途中までカッパでしたがランチ以降晴れてきて風きって山を降りる感じとってもきもちよかったです
英語ができない私たちにも優しくしてくれて、とっても感謝です！ありがとうございました！！

Best tour of the trip this time . Walk to the manoa waterfalls, rainy and muddy . Full of fun! Remember to bring the insects repellent. Walking sticks from the tour company really help a lot!