Oahu
Oahu Grand Circle Island Tour
Highlights
- Full day sightseeing Oahu’s highlights with an expert local guide
- Stunning natural landscapes along eastern coast include sweeping vistas, picturesque bays, lush jagged mountains, and postcard-perfect beaches
- Visits to pineapple, coffee, and macadamia farms for tropical tastings and Hawaiian history
- This specific tour awarded the #1 Experience in the World by TripAdvisor in 2023
Overview
Explore the best of Oahu in comfort and with a local expert on this full day tour that covers the entire eastern half of the island. From natural wonders (e.g., an impressive blowhole) to postcard-perfect vistas (e.g., famous bays, beaches, and lookouts) to history and culture (e.g., temples, agricultural farms), shopping, and local tastings (e.g., pineapple, macadamia nuts, Portuguese doughnuts, coffee), this tour has it all! You haven’t really seen Oahu until you’ve experienced this well-rounded overview of the island.
Compare all 3 of our Circle Island Tours; other options include:
- A more intimate small group tour (only 4-8 people, unless private) with some different stops and pickups including the airport and cruise terminal
- A small group tour that also includes Pearl Harbor, the most popular attraction in Hawaii. Or if you can, we recommend complimenting a Circle Island Tour with a more in-depth stand-alone Pearl Harbor Tour on a separate day.
TravelShack's Choice
WHY WE RECOMMEND THIS TOUR OVER OTHERS- This specific tour (with this operator) has won the distinction as the #1 Experience in the World by TripAdvisor in 2023, based on its exceptional reviews
- Deluxe spacious coach bus with onboard restroom, reclining seats, and expansive floor-to-ceiling / wall-to-wall windows
- Stop at Halona Blowhole to see this iconic vista point where the crashing waves erupt out of a collapsed lava sea cave into a fountain of water
- Ample independent time in the charming North Shore town of Haleiwa for lunch and shopping. Choose your own highly rated lunch experience at a popular local eatery based on recommendations and a map provided by the guide. This way you can order exactly what you want, rather than settle for a mediocre included lunch at a tourist trap or a box lunch found on other tours.
Key Details
Traveler Reviews
Customer Rating:
5 out of 5 stars
Also rated on :
Guidebook Reviews
Fodor's guidebook:
Oahu 25 Ultimate Experiences that should be on every traveler's list: #1 - The North Shore, #7 - Malasadas (island doughnuts), #8 - Byodo-In Temple, #24 - Pali Lookout
Oahu's Most Incredible Natural Wonders: Halona Blowhole, Hanauma Bay, Nuuanu Pali Lookout
The Pali Lookout offers a spectacular panoramic view of Oahu
Lonely Planet guidebook:
Oahu in 1 Day: Best Driving is Circle Island Tour. The drive and scenery are mesmerizing.
There are plenty of good places to eat in Haleʻiwa; think of it as the North Shore’s dining capital. There are also plenty of food trucks around Haleʻiwa town: expect to pay $8 to $14 for a plate.
Oahu Revealed:
Byodo-In Temple is the absolute essence of serenity. It's like taking a mini-trip to Japan. Backed by the gorgeous Ko'olau mountain range and fronted by a large pond filled with koi and curious black swans, it's impossible to not feel peaceful here.
Tropical Farms has a very pretty garden area and gorgeous monkeypod trees providing shade. They are very generous with the flavored mac nut samples and coffee. The variety of locally made soaps, oils, perfumes, honeys, jams and sauces make their central shop a great place to visit.
FAQ
How much physical exertion is there?
This tour is open to everyone with any physical abilities. While there are multiple stops and ample time to walk around outside the vehicle, the amount of walking can be fairly minimal if desired.
However, due to there being many stops, wheelchairs and scooters are not permitted. Walkers, strollers, canes, etc. are fine.
Is seating assigned?
No, it is first-come, first-served. Those with earlier pickup times will get more choice in seating; if this is important to you, you can select an earlier pickup location at checkout (refer to the pickup schedule outlined above), rather than simply be assigned the one closest to your lodging. Note: when there are multiple locations near your lodging, you are otherwise automatically assigned the location with the latest pickup time.
Does the tour enter Waimea Valley?
This optimized tour does not because: 1) it requires a significant amount of time, including a 1.5 mile round-trip walk, taking time away from other key Circle Island stops, and 2) more often than not Waimea Falls is either dry or a roaring brown mess, not very scenic or safe for a dip; it also can be quite crowded.
If you're looking to visit a waterfall during your Oahu trip, consider popular Manoa Falls which is only 10-15 minutes from Waikiki. Or consider heading to Maui for our Road to Hana Tour; just a short flight from Honolulu (as low as $40 each way via Southwest or Hawaiian) and can be done in a day without spending the night.
What more can you tell me about the operator?
Although we only started offering this tour on our website in July 2023, the tour operator is one of the most established and respected on Oahu, operating tours for the past 27 years. The tour operator name and contact info will be in your detailed booking confirmation email, for your reference.
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