The 15 Best Big Island Tours & Volcano Trips

Big Island in a Day: Volcanoes Waterfalls Sightseeing and History - Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in a compact visit

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6,569 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $264Our pick

Review of Wasabi Tours’ 11-hour Big Island loop, with volcanoes, waterfalls, black-sand beaches, coffee, history, lunch, and practical tips.

“It is a FULL day! It is absolutely THE way to see everything amazing on Hawai’i in one shot. Everything we wanted to see was on this tour! Kona Chris was amazing! A font of knowledge about the whole island and answered every question we threw at him! I am leaving the island actually knowing what this beautiful place is about. Do it! You won’t be disappointed.”

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Big Island of Hawaii Tours, Evening Experiences, Snorkeling, Snorkeling in Big Island of Hawaii, Tour Reviews

Big Island Manta Ray Night Snorkel

2.Big Island Manta Ray Night Snorkel

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5,656 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $84

Snorkel with manta rays after sunset off Kona, with gear, snacks, expert crew, and a free return trip if no rays appear.

“It was amazing trip for me, wife and my dad. We love the young group managing the boat and they were explaining very well through out the ride. Especially the uber service from water to boat was amazing at the end”

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Big Island of Hawaii Tours, Snorkeling, Snorkeling in Big Island of Hawaii, Tour Reviews, Tours

Big Island: Kona Manta Ray Snorkel Tour in Keauhou Harbor

3.Kona Manta Ray Snorkel Tour in Keauhou Harbor

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,465 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $25Best value

Watch wild manta rays feed after dark on a small-boat Kona snorkel tour with short boat time, in-water guides, and a ray guarantee.

“What a great way to spend New Year's Eve with my boys. It was a great experience and I would for sure do it again. We saw 3 rays up close. Crew did a great job at making us feel comfortable. You cannot bring anything on the boat, but can bring a towel and small bag to leave at van. Highly recommend.”

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Big Island of Hawaii Tours, National Parks, Shore Excursions, Tour Reviews, Tours

Hilo Shore Excursion: Volcanoes National Park & Black Sand Beach

4.Hilo Shore Excursion: Volcanoes National Park & Black Sand Beach

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 2,338 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $159

Review of Hilo’s six-hour Volcanoes National Park tour, with steam vents, lava tubes, black sand beach, turtles, and macadamia treats.

“This was a good tour. Boarding for the tour was unorganized and resulted in delays in beginning the tour.”

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Big Island of Hawaii Tours, Boat Tours in Big Island of Hawaii, Cruises & Boat Tours, Lunch Experiences, Sailing, Snorkeling, Snorkeling in Big Island of Hawaii, Tour Reviews

Big Island: Captain Cook Snorkel On A Power Catamaran With Lunch

5.Captain Cook Snorkel On A Power Catamaran With Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,232 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $85

Snorkel Kealakekua Bay from Kona on a power catamaran with dolphins, reef fish, lunch, volcanic coast views, and a friendly crew.

“this was a great trip! it was our second time on this trip and it was just as good as the first! Aiden is awesome and the whole team ensured your safety and comfort. highly recommend!!”

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Big Island of Hawaii Tours, Evening Experiences, Snorkeling, Snorkeling in Big Island of Hawaii, Tour Reviews

KONA Manta Ray Night Snorkel – FREE re-ride if no Sightings

6.KONA Manta Ray Night Snorkel – FREE re-ride if no Sightings

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,212 reviews · 1 hour 20 minutes (approx.) · from $49

Kona’s compact night snorkel puts you near wild manta rays for 25 to 30 minutes, with gear included and a free re-ride if none appear.

“Great crew, beautiful experience. Those prone to motion sickness or cold will appreciate that this is a very very short ride to the viewing area, unlike the ones that leave from father out”

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Big Island of Hawaii Tours, Evening Experiences, Snorkeling, Snorkeling in Big Island of Hawaii, Tour Reviews

Manta Ray Night Snorkel at Kona, Big Island

7.Manta Ray Night Snorkel at Kona, Big Island

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,758 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $44

Swim beneath Kona’s lights as wild manta rays feed inches away. This practical review covers timing, safety, gear, value, and what to expect.

“I had manta rays millimeters from me! Totally safe for all ages and does not require much muscle. Guides are very communicative. One of my favorite memories from big island is this manta snorkel trip”

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Big Island of Hawaii Tours, Evening Experiences, Tour Reviews

Big Island GOAT Experience: Mauna Kea Summit, Sunset & Stars

8.Big Island GOAT Experience: Mauna Kea Summit, Sunset & Stars

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,706 reviews · 7 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $289

Ride to Mauna Kea’s 13,796-foot summit for sunset, Hawaiian stories, telescope stargazing, warm gear, snacks, and a professional night photo.

“Tay was a great guide and was very optimistic that we would see the stars, even though it was a very cloudy night and with some patients, the clouds broke for a short time, and we had an amazing view of the stars. The guide had a snack bag for everyone, along with a cozy parka to keep us warm as it was very cold at higher altitudes. My tips, if you’re booking this prior to arrival, is to pack a lightweight pair of gloves and/or air activated hand/toe warmers. Some emergency toilet paper might be helpful since the bathrooms will likely be out. (The guides might have some too).…”

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Small Group Big Island Twilight Volcano and Stargazing Tour

9.Small Group Big Island Twilight Volcano and Stargazing Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,619 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $297

Review of the 12-hour Big Island volcano and stargazing tour, with Kona coffee, black sand beach, lava tubes, meals, and practical booking advice.

“Long day but worth it. Enjoy a little bit of a lot of experiences but the volcano at night is outstanding.”

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Big Island of Hawaii Tours, Tour Reviews, Tours

Big Island: Mauna Kea Summit and Stars Small-Group Adventure Tour

10.Mauna Kea Summit and Stars Small-Group Adventure Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,545 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $329

Review of Mauna Kea’s summit sunset and stargazing tour, with telescope viewing, dinner, safety advice, cold-weather tips, and value guidance.

“It was cold, misty rain and lots of fog and cloud cover. You can’t control the weather but what we saw was magical. Our driver was awesome explaining history and related facts while taking care of our needs. He pointed out star constellations each time the clouds lifted.”

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Big Island of Hawaii Tours, Evening Experiences, Tour Reviews, Tours

Big Island: Mauna Kea Summit Tour with Free Night Star Photo

11.Mauna Kea Summit Tour with Free Night Star Photo

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,449 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $280

Review of Hawaiian Eyes’ Mauna Kea sunset and stargazing tour, with warm gear, dinner, telescope viewing, transport, and free photos.

“We had an excellent experience on the Mauna Kea Summit tour! Wes was an awesome guide — prompt at pickup, super informative on the drive up, and kept us updated the whole time when the rangers closed the road. On a clearer night, the experience was amazing. They provided warm jackets and pants, plus a sandwich, so everything was easy and comfortable. Wes took great sunset and stargazing photos for us, which was a nice bonus.”

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Big Island of Hawaii Tours, Dolphin Watching, Snorkeling, Snorkeling in Big Island of Hawaii, Tour Reviews, Tours

Kona Snorkel Tour: Captain Cook Reef Snorkel, Dolphin & Sea Caves

12.Kona Snorkel Tour: Captain Cook Reef Snorkel, Dolphin & Sea Caves

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,411 reviews · 2 hours 45 minutes (approx.) · from $71

Review of Kona’s small-group Zodiac snorkel tour to Captain Cook Reef, with sea caves, coral, snacks, wildlife tips, and practical advice.

“It was fantastic! Never snorkeling before, so it was an experience that I won’t forget, especially for my honeymoon. Sage and Chip were great tour guides and knowledgeable about the island, and give a lot of fun to the ride. Excellent experience and totally would recommend it!”

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Big Island of Hawaii Tours, Boat Tours in Big Island of Hawaii, Cruises & Boat Tours, Dining Experiences, Dinner Cruises, Dinner Experiences, Historical Tours, Tour Reviews

Big Island Historical Dinner Cruise to Kealakekua Bay

13.Big Island Historical Dinner Cruise to Kealakekua Bay

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,279 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $189

Sail Kona’s coast to Kealakekua Bay for Hawaiian history, sunset views, live music, a catered dinner, and one complimentary cocktail.

“Beautiful view, excellent narrated history of the island, great music andfood. Very polite and responsive crew! We saw whales and dolphins and a beautiful sunset.”

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Big Island of Hawaii Tours, Evening Experiences, Snorkeling, Snorkeling in Big Island of Hawaii, Tour Reviews

Glow of the Deep: Night Snorkeling with Manta Rays

14.Glow of the Deep: Night Snorkeling with Manta Rays

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,254 reviews · 2 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $80

Swim beside giant manta rays off Kona, watch the sunset, and enjoy a guided night snorkel with gear, wetsuits, and a sighting guarantee.

“They clearly prioritize volume and profit over the experience. We were packed in like sardines and rushed through everything. Once we got to the water, it felt like pure chaos — basically “get in and figure it out.” The setup didn’t feel professional. The “light rig” was essentially surfboards tied together with what looked like a car battery powering a bright light. You’re expected to hang on and balance with a pool noodle between your legs, but instructions were minimal and unclear. With so many people crammed in close, it felt unsafe and stressful instead of calm and enjoyable. The captain was unprofessional, and the crew showed up late —…”

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