EXPLORE THE SPECTACULAR WONDERS OF HAWAII’S BIG ISLAND
Experience the majestic beauty of Hawaii's Big Island on an incredible Twilight Volcano and Stargazing Tour. Discover some of the most spectacular natural wonders of Kona, including a wonderful farm, Volcanoes National Park, and a rare black sand beach.
Along with your professional local guide, explore these stunning attractions while learning about the history and cultures of this beautiful island. At nightfall, marvel at the star-filled sky as you stargaze near Mauna Kea for an unforgettable experience!
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All Ages
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10-hour
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Kailua-Kona & Waikoloa Resorts
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5 yrs+
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10-hour
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Kailua-Kona, Big Island, Hawaii
Twilight Volcano & Stargazing Tour Features
Stargazing At The Base Of The Volcano
One of the main features of the Twilight Volcano and Stargazing Tour is the opportunity to stargaze at the base of the volcano. The tour takes you high above Hilo, away from the clouds after sunset, when the sky is dark and clear, with knowledgeable guides to help you spot and identify different constellations and celestial bodies. This is a unique and unforgettable experience, as you’ll be able to see stars and planets that are not visible in the city.
Seeing The Volcano’s Lava Glow
Another feature of the tour is the chance to see the volcano’s lava glow as it becomes dark. The tour will take you to a safe viewing area where you can witness the incredible sight of the lava flowing and the volcano’s crater glowing in the dark. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and one of the most spectacular natural phenomena you’ll ever witness. Seeing the lava glow is not guaranteed.
Visit Big Island's Top Sites
The tour is also an educational and informative experience. The tour guide is a knowledgeable and experienced guide who will provide you with information about the volcano’s geology, history, and ecology during the tour. You’ll learn about the formation of the volcano, its eruption history, and the unique ecosystem that exists around it. This will help you to better understand and appreciate the natural wonder you’re witnessing.
Twilight Volcano & Stargazing Tour Details
- Highlights
- Description
- Food & Drink
- Sample Itinerary
- Price & Availability
- What's Included
- Cancellation Policy
Highlights
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Visit A Kona Farm and sample Kona Coffee
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Explore Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
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Observe Stars And Planets In The Night Sky Near Mauna Kea
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Dip Your Toes In To The Water At Punalu’u Black Sand Beach
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View The Glowing Lava At The Crater When Available
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Learn About The Culture, History & Legends Of The Areas With A Local Expert Guide
Description
This is one of our most popular tours because guests get two things they love, the volcano experience and stargazing. All in one tour.
We begin our day with a late morning pickup at your Kona accommodation or nearby location. Our tour takes us south, through Kona coffee country and historic Kailua-Kona town. A beautiful stop for any of our Waikoloa guests to explore briefly as we pick up our local guests and continue heading south. We will stop throughout the day at various overlooks but some of the best views are right from your seat in our comfortable Mercedes Sprinters.
The tour continues with stops at a bee and honey farm, coffee samplings, a bakery, and a black sand beach, all before reaching the entrance of Volcanoes National Park. We will stop for lunch with options and varieties for everyone. The sweetbread is particularly good.
Once in the national park, we will explore caves, various overlooks, the visitor center, and the Volcano House too. Your guide depending on the lava flow (or if there is any at the time), will adjust the tour so you can get the closest best view possible. In some cases, that may require a mile hike on a flat surface to the viewing area. You will be notified ahead of time.
Back in your comfortable seat, your guide will take you out of the park and off to Hilo for a short tour of the town before stopping for dinner (on your own). Depending on the lava flow and time of the year, it may be bright enough to see more sites before heading up to our stargazing location.
Stargazing can occur at various locations around the base of Mauna Kea. We look for quiet, dark areas so you can get a good view once your eyes adjust. You can even get instructions about using your camera or phone to get amazing night photos. Your guide will take pictures so you can see more than you would ever thought was out there. After a brief time out in the cold, you will be ready to head back down the mountain to warmer weather.
We will continue heading back towards Waikoloa and then onto Kailua-Kona areas after we have enjoyed our time watching the sky. Your guide will adjust the timing and locations stopped on the tour so you can maximize your sightseeing pleasure.
Food & Drink
To help our communities with tourism, we encourage our guests to purchase food, drinks, and other items directly from the local family farms, bakeries, and restaurants we visit. They are places you would want to come back and visit again on your own!
Our vehicles contain coolers with cold canned, non-alcoholic drinks for our guests. We don't provide plastic water bottles but we do have clean, great-tasting water for refilling your own water bottle.
For our guests, during stargazing, we have hot water to make some tea, instant coffee, or hot chocolate to help keep you warm.
Depending on the group, we may make stops at Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Plantation, a honey farm, Hilo's Farmer's Market, food truck lots, or other locations. Your guide will choose the best spots for that day.
Punalu'u Bake Shop - $5-15 / per person
Located in the southernmost town, is a bakery that makes Hawaiian sweet bread from a traditional family recipe. All sweetbreads are made without preservatives and wrapped in bright, tapa-print packaging. Try at least a sample and you will be hooked. The settings and outdoor cafe make for a wonderful stopping point to enjoy a lunch meal.
- Deli & Hot Sandwiches On Sweet Bread
- Soups & Salads
- Plate Lunches With Rice & Mac Salad
- Baked Goods
- Teas
- Espresso Bar
- Ice Cream
- Pies & Cakes
- Fruit Smoothies
Kuhio Grille - $10 - $30 / per person
The family history starts in the 1900s when Japanese immigrants moved to Hawaii to work in the sugar plantations. They soon began farming and selling taro as well as the leaves. Grandma would make laulau to feed the family and friends, fresh meat wrapped and cooked in taro leaves. It became so popular they opened a restaurant to feed everyone, that was over 25 years ago.
- Laulau & Combo Plates
- Fried Rice, Saimin & Locos
- Seafood & Steak Entrees
- Tempura, Udon, & Katsu
- Burgers & More
- All-Day Breakfast
Deluxe Tour Option
- Our upgraded deluxe tour option includes all meals and non-alcoholic drinks
Lunch:
- Deli-Style Picnic Lunch
- Seasonal selections may vary.
Dinner:
- Three Course Dinner at Historic Kilauea Lodge
- Seasonal selections may vary.
Sample Itinerary
- 10:30 AM - Pickup In Kohala & Waikoloa Resort Area
- 11:30 AM - Alii Drive - Kailua-Kona Pickups
- 1:00 PM - Overlooks Of Southern Lava Fields
- 1:30 PM - Kona Country Farm
- 2:00 PM - Bakery For Lunch (on your own)
- 3:30 PM - Punuluu Black Sand Beach
- 3:30 PM - Volcanoes National Park
- Visitor Center
- Jagger Museum Overlook
- Steam Vents
- Kilauea Iki Overlook
- Thurston Lava Tube
- Volcano House Gift Shop
- 5:30 PM - Hilo Town / Rainbow Falls
- 6:00 PM - Stop For Dinner (on your own)
- 6:50 PM - Leave Hilo Area
- 7:40 PM - Stargazing & Astrophotography
- 8:00 PM - Return To Kona
- 8:30 PM - Arrive At Waikoloa Resorts
- 9:30 PM - Arrive In Kailua-Kona
* The guide may alter and change the itinerary route based on the group's desires, timing, road construction, or weather conditions. We will alter this tour as well when major lava flows occur.
Price & Availability
10-Hour Circle Island Stargazing Tour From Kona Resorts
AdultsAges 13 yrs+ | $249.00 |
ChildrenAges 0-12 yrs | $239.00 |
10-Hour Deluxe Circle Island Stargazing Tour From Kona Resorts
AdultsAges 12 yrs+ | $309.00 |
ChildrenAges 5-11 yrs | $299.00 |
- Deluxe Version Includes Lunch & Dinner Meals
- In-Depth Exploration of Volcanoes National Park
- Duration: 10 Hours
What's Included
- Kona & Waikoloa resort area pickup
- Stops for lunch & dinner (purchased on your own - deluxe version includes meals)
- Entrance to Volcanoes National Park
- Short, guided hikes with knowledgeable guide
- Binoculars, towels & umbrellas for your use
- Cooler with non-alcoholic canned drinks & cold water refills (Please bring your refillable bottles as we do not provide water in plastic bottles.)
- Numerous stops at points of interest
- Local expert guide providing a narrated tour
- Sanitary, motion, and first-aid supplies for your safety
- Comfortable seat in a small group tour vehicle
Cancellation Policy
We do not refund tour prices due to weather-related reasons. We will promise an incredible volcano or stargazing experience but unfortunately cannot control the weather. Guests will be charged 100% of the tour price for cancellations made within 72 hours of the scheduled tour.
A combined minimum of 4 guests is required for a tour to operate. Should a tour not meet the tour minimum, customers will have the option to reschedule or receive a full refund. Advance notice will be provided at least 12 hours before the start time.