Hawaii is famous for its sandy beaches and vibrant sunsets. However, our tours also help you discover a quieter and more authentic Hawaii: the quiet lanes and cattle farms of the Waimea highlands; laid-back, tropical Hilo; the magical Red Road of Puna; Volcanoes National Park; and the coffee plantations of the Kona coast. There are, of course, also the classic Hawaiian beaches with palm trees and jaw-dropping sunsets. And, after all that cycling adventure, many guests choose to stay at a beach-side resort for some well-earned rest and relaxation
Recreational, Road bike
6 days
290 km / 180 mi
$ 2,960.-
Classic white-sand beaches, palm trees and vibrant sunsets
Quiet lanes and rugged cattle farms in the highlands around Waimea
Two active volcanoes in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
A breadth of climates and terrain
An option to circumnavigate the entire island
Luxuriating in a tropical paradise in between your cycling days
This tour can be customized to your wishes.
Deposit for this tour is 25%
Gallery
Details
Type
Recreational, Road bike
Duration
6 days
Level
Easy = untrained, normal physical condition Moderate = regular cyclist, good condition Challenging = experienced, well trained
Easy
Support
Guided = with cycling guide(s) - support van Self Guided = individual - directions+maps
Self-Guided
Daily distance
40-60 km / 25-37 mi
Total distance
290 km / 180 mi
Lodging
Deluxe = 4-5 star hotel or excellent B&B Basic = 1-2 star hotel/motel or B&B Camping = tent, sports hall or campus
Deluxe, room & breakfast
Luggage transport
Daily luggage transfers
Bicycle
Rental
Dates
01 Jan 2022 - 31 Dec 2023
Tour can start any date.
From leisure to epic cycling, the route can be customized to your wishes.
Start
Kailua-Kona
Finish
Kailua-Kona
Airport at start
Kona International Airport
Airport at finish
Kona International Airport
Prices *Please note the prices are subject to change depending availability*
Price per person / please note the prices are subject to change depending availability
There is a $50 surcharge per couple, per transfer for drop-offs at Kona International (KOA) Airport. Only available on the last days of the tour.
$ 50.-
Optional
Hybrid bike
Hybrid bikes are a cross between a mountain bike and a road bike. They have a relaxed riding position and are great for beginners and intermediate riders. A typical model is the Trek 7.3 FX with Shimano components and high-pressure road tires for better cycling efficiency than your typical hybrid.
$ 240.-
Optional
Road bike
Our road bikes are a racing style bike with drop handlebars. The road bikes are faster bikes than the hybrids with a less upright riding position and will be enjoyed by intermediate and experienced riders. A typical model is the Specialized Allez with aluminum frame, carbon forks, and Shimano 105 components.
$ 390.-
Optional
Hybrid E-bike
Our eBikes are designed to give you a little extra assistance when climbing hills. The ride position is very similar to our hybrids. We typically rent Giant E+ 3 GTS bikes equipped with a SyncDrive Sport motor. If one rider in a couple is stronger than the other, an eBike can be a great choice for the less- strong rider.
$ 450.-
Optional
Road E-bike
Our Road eBikes are designed to give you a little extra assistance when climbing hills. The ride position and handling is very similar to our Premium Road Bikes. We typically rent Specialized Turbo Creo SL bikes. If one rider in a couple is stronger than the other, an eBike can be a great choice for the less- strong rider.
$ 480.-
Optional
Premium road bike
Our premium road bikes are light and fast racing bikes. A typical bike in this category is the Specialized Tarmac: full carbon with Shimano Ultegra components. Experienced riders will appreciate the lightness, stiffness and mechanics of these high-end bikes.
$ 510.-
Optional
Single supplement
If you travel alone a single supplement is charged. With some group tours you can avoid a single supplement by sharing a room with another rider.
$ 1,733.-
Itinerary
Included / Not Included – lodging
Day 1: Kailua-Kona to Captain Cook
You head south today, down the Kona Coast to the world-famous Kona coffee district. Intermediate riders first head inland from Kona - climbing up to Holualoa. This small settlement sits at 1,300 feet and is surrounded by coffee plantations. From here it is an easy cruise into Captain Cook.
Leisure: 15 miles, 1,650 feet of climbing Leisure riders head south from Kona, hugging the coast and skirting around numerous bays before climbing up to the small enclave of Captain Cook.
Intermediate: 15 miles with 1,900 ft of climbing
Challenge: 25 miles with 3,000 ft of climbing Challenge riders follow the Leisure route out of Kona but add on a loop down to The Place of Refuge National Park.
Epic: 60 miles with 7,500 ft of climbing Epic riders start with a detour up Kaloko Drive. Climbing 3,000 feet in just 7 miles, this is something of a local challenge. Riders then follow the Challenge route to Captain Cook.
NOTE: These routes and distances are for guests staying at the Ka’awa Loa Plantation. Mileage and routing will be a little different for guests staying at other accommodations – see the Accommodation
Overnight town: Captain Cook
Captain Cook is a cluster of B&BS, low-key restaurants, and cafés. The town’s boundaries lie between 800- and 2,000-feet, which makes it an ideal area for growing coffee as well as having stunning ocean views.
Day 2: Captain Cook to Volcano
The jewel in today’s ride is the stunningly beautiful- and-deserted Cane Haul Road. This quiet back road takes you through woodland, sugar-cane fields, and meadows. You also get great views of cinder cones and the ocean.
Intermediate: 25 miles with 2,100 ft of climbing
Today’s Intermediate ride starts with a van transfer the Kahuku Unit – a little-known part of the Volcanoes National Park set among lush grasslands. From here you ride to the tiny village of Naalehu an unassuming town with a great Hawaiian bakery. You then ride the length of Cane Haul Road – an almost deserted road across open grasslands with stunning ocean views. The ride ends at the old sugar-town of Pahala from where you take a van transfer to the town of Volcano.
Leisure: 15 miles with 2,000 ft of climbing Leisure riders transfer to Naalehu where they join the Intermediate ride.
Challenge: 50 miles with 4,600 ft of climbing Challenge riders follow the Intermediate route but at Pahala continue on the highway all the way to the town of Volcano.
Epic: 65 miles with 6,000 ft of climbing Epic riders following the Challenge route but add on a scenic in-and-out ride down to South Point –
the most southerly point in the United States.
Overnight town: Volcano
The village of Volcano is a small cluster of houses, restaurants and stores in a rainforest just outside Volcanoes National Park. Being uphill from the calderas, however, it is unaffected by lava flows. The rain makes for very lush vegetation but the elevation (3,700 ft) means that temperatures are relatively cool.
Day 3: Volcano Loops
Today you visit Volcanoes National Park – one of the must-visit sites in Hawaii. The park encompasses two active volcanoes: Kīlauea, the world’s most active volcano, and Mauna Loa, one of the world’s largest volcanoes. The park has dramatic landscapes as well as rare flora and fauna.
Intermediate: 30 miles with 2,200 feet of climbing
The Intermediate loop does a circuit of the park that includes the Kilauea Visitor Center, steam vents, lava tubes and part of the famous Chain of Craters Road that goes from lush forest to lava desert in just a few miles.
Leisure: 15 miles with 800 feet of climbing
The Leisure ride includes most of sights of the Intermediate ride but does not go down the Chain of Craters Road.
Challenge: 50 miles with 4,500 feet of climbing Challenge riders follow the Chain of Craters Road all the way down to the ocean, where the road has been terminated by recent lava flows. The climb back up rises over 4,000 feet and has expansive views.
Epic: 70 miles with 7,400 feet of climbing Epic riders first complete the Challenge ride and then add on 10-mile climb up a small, single-track lane to the Mauna Loa Lookout.
Day 4: Volcano to Hilo
Today you ride from the rainforests of Volcano at over 3,500 feet down to steamy, laid-back Hilo on the east coast of the Island.
Intermediate: 30 miles with 400 feet of climbing
The Intermediate ride follows a direct route from Volcano to Hilo. The first few miles are on the highway but you are descending and soon complete this section of the ride. In the small hamlet of Mountain View, you leave the highway and travel on small, little-traveled roads through verdant countryside all the way to Hilo
Leisure: 15 miles with 370 feet of climbing
The Leisure ride starts with a van transfer to Mountain View where it joins the intermediate route into Hilo.
Challenge: 45 miles with 1,100 feet of climbing
The Challenge ride starts with a loop of the Volcanoes National Park before following he Intermediate route into Hilo.
Epic: 60 miles with 2,300 feet of climbing
The Epic ride starts with a deeper incursion into the Volcanoes National Park – to Hilina Pali Overlook – before following the Intermediate route into Hilo.
Overnight town: Hilo
The relaxed, lush, charming city of Hilo seems trapped in a 1950s time-warp – and therein lies its charm. Despite being ignored by most tourists, the town has good museums and vibrant markets. It is also the fourth wettest city in the USA but showers are typically short and most of the rain falls at night.
Day 5: Hilo to Waimea
Today you head north from steamy Hilo up to the cooler ranch lands around Waimea.
Intermediate: 35 miles with 3,700 feet of climbing
The Intermediate ride starts with a van transfer to Laupahoehoe. This small town has a train museum and fine views down to the Ocean. You then ride north on the highway, parallel to the Ocean, to Honoka’a. From Honoka’a, you ride west along the Old Mamalahoa Highway. This little-traveled road climbs through tropical woodland – in places the trees completely cover the road creating a verdant, magical tunnel. Soon, you emerge into open ranch- land, with fine views up to Mauna Kea. It is then an easy cruise into the cowboy town of Waimea.
Leisure: 15 miles with 2,000 feet of climbing Leisure riders start with a van transfer to Honoka’a where they join the Intermediate ride.
Challenge: 50 miles with 4,800 feet of climbing Challenge riders start out on the Intermediate route and add in an in-and-out ride from Honoka’a to the Waipio Overlook with its iconic views down to the Waipio Valley.
Epic: 80 miles with 6,700 feet of climbing Epic riders start in Hilo from where they ride along the coast to Laupahoehoe to join the Challenge route.
Overnight town: Waimea
Waimea is surrounded by the Parker Ranch – the largest privately owned cattle ranch in the US – and paniolo (cowboy) culture dominates the town. There are thriving art galleries, gourmet restaurants and homely cafes. The climate is surprisingly cool – sometimes more reminiscent of Ireland than the Aloha State.
Day 6: Waimea to Kailua-Kona
Today you leave highland Hawaii and descend to the coast and the white-sand beaches of classic Hawaii. As you ride, the high grasslands give way to lava fields down at sea level.
Intermediate: 55 miles with 1,500 feet of climbing Intermediate riders head south from town across open grassland before enjoying a 10-mile descent down to the Ocean at Waikoloa Beach. From here, you continue down the coast – across lava fields – all the way to Kailua-Kona.
Leisure: 25 miles with 500 feet of climbing Leisure riders start out on the Intermediate route but their ride ends when they reach the resorts at Waikoloa Beach.
Challenge: 75 miles with 3,600 feet of climbing Challenge riders head north from Waimea, climbing over the shoulder of Kohala Mountain to the small artists community of Hawi. On the descent into Hawi, you can see the island of Maui in the distance. From Hawi, you parallel the coast down to Waikoloa Beach where you join the Intermediate route for the ride into Kona. Hawi to Kona is also the return leg of the Ironman Triathlon. Whichever route you choose, your guide will meet you, at the end of your ride for your end-of-tour transfer.
Overnight town: None
As this is the last day of your tour, there is no overnight accommodation unless explicitly requested on booking
* This is a general itinerary. Tour itineraries are subject to change based on the group, available accommodations and other unforeseen circumstances such as the weather, local conditions, government intervention, that may affect the quality of the trip and/or safety of the participants. Please view this itinerary as an outline as to what to expect on this tour.
For lodging, Tips and notes, Weather, and Optional extras see PDF file below
Included
Private transfer from/to downtown Kailua-Kona hotel.
Bike set up and detailed map briefing at the start of your tour. GPS units, cycling maps, and a custom guidebook; one set per couple.
Guide available by phone from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM.
On-call roadside assistance available from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM for mechanical issues.
Luggage transported between lodgings.
Transfers along all or part of the route to coincide with luggage moves – to be arranged at least 24 hours in advance.
Snacks and ride food.
Advice and personalized suggestions for restaurants and activities.
Accommodation for each night of your tour with breakfast the following morning (unless breakfast is explicitly excluded in the accommodation description earlier).
Prices quoted are per person but assume there are two people sharing a room. We book standard rooms with one bed unless an upgrade is requested and then extra charges may apply. Accommodation is subject to availability at the time of booking.
Not included
Flights to and from the tour.
Lunches and dinners though we are pleased to make reservations for you.
Night before and after the tour.
An on-bike guide.
Transfers to sites to which it is not practical to ride.
Activities such as snorkeling, kayaking tours, helicopter flights and spa treatments (our guides would be pleased to make suggestions)
Travel Safely
Our health-screened guides are available throughout your tour and will wear masks and take distancing precautions.
Overnight accommodations have been screened to help ensure they follow distancing protocols and sanitize rooms between guests.
Our equipment, from bikes to vans, are sanitized before and after serving guests.
With this form you can ask us for more information about this tour. We will respond as soon as possible. Please also check your spam or junk box.
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