Tours & experiences

Day Trip from Oahu to Hilo: Active Volcanoes & Helicopter Tour

About this experience

Escape to another Hawaiian island for a day on this all-inclusive island-hopping tour. Indulge on your vacation and leave the planning to us! Interisland roundtrip airfare from Oahu to Hilo, roundtrip transportation from the Hilo Airport (ITO), a sightseeing land tour with lunch and adventurous 45 minute helicopter tour with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters are all included.

This once-in-a-lifetime, comprehensive Volcano Adventure transports you to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to experience the world famous, recently erupted, active volcanoes - Mauna Loa and Kilauea. Your expert driver-guide will share the legends and cultural significance of famous sites and point out scenic wonders along the way. The afternoon helicopter tour follows the sightseeing experience, offering a birds-eye view of recent volcanic activity (weather permitting), cascading waterfalls and towering mountains and deep, verdant valleys.

At a glance

  • Duration: 12 hr

Choose your tour option

Select a date and travellers to compare current prices and departure times.

Tour w/ Lunch & Helicopter
Sightseeing Tour
Lunch
45 Minute Helicopter Tour

Plan your experience

Time on the tour12 hr
Guide languagesEnglish (live guide)

Set aside 12 hr for the experience itself, with additional time to reach your meeting or pickup point.

Before you go

  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Weight Restrictions: Due to FAA regulations, all passengers and bags must be weighed at check-in for the helicopter tour. Each passenger weighing over 240 pounds will be contacted and assessed a 'comfort seat' charge for an additional seat, payable directly to the tour operator. This is for the safety and comfort of all passengers. It is important to provide accurate body weight at checkout.
  • IMPORTANT: The name you enter at the time of booking must exactly match what appears on your valid government-issued I.D. photo I.D. that you will use during travel. This is a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and FAA requirement and there is no flexibility with this policy. A valid government-issued ID (passport for non-US citizens) is required on the day of travel. If a passenger is denied boarding, there will be no refund.

Local guides to help you plan

What is included

  • Interisland R/T airfare (overage charges may apply)
  • Tour narration by a professional driver/guide
  • Lunch
  • Air-conditioned vehicle
  • 45 minute helicopter tour (Blue Hawaiian Helicopters)

Not included

  • Gratuities
  • Helicopter comfort seat surcharge (for those over 240 lbs.)
  • Airline flight overage charges

Itinerary and highlights

Mandatory 45 minute safety briefing. Kilauea fly-over is not guaranteed; dependent on existing weather conditions.

Home to Hawaii's active volcanoes, Kilauea and Mauna Loa. Kilauea's latest eruption in June 2023 spewed fountains of lava up to 50 feet high.

Chain of Craters Road is a 19-mile (31 km) long winding paved road through the East Rift and coastal area of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the island of Hawaii. Some areas are inaccessible.

Active shield volcano housed in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Last erupted in June 2023 when vents spewed lava from within Halema'uma'u, a pit crater in the volcano's summit caldera.

See and feel the power of the volcano through the steam vents, where ground water seeps into volcanic rock.

Tropical forest area featuring a long, subterranean cave formed by ancient flowing lava.

Beautiful waterfall, easily viewable from a lookout point and surrounded by a verdant jungle.

Drive through quaint Hilo Town along magnificent Banyan tree-lined streets along Hilo's coastline known as the "Hilo Walk of Fame".

Meeting and pickup information

  • Upon arrival at Hilo International Airport (ITO), our driver will pick you up between 8:30-8:45 AM at the BUS GROUP/TAXI Area at the end of the baggage claim building. (Located near the restrooms on the West End).
  • Please meet at the airport at 5:00 AM for your interisland flight on Hawaiian Airlines and promptly check at the Hawaiian Airlines Ticket Counter or Self-Service Kiosk. Make sure to check in for all flights (round trip) and then proceed to the designated gate for departure.

Languages and tickets

  • English — Guide
  • Mobile Only

Tour operator

  • Polynesian Adventure Tours

Meeting points and locations

Accessibility and practical details

  • Wheelchair accessible
  • Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Passengers must provide full name as shown on ID, date of birth, and gender at the time of booking per TSA requirements
  • Once reservation is made, tour is non-refundable and non-changeable
  • Interisland flight times and routes are subject to change
  • Special needs requests must be called in to the local supplier at least 1 week prior to tour date
  • Weight Restrictions: Due to FAA regulations, all passengers and bags must be weighed at check-in for the helicopter tour. Each passenger weighing over 240 pounds will be contacted and assessed a 'comfort seat' charge for an additional seat, payable directly to the tour operator. This is for the safety and comfort of all passengers. It is important to provide accurate body weight at checkout.
  • The interisland airfare may fluctuate based on flight availability. Additional fees may be required to be paid by the customer in these cases.
  • Passengers with asthma and other respiratory problems should please consider other tour offerings to avoid potential health problems resulting from exposure to fumes
  • Lava sightings not guaranteed
  • IMPORTANT: The name you enter at the time of booking must exactly match what appears on your valid government-issued I.D. photo I.D. that you will use during travel. This is a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and FAA requirement and there is no flexibility with this policy. A valid government-issued ID (passport for non-US citizens) is required on the day of travel. If a passenger is denied boarding, there will be no refund.
  • If the helicopter tour is cancelled by the provider, you'll receive a refund for the helicopter portion (at a rate determined by the tour provider) and be welcomed on an extended sightseeing tour. If you choose to abort the sightseeing portion of the tour and would like to return to Honolulu earlier than your return flight is scheduled, you will be responsible for all flight change fees with the airlines. A refund for the sightseeing portion of the tour is not guaranteed. Before aborting the tour, you are required to contact the tour provider.

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Questions about this experience

How long is this experience?
The supplier lists a duration of 12 hr.
Which guide languages are listed?
English (live guide).
What ticket format is listed?
Mobile ticket.
What ticket age bands are listed?
Child tickets: age 2–11; Adult tickets: age 12+. Check the practical details for participation requirements.
What accessibility information is provided?
Wheelchair accessible
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
What is the cancellation policy?
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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