Looking for the best Oahu volcano tours? Well, you’ve come to the right place!
In Oahu, the two major mouths Waianae and Koolau started spilling fire somewhere around two million years ago. Sadly, these two are not active anymore.
But hey! We’ll send you to the nearby top-visited active volcanoes with a short ride from major airports and villages in Oahu.
From hiking through lush rainforests to flying over active volcanoes, these tours offer a range of experiences that are sure to leave you in awe.
So, grab your hiking boots, your sense of adventure, and let’s dive right in!
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1. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Experience Departing from Oahu
Experience the raw power of nature on the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Experience tour. Departing from Oahu, this tour takes you on an unforgettable journey that lasts for 12 hours, where lava flows into the ocean to create a dynamic landscape that’s constantly changing.
That being said, the tour starts early so you’d better get ready before 8 am when the guide meets you at one of the five meeting points, including Chalet Kilauea, Hilo Airport, Kona Airport, and Volcano Village.
Within the 12 hours on the ride, you’ll spend eight hours beating the streets chasing wildlife to some of the most visited volcanic landscapes on the Big Island.
From the Mars-like Kilauea Iki Overlook to the world-famous Black Sand Beach, you name it.
2. Day Trip from Oahu to Hilo: Active Volcanoes
How early can you wake up for a full-day tour? Well, if 5 am doesn’t sound like a big deal, then sign up for one of the slots with this Day Trip from Oahu to Hilo: Active Volcanoes to tick off one of the greatest days out you’ve ever had in Oahu!
With nine jaw-dropping visits from dusk till dawn, the tour sets out at either Daniel K. Inouye or Hilo Airport, heading straight to the Big Island in no time.
From there, go into the Volcano House Restaurant for a healthy breakfast to recharge before the big day starts at Hawaii Volcano National Park.
Here, you have two hours to chase steam vents and dig into the exceptional geology of Mauna Loa and Kilauea before heading out to the Chain of Craters Road by the coastline.
By the end of the day, kick back by a scenic viewpoint perched above the thriving tropical jungle of Akaka Falls State Park where at least four waterfalls are hidden behind the shady plants.
3. Oahu to Big Island: Big Island Volcano Helicopter Tour & Hilo 1-Day Tour
For a truly unforgettable experience, sign up for one of the limited seats on the helicopter of the Big Island Volcano Helicopter Tour & Hilo 1-Day Tour to soar above the misty sky over the Kilauea Volcano.
The entire journey needs just over five hours to complete, with 6 am as the starting time when you meet the guide at Daniel K. Inouye Airport.
Though priced at the higher end of the price spectrum as the entire tour takes place on a helicopter, the duration is cut down as much as possible so you don’t have to spend 12 hours driving back and forth.
Wondering what else you can see?
Well, get your camera ready to snag away some of the coolest shots out of King Kamehameha Statue and the never-ending Rainbow Falls. When the sun is crisp, the rainbow will cast its radiant color over the top tier of the cascades, leaving you with an otherworldly scene to capture.
The helicopter tour to the Big Island Volcano is capped off with a 20-minute stop at Richardson Beach Park and Liliuokalani, the biggest Japanese-styled garden outside of Tokyo.
4. Shaxi Diamond Head Hiking and Waikiki Tour
The Koolau volcano stopped spilling lava but it doesn’t mean it’s not worth a visit. Well, with the Shaxi Diamond Head Hiking and Waikiki Tour, you have a chance to actually sit on the heart of the volcanic crater itself without fear of an eruption.
Today, the Diamond Head has become a beautiful volcanic tuff cone that was once used as an ancient ceremonial structure by the ancient Hawaiian for ceremonies and sacrifices.
Within five and a half hours, you’ll take on a lush and scenic hike uphill to the summit of Diamond Head, where you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and Honolulu.
Right here, the marvelous Diamond Head Beach looms out from afar, offering a heart-warming vista before hiking down to the nearby Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort for some photo-ops.
After the hike, hop on the Shaxi for a tour around Waikiki. Come up close to the Statue of Duke Kahanamoku, one of the most photographed statues in all of Hawaii paying tribute to the Father of the International Surfing Craze.
The entire journey passes more than 20 destinations. Tick them off yourself!
5. Oahu Volcanic Rainforest Hiking Adventure
Volcanoes are great, but chasing lava and spotting magma is not the only thing a volcano tour can offer – especially when it comes to Oahu.
If you’re a nature lover and enjoy hiking, the Oahu Volcanic Rainforest Hiking Adventure is the perfect tour for you. This tour takes you on a journey through Oahu’s lush rainforests, where you’ll get to see some of the island’s most beautiful natural sights.
The tour includes a hike through a volcanic rainforest, where you’ll get to see native plants and wildlife.
The two recorded volcanoes in Oahu, Waianae on the west and Koolau on the east, are ‘dead’ by now. Today, the ancient volcanic floors in Oahu are blanketed with thick rainforests, where juicy tropical fruits such as guavas, kiwis, strawberries, and avocados are ready to be harvested right off the trees.
That is when you know you’re standing tall at the top of Mt. Tantalus, soaking in the awe-inspiring views of Oahu’s two parallel mountain ranges at a distance while trying to spot ancient taro fields and waterfalls from afar.
And there you have it, the top volcano tours in Oahu! Each of these tours offers a unique way to experience the island’s volcanic landscapes, whether it’s hiking through lush rainforests, flying over an active volcano, or exploring the charming town of Hilo.
Speaking of Oahu, nothing sounds more tempting than a great hike. And yes we do know the best waterfall hikes in Oahu to round up your bucket list! Vacay made easy!