Hawaii Volcanoes National Park tour: Private van, 10 max

Walk inside a 500-year-old lava tube while your private van waits outside

A private six-hour tour of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park departing from Hilo, with your group of up to ten traveling alone in a Mercedes Sprinter van. The itinerary covers the Thurston Lava Tube, Chain of Craters Road, steam vents, and Liliʻuokalani Gardens. Park entry, transportation, water, snacks and umbrellas are included, and the guide photographs your group throughout the day at no extra cost. The tour is timed to return you to the ship on schedule.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park3h · entry included
2. Thurston Lava Tube30m
3. Chain of Craters Road45m · entry included
4. Liliʻuokalani Gardenspassing by

Explore Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

• Visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
• Walk through Thurston Lava Tube
• Drive along Chain of Craters Road
• Experience rainwater steam blast
• Stop at Liliʻuokalani Gardens
• Optional coffee and samples stop

The experience

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park sits as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the Big Island, and this tour moves through it in a van that holds only your party. You see the crater, walk the rainforest path into the Thurston Lava Tube (a tunnel carved by an eruption five centuries ago), and drive Chain of Craters Road to view past eruption sites, lava formations, and pit craters. The van carries up to ten people, so families and groups stay together without sharing the vehicle with strangers.

The guide stops at steam vents where rainwater hits hot volcanic rock, then heads to Liliʻuokalani Gardens on Hilo Bay, a Japanese-themed garden named after Hawaii's last queen. An optional coffee stop on the return offers free samples. Throughout the day you get water, snacks, and umbrellas. The guide photographs you at no charge and hands over the images. The tour runs six hours total and is built to have you back at the ship when it departs.

Children under eight must travel in a proper car seat by state law. The company provides booster seats for children five and older with 24 hours' notice. The itinerary is customizable (you can request different lunch options and choose which sites matter most to your group), so the day shapes itself around what you want to see.

What’s included

• Private transportation in a Mercedes Sprinter van for your group.
• park entry and entrance fees.
• water and snacks throughout the day.
• umbrellas.
• free photographs taken by the guide all day.
• pickup included.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 07:00, 08:00 and 09:00

Book up to1d before

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 5 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by Big Island VIP

Is this one for you?A private van means your family or group stays together without sharing space with strangers, which matters most if you have young children, want to set your own pace at each stop, or prefer to travel as a closed party. The six-hour timeframe and guaranteed return to the ship suit cruise passengers with a fixed departure window.

Traveler reviews

4.95★★★★★★★★★★

39 verified traveler reviews

5 ★38

4 ★0

3 ★1

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the Thurston Lava Tube like to walk through?

The Thurston Lava Tube is a 500-year-old tunnel carved by lava flow, accessed by a short walk through rainforest. You step inside the eruption itself, surrounded by native ferns and the tunnel walls.

How much time do we spend at each stop?

The itinerary is customizable to your group, so the guide adjusts the time at each site based on what interests you most. The full tour runs six hours from start to finish.

Are meals included in the tour price?

Water and snacks are provided throughout the day. Lunch is not included, but you can request different lunch options when you book, and the guide can stop at a location of your choice.

Will our group share the van with other tourists?

No. This is a private tour, so your group of up to ten people travels alone in the Mercedes Sprinter van. You don't ride with anyone outside your party.

What happens if our ship needs to leave early?

The tour is timed to return you to the ship on schedule. Let the company know your ship's departure time when you book, and the guide plans the route to get you back in time.

Do we need to bring anything, or is gear provided?

Umbrellas are provided. Wear comfortable walking shoes for the lava tube and the gardens. Water and snacks come with the tour. Bring sunscreen and a hat for the exposed volcanic landscape.