Oahu Circle Island Tour: 30 Spots, North Shore & Dole Plantation

Stop at 30 spots around Oahu and actually see the ones that matter

A full-circle Oahu tour visiting over 10 scenic stops (Hanauma Bay, Diamond Head, Dole Plantation, North Shore beaches, Halona Blowhole and more) in a small group van with a professional guide, hotel pickup from Waikiki, and a complimentary macadamia nut and coffee tasting before lunch. The tour runs 6 to 7 hours and operates in all weather. Tours run in English or German. Ask about French and Spanish options when booking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each17 stops

1. Hanauma Baypassing by
2. Diamond Head15m
3. Dole Plantation25m
4. Tropical Farms Macadamia Nut Farm20m
5. Halona Blowhole7m
6. Sunset Beachpassing by
7. Banzai Pipelinepassing by
8. North Shore15m
9. Makapuu Lighthouse15m
10. Eternity Beach7m
11. Mokolii Islandpassing by
12. Sandy Beach Parkpassing by
13. Duke Kahanamoku Statuepassing by
14. Haleiwapassing by
15. Polynesian Cultural Centerpassing by
16. Aloha Tower Marketplacepassing by
17. Ala Moana Centerpassing by

Explore Oahu's top sights and stops

• Pickup from Waikiki Hotel
• Pass by Hanauma Bay
• Stop at Diamond Head Beach Lookout
• Visit Dole Plantation for pineapple ice cream
• Free tasting at Macadamia Nut Farm
• See Halona Blowhole water spout
• Pass by Sunset Beach and Banzai Pipeline
• Stop at North Shore Turtle Beach
• View Hawaii Kai and Koko Head Crater
• Visit Makapuu Lighthouse and WWII Bunkers
• Stop at Eternity Beach
• Pass by Mokolii Island
• Pass by famous movie filming locations
• Pass by Sandy Beach Park
• Lunch at North Shore Food Trucks
• Pass by Waikiki Beach and Duke Kahanamoku Statue
• Pass by Haleiwa surf town
• Pass by Polynesian Cultural Center
• Pass by military sites and Honolulu Airport
• Pass by Aloha Tower Marketplace and Ala Moana Center
• Drop off at Waikiki Hotel

The experience

The van picks you up at your Waikiki hotel and heads straight into the loop. You'll pass Ala Moana Center and the Aloha Tower before the route swings east toward Hanauma Bay, one of Oahu's best snorkeling spots, then climbs to the Diamond Head lookout where you can watch surfers and whales in season. The drive continues around the windward side, stopping at the Halona Blowhole where water shoots up to 20 feet from a lava tube, and at Eternity Beach, which you may recognize from films.

The North Shore stretch brings you to Sunset Beach and Banzai Pipeline, two of the world's most famous surf breaks, and to Turtle Beach (officially part of North Shore), where the guide will look for green sea turtles resting on the sand, though parking is tight and a stop cannot be guaranteed. Lunch happens at the North Shore food trucks, where Giovanni's Shrimp Truck is the standout. Before that, you'll stop at Tropical Farms Macadamia Nut Farm for a free tasting of macadamia nut coffee and whole nuts, and crack open the hardest nut in the world yourself. The Dole Plantation visit includes pineapple ice cream and the story of how this fruit came to Hawaii.

On the return, the route passes through the historic surf town of Haleiwa, takes in views of Makapuu Lighthouse and Rabbit Island, and stops at Sandy Beach Park: one of the most dangerous beaches in the US, and your guide will explain why locals call it neck breaker beach. You'll also see Mokolii Island (Chinaman's Hat), film locations from Jurassic Park and Pearl Harbor, and the Duke Kahanamoku Statue before heading back to Waikiki. Bottled water is included throughout.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Waikiki.
• professional driver and guide.
• bottled water throughout the day.
• complimentary macadamia nut and macadamia nut coffee tasting.
• all taxes, fees and handling charges.

Options for this experience

2 options

Circle Tour Oahu for Small GroupsGuide in English · 09:00Ideal for the entire family, with knowledgeable guides, safe vehicles, many stops and plenty of aloha :) Duration is 6 hours; with a larger group the tour may run longer, and we aim to keep it to 6 to 7 hours. Lunch at the famous North Shore food trucks: plan on $15 to $20 per person. Most accept credit cards, but cash is king! The route circles the whole island, starting in Waikiki, heading around the east side and up to the famous North Shore, with multiple stops along the way. Vehicles hold 6, 14 or 25 guests, depending on group size; we keep groups small for the best experience. The vans have air conditioning, plenty of space and large windows. Pickup is included.

Oahu Island Tour in German09:00Duration is 6 hours; the tour can run a bit longer than 6 to 7 hours if the group is larger. Lunch at the food trucks: a roughly 30-minute lunch break at the famous food trucks on the North Shore of Oahu. Oahu Island tour from Waikiki: start in Waikiki, travel to the beautiful east side of the island, then continue up to the North Shore with turtles and surf spots. Vehicles hold 7, 14 or 25 guests, with the vehicle size depending on the number of guests. The vehicle has air conditioning, plenty of space and big windows for great views. Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Information

Lasts 6h–7h, runs every day at 09:00, from US$ 135 per person, with a live guide in English and German, in groups of up to 14 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:00Another time? ›

GroupUp to 142 private ›

Live guideEnglish and GermanOther languages ›

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Book up to2h before

AgesAdult (3 and older) · Under 3: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Daniels Hawaii - Tours & Activities

Is this one for you?Book the small group option if you want the full circle without renting a car. The guide handles the route, timing and the stops that matter, so you see 30 spots without building the day yourself. Choose the German tour if that's your language. French and Spanish are available on request.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and German.

What's actually at Hanauma Bay on this tour?

Hanauma Bay is one of Oahu's best snorkeling spots and a stop on the circle route, though the tour passes through rather than spending extended time there. It's a scenic viewpoint where you'll understand why it's famous for marine life.

Can I see sea turtles on the North Shore part of this tour?

Turtle Beach (part of the North Shore stop) is famous for frequent green sea turtle sightings, with turtles often resting right on the shoreline. However, there's no designated parking, so your guide will stop whenever it's safe and possible. A stop cannot be guaranteed. The guides know multiple turtle hot spots in the area and are experts at finding the best viewing opportunities.

Is lunch included in the price?

Lunch is not included. Plan around $15 per person at the North Shore food trucks. The macadamia nut tasting and coffee are complimentary, as is bottled water throughout the day.

How long does the whole tour take?

The tour runs 6 to 7 hours from hotel pickup to drop-off, covering the full circle of Oahu with over 10 scenic stops and multiple viewpoints.

Do I need to arrange my own transportation to the tour?

No, hotel pickup and drop-off from Waikiki are included. The guide drives a small group van, so you don't need a rental car or taxi to get to the starting point.