Oahu Circle Island Tour: Snorkel Turtles, Dole & 16 Stops

Sixteen stops around Oahu in one day, ending in the water with sea turtles

You board in Waikiki and spend the full day circling Oahu's coast: snorkeling with sea turtles at Alii Beach, riding the train or solving the maze at Dole Plantation, standing at Nu'uanu Pali Lookout 1,200 feet above the windward coast, and stopping at 16 named spots in between. The tour includes all snorkeling gear, entry fees, pickup and drop-off, and meals. You return to Waikiki in the evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Diamond Head15m
2. Hanauma Baypass by
3. Eternity Beach20m
4. Halona Blowhole20m
5. Sandy Beach Park20m
6. Nu‘uanu Pali Lookout30m · entry included
7. Byodo-In Templepass by
8. Banzai Pipelinepass by
9. Tropical Farms Macadamia Nut Farm30m · entry included
10. Kualoa Ranchpass by
11. Mokolii Island15m
12. Haleiwa1h
13. Dole Plantation50m
14. Waikikipass by

Oahu Circle Island Snorkeling Tour

• Start tour in Waikiki
• Visit Diamond Head Lookout
• Drive by Gold Coast in Kahala
• Drive by Hanauma Bay
• Stop at Eternity Beach
• Visit Halona Blowhole
• Stop at Sandy Beach Park
• Drive by Makapu'u
• Visit Nu'uanu Pali Lookout
• Drive by Byodo-In Temple
• Drive by Banzai Pipeline
• Drive by Kualoa Ranch
• Stop for lunch with food trucks
• Visit Kahuku Land Fruit Stand
• Drive by North Shore surf town
• Stop at Mokolii Island viewpoint
• Snorkel with sea turtles at Haleiwa
• Visit Dole Plantation
• Return to Waikiki for dropoff

The experience

The bus is already rolling when you board in Waikiki: Diamond Head Lookout is the first stop, and the sun's still low enough to catch surfers in the lineup below. From there the route doesn't pause much. You'll drive the Gold Coast in Kahala where the houses sit behind gates, pass Hanauma Bay (a drive-by, so the guide points out the marine reserve and the thousand-year volcanic cone it sits in), then hit Halona Blowhole where water shoots up through the rocks when the swell pushes through underwater caves. Sandy Beach comes next: a local spot where bodyboarders take on waves that have a reputation for broken bones, and yes, there's a bathroom stop. The pace is steady. You're moving through the windward side, past Makapu'u Point and its 1909 lighthouse, and then climbing to Nu'uanu Pali Lookout at over 1,200 feet, where the view opens to Kaneohe Bay, the Ko'olau cliffs, and on clear days, Mokolii Island in the distance. The lookout is also where King Kamehameha I won the battle that unified the islands in 1795.

After the lookout, the Byodo-In Temple appears: a 1968 replica of a 950-year-old Japanese temple, surrounded by koi ponds and set against the green mountains. You'll pass Banzai Pipeline (tour buses can't stop, but the guide narrates), then stop at Tropical Farms Macadamia Nut Farm, where the coffee and macadamia nuts are free and you can crack open your own. Lunch happens at a food truck stop near Kahuku with garlic shrimp, tacos, burgers, and local options. A fruit stand follows: the kind with dragon fruit, rambutan, lilikoi, and fruits you've never heard of. Haleiwa, the North Shore's laid-back surf town, rolls past the window. Then comes the main event: snorkeling at Alii Beach in Haleiwa with sea turtles. The tour provides masks, snorkels, life jackets, and a lifeguard. The turtles are there hunting seaweed on the rocks and coral, and they're docile enough that you'll see them up close. After you dry off, Dole Plantation wraps the day: the train ride or the maze (you have enough time for one), DoleWhip ice cream, and gifts. Pickup and drop-off happen at four different Waikiki locations.

What keeps this tour moving is the guide. The description emphasizes that it's the guides who make the difference on a full-day loop like this. They're the ones who know which stops matter, what to watch for, and how to pace a 16-point itinerary so it doesn't feel like a checklist. Bottled water, coffee, and snacks are on the bus. No gift shops or tourist traps are built into the route. The stops are real places where locals go.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup and drop-off at four Waikiki locations, entry to Nu'uanu Pali Lookout, all snorkeling equipment (mask, snorkel, life jacket), a lifeguard at Alii Beach, bottled water, coffee, and snacks on the bus, enough time at Dole Plantation to ride the train or solve the maze, and a lunch stop at a food truck location where you buy your own meal. The tour visits 16 points of interest around Oahu, including Diamond Head Lookout, Hanauma Bay, Halona Blowhole, Sandy Beach, Makapu'u Point, Byodo-In Temple, Banzai Pipeline, Tropical Farms Macadamia Nut Farm, Kahuku Fruit Stand, Haleiwa, Mokolii Island, and Dole Plantation.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:00

AgesAdult (4 to 90 years) · Infant (1 to 3 years): free

GroupUp to 40

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Oahu Circle Island Snorkel Tour

Is this one for you?Book this if you want the main Oahu loop and sea turtle snorkeling in one full day without arranging your own transport, entry fees, or snorkeling gear. The fixed itinerary and guide are what fit 16 stops and a snorkel into a single departure.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Infant (1 to 3 years): free.

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.

How long is the Oahu circle island tour?

The tour is a full day. Pickup and drop-off occur at four Waikiki locations, and the itinerary covers 16 points of interest around the island.

Do you snorkel with sea turtles on this tour?

Yes. Snorkeling happens at Alii Beach in Haleiwa. The tour provides masks, snorkels, life jackets, and a lifeguard. Sea turtles hunt seaweed on the rocks and coral in the area.

What's included in the Oahu circle island tour?

Pickup and drop-off in Waikiki, entry fees (Nu'uanu Pali Lookout), bottled water, coffee, snacks, snorkeling equipment, and enough time at Dole Plantation to ride the train or solve the maze.

Is lunch included?

Lunch is a stop at a food truck location near Kahuku with options like garlic shrimp, tacos, burgers, and local dishes. You purchase your own meal there.

Can I visit Dole Plantation on this tour?

Yes. You have enough time to either ride the Dole Train or solve the outdoor maze, plus time to shop and try DoleWhip ice cream.

What is Nu'uanu Pali Lookout?

A scenic overlook at over 1,200 feet elevation in the Ko'olau Mountains, with views of Kaneohe Bay, the windward coast, and Mokolii Island on clear days. It's also the site of the 1795 Battle of Nuuanu.

Are infants allowed on the tour?

Yes. Infants can ride in a pram or stroller, and infants must sit on an adult's lap during the bus ride. Service animals are allowed.

Is this tour suitable for people with low fitness levels?

Yes. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Most stops are drive-by or short walks. Snorkeling is in shallow water with lifeguard supervision.

Where do I get picked up?

Pickup occurs at four different locations within Waikiki. You'll return to the same area for drop-off.