Private Oahu Island Tour: Grand Circle with Mercedes Van

Eight hours around Oahu in a van reserved just for your group, not a shared bus with twenty strangers

A private, customizable grand circle tour of Oahu in a reserved air-conditioned Mercedes minivan for groups of two or more. You set the pace at each stop (Diamond Head, Byodo-In Temple, Mokolii Island, North Shore, Waimea Valley, Dole Plantation, Kualoa Ranch and more) without the fixed itinerary or crowds of commercial tours. A live guide speaks English, Portuguese or Japanese. Pickup is included within Honolulu.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Diamond Head10m · entry included
2. Makapuu Lighthouse15m · entry included
3. Byodo-In Temple30m
4. Tropical Farms Macadamia Nut Farm30m · entry included
5. North Shorepass by
6. Waimea Valley1h
7. Dole Plantation30m
8. Kualoa Ranchpass by
9. Sandy Beach Park10m

Full day private island tour

• Ride in private Mercedes mini van
• Visit Diamond Head lookout
• See blow hole and nearby beach
• Stop at Makapuu Lighthouse
• Explore Byodo-In Temple
• Shop at Tropical Farms Macadamia Nut Farm
• View Mokolii Island from coast
• Eat at Fumi's Kahuku Shrimps food truck
• Drive along North Shore beaches
• Hike Waimea Falls Park trail
• Visit Haleiwa surf town
• Tour Dole Plantation and try pineapple whip
• Enjoy coffee samples at local farm
• Pass by Kualoa Ranch nature reserve
• Stop at Sandy Beach Park

The experience

You ride in a new Mercedes minivan reserved for your group alone, which changes what the day feels like. Most Oahu tours pack twenty-five people onto a commercial bus, stop at each site just long enough for a photo, then move on to the next pickup. This tour skips that rhythm. You spend as much time as you want at each stop: linger at Diamond Head's panoramic lookout on the south shore, walk through Waimea Valley's botanical garden to the waterfall, or sit at a picnic table at Fumi's Kahuku Shrimp truck on the North Shore without anyone waiting for the van to fill up again.

The route covers the full circle: south shore landmarks like Diamond Head and Makapuu Lighthouse with views toward Molokai and Lanai on clear days; the windward side's Byodo-In Temple at the foot of the Ko'olau Mountains; Mokolii Island (locals call it Chinaman's Hat) off Kualoa Regional Beach Park; the North Shore's famous surfing beaches at Waimea Bay and Sunset Beach; Dole Plantation, where you can try the pineapple whip; and Kualoa Ranch, a 4,000-acre private nature reserve and working cattle ranch. Coffee samples are free at the farm stop. Tropical Farms offers macadamia nuts and local souvenirs if you want to pick up gifts. Sandy Beach on the south shore is a popular bodyboarding spot and a practical restroom stop along the way.

Bottled water and fuel are included. Parking fees are covered. Entrance fees to museums, state parks or botanical gardens (expect $3 to $25 depending on which ones you choose) are separate, as is lunch. The guide will suggest the best local spots but you pay for your own meal. If your hotel is in Ko'olina or the North Shore, there's a $140 surcharge per van per group for the longer pickup. The van fits all fitness levels and specialized infant seats are available if you're traveling with small children.

What’s included

• Bottled water and fuel surcharge.
• parking fees.
• live guide in English, Portuguese or Japanese.
• hotel pickup within Honolulu.
• access to the full grand circle route including Diamond Head, Byodo-In Temple, Mokolii Island, North Shore beaches, Waimea Valley, Dole Plantation, Kualoa Ranch, and Tropical Farms macadamia nut farm.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Portuguese and Japanese

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 if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 25

Prices and times updated 9 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Spiritual Tours Hawaii

Is this one for you?The eight-hour commitment leaves room for a relaxed morning or afternoon elsewhere on your day off the island, but locks in the full circle without rushing. Book this if you want to see the whole island's range (south shore cliffs, windward temples, North Shore surf towns, and ranch country) without coordinating multiple tours or waiting for a commercial bus to fill up at each stop.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Portuguese and Japanese.

What's included in the eight-hour tour price?

Bottled water, fuel, parking fees, and a live guide in English, Portuguese or Japanese are included. Hotel pickup within Honolulu is included. Hotels in Ko'olina or North Shore add a $140 surcharge per group. Entrance fees to any museums, state parks or botanical gardens you choose to visit are separate, as is lunch.

Can I choose which stops to visit, or is the route fixed?

The tour is customizable. The grand circle route passes Diamond Head, Byodo-In Temple, Mokolii Island, North Shore, Waimea Valley, Dole Plantation and Kualoa Ranch, but you decide how much time to spend at each stop and which attractions to enter. Your schedule is your own.

What is Mokolii Island and why is it a popular photo stop?

Mokolii Island sits offshore of Kualoa Regional Beach Park on the windward coast and is known locally as Chinaman's Hat because of its shape. It's one of the most photographed spots on Oahu's windward side.

Is lunch included, and where do you eat on the North Shore?

Lunch is not included, but the guide will suggest the best local options. Fumi's Kahuku Shrimp is a popular North Shore food truck known for garlic and spicy shrimp dishes served at picnic tables. They also serve vegetarian, chicken and pork options.

How many people can fit in the van, and is it air-conditioned?

The Mercedes minivan is reserved for your group with a minimum of two people. It's new, air-conditioned, and the vehicle is yours alone: no shared pickups or drop-offs with other tourists.

What is Byodo-In Temple, and where is it located?

Byodo-In Temple is a replica of Japan's 950-year-old Temple of Equality, located in the Valley of the Temples on Oahu's windward side at the foot of the Ko'olau Mountains. It's one of the most recognizable landmarks on the island.