Oahu Sunrise Circle Island Tour: Temple & Banzai Pipeline

Ten hours around Oahu, from sunrise to surfers at Pipeline

A full-day guided tour of Oahu that starts with sunrise on the Windward coast and circles the island to Buddhist temples, dramatic cliffs, surf towns and beaches. The tour includes hotel pickup, an air-conditioned minivan, Byodo-In Temple and Pali Lookout entry, and a guide who speaks English and knows where to find turtles and photograph the best light. You'll stop at Makapuu Lighthouse, the Koʻolau Range, Haleiwa, Banzai Pipeline and a secret bay with Oahu's largest Banyan tree, plus a complimentary Malasada from Leonard's and breakfast at an 85-year-old local market.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each5 stops

1. Makapuu Lighthouse20m
2. Koʻolau Range20m
3. Byodo-In TempleEntry included20m
4. Banzai Pipeline20m
5. Haleiwa20m

Oahu Sunrise and Island Tour

• Watch sunrise from Sandy Beach
• Photograph cliffs overlooking the bay
• View Ko'olau Range mountains
• Enjoy coffee and breakfast burrito
• Eat a Malasada from Leonards
• Visit Byodo-In Temple
• See Chinamans Hat island
• Try local snacks on North Shore
• Explore secret bay with Banyan tree
• Watch surfers at Banzai Pipeline
• Drive by scenic cove
• Explore historic town shops and food trucks
• Look for turtles at Haleiwa

The experience

The day starts before sunrise at Sandy Beach on the Windward coast, where the sun lights up the Halona Blow and the morning sky. From there the tour circles the island in an air-conditioned minivan, stopping at Makapuu Lighthouse to photograph the high cliffs and watch for turtles and whales in the bay below. The guide points out the dramatic peaks of the Koʻolau Range, a vantage most visitors never reach, then heads inland to an 85-year-old local market for coffee and the best breakfast burrito in town. Your guide will also hand you a complimentary Malasada from Leonard's, a Honolulu institution.

Byodo-In Temple comes next, built to commemorate the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii, with the mountains rising behind it in a way that makes the photograph the reason people stop here. The tour then moves to the North Shore, where you'll see Chinamans Hat (an island used in countless films), grab locally grown fruit and snacks at a roadside stand, and find a secret bay with the largest Banyan tree on Oahu. The vines are thick enough to swing on. The day ends at Banzai Pipeline, where you watch surfers tackle the most dangerous wave in the world, then loop back through Haleiwa to search for turtles in the bay without the crowds.

The guide speaks English and narrates throughout, pointing out details most travelers miss and knowing exactly where to position you for photographs. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, so you don't arrange transport to the start. The tour runs ten hours total, and you'll want to bring sunscreen, a hat and a camera (phone or otherwise), because the light and the views are the whole point of starting before the traffic and tour buses roll in.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in an air-conditioned minivan.
• entry to Byodo-In Temple and Pali Lookout.
• a complimentary Malasada from Leonard's.
• live English-language guide and on-board commentary.
• photographer guide who knows where to find turtles, whales and the best light for each stop.

Information

Lasts 10h, runs every day except Tuesday and Thursday at 05:45, 06:00 and 05:30, from US$ 174.99 per person, with a live guide in English, in groups of up to 7 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesMonday and Friday: 05:45 and 06:00Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday: 05:30, 05:45 and 06:00Another day? ›

GroupUp to 7

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 20 pickup points.

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (under 13)

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Oahu Photo Tours

Is this one for you?The early start (you'll be at Sandy Beach before sunrise) is what lets the tour fit the whole island, ten major stops and the light most visitors miss into a single day. If you're on Oahu for the first time and want to see the range of the island without building an itinerary yourself, the fixed schedule and included transport mean the day holds together.

Traveler reviews

4.99★★★★★★★★★★

406 verified traveler reviews

5 ★405

4 ★0

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★1

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (under 13).

What time does the Oahu sunrise tour pick me up from my hotel?

The tour includes hotel pickup, though the exact time depends on where you're staying on the island. The guide will confirm your pickup window when you book, timed to reach Sandy Beach before sunrise.

Is lunch included on this Oahu circle island tour?

Lunch is not included, but the tour stops at an 85-year-old local market for breakfast and a complimentary Malasada from Leonard's, plus a roadside fruit stand on the North Shore where you can grab snacks.

What is Byodo-In Temple and why is it on this tour?

Byodo-In Temple is a replica of a 900-year-old temple in Japan, built on Oahu to honor the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii. It sits in a valley with the Koʻolau Range as a backdrop, making it one of the most photographed temples in the islands.

Will I actually see turtles on this tour?

The tour stops at Haleiwa, where the guide searches for turtles in the bay without the big crowds. Sightings aren't guaranteed, but the guide knows the best spots and timing to improve your chances.

How difficult is this tour physically?

The tour requires at least a moderate level of physical fitness. You'll spend ten hours on the road with stops at viewpoints and temples that involve short walks and standing, but no strenuous hiking or water entry.

What makes Banzai Pipeline dangerous, and can I get close to it?

Banzai Pipeline is a reef break on the North Shore that creates waves up to 30 feet high in winter, making it one of the most dangerous surf spots in the world. You'll watch and photograph the surfers from a safe vantage point on shore.