Self-Guided Audio Driving Tour: Oahu's Highlights at Your Pace

Hear the stories as you drive, skip what doesn't interest you

A self-guided audio driving tour of Oahu uses GPS to play location-based commentary automatically as you navigate the island, covering over 230 points including Pearl Harbor National Memorial, Diamond Head, Lanikai Beach, Byodo-In Temple and the North Shore. Download the GuideAlong app, load the tour offline, and drive at your own pace through suggested half-day, full-day or multi-day itineraries. One purchase covers everyone in your vehicle and never expires.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each8 stops

1. North Shore1h
2. Diamond Head1h 30m
3. Kailua Beach Park30m
4. La'ie Point State Wayside Park10m
5. Byodo-In Temple45m
6. Pearl Harbor National Memorial3h
7. Lanikai Beach30m
8. Dole Plantation20m

Explore Oahu's highlights and beaches

• Visit North Shore beaches
• Snorkel at Hanauma Bay
• Hike Diamond Head crater
• Relax at Kailua Beach Park
• Visit Punchbowl Crater memorial
• Enjoy Ko Olina lagoons
• View Laie Point sea arch
• Tour Byodo-In Temple grounds
• Explore Pearl Harbor National Memorial
• Relax at Lanikai Beach
• Visit Dole Plantation
• Explore Haleiwa town
• Stop at Pali Lookout viewpoint

The experience

The tour works by downloading a single app to your phone before you leave. Once the audio file is on your device, you don't need cell service or WiFi: the GPS chip triggers commentary automatically as you drive, so you hear stories and directions exactly when you reach each spot. You control when to start, where to linger and which stops to skip. If Hanauma Bay's snorkeling appeals to you but the Dole Plantation doesn't, you move on. The app suggests itineraries for a half day, a full day or multiple days, but you can also build your own route.

The tour covers the island's major draws: Pearl Harbor's WWII memorial (plan about half a day there), Diamond Head's volcanic crater and 271-stair hike with views back to Waikiki and Honolulu, Lanikai Beach and Kailua Beach Park on the windward side, and the Byodo-In Temple beneath the Ko'olau Mountains. You'll also hit lesser-known stops like La'ie Point's offshore sea arch, Ko Olina's four protected lagoons on the southwest shore, and the North Shore's famous surf breaks at Banzai Pipeline, Sunset Beach and Waimea Bay. The commentary explains the history (how James Dole built the pineapple industry, why Pearl Harbor mattered, what makes the North Shore legendary for surfing), and offers local tips on parking, timing and what's worth your time.

One purchase covers everyone riding in your vehicle, and the tour stays on your phone forever with free updates. You'll need a car to drive the route and a USB-C charger to keep your phone powered. Connect it to your car's stereo via Bluetooth to hear the audio through the speakers instead of your phone's speaker. Technical support is available by toll-free phone, chat or email if you run into trouble downloading or starting the tour.

What’s included

• GuideAlong self-guided audio app with over 230 location-based commentary points.
• pre-downloaded offline tour requiring no cell service or WiFi once loaded.
• suggested itineraries for half-day, full-day or multi-day routes, or the option to create your own.
• in-app, web and PDF trip planners.
• toll-free phone, chat and email support.
• one-time purchase with no expiry date and free updates for life.
• coverage for everyone in one vehicle.

Information

Lasts 15h–16h, runs every day with no fixed time, from US$ 16.99 per group, as a private tour and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day

GroupPrivate

Audio guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effort

Operated by GuideAlong (GyPSy Guide)

Is this one for you?Choose this tour if you're traveling as a group in a rental car and want to explore at your own speed without a fixed schedule or a guide you're stuck with. The audio plays only when you're near each stop, so you can spend an hour at a beach that captivates you or drive past a plantation that doesn't, all without missing the stories that matter.

Traveler reviews

4.58★★★★★★★★★★

38 verified traveler reviews

5 ★32

4 ★2

3 ★1

2 ★0

1 ★3

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can I download the tour before I arrive in Oahu?

Yes. After you book, you'll receive an email and text with instructions to download the GuideAlong app and redeem your voucher code. Download the tour over WiFi or cellular data before your trip, and it will work completely offline once you're on the island.

What happens if I don't want to visit every stop on the tour?

The tour is entirely flexible. You start and stop whenever you want, skip any attraction that doesn't appeal to you, and resume the tour any day. The audio only plays when you're near a stop, so you won't hear commentary for places you're not visiting.

Do I need to pay extra to visit the attractions the tour covers?

The tour itself is one purchase, but some attractions have their own entry fees: Hanauma Bay requires a timed reservation and charges per person; Diamond Head and Byodo-In Temple each have small entry fees; Dole Plantation is free to browse but charges for the maze or train tour. Pearl Harbor, Lanikai Beach, Kailua Beach Park and La'ie Point have no entry fees, though some have parking charges.

How long does the entire tour take?

The tour is designed for 15 to 16 hours of driving and stops, but you control the pace. You can spread it across multiple days, spend extra time at beaches or hikes, or move quickly through stops that don't hold your interest.

Will the audio work if I don't have cell service while driving?

Yes. Once you download the tour to your phone over WiFi, it works completely offline using your phone's GPS. You don't need cell service or WiFi while you're driving and listening to the commentary.

Can I use the tour with multiple people in the car?

One purchase covers everyone in your vehicle. Connect your phone to your car's stereo via Bluetooth so all passengers can hear the audio through the speakers, and share the phone's map display on the dashboard.