7 MUST-DO BIG ISLAND TOURS
Volcanoes, Manta Rays, Mauna Kea & More
Seven Best Big Island Tours, authentic, small-group adventures that keep Hawai‘i real.
The Big Island doesn’t show off, it just is. Lava plains next to hidden waterfalls, high summits brushing the clouds, warm ocean where giant manta rays drift under moonlight. If you’ve got a week, let it stretch you a little. Here’s a slow, grounded way to fill seven days with small-group Big Island guided tours, each handpicked for what makes Hawai‘i feel alive.
The Big Island - or Hawai‘i Island, as locals call it - is where Hawai‘i’s raw beauty feels bigger than any postcard. Volcanoes still shape the land, manta rays gather just offshore after dark, waterfalls hide deep in Kohala’s forest, and Kona coffee farms thrive on old lava slopes. This guide brings together seven of the best Big Island tours - small-group, locally guided experiences that go beyond the usual tourist stops. If you’re looking for authentic things to do on the Big Island, start here.
1. Night Manta Snorkel Kona Tour
Of all the marine life you can see in Hawai‘i, few encounters feel more surreal than swimming with manta rays at night. Just offshore from Kona’s calm west coast, these gentle giants show up when the sun goes down, drawn by lights that attract the plankton they feed on. Floating face down on the surface, you’ll watch their wide wings glide inches below you, looping in slow spirals that make the whole reef feel alive.
This is one of the top-rated Big Island snorkeling tours, open year-round — but the ocean’s calmest from late spring through early fall. Tours run nightly from Honokōhau Harbor, with small-group boats and respectful crew who keep the experience calm and unhurried.
See our selection for top-rated Night Manta Snorkel Kona Tours on Folio Travel.
2. Maunakea Summit & Stargazing Tour
The Big Island’s not called Hawai‘i Island by accident — it’s still being born here. A Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park guided tour is the best way to get close to lava fields, steaming vents, and rainforest that keeps reclaiming new ground. Guides help you spot hidden trails, walk through ancient lava tubes, and share how Pele, the goddess of fire, still shapes the island’s culture.
Most Big Island volcano tours run daily, rain or shine, but early mornings avoid the clouds and afternoon mist that can roll in from the ocean. Whether you’re traveling solo or with kids, a local guide handles park fees, safety, and stories that make the landscape come alive.
See our selection for top-rated Volcanoes National Park Tours on Folio Travel.
3. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Guided Tour
The Big Island’s not called Hawai‘i Island by accident — it’s still being born here. A Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park guided tour is the best way to get close to lava fields, steaming vents, and rainforest that keeps reclaiming new ground. Guides help you spot hidden trails, walk through ancient lava tubes, and share how Pele, the goddess of fire, still shapes the island’s culture.
Most Big Island volcano tours run daily, rain or shine, but early mornings avoid the clouds and afternoon mist that can roll in from the ocean. Whether you’re traveling solo or with kids, a local guide handles park fees, safety, and stories that make the landscape come alive.
See our selection for top-rated Volcanoes National Park Tours on Folio Travel.
4. Kealakekua Bay Kayak Tour & Snorkel
Kealakekua Bay feels timeless. Sheltered by cliffs just south of Kailua-Kona, this marine preserve is one of the best places for a Big Island kayak tour — especially early in the day when the water’s calmest. You’ll paddle out to the Captain Cook Monument, a spot layered with Hawaiian and European history, then tie off your kayak and slip into some of the clearest snorkeling on the island.
This is one of the most family-friendly Big Island snorkeling tours. Warm, shallow reefs brim with fish and the occasional turtle, while spinner dolphins sometimes pass by in pods. Spring through early fall brings the calmest seas, but guides know the tides well year-round and handle all landing permits.
See our selection for top-rated Kealakekua Bay Kayak Tours on Folio Travel.
5. Kona Coffee Farm Tour & Brew Class
Kona’s coffee belt is small but legendary — old lava slopes, rich volcanic soil, and small farms that still harvest by hand. A good Kona coffee farm tour shows you the trees up close and takes you through the full journey: picking, roasting, and brewing.
The brew class makes it more than a tasting — you’ll test your pour-over or French press skills with beans grown just uphill from where you stand. This is one of those Big Island things to do that’s mellow but memorable, and it’s perfect year-round. Visit during harvest season (roughly August through January) for the freshest green beans and a chance to see the farm buzzing with life.
See our selection for top-rated Kona Coffee Farm Tours on Folio Travel.
6. Kohala Waterfall Hike
North Kohala is the Big Island’s quiet side — older forests, tucked-away valleys, and family-run ranch lands. This Kohala waterfall hike crosses private trails that you can’t reach alone, winding past old stone terraces and down to waterfalls hidden under the canopy.
This is one of the best family-friendly hikes on the Big Island, doable for most ages with a guide who knows how to read the weather. The falls run strongest after light rain — usually winter through spring. Expect soft mud, green light through the trees, and cool pools if you feel like jumping in.
See our selection for top-rated Kohala Waterfall Hikes on Folio Travel.
7. Big Island Horseback Riding Tour
The paniolo — Hawai‘i’s cowboy tradition — lives on in the uplands above Kona and Waimea, where open pasture rolls down toward the sea. A good Big Island horseback riding tour feels unhurried: small groups, calm horses, and guides who match each rider to the right mount, whether you’re brand new or getting back in the saddle after years away.
This ride is gentle enough for kids and first-timers, but the scenery opens up big: coastal views, grasslands that turn golden at sunset, and the hush of hooves over old lava fields. Rides run daily, rain or shine — just bring closed-toe shoes, a hat, and a sense of quiet adventure.
See our selection for top-rated Big Island Horseback Riding Tours on Folio Travel.
One Week, No Rush
Seven days, seven tours, no buses, no big crowds — just small-group adventures that keep Hawai‘i real. Pick one, pick three, or do them all if you want a week that runs from lava fields to starlight, waterfalls to calm bays. The Big Island is wide open. Take your time.
About Folio Travel
Folio Travel was born from a simple idea: the best trips are built on a few good choices, done well — not endless lists and bus crowds. We believe Hawai‘i deserves slow travelers, small groups, and guides who know the land better than any brochure ever could.
Every tour on Folio is chosen with care: small-group experiences that respect local places and people, led by operators we’d trust with our own family and friends. No mega buses. No cheesy stops. Just the right mix of adventure and presence — lava fields before sunrise, a quiet reef at night, a farm that smells like roasted coffee and rain.
We built Folio Travel for travelers who want to see a place and feel it — to stand on the trail, paddle the bay, drift under stars, and come home with something more than souvenirs. Every page is a guidebook you can actually trust. Just what you need. Nothing you don’t.
Explore more of our handpicked small-group Hawai‘i tours at Folio Travel Experiences — and see where slow travel can take you next.