Visit Hawaii: paradise island-hopping holiday

Itinerary in brief:

• 3 nights Oahu
• 3 nights Big Island
• 3 nights Kauai
• 4 nights Maui

Day 1: UK to Hawaii

Depart the UK from your chosen airport. You will arrive later the same day. You’ll be met at the airport and welcomed to Hawaii with a lei, before being driven to your hotel, where you’ll check in for three nights.

Included: International flights, transfer, 3* hotel   

Days 2 & 3: Waikiki & Oahu

On your first day you’ll embark on a morning tour of Pearl Harbour, where the Japanese attack in 1941 prompted the USA to enter World War II. Visiting the Arizona Memorial is a sombre moment but an important one in your understanding of Hawaiians recent history. Exploring the visitor centre will give you a full insight into the events of that day before visiting the Punchbowl National Cemetery where many of the “unknown” graves from Pearl Harbour can be found, as well as veterans resting places from the Vietnam and Korean wars. Later you’ll enjoy a city tour of Honolulu, taking in the Kawaiahao Church, the Iolani Palace and the statue of King Kamehameha who founded the Kingdom of Hawaii.

The rest of your time on Oahu is at your leisure. If you’d like to experience some world class snorkelling, then head to Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, where a colourful coral reef sits in an extinct volcanoes crater on the south coast. Turtles are regularly seen as well as lipstick tangs and trumpet fish.

Included: 3* hotel, Pearl Harbor tour

Day 4: Fly to the Big Island

In the morning, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight to the Big Island. On arrival on the Big Island, you’ll pick up your car hire from the airport and drive to your hotel in Kona. The rest of the day is at leisure so why not settle into the hotel and have dinner on one of the fabulous beaches on the western shore.

Included: 3* hotel, car hire         

Days 5 & 6: Big Island

Again, you have two full days to enjoy this beautiful island. We recommend you drive over to the Volcanoes National Park to witness the lava flows and views of the caldera from the main centre of the park. Once you have explored the museum and the Crater Rim Drive, check with Volcano Observatory where the best area to see the glowing lava as it bubbles out of the earth.

In the afternoon you could drive from the volcanoes to the Kapoho Tide Pools, where the spring-fed pools are full of fish that will happily swim right up to you. After enjoying the pools, drive back towards Kona, stopping at one of the observatories at the summit of Mauna Kea. This is the highest point of Hawaii and is known worldwide as a stargazing spot! It’s a beautiful way to spend

On your second day, why not relax today and head to the beach? Head north and you’ll hit Hapuna Beach, where the turquoise water is so beautiful, you’ll just want to lie down on the white sand and watch it crash against the shore. A more remote option but equally stunning is Makalawena Beach, only accessible by a 25-minute walk from the road.

Go south and you’ll come across Kealakekua Bay, where green turtles relax in the warm water and the snorkelling is arguably the best on the island. Parrotfish, Tang, Triggerfish and Surgeonfish all dance through the water in a colourful cloud but if you’re after the bigger marine life you should try snorkelling with Manta Rays, which are best seen at night when they begin to feed on plankton that live off the shore of the Big Island. Swimming with these gentle giants is a wonderful experience, speak to your consultant about booking a tour.

Included: 3* hotel, car hire                         

Day 7: Fly to Kauai

In the morning, you’ll drive to the airport for your flight to Kauai. On arrival in Kauai, you’ll pick up your car hire from the airport and drive to your hotel - the rest of the day is at leisure.

Included: Car hire, flights, 3* hotel         

Days 8 & 9: Kauai

You’ll have two full days here to relax – there are plenty of beautiful beaches, so why not head out to find one of them? If you want to explore the island, there’s nowhere better to start than the Waimea Canyon, known as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific”. The deep gorge is carved right down the middle of the north-west corner of the island and is coloured a deep red, orange and green. You can cruise along Waimea Canyon Drive and hike away from the road before driving a loop around the island to northern beaches where you can relax on Lumahai Beach, Tunnels Beach or Wainiha Beach – each more beautiful than the last!

On your second free day in Kauai, why not hike a section of the Na Pali coastline? The stunning mountains and valleys on this area of the island are created by Mount Wai’ale’ale which sits in the centre of Kauai and is one of the rainiest spots on earth. The water runoff from this mountain has carved deep grooves into the island and the hike down the coastal path is one of the most scenic on the island.

We can you book you a guided trek along part of the trail, a 6 hour round trip to Hanakapiaai Beach that will give you a glimpse into Kauai’s natural beauty. If you don’t fancy the hike then we’d recommend a helicopter tour, which will give you a bird’s eye view of the mountains, including the “Wall of Tears” where hundreds of narrow waterfalls cascade down the lush green hillside. If you want to add this, just ask!

Included: 3* hotel, car hire         

Day 10: Fly to Maui

In the morning, you’ll drive your car back to the airport for your flight to Maui. On arrival in Maui, you’ll pick up your car hire from the airport and drive to your hotel - the rest of the day is at leisure so why not explore your hotel before heading to the beach for a sunset cocktail.

Included: Flights, car hire, 3* hotel         

Days 11 - 13: Maui  

Maui is a beautiful island and the perfect place to relax - you might not even want to venture far from the beach but with so many to choose from its worth visiting a few! Makena Beach has beautiful golden sand with beautiful green water that laps at the beach while Mokapu Beach is perfect for anyone learning to snorkel or scuba dive, with calm waters and a relaxed vibe. Up on the north-west coast, Napili Bay has white sand and swaying palm trees – a quintessentially Hawaiian experience!

If you do want to get out and explore, then driving the Hana Highway will give you fabulous views of the ocean and take you down to the Haleakala National Park, perfect for a day of adventure. The moonlike landscape of Haleakala is made from the lava flows and ash from the crater of the volcano while the varied scenery will expose you to barren cinder cones and lush cloud forest higher up the trailheads. It’s well worth a full day of hiking before exploring the Seven Sacred Pools in the corner of the park, where waterfalls trickle slowly into the sea.

On your final evening, you’ll head over to the Royal Lahaina Hotel and enjoy their Myths of Maui luau. Witness the Imu ceremony and the unearthing of the pua'a (pig) followed by a feast of roasted pork and a delicious buffet. Sip cocktails made with local rum, watch hypnotizing hula dances and swirling flames in the air by the fire knife dancers.

Included: 4* hotel, car hire, Myths of Maui luau

Day 14: Depart Hawaii

Your time in Hawaii has come to an end - today you’ll return your car to the airport before catching your flight back home. Aloha!

Included: Car hire, international flights               

Day 15: Arrive UK