Day Trip from Oahu to Hilo: Active Volcanoes & Helicopter Tour

Oahu, USA

12 hours (approx.)
Flight time: 45 minutes
Offered in: English

Overview

Escape from Oahu to the Big Island on this all-inclusive, full-day island-hopping tour. Discover Hawaii Volcanoes National Park with an expert driver-guide and experience the world-famous, recently erupted active volcanoes of Mauna Loa and Kilauea. This comprehensive volcano adventure also features a helicopter tour offering a bird's-eye view of volcanic activity, cascading waterfalls, and towering mountains, ensuring an unforgettable day.

Visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and witness Kilauea and Mauna Loa
Experience a thrilling helicopter tour over lava fields and falls
Discover lush rainforests, lava tubes, and scenic volcanic landscapes
Interisland flights, lunch, and guided sightseeing are included

What's Included

Air-conditioned vehicle
Tour narration by a professional driver/guide
45 minute helicopter tour (Blue Hawaiian Helicopters)
Interisland R/T airfare (overage charges may apply)
Lunch

Gratuities
Helicopter comfort seat surcharge (for those over 240 lbs.)
Airline flight overage charges

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting points

Select a meeting point

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

Blue Hawaiian Helicopters

1 hour 40 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

2 hours • Admission Ticket Free

Chain of Craters Road (Pass By)

Kilauea Volcano

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Steam Vents

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Nahuku - Thurston Lava Tube

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Akaka Falls State Park

20 minutes • Admission Ticket Included

Banyan Drive (Pass By)

Additional Info

Total weight per passenger: 600 lbs
Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Wheelchair accessible
Stroller accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Most travelers can participate
Passengers must provide full name as shown on ID, date of birth, and gender at the time of booking per TSA requirements
Once reservation is made, tour is non-refundable and non-changeable

Interisland flight times and routes are subject to change
Special needs requests must be called in to the local supplier at least 1 week prior to tour date
Weight Restrictions: Due to FAA regulations, all passengers and bags must be weighed at check-in for the helicopter tour. Each passenger weighing over 240 pounds will be contacted and assessed a 'comfort seat' charge for an additional seat, payable directly to the tour operator. This is for the safety and comfort of all passengers. It is important to provide accurate body weight at checkout.
The interisland airfare may fluctuate based on flight availability. Additional fees may be required to be paid by the customer in these cases.
Passengers with asthma and other respiratory problems should please consider other tour offerings to avoid potential health problems resulting from exposure to fumes
Lava sightings not guaranteed
IMPORTANT: The name you enter at the time of booking must exactly match what appears on your valid government-issued I.D. photo I.D. that you will use during travel. This is a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and FAA requirement and there is no flexibility with this policy. A valid government-issued ID (passport for non-US citizens) is required on the day of travel. If a passenger is denied boarding, there will be no refund.
If the helicopter tour is cancelled by the provider, you'll receive a refund for the helicopter portion (at a rate determined by the tour provider) and be welcomed on an extended sightseeing tour. If you choose to abort the sightseeing portion of the tour and would like to return to Honolulu earlier than your return flight is scheduled, you will be responsible for all flight change fees with the airlines. A refund for the sightseeing portion of the tour is not guaranteed. Before aborting the tour, you are required to contact the tour provider.
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers

Supplied by

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)

Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Bobby_O

Great experience all around. Would have bought the video but for 150.00 it was too much. I think they would get more takers at a 80.00 mark, but what do I know. It didn’t help That and I was not visible in the video based on where I was sitting. That should have been part of the coat package. I would have paid slightly more up front. Not 300$ more as they wanted to charge. Second seat on the back right behind the pilot is not visible to the camera. Blue Hawaiian helps are great. Pilot was amazing, entertaining and former military pilot 20 years so we were in good hands. The views that the helo takes you over is a great precursor to the drive later. Everett was knowledgable through out the drive as he is a local that lives on the Island! Waterfall and Crater was a highlight…. Would likely do those again and rent a car to see things on my own next time now that I know the area. Overall quality service, lunch and water included. No issues with giving the team 5 stars.

Reviews

4.2

based on 62 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

We perform checks on reviews

Very long and wet day.

Michael_B, Mar 2026

Guide was informative but repetitive. He did his best given the weather. Viator did not communicate correct flight information. Kona low and recent eruption caused multiple closures.

Response from Host, Mar 2026

Aloha Michael, Mahalo for your feedback. We’re glad your guide remained informative despite the conditions. We’re sorry for the communication issues and how the day was impacted, and your comments have been shared with our team. Mahalo.

Great experience all...

Bobby_O, Nov 2025

Great way to see volcano!

Shari_S, Aug 2025

This was a comprehensive way to get to see Kilauea and other interesting Hilo sites. Tourguide Dexter was excellent.

saw nothing but smoke

Phillip_D, Feb 2025

the volcanos were not active so we only saw smoke. the volcanos blew the very next day so we were both very dissapointed.

Response from Host, Mar 2025

We are sorry that your expectations weren't met. Hope you had a nice time in the islands. Mahalo.

Big Island tour

Glen_P, Aug 2024

This was an amazing and awesome day starting with flying too and from Oahu to The Big Island, touring around with Dexter our very knowledgeable tour guide and driver. Seeing the volcanos and steam vents and the waterfall. Lunch was provided and I really enjoyed it. The helicopter ride option over the volcano was incredible, I’ve always wanted to fly in one of those. Overall an amazing and huge day 🤩🤩🤩

Tight fit in the helicopter!

menace12019, Dec 2019

Day trip through the volcano national park was excellent, Hugh our guide was clearly enthusiastic about his job. Was slightly disappointed to not be able to walk through the lava tube, this has been closed for over a year and this should have been noted on the site. Would like to see a tour that does not involve funneling tourists to nut farms, coffee farms, chocolate factories etc. Helicopter part was actually very uncomfortable, with myself being forced up against the door and one of the other tourists partially sitting on my lap in the front. Husband was very comfortable in the back as only two of them were sitting there. Missed out on seeing the rainbow falls and black sand beach (both visible from helicopter though)

Great

Super8moteloceanside, Oct 2019

Our Driver Anthony was very good on schedule and very informative. Nikki was another driver she was very good too. Trip was on time and very nice.

Great Land Tour

David_S, Oct 2019

Weather prevented us from a helicopter ride but our guide Anthony was simply amazing!!! Funny, smart, very knowledgeable, adventurous!!

Bad ending to a pretty decent day

kkhasapes, Jul 2019

The day started out great with my pick up at my hotel and visiting Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park. I learned a lot from my tour guide "Hugh". He was great!!! The problem lies with combing a full-day tour with a helicopter with a tour without. I had the helicopter tour so I was picked up during the day to go for that part of my tour. Therefore, I was unable to take part in the Macadamia Nut Factory part of the tour. My helicopter tour was cut short due to another passenger being ill. However, overall I did enjoy my day. At the end of the day the Polynesian Tour company was supposed to get me back to my hotel safely. They passed me off to another company to drive me home. The driver pulled away only to stop at another area in the airport. After a 16 hour tour with only having an opportunity to eat breakfast, I was ready to go back to my hotel. When I inquired about the eta of my hotel arrival, the driver got angry. A police officer then made him leave the area and that only escalated his anger. He drove erratically and recklessly back to the hotel. I had to get out at a stop away from my hotel and walk to get away from him. It was very unsettling!!!

Response from Host, Jul 2019

We apologize for the inconvenience and are sorry to hear that you were not satisfied with your experience. Mahalo for your feedback.

Covered so much of the Big Island on this tour!

Stephanie_R, Apr 2019

A whirlwind day that is so worth it! This tour covered waterfalls, volcanos, helicopter rides, a macadamia nut facility, and so much of the island! The execution of airlines, tour buses, & helicopter facilities was seamless. Hugh & Anthony were adorable tour guides too!!

Tour with kids

Sherpa56682198149, Jan 2019

This was an awesome experience. 5 of us went from Waikiki on the tour, my wife, and our 3 daughters (5, 7, and 9) and I had a great time. The team arranged for transport from our hotel to the airport and greeted us off the plan in Hilo as well. Very unique experience going to Volcanoes national park and then seeing it from above (especially with all the new lava flow).

flight was cancelled due to weather

JohnC_K, Oct 2018

filled in with bus tour by driver. He knew very little and kept asking, "Do you have any questions?"Waiting for refund.

FINGER WEG!!! UNSERIÖS!!!!

Carsten_L, Jun 2023

Unseriöser Veranstalter. Finger weg!!! Einen Tag vor der Reise erfolgte ein Anruf, dass der gebuchte Helikopterrundflug nicht stattfindet. Da dieser eintätige Ausflug aber in der Reise eingeplant war, haben wir trotzdem an dem Ausflug teilgenommen, mit dem Hinweis, dass wir die anteiligen Kosten des ausgefallenen Helikopterfluges zurückerstattet bekommen. Nach dem erfolgten Ausflug wollte davon niemand mehr etwas wissen und bis heute (21 Tage später) habe ich keine Rückzahlung oder Antwort erhalten - unverschämt!!!