---
title: "Volcano Adventure: Hilo Sightseeing w/ Optional Helicopter Tour"
lang: en
type: tour
city: Big Island
country: United States
price: 185
currency: EUR
price_unit: per_person
availability: bookable
rating: 4.7
reviews: 435
duration_minutes: 630
languages: [en]
free_cancellation: "true"
rank_in_category: 43 of 44 (Volcanoes National Park Tours)
schedule_checked: 2026-11-07
data_updated: 2026-11-08
canonical: https://guidekin.com/usa/big-island/tours/volcano-adventure-hilo-sightseeing-w-optional-helicopter-tour/
---

# Volcano Adventure: Hilo Sightseeing w/ Optional Helicopter Tour

**Guidekin's take:** Explore Hilo Town and the craters of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, with a helicopter flight available as an option. Lunch, admission fees and pickup at selected Hilo hotels are included; lava sightings are not guaranteed. 4.7 from 435 reviews at €185 per person for 10h 30m.

In our comparison: #43 of 44 in Volcanoes National Park Tours, by rating weighted by review volume (table below).

## Overview

Embark on a once-in-a-lifetime Volcano Adventure tour on Hawaii's "Big Island," focusing on the lush, northeastern Hilo side. Explore the dynamic landscapes of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, home to active volcanoes and historic craters. Delight in the charming vistas of Hilo Town. Your knowledgeable driver-guide will enrich your journey with tales of the area's legends, history, and culture, highlighting scenic wonders throughout the tour. 

Note: This tour is available with hotel pickups exclusively in the Hilo area (Not Kona).

## Before you book

- Hotel pickup: no car needed
- Entry ticket included: skip the ticket desk
- Starts 07:30, 08:15: 2 departures a day
- Food included: see what is included
- Strollers OK: infants accepted

**Pickup:** Hotel pickup included

## Key facts

- Price: from €185 per person for the Sightseeing Tour (no heli) option; other options up to €688
- Duration: 10h 30m
- Rating: 4.7/5 from 435 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor)
- Free cancellation (see policy below)
- Operator: Polynesian Adventure Tours
- Group: Shared tour
- Guide languages: English
- Tickets: Admission included
- Start times: 07:30, 08:15
- Booking: Instant confirmation, mobile ticket
- Price checked on Viator: 2026-11-07

## Reviews

4.7 from 435 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor.
93% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 405 of 435.

- 5 stars: 354 (81%)
- 4 stars: 51 (12%)
- 3 stars: 16 (4%)
- 2 stars: 7 (2%)
- 1 star: 7 (2%)

## Tour options

Prices are the operator's current list price for two travellers (whole euros); options sold only to bigger parties say so; pick the option on the booking page.

| Option | Price | Guide languages | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sightseeing Tour (no heli) | €185 / person | English | Pickup included |
| Sightseeing + Helicopter Tour | €688 / person | English | Optional Helicopter Ride Pickup included |

## What's included

- Pick-up and drop-off at specific Hilo hotels
- Tour narration by a professional driver/guide
- Lunch
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- All Admission Fees

## Not included

- Gratuities

## Itinerary

1. **Banyan Drive** (pass by, no stop) - Drive through quaint Hilo Town along magnificent Banyan tree-lined streets along Hilo's coastline known as the "Hilo Walk of Fame".
2. **Hawaii Volcanoes National Park** (2h; admission included) - Home to Hawaii's active volcanoes, Kilauea and Mauna Loa.
3. **Chain of Craters Road** (pass by, no stop) - is a 19-mile (31 km) long winding paved road through the East Rift and coastal area of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the island of Hawaii. Some areas are inaccessible.
4. **Kilauea Volcano** (20m; admission included) - Active shield volcano housed in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Latest eruption in June 2023! Vents spew lava from within Halema'uma'u, a pit crater in the volcano's summit caldera.
5. **Steam Vents** (20m; admission included) - See and feel the power of the volcano through the steam vents, where ground water seeps into volcanic rock.
6. **Nahuku - Lava Tube** (20m; admission included) - Tropical forest area featuring a long, subterranean cave formed by ancient flowing lava.
7. **Akaka Falls State Park** (20m; admission included) - Beautiful waterfall, easily viewable from a lookout point and surrounded by a verdant jungle.
8. **Hilo** (pass by, no stop) - Drive through historic Hilo Town, where tsunamis in 1946 and 1960 caused cataclysmic damage and forced the town to be rebuilt further inland. Today, wooden storefronts remain in the laid-back, town that manages to keep the country vibe alive.
9. **Lili'uokalani Gardens** (pass by, no stop) - Renowned for it's lush Japanese gardens.
10. **Rainbow Falls** (20m; admission included) - Witness rainbows forming in the mist at one of Hilo's most magnificent waterfalls.

## Schedule

- Runs: daily
- Departures: 07:30, 08:15
- Schedule last checked: 2026-11-07
- These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout.

## Cancellation

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

## Good to know

- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- A light sweater may be needed at the volcano area and sturdy walking shoes are required
- Passengers with asthma and other respiratory problems should please consider other tour offerings to avoid potential health problems resulting from exposure to fumes
- As we cannot predict volcanic activity, features may vary daily depending on conditions. In an effort to make this an unforgettable experience, the tour operators will take you as close as possible to the volcanic activity
- Lava sightings not guaranteed
- Please contact the tour provider at minimum of 7 days prior to the tour date for ADA and all special requests.

## Compared with other Volcanoes National Park Tours

| Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **This tour · #43 of 44** | €185 | 10h 30m | 4.7 (435) | shared |
| [Hawaii Volcanoes, Waterfalls, Beaches & Hilo Highlights Day Tour](/usa/big-island/tours/hawaii-volcanoes-waterfalls-beaches-hilo-highlights-day-tour/?format=md) | €170 | 6h | 5.0 (657) | shared |
| [Private Tour: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Eco Tour](/usa/big-island/tours/private-tour-hawaii-volcanoes-national-park-eco-tour/?format=md) | €182 | 3h | 4.98 (333) | private |
| [Big Island in a Day-Explore Volcanoes, Waterfalls, Beaches & more](/usa/big-island/tours/big-island-in-a-day-explore-volcanoes-waterfalls-beaches-more/?format=md) | €223 | 9h | 5.0 (206) | shared |

Ranked #43 of 44 in Volcanoes National Park Tours by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €127 to €537, median €181; typical length 6h. 8 of 44 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market.

Full list: https://guidekin.com/usa/big-island/hawaii-volcanoes-national-park-tours/?format=md

## More in Big Island

- All Big Island tours: https://guidekin.com/usa/big-island/?format=md
- This page as HTML: https://guidekin.com/usa/big-island/tours/volcano-adventure-hilo-sightseeing-w-optional-helicopter-tour/

Filters, the full catalogue and the URL contract for this city: https://guidekin.com/usa/big-island/?format=md