Kauai · GUIDED
21 reviewed
The shortlist we’d hand a friend flying into Lihue: 15 guided tours worth the money, each with its price, its verdict from the people who went, and the one thing to know before you commit.
Kayak the Wailua River and hike to Secret Falls on Kauai. Learn paddling, swim at Uluwehi Falls, and return in about 5 hours.
“Brian was awesome. Good workout and got to learn more about kauai. Wear water shoes. Glad we did it.”
Paddle Kauai’s Wailua River, hike to Ulewehi Falls, and swim in a jungle pool on a guided secret-falls adventure.
“Adventure should be capitalized with Kayak Adventures. What an incredible tour. We were fortunate enough to have the islands most sought after guide. “Levi”, pronounced Levy. Not only did he get us all to and from the waterfall safely, he played his Ukulele and sang through hiking portion of the tour. If you are looking for the most picturesque and adventurous tour on the island, look no further. Thank you Kayak Adventures and especially Levi. The Allen’s”
Small-group Poipu shore snorkel with certified guide, gear, snacks, and water. Look for turtles, fish, and monk seals on calm reefs.
“Great guide. We felt very safe and looked after. Swam with many turtles, schools of fish. Happy that is was a two hour experience ( not a 5 hour+ commitment.”
Kayak Kauai’s Wailua River, hike to Secret Falls, and cool off with lunch and swim time on a guided, muddy-but-fun adventure.
“The area hasn't had rain since April (it's now mid-September) and clearly everyone on the staff knows the waterfall is not flowing--and hasn't been flowing for several weeks. We weren't made aware until after the kayak trip and well into our hike up to where the waterfall "usually" flows (at this point our guide showed us photos of it from back in April to assuage our disappointment). This seems a bit underhanded and deceitful when the booking clearly highlights this as a high point of the tour. A better choice would have been to offer a pre-arrival notice (say, 48 hrs prior) to offer a shorter, kayak-only option for half…”
Kayak the Wailua River, hike to Sacred Falls, and swim at the pool below, with lunch included on a small guided Kauai tour.
“Awesome tour that was made even better by our excellent guide Harrison. Our entire family had a great time!”
Self-guided Kauai audio driving tour with GPS-triggered storytelling, flexible stops from Poipu to Na Pali, and offline audio for $19.99.
“I was a little skeptical of how this would go and am happy to report this was an awesome experience. I am not a tech person so it took a minute for me to get things downloaded and going. Worked great and we used it without difficulty as we toured the island of Kauai. Would do this again for sure. It is a lot less expensive than a group tour that essentially shows you the same sights. Provided great narratives and back stories. We were able to pick and choose our stopping points and time we spent at each.”
A 2-hour guided walk through Allerton Garden on Kauai, with plant spotting, family history, and real Jurassic Park fig roots.
“Knowledgeable guide and very informative tour. Beautiful gardens and worth the time and money.”
Drive an open-air FUV around Kauai for about four hours. Pick your own stops from Kapa’a to Poipu, beaches, and falls.
“Great way to see the island at your own pace. Fresh air was great and the instructions and the links were helpful. Would definitely recommend!”
Kauai private full-day tour of Waimea Canyon, Kalalau Lookout, Poipu Beach, and Spouting Horn with door-to-door pickup and included admissions.
“This is a must-do tour! Noah is a great tour guide. He is quite knowledgeable about the history and folklore of Hawaii/Kauai. The van was very clean and comfortable for a total of 7 people including Noah. Was great that he could pick us up at the hotel since we left at 6am in order to get to Waimea Canyon before the clouds moved in. We were able to stop multiple times to take in the views, including a small waterfall, take lots of pics—Noah didn’t mind taking our group pictures. Tried to share pics on this website, but couldn’t get them to upload. Saw a few other sites including…”
Kauai zipline at Kipu Ranch on a private 3,000-acre cattle ranch with snacks, gear, and Hawaii’s longest line on a small group tour.
“Tons of fun, great zip lines and great guides. Ryker was especially friendly, funny, and informative.”
A self-guided Kauai road trip with 60+ GPS-triggered stories, offline maps, and key Na Pali and Waimea viewpoints for your own pace.
“We were able to see sights that a normal travel won’t provide. Very detailed and well worth the trip!”
Kauai guided hike to Bamboo Falls and Papakolea Falls with private access, jungle views, and a swim behind the waterfall.
“Exactly what I was looking for! Our guide Mitchell was great! And swimming in the waterfall was glorious! One of the best things we did on the island!”
A self-guided, tram-assisted visit to McBryde Garden on Kauai, walking native Hawaiian plants, trails, and Polynesian plant stories.
“Everyone was very welcoming and informative. Everyone meaning, the staff in the welcome center and the tour guide.”
Private Kauai East Side and North Shore tour with seabird cliffs, Wailua Falls, lighthouse views, Kalihiwai Beach, and fresh coconut water.
“Had a great time with family on private tour with Noah. Well worth it if this is your first or tenth visit. Support a local small business too”
Boat-free guided shore snorkel at North Anini Beach with small-group attention, included gear, snacks, and real chances at sea turtles.
“Keoni was my guide. He is a native Hawaiian and is absolutely amazing! Keoni knows so much about the different fish we saw. We saw small puffers, (dallis? my favorites), yellow tangs, the Hawaiian state fish, and several other species as well as sea cucumbers and 3 green sea turtles. Keoni obviously loves Hawaii and loves his job. It was a joy to spend the morning with someone so passionate about what he does! The reef at Anini Beach is really big, but Keoni knew right where to go. My snorkel tours to Anini Beach and Koloa Landing (Poipu Beach) with ZTours MADE my vacation to Kauai!!! Btw, don't forget…”
