Diamond Head Hike & Honolulu Nature Tour

Venture outside bustling modern Waikiki and immerse yourself in Hawaii’s fascinating history and natural beauty on this small group tour exploring Honolulu heights. Kick off the morning early, for the best photos and to enjoy cooler temperatures and less crowds, with a guided hike up Honolulu’s landmark Diamond Head crater, learning about how the now-extinct volcanic crater and other volcanoes throughout the Hawaiian archipelago shaped the islands into what they are today.

After a gourmet cooked breakfast to recharge, embark on a scenic windy drive up Mount Tantalus and its tropical jungle environment for a panoramic view of Honolulu, including Diamond Head crater and Waikiki, from a different vantage point. After a visit to this famous stop, you’ll be taken to an off-the-beaten-path gem — Lyon Arboretum and Botanical Garden, hidden within tropical Manoa Valley. Your local Naturalist guide, with a rich knowledge and passion for Hawaii’s natural world, will lead a walking tour among varied exotic flora and fauna, both native to Hawaii and brought in from settlers over centuries. It’s a beautiful and peaceful setting that will leave you relaxed and enlightened as the tour concludes and you are returned to what feels like a world away in nearby developed Honolulu.

Included: expert guide, transport (from Waikiki or Ko Olina/West Oahu), all admission fees, hot breakfast, snacks, drinks, rain gear, daypacks, walking sticks, and bug spray

If you are unable to do an available date, please email us with the number of people and all possible dates, and we may be able to open up another date for you.

• The hike of Diamond Head is guided so you get more out of it, including learning about the many Honolulu landmarks visible from the top
• Not simply an overpriced shuttle service like many others
• Well regarded tour operator specializing in small group eco-tours with expert guides, and has been active in Hawaii for almost 30 years
• Includes all the gear you might need, including rain gear, daypacks, walking sticks, and bug spray

Oahu Revealed guidebook:

Diamond Head: the iconic volcano crater that defines the Honolulu skyline. Just like the Statue of Liberty in New York, you're practically required to visit it. Once you're at the summit, it's all worth it. Waikiki looks beautiful from up here.

Tantalus: Not to be missed. You'll gain an appreciation of Honolulu's beauty you never really expected. Pure majesty of a view.

Lyon Arboretum: A nice place to get away and explore a real rain forest environment, with 194 acres of jungle, an intermittent small waterfall, wild cockatoos, and unusual and exotic plants & flowers from around the world.

Lonely Planet Oahu guidebook:

Diamond Head: Oahu's Top 15. Honolulu's best-known landmark. One of Oahu's top hikes, with fantastic views.

Lyon Arboretum: Beautiful walking trails wind through this highly regarded arboretum

Fodor's Oahu guidebook:

Diamond Head: This 360-degree perspective is a great orientation for first-time visitors. On a clear day, glimpse the outlines of the island of Maui. The view is worth it. To beat the heat and the crowds, rise early and make the hike before 8 am.

Lyon Arboretum: Tucked all the way back in Manoa Valley, this is a gem of an arboretum operated by the University of Hawaii.

• Supports the Lyon Arboretum and its research & conservation mission
• Recognized at the local, state, and international levels as a leader in sustainable tourism
• Certified by the Hawai’i Ecotourism Association
• Donates to and partners with local environmental and community organizations
• Reusable containers and water bottles to reduce waste

• Fully refundable until 24 hours prior to activity

• 4.712% Hawaii/Oahu sales tax (GET)