Itinerary

Day 1: Kona to Captain Cook

You head south today, down the Kona Coast to the world-famous Kona coffee district.
Moderate riders first head inland from Kona – climbing up to Holualoa. This small settlement sits at 1,300 feet and is surrounded by coffee plantations. From here it is an easy cruise into Captain Cook.
Moderate: 15 miles with 1,900 ft of climbing
Leisure riders head south from Kona, hugging the coast and skirting around numerous bays before climbing up to the small enclave of Captain Cook.
Leisure: 15 miles, 1,650 feet of climbing.
Challenge riders follow the Leisure route out of Kona but add on a loop down to The Place of Refuge National Park.
Challenge: 25 miles with 3,000 ft of climbing.
Epic riders start with a detour up Kaloko Drive. Climbing 3,000 feet in just 7 miles, this is something of a local challenge. Riders then follow the Challenge route to Captain Cook.
NOTE: These routes and distances are for guests staying at the Ka’awa Loa Plantation. Mileage and routing will be a little different for guests staying at other accommodations.
Epic: 60 miles with 7,500 ft of climbing.
Overnight town: Captain Cook
Captain Cook is a cluster of B&BS, low-key restaurants, and cafés. The town’s boundaries lie between 800- and 2,000-feet, which makes it an ideal area for growing coffee as well as having stunning ocean views.

Day 2: Captain Cook to Volcano

The jewel in today’s ride is the stunningly beautiful- and-deserted Cane Haul Road. This quiet back road takes you through woodland, sugar-cane fields, and meadows. You also get great views of cinder cones and the ocean.
Today’s Moderate ride starts with a van transfer the Kahuku Unit – a little-known part of the Volcanoes National Park set among lush grasslands. From here you ride to the tiny village of Naalehu an unassuming town with a great Hawaiian bakery. You then ride the length of Cane Haul Road – an almost deserted road across open grasslands with stunning ocean views. The ride ends at the old sugar-town of Pahala from where you take a van transfer to the town of Volcano.
Moderate: 25 miles with 2,100 ft of climbing
Leisure riders transfer to Naalehu where they join the Moderate ride.
Leisure: 15 miles with 2,000 ft of climbing
Challenge riders follow the Moderate route but at Pahala continue on the highway all the way to the town of Volcano.
Challenge: 50 miles with 4,600 ft of climbing
Epic riders following the Challenge route but add on a scenic in-and-out ride down to South Point –the most southerly point in the United States.
Epic: 65 miles with 6,000 ft of climbing
Overnight town: Volcano
The village of Volcano is a small cluster of houses, restaurants and stores in a rain forest just outside Volcanoes National Park. Being uphill from the calderas, however, it is unaffected by lava flows. The rain makes for very lush vegetation but the elevation (3,700 ft) means that temperatures are relatively cool.

Day 3: Volcano Loops

Today you visit Volcanoes National Park – one of the must-visit sites in Hawaii. The park encompasses two active volcanoes: Kīlauea, the world’s most active volcano, and Mauna Loa, one of the world’s largest volcanoes. The park has dramatic landscapes as well as rare flora and fauna.
The Moderate loop does a circuit of the park that includes the Kilauea Visitor Center, steam vents, lava tubes and part of the famous Chain of Craters Road that goes from lush forest to lava desert in just a few miles.
Moderate: 30 miles with 2,200 feet of climbing
The Leisure ride includes most of sights of the Moderate ride but does not go down the Chain of Craters Road.
Leisure: 15 miles with 800 feet of climbing
Challenge riders follow the Chain of Craters Road all the way down to the ocean, where the road has been terminated by recent lava flows. The climb back up rises over 4,000 feet and has expansive views.
Challenge: 50 miles with 4,500 feet of climbing
Epic riders first complete the Challenge ride and then add on 10-mile climb up a small, single-track lane to the Mauna Loa Lookout.
Epic: 70 miles with 7,400 feet of climbing

Day 4: Volcano to Hilo

Today you ride from the rain forests of Volcano at over 3,500 feet down to steamy, laid-back Hilo on the east coast of the Island.
The Moderate ride follows a direct route from Volcano to Hilo. The first few miles are on the highway but you are descending and soon complete this section of the ride. In the small hamlet of Mountain View, you leave the highway and travel on small, little-traveled roads through verdant countryside all the way to Hilo.
Moderate: 30 miles with 400 feet of climbing
The Leisure ride starts with a van transfer to Mountain View where it joins the moderate route into Hilo.
Leisure: 15 miles with 370 feet of climbing
The Challenge ride starts with a loop of the Volcanoes National Park before following he Moderate route into Hilo.
Challenge: 45 miles with 1,100 feet of climbing
The Epic ride starts with a deeper incursion into the Volcanoes National Park – to Hilina Pali Overlook – before following the Moderate route into Hilo.
Epic: 60 miles with 2,300 feet of climbing
Overnight town: Hilo
The relaxed, lush, charming city of Hilo seems trapped in a 1950s time-warp – and therein lies its charm. Despite being ignored by most tourists, the town has good museums and vibrant markets. It is also the fourth wettest city in the USA but showers are typically short and most of the rain falls at night.

Day 5: Hilo to Waimea

Today you head north from steamy Hilo up to the cooler ranch lands around Waimea.
The Moderate ride starts with a van transfer to Laupahoehoe. This small town has a train museum and fine views down to the Ocean. You then ride north on the highway, parallel to the Ocean, to Honoka’a. From Honoka’a, you ride west along the Old Mamalahoa Highway. This little-traveled road climbs through tropical woodland – in places the trees completely cover the road creating a verdant, magical tunnel. Soon, you emerge into open ranch- land, with fine views up to Mauna Kea. It is then an easy cruise into the cowboy town of Waimea.
Moderate: 35 miles with 3,700 feet of climbing
Leisure riders start with a van transfer to Honoka’a where they join the Moderate ride.
Leisure: 15 miles with 2,000 feet of climbing
Challenge riders start out on the Moderate route and add in an in-and-out ride from Honoka’a to the Waipio Overlook with its iconic views down to the Waipio Valley.
Challenge: 50 miles with 4,800 feet of climbing
Epic riders start in Hilo from where they ride along the coast to Laupahoehoe to join the Challenge route.
Epic: 80 miles with 6,700 feet of climbing
Overnight town: Waimea
Waimea is surrounded by the Parker Ranch – the largest privately owned cattle ranch in the US – and paniolo (cowboy) culture dominates the town. There are thriving art galleries, gourmet restaurants and homely cafes. The climate is surprisingly cool – sometimes more reminiscent of Ireland than the Aloha State.

Day 6: Waimea to Kona

Today you leave highland Hawaii and descend to the coast and the white-sand beaches of classic Hawaii. As you ride, the high grasslands give way to lava fields down at sea level.
Moderate riders head south from town across open grassland before enjoying a 10-mile descent down to the Ocean at Waikoloa Beach. From here, you continue down the coast – across lava fields – all the way to Kailua-Kona.
Moderate: 55 miles with 1,500 feet of climbing
Leisure riders start out on the Moderate route but their ride ends when they reach the resorts at Waikoloa Beach.
Leisure: 25 miles with 500 feet of climbing
Challenge riders head north from Waimea, climbing over the shoulder of Kohala Mountain to the small artists community of Hawi. On the descent into Hawi, you can see the island of Maui in the distance. From Hawi, you parallel the coast down to Waikoloa Beach where you join the Moderate route for the ride into Kona. Hawi to Kona is also the return leg of the Ironman Triathlon. Whichever route you choose, your guide will meet you, at the end of your ride for your end-of-tour transfer.
Challenge: 75 miles with 3,600 feet of climbing
As this is the last day of your tour, there is no overnight accommodation unless explicitly requested on booking

* This is a general itinerary. Tour itineraries are subject to change based on the group, available accommodations and other unforeseen circumstances such as the weather, local conditions, government intervention, that may affect the quality of the trip and/or safety of the participants. Please view this itinerary as an outline as to what to expect on this tour.

Lodging

Hawaii Big Island self guided bike tour

Captain Cook: Ka’awa Loa Plantation
This charming guesthouse is and coffee farm sits in a 5-acre tropical estate at 1,200 feet – just below the town of Captain Cook. Owner-managers Greg and Michael are gracious hosts and make a great breakfast. The building is a classic Hawaiian plantation home. Most guests choose to self-cater for their dinner; your guide will help with logistics. If you would like a transfer to one of local Captain Cook restaurants, please give as much notice as possible as the transfer is in high demand and subject to availability.

Hilo: Naniloa Hotel
The Grand Naniloa is a modern hotel located at the end of a peninsula just outside of Hilo. The hotel is modern with spacious rooms. The hotel is convenient, clean and comfortable rather than charming though the location – on the bay – is nice. The property is 1½ miles from the center of Hilo but there are dining options nearby.

Volcano: Kilauea Lodge
Set in tropical gardens, this relaxed lodge has a mix of rooms and cottages. The property was originally a summer camp – now renovated to be a comfortable B&B. The lodge has a hot tub and a nice restaurant. The property is a mile from the entrance to Volcanoes National Park.

Waimea: Kamuela Inn
The Kamuela Inn is right in the center of town and an easy walk to shops and restaurants. Rooms are simple, cozy and nicely finished with new bathrooms. The inn has been recently renovated and significantly upgraded. Overall, the inn is an unpretentious, clean and comfortable place to relax with great views of the Mauna Kea volcano.

Volcano – Upgrade Volcano House
Volcano House This hotel – on the very rim of the Kilauea Caldera – is all about location. It is the only hotel in the Volcanoes National Park and the views are spectacular. The hotel was completely renovated in 2013 though the rooms and bathrooms are still relatively modest. The property is 2½ miles from the village but there is a restaurant in the hotel. A hotel upgrade is available in Volcano to the Volcano House for $130 per room per night.

Captain Cook: – Upgrade Horizon Guest House
The Horizon Guest House is an elegant inn situated at 1,100 feet on the slopes of Mauna Loa. The inn is set on 40 acres of sloping pasture lands with spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean. The property includes an Infinity Edge swimming pool and Jacuzzi. Your host, Clem, is extremely welcoming and well informed. A hotel upgrade is available in Captain Cook to the Horizon Guest House for $300.- per room per night

Tips & Notes
The Waipi’o Wayside is 2½ miles outside of Honoka’a but the manager will drive you to dinner by prior arrangement. NOTE: This is the tropical side of the island and the coquí frogs can be quite loud at
night. In Hilo, we can drive you to dinner by prior arrangement. The Ka’awa Loa Plantation and the Horizon Guest House are 1½ miles and 10 miles respectively from the center of Captain Cook. Please
agree with your guide at the start of your tour if you would prefer to selfcater or take our complimentary transfer to dinner

Included:

• Private transfer from downtown Kailua-Kona.
• Return transfer no later than 3:00 PM local time at the end of your tour.
• Bike set up and detailed map briefing at the start of your tour. GPS smartphone app plus maps, and a custom guidebook; one set per couple.
• Guide available by phone from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
• On-call roadside assistance available from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM for mechanical issues.
• Luggage transported between lodgings and wine collection service.
• Transfers along all or part of the route to coincide with luggage moves – to be arranged at least 24 hours in advance.
• Snacks and ride food.
• Advice and personalized suggestions for restaurants and activities
• Accommodation for each night of your tour with breakfast the following morning (unless breakfast is explicitly excluded in the accommodation description earlier).
• Prices quoted are per person but assume there are two people sharing a room. We book standard rooms with one bed unless an upgrade is requested and then extra charges may apply. Accommodation is subject to availability at the time of booking.

Not included:

• Flights to and from the tour.
• Lunches and dinners though we are pleased to make reservations for you.
• An on-bike guide.
• Transfers to sites to which it is not practical to ride. We are pleased to arrange for such transfers for a fee.
• Activities such as snorkeling, kayaking tours, helicopter flights and spa treatments (our guides would be pleased to make suggestions)

Pricing / Tour dates

Tour price 2024/2025 from: $ 3120.- pp single fee, ask for price
Volcano hotel upgrade $130.00 per room per night
Captain cook hotel upgrade $300.00 per room per night
Tour date 2024/2025:
You can start this tour any date whole year round.
From leisure to epic cycling, the route can be customized to your wishes.

Optional extras:
Transfers to Kona International Airport
There is a $50 surcharge per couple, per transfer for drop-offs at Kona International (KOA) Airport. Only available on the last days of the tour.
Kayaking and Snorkeling
There are good options for kayaking and snorkeling on Kealakekua Bay near Captain Cook. Reservations recommended.
Volcano Tours
Volcano tours are an option when staying in either Captain Cook or Kailua-Kona. The tours last all day, cost $200 per person, and include transport, private tour guide, and the entrance fee for Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park.
Route Customization
If you would prefer alternative routing – staying in different overnight towns or with more or fewer loop days – we would be pleased to customize this itinerary

Conditions

Deposit $620.-pp
The deposit payment for a tour must be paid within two weeks after the booking is confirmed.
The remaining payment is due 90 days before the start of the tour.
For tours that are booked within 90 days before the start of the tour you will pay 100% of the tour price

Information

ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE INFORMATION
Most people choose to fly in and out of Kona International Airport (KOA). There are direct flights from Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, Oakland, Phoenix, Portland, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, and Vancouver.
There are a number of options for getting from the airport:
SpeediShuttle offer a door-to-door, fixed-rate shuttle service. Fares to Kailua-Kona are around $20 pp for a shared service or $100 for a private transfer. They also serve the Kohala Coast hotels with private transfers. 1-877-242-5777 / www.speedishuttle.com.
Taxis operate from the airport and are typically a little more expensive than the shuttle service.
Uber and Lyft operate throughout the island.

Where to stay before or after your tour:
Many guests choose to stay at a beachside resort after their tour to relax after enjoying exercise and exploration. There are good options in Kailua-Kona or on the Kohala Coast.

Climate
There’s no bad time to visit Hawaii! The Big Island enjoys a mild climate year round – with temperatures on the coast between 70°F and 80°F. Winter lasts from November through April and is slightly cooler and dryer than summer. However, location is the real predictor of temperature and rainfall. Generally the west coast is hot and dry. It gets wetter the further east you go and cooler the higher up you go – especially in the evening. Like any tropical island, there can be windy days.