Tours & Activities in Kauai

Catamarans, rafts, and zodiacs launch from Port Allen or Hanalei Bay to cruise the full length of the Na Pali cliffs, passing sea caves, waterfalls, and (weather permitting) landing at Nualolo Kai for snorkeling. Many tours run at sunset, timed for the cliffs to glow gold, and dolphins frequently ride the bow wake along the way. Raft tours give a faster, more adventurous ride; larger catamarans offer a smoother, more comfortable option with food and drinks included.

A roughly hour-long helicopter flight is the only way to see the entire island's dramatic geography in one sitting, from the Na Pali cliffs to Waimea Canyon and the remote, waterfall-laced interior of Mount Waialeale, one of the wettest spots on Earth. Doors-off options exist for photographers, and most operators fly out of Lihue Airport. It's a splurge, but consistently rated among visitors' most memorable Kauai experiences.

Hawaii's only navigable river winds inland from the East Side coast past the sacred Fern Grotto, a lava-rock cave draped in hanging ferns once used for royal Hawaiian weddings. Guided kayak tours combine paddling with a short hike to secluded jungle waterfalls, while boat tours offer a gentler, motorized route to the grotto itself. The river also hosts Smith's Tropical Paradise, a garden and luau venue at the marina.

Several ranches and adventure parks, mainly around Koloa and Princeville, run multi-line zipline courses through former sugar and cattle land, with some lines stretching over half a mile and crossing valleys and small waterfalls. Courses are typically graded by thrill level, with combination packages adding zip-lining to ATV rides, swimming holes, or ropes courses on the same property.