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Kilauea Volcano Special

- 4-days tour to discover Kilauea volcano, Hawai'i -

Tour code: HAW_KVS
Tour type: Geologic walking & study tour: active volcanoes - geology & volcanism
Difficulty: Custom (variable)
Duration: 5 days / 4 nights

Dates:

Custom and group dates
14-17 Oct 12

Price (p.p.): $ 1290  ? 

Included:

  • 3 nights accommodation in double (shared) room (Hilo oceanside hotel with sea view rooms)
  • Plentiful half board (breakfast buffet & restaurant dinner including drinking water)
  • All transportation on the Big Island in private van / minibus
  • Park entry and museum fees
  • Professional volcanologist / geologist guide
  • Accompanying material

Tour guide:

The tour is organized and accompanied by a trained volcanologist who has worked at the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and lives on Hawaii.

Kilauea Special (4 days)

Note:
For a tour like this, there is NO 100% fixed schedule. Instead, the program will be adjusted according to volcanic activity, weather conditions and preferences of the group. Our aim will be to observe the ongoing activity from close up if possible and weather conditions permitting. A rough schedule could look like this:

Day 1: Arrival in Hilo - Kilauea's caldera

The summit caldera of Kilauea volcano on Hawai'i
Arrival on the Big Island at Hilo airport, pick-up and transfer to your hotel at the Hilo seaside.
If your arrival leaves time, we can drive to the Kilauea volcano for a first impression, an introductio and a walk to explore the area around the rim of the caldera of Kilauea volcano, with its lush rainforest on one side and the dry, desert-like lava landscape on the other.
Acc.: : Comfortable seaside hotel in Hilo (D)

Day 2: Kilauea volcano’s summit and active eruption

The summit of Kilauea is a significant focus of Hawaiian culture and legend and one of the volcanically most active spots on the planet. The growth of Kilauea, directed by the volcano goddess Pele, is recorded as living history in the plethora of geological features around the highest point of the volcano: steam vents, fumaroles, faults, lava tubes, explosive debris, historic lava flows, and the current eruption of Kilauea volcano within Halema'uma'u crater - home of Pele and sacred to Hawaiians.
Depending on weather etc. conditions, we spend part of the day on a hike in the area of the summit caldera to see some of its major features, descending from the rim down to the floor, where we walk on the surface of a frozen lava lake. way see fumaroles, steam vents, faults, lava tubes, frozen historic lava flows.
If conditions permitting, we use the afternoon and evening to see active lava flows at the coast in the evening.
Acc.: : as before (Volcano or Hilo) (B, D)

The frozen surface of the lava lake inside Kilauea Iki crater seen from the caldera rim
Walking across a field of fumaroles
Lehua blossom on a small Ohia tree

Day 3: The world's largest lava tube - active lava flows hike

In the morning, we visit what is the largest known continuous lava tube in the world. Once, a mighty river of lava was flowing here for over 20 miles down from the summit of Kilauea to the sea. Today, it is a pristine lava tube with accessible sections full of volcanic wonders, such as streamlined current eddies once formed by the flowing lava inside. We'll spend about 3-4 hours inside the lava tube to explore some of them. If conditions permit, we hike out to areas in the coastal lava flow field where there is interesting volcanic activity, e.g. active pahoehoe flows, lava pouring into the sea etc.
Acc.: : as before (Vulcano or Hilo) (B, D)

Inside Hawai'i's largest lava tube
Lava close-up

Day 4: End of tour - transfer to / departure from Kailua-Kona airport

Departure (transfer to airport) from Kailua-Kona airport or own extension program (a short excursion in the area can be offered if time permits).
Acc.: : none (B)