Whales, Waterfalls, Rain Forest
Trip Type: Custom-Made Travel
Territory: North America
Region: Pacific Islands
Trip Price: $8,450
Duration: 9 days/8 nights
Trip Begins/Ends: The Big Island, Hawaii / Maui, Hawaii
National Parklands: Hawaii Volcanoes NP;Haleakala NP
All custom travel is tailored to the desires and interests of our traveling clients (see How Custom Travel Works tab). Trip pricing detailed is an estimate of the per person pricing for the sample itinerary detailed and includes all of the lodging, activities, and guided experiences described. Actual pricing for the trip designed expressly for you and others traveling with you will depend on the features and elements developed during the trip planning process. Travel with Off the Beaten Path requires agreement to our standard Terms & Conditions.
No Sweat - 1-2 miles of walking or hiking per day, plus easy activities
Nice & Active – 3-6 miles of hiking or walking per day, plus physically active exploration
High Five! – 5-10 miles of hiking per day, plus possible peak bagging or other action-oriented fun
The Energy Index detailed above relates to the level of exertion associated with the sample trip detailed. This would be modified to fit the style and ability of your group as a part of the custom trip planning process
We’ve been tailoring custom journeys for clients since our very inception in the mid-1980s! The process is all about connecting the interests of the travelers with the best that a given destination has to offer. To achieve this, we rely upon good ol’ fashioned conversation! Our geographically focused travel designer love to meet new people and learn about their interests for travel. Understanding your goals informs the process immensely and serves as the foundation for the development of a bespoke travel experience for you and yours.
The trip detailed on this web page is a sample of something we’ve done for other clients over the years. In order to start the process of designing your own custom travel experience, just call us at (800) 445-2995 and ask to speak with one of our Travel Advisors. After a bit of time on the phone, you will then have the opportunity to connect with one of our travel designers.
The entire planning process is very personalized and works in an iterative fashion until a final, perfect trip has been created. We then secure all of the lodging, activities, and guided experiences associated with your trip and send along abundant trip materials capturing these details – and much more about your travels!
Welcome to the Big Island of Hawaii! Make your way to your accommodations, on the edge of one of the most beautiful beaches – and the best swimming beach – on Hawaii. Away from it all, yet within an easy distance, Mauna Lani Bay is an idyllic location from which to explore. Speaking of which… explorations over the course of three days will include a guided half day of snorkeling in Kealakekua Bay, a full day of hiking and exploring in Volcanoes National Park, and an extraordinary helicopter tour, flying over the active Kilauea Volcano to see lava flows and black sand beaches, the lush rainforests of the Hamakua Coast, and the towering sea cliffs and meandering valleys of the Kohala Mountains. A smaller resort to retreat to at day’s end sweetens the deal, with an array of amenities and activities, beachside dining, and spectacular sunsets.
Fly to Maui, pick up your rental vehicle, and drive straight for Hana along the famed 50-mile Hana Highway. This remarkable stretch of road doesn’t really stretch per se – it winds, and winds, and winds, until you find yourself in your destination enclave. Lodge at the recently renovated Travaasa Hana, perched over Hana Bay. On your full day, we suggest a hike to one of a number of destinations – perhaps the King’s Trail in Wai’anapanapa State Park or the Seven Sacred Pools of Ohe’o in Haleakala National Park.
Make your way around the island to Wailea, taking the time to take it all in en route. (Off the Beaten Path’s Journey Guidebook provides plenty of suggestions for things to see and do as you make your way from Point A to Point B!) Upon arrival, check into your beach villa on the shoreline of Wailea, and relax and indulge, just steps from the sand and saltwater. With two full days, spend one hiking to a classic Hawaiian waterfall, with clear pools for swimming. On your second day, head to the top of the massive Haleakala Volcano, hop on a bicycle, and enjoy an exhilarating ride down the mountain road, 25 miles in all! En route, stop in the small town of Makawao, Maui’s “cowboy town,” with rich ranching history.
It’s time to leave Hawaii behind, but we’re sure you’ll return home with a little bit of “Aloha” to last until the next time. (And you’ll surely want a “next time”!)
Set on the sunny Kohala Coast, the multi-award-winning Mauna Lani Bay Hotel, just underwent a massive renovation to give the hotel a luxurious makeover. The resort, one of the first to be built on the island, is a most welcoming retreat, set in a quiet area with lush gardens and fish ponds, and graced with a white sandy beach, alongside which sea turtles enjoy swimming! The resort offers a wide array of amenities, activities, and dining options, and the location allows for easy access to Waimea, Kona, and all the west-side beaches.The resort still has the local, small feel to it, with a fresh new look!
Recently voted as the Number One Resort in Hawaii by Conde Nast Traveler, Hana Maui is an oasis of tranquility and beauty on an island that can feel overly crowded and touristy if you end up in the wrong places. The property is set amid rolling grass fields and palm trees above Hana Bay, with sweeping ocean views and many attractive amenities including separate swimming pools for families and adults-only, a fabulous on-site restaurant, and a fantastic spa for pampering and indulgence. There are many activities on site to choose from each day, including yoga, cultural tours, horseback riding, outrigger canoe rides, and much more!
Located along the spectacular shoreline of Wailea, on the magical island of Maui, Wailea Beach Villas holds the distinction as Maui's most exclusive beachfront villa resort. Situated among world-class spas, championship golf courses, and Maui's "celebrity chef" restaurants; Wailea Beach Villas offers an 11-acre private sanctuary behind secured gates. A tropical oasis of waterfalls and blooming gardens along quiet, tiki-lit pathways leads to a reserved section of award-winning Wailea Beach and the Wailea Beach Walk - a picturesque pathway that meanders along the coastline, providing guests easy access to the spas and restaurants at the Grand Wailea, Andaz, Four Seasons and Fairmont Kea Lani. Just steps from the sand and amid the extravagant Wailea resort community, this discreetly hidden and private resort is the only one to offer private pedestrian access to the boutiques, restaurants and arts galleries at The Shops at Wailea.
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