The Big Island and Maui

Whales, Waterfalls, Rain Forest

Trip Details

sea turtle swimming in a clear blue ocean

What’s Included? Everything you need, plus everything you want.

  • Hawaii! Yes, indeed. A trip highlight is the mere fact that you’ve chosen Hawaii. Let’s face it, when you’re on any of these islands, you’ve got sun, sand, saltwater, Hawaiian culture, extraordinary sea life, waterfalls, mountains, dramatic cliffs, and an array of outdoor activities at every turn.
  • Wonderful accommodations: An ocean view is the common thread in all of the accommodations on this trip, and each accommodation also boasts a swimming pool (or two or three), onsite activities, easy access to offsite activities, and dining on the premises or within a short walk.
  • Outside: That’s where you’ll be spending 99 percent of your vacation! And why wouldn’t you, with warm temperatures, sun and shade, swimming in the ocean or in the pool, beachside dining, mountains for hiking, waters for snorkeling, and open-air just about everything?

The Big Island and Maui

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

Select Terms & Conditions

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.

Energy Index

Energy Index Spectrum

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 Big Island and Maui

The Big Island and Maui - Energy Index

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

How custom-made travel works at Off the Beaten Path

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!

Itinerary

Days 1-3: Kohala Coast, The Big Island of Hawaii

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. 

Days 4-5: Hana, Maui

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. 

Days 6-8: Wailea, Maui

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. 

Day 9: Fly Home from Maui

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”!) 

Start Planning My Trip

Lodging

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