This tour is an awesome way to experience the Big Island's diverse scenery while expanding your knowledge of Hawaii in a small-group setting. After pickup from your hotel, embark on your journey to the lush rainforests that populate the east side of the island. Cruise along Highway 19 and pass though the town of Waimea, From Waimea, travel along the eastern flank of Mauna Kea volcano, commonly known as the famous Hamakua Coast. Stop at Laupahoehoe for a visual example of the Pacific Ocean's powerful ability to carve rugged pinnacles. Continue along jungle roads to Akaka Falls. After lunch, head toward Hilo along some of the island's most scenic backroads wind along through lush jungle gorges and past epic ocean vistas. Cap your tour with a visit to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and Kilauea volcano. Gaze into Kilauea's vast summit caldera. Travel the east rift zone of Kilauea along Chain of Craters road and lava flows old and new. Enjoy plenty of time to look around.
Excellent all day tour. Our tour guide Scott did a great job. Scott is very knowledgeable about the geology and history of the area we toured. His van was clean and comfortable. Highly recommend.
Had a great time with Scott on this tour. Scott is extremely knowledgeable, engaging and enjoyable to be around. It's clear he is an expert at what he does and takes pride in ensuring everyone has a positive experience. We learned a lot and felt this was a great way to experience the island. We also appreciated the door to door pick up and drop off, small group size. Would 100% recommend!
We had an awesome time in the Volcano Van! We really appreciated that Scott picked us up directly from our resort. We took a different tour later in our trip and we had to meet the tour group in another town a half hour away; don't make that mistake! Scott was very knowledgeable and showed us many of the amazing sights on the Big Island.
We had a very rainy day, but Scott our tour guide made it a fun day and did the best he could with the weather he was working with. He had umbrellas for all of us, we still could see the lava in the distance even though it was very steamy. The lunch sandwiches were very good and his knowledge and sense of humor made the long car ride very interesting. Would highly recommend this tour.
We booked a private tour. Scott was supposed to pick us up at 9AM at 8:37 AM I received a text that he is going to be late and would get there at 9:20 in order to get his tire patched. Not sure why we were told only approx 20 min before he was supposed to be there. He did get there (later than 9:20) in his dirty van and GPS. We stopped at Tex drive in, he went inside with us and then left to get gas, was gone for quite awhile. He said at the gas station something about the cops having to be called. I could have done without this stop and especially how long we were there for. When I would say something to my husband he would always want to know what we were saying and it made me uncomfortable that after a couple of times we just wouldn’t talk. He was on his phone while driving way more than he should have been and there were a few times his driving scared me tremendously. I really wanted to see the black sand beach and sea turtles but it was going to be a longer drive due to the recent storm so he said “I thought about it and decided not to.” He had some interesting facts but wonder how factual they all were. I asked him him about hospitals on the island and he said there was one and everyone has to go to Oahu. I found this was not true. We got to the waterfall and the person checking us in asked if he was local and he got snippy with her saying he is there almost everyday. In conversation he found out my husband was a veteran and had him get the pass at the National Park, it would have cost $30 of which was in the price we paid. We were fine with the lunch but had to eat it in the car while riding. We got back to town early, after leaving late so the tour was no 9 hours. He was in a hurry to get back to take his girlfriend to dinner. Rent a car, do the easy drive yourself and save a ton of $$$.
Loved this tour! Scott from Volcano Vans was so much fun! Not only super knowledgeable about volcanoes but about the island too. Saw some beautiful sights along the way and had a blast. Highly recommend this tour. Scott Mahalo!
My family really enjoyed the tour with Scott! He was amazing; very knowledgeable in everything we saw, he made plenty of scenic stops and allowed enough time to indulge and take photos. Scott picked us up at our hotel building and kept good communication prior to the day, he provided lunch and snacks, which was nice because he asked what kind of meat we would like on our wraps. We were able to customize our lunch to fit our liking. Scott really engaged with us throughout the tour and refused to let us become bored. It was a small group of us in the volcano van so it felt like a personal experience. Would definitely recommend to family and friends.
We had a great time! We traveled back in March for spring break and it was a perfect way to see the entire island in one day! Highly recommend!
We had the best time with Scott and his adorable assistant, his daughter. Encyclopedia Scott is knowledgeable about literally everything….for real - my youngest son quizzed him on a bunch stuff. We had a great time with him as he gave us a tour of the island and shared information along the way. His daughter helped make the tour even more entertaining! I highly recommend him!
Scott was a great guide! So informative and kept the whole trip entertaining. We were lucky enough to see the volcano erupting and he knew all the great spots for amazing photos.
Our guide, Scott, was extremely knowledgeable about the island and its volcanic history. He took us all over the island stopping at historic sites and ending up at Volcano National Park. We loved every place we toured.
Money well spent. Did a shared tour with another couple. Scott is passionate about volcanoes and very knowledgeable. It was a fun, relaxed tour. We learned a lot and had a great time. Would repeat.
Very small group, 4 people, very knowledgeable guide, loop around the island taking in sites, caldera at Volcano National Park but also flows and explanations of various climates a see diversity of the island.
Great informative. Driver was excellent. Had a great time. Would recommend it highly.. it is a short hike at the Volcano. Wear the correct shoes.
This was a full island experience, our knowledgeable guide Sean knew pretty much everything about the island. From local flora to historic information, we got a wide view of the island and as well as a very detailed and interesting commentary on all things volcanic!
This tour was definitely a favorite and would give 10 stars if I could! Scott was a great tour guide, very personable, funny, and extremely knowledgeable. We circled the entire island with stops at Greenwell Coffee Farm, Punalu’u bakery, black sand beach where we saw quite a few turtles, Volcanoes National Park with stops at the crater and the lava tube, then Akaka falls. It was fun being in such a small group, there were 5 of us plus Scott. I don’t understand earlier reviews saying Scott spent a lot of time on his cell phone. He didn’t do that at all on our tour. He gave us 100% of his attention. I highly recommend this tour and will take it again the next time I’m on the big island
Scott was a fantastic tour guide. He provided a lot of great information along the route. The tour included many stops at various points of interest. Overall it was a really good day. There were a couple stops I could have done without, one being the coffee tasting and the other being the lava tube. Given the construction of the lava tube, this just seemed like a “regular cave”. The waterfall stop was ok but also didn’t add a whole lot to the journey. However the black sand beach and sea turtles and the volcano summit stops were both amazing!
My God, Scott took us a driving trip of a life time. We had very little knowledge of what life is like on an actively volcanic island. Fear drove us towards new horizons, with an exceptional captain at the helm. Scott's depth of knowledge -- not only of volcanos-- but his knowledge of the various temperate climates we explored, the historic knowledge and island lore.. every bridge brought us more joy and knowledge. Thank you, Scott, from both the old gal and me. Mahalo!
Scott was an excellent guide and knowledgeable about the volcanos and the area sites and very personable. It was unfortunate that we were not able to view an eruption and we did catch a bit of rain but the tour was nevertheless enjoyable. I would have given the experience a 5 star review if we saw an eruption but that is no slight on Scott. He is a 5 star guide.
Scott is passionate and enthusiastic and knowledgeable about colxanos. over an 9!hour tour he answers questions and brings guests to reveal secrets of the physical evolution of the big island
A great day! Almost 9 hours but was worth every minute. Guide was very knowledgeable about volcanoes and history of the island. We did not feel rushed and the sights and sounds of the island were amazing. Greatly recommend this tour.
Scott was very knowledge, very friendly and accommodating. We loved the tour and highly recommend. It was a great way to experience so much of the island in one day!
There’s a ton of ways you can tour around the big island, and we lucked out on our very first attempt 11 years ago when someone recommended Scott’s tour to us. The tour was great, we decided to get married while in the van, and then got married the next day! Well, we went back to Hawaii this year and took Scott’s tour again (exactly 11 years later to the day), and had another wonderful experience. Here’s why: Scott is extremely friendly and works hard to integrate all the people who just met (5 people in our case). There’s good conversation in the van as you go around — it’s not a short tour so this is important. it’s not called the volcano van for nothing. Scott knows his stuff. Tephra! The 3D map at the coffee farm and all the lessons were appreciated. I am a scientist (albeit neuroscience), and I was happy that I could learn something along the way. The beauty of the points on the tour speak for themselves, but for me (for example), understanding why the sand is black at the black sand beach makes it even more fun (I mean, we could drive ourselves to all these places, or read about them extensively, but we wanted the tour experience). Scott was very flexible and added a stop at my wife’s request — and the other people were also very kind to accommodate us. And we finished everything on time. We saw turtles at the black sand beech, held stuff it our hands that had been inside the earth the week before, were basically inside a volcano!, and went from desert to rainforest and back. I wasn’t sure going in that it would be as good as our first tour, but it definitely was. If not better. Will have to try one of his other tours next time!
Scott 😊 Thank you so much for another amazing tour! This was our second time joining your tour. On our first tour, we decided to get married during the trip, and the very next day we had our wedding on the Big Island. It became such a special and unforgettable experience for us. The tour was so fun and fulfilling that we always said we wanted to join again someday. So for our 11th anniversary, we knew we had to come back to your tour! Once again, you took us to places we had never been before, and the group was wonderful. With your knowledge, energy, and great sense of humor, it truly became the best day ever. Thank you for kindly going along with my request to visit the Hilo Daijingu shrine. I’m sorry for being a bit selfish, but it turned into a beautiful memory for us ✨ We will definitely join your tour again the next time we come to the Big Island! Mahalo and thank you always 😊
We started the day with a viewing of a 3D map of the island which helps to put all of the volcanos in perspective. The tour is small which allows you to ask all your questions and learn more than you ever thought possible about volcanos. From the lava tube to the black sand beach to the volcano itself the day was amazing. Breath taking to end the note with the waterfall and the gorgeous coast. A full day of fun and adventure.
Scott was great ; attentive , knowledgeable and friendly. We had a very pleasant time learning about the history/culture of the big island and getting a close up of the volcano. Also please support small local business.
Scott was a wealth of info. The tour had a nice variety of scenic stops. Loved being at Kilauea Volcano & walking through the lava tunnel!
The Volcano Van is an awesome experience. What a great way to learn about the Big Island! Scott is so knowledgeable about each of the volcanoes and every part of the island. The scenery is breathtaking. Driving between the various microclimates is unforgettable. Scott will take you to places you would never see touring on your own. The Volcano Van is a must!
I was a little worried when I realized I had booked a very small tour, and when the minivan pulled up, I was still a little concerned. I began to relax a little as soon as I met Scott. If you are Super uptight, and are just looking for a chauffeur to drive you around and leave you alone, this is probably not the tour for you! However, if you want to experience the best parts of the island, and have a commentary on what you are seeing, you should definitely book this tour! Scott is very knowledgeable about the island, and has an entertaining way of presenting the island to his guests. It is a LONG day, but we saw and experienced more things in one day with Scott, than we did in 5 days on Oahu by ourselves. This excursion will definitely be one of the best things we did on our 2 week Hawaii vacation. I just wish Scott was available for tours on the other islands as well!
We had an absolutely incredible time. Scott was a great and thoughtful host. He was very knowledgeable about all the islands and especially the volcanos. When it started to rain he even had umbrellas for us. I highly recommend the excursion. Saw the Big Island in a whole new light.
Tour was great as Scott is very knowledgeable and clearly loves showing off his adopted home state. He was pleasant and courteous. We would tour with him again if we’re lucky enough to come back to the big isle.
Had a great time with Scott, who timed it so we saw volcanic eruptions etc. just in time. The day was filled with adventure and we saw lots of incredible sights. He also recommended a seafood restaurant, Umeke's, which we greatly enjoyed after the trip, and even dropped us off there!
Scott was super knowledgeable and took us all over the island. It was helpful to have a guide take us to places where we may have not gone. It’s a long day but completely worth it.
The guide, Scott, called and texted me to let me know when to expect him and to ask about sandwiches wraps for snack… but I missed all the calls. No matter, he came as he said he would
Scott takes you on a day long adventure exploring the diverse Big Island. Falls with breathtaking views, an active volcano with plums of smoke ever few seconds. The ocean slamming its onto rocks and spraying water. The BEST DONUT EVER!. A walk through a lava tube !Tasty wraps for lunch. Scott is funny and is a wealth of information about volcanos and the different environment on the Big Island. You can tell its his passion to educate. The day went quick. The small tour is the way to go.
Super tour!!! Scott has amazing energy and knows everything about the area. He was also kind, considerate and understanding of my husband's needs as a disabled traumatic brain injury survivor. Scott is a gem!
Best experience ever. Scott is the best and it was like touring the island with old friends. I would highly recommend this if you have never done it.
Scott is amazing and his knowledge of the island is amazing. This was such fun and saw things that you would miss if you didn’t take his tour.
We had a great time, Scott was very personable and knowledgeable. We learned a lot and saw some beautiful things
This is definitely worth the price. It was a full day experience where we saw six different ecosystems and learned a lot about the volcanoes on the islands because Scott was amazing. He was super knowledgeable about the volcanoes in the island and he was also super fun. Hawaiian driving lesson: don’t pass on the shoulder or you’ll get a ticket! (Not us)
Scott was very personable and knowledgeable and took us to some beautiful spots on the island. He tried hard to keep everyone happy, but it's a long day. We had 7 people in an old Toyota Sienna minivan - my family of 4, 2 other guests, and our guide. My 6 foot tall husband and 2 teenagers were in the very back for almost 9 hours of driving. If we had known this was the vehicle we would be in with 7 people, I would have cancelled or booked a different operator. I went back to see if I missed this info, but I didn't find photos or info on the vehicle anywhere in the booking details. Just because you can fit 7 people in a minivan doesn't mean you should for an all-day drive. Max should be 4 guests, assuming you put 1 kid in the way back.
Outstanding in every way! Our tour guide was very well educated and passionate about volcanoes and the big island. The stops we made were unforgettable and nicely organized. Lunch was delicious!
Tour was very informative 👌 a day full of volcano sights and history. With a side trip to enjoy some local cusone. Thank you Scott!
Scott is extremely knowledgeable of all things pertaining to the island, particularly the volcanic aspects. This is a great tour for seeing the island in a day.
Our tour with Scott around the island was amazing!! We even got to experience a volcano erupting!! And the green sea turtles appeared at the black sand beach!! We went to see the Akaka waterfall too!! Couldn’t have experienced it any better!! Incredible thank you!
I felt excluded from the tour as he would not wait for me as I am disabled I need a walker for assistance
This is easily the best viator tour that I ever had. Scott was friendly and patient. He was extremely knowledgeable about volcanoes. He took us to places that we didn't expect. It was not just a tour of the volcanoes, but a tour of the island itself. We had a great day.
Can’t recommend enough!! Scott was incredible! He knew a lot about the culture and was well informed. He truly made our experience so exciting and fun!
Had a great day with our guide seeing the sights and learning the history of the island. We saw waterfalls; the volcano, the beach and everything in between. We even stopped at the famous Tex for Malasadas.. and they’re delicious. It was a wonderful experience.
This was an unbelievable experience and an incredible way to see so much of the Big Island! Scott was an extremely knowledgeable, professional guide. He described each site as we travelled so we understood the history and learned how each region connected with the rest of the island. He checked in with us throughout the day to make sure we were having a great time and had all of the water and photos we wanted. This tour was phenomenal and the highlight of our trip!
Monday through Friday 9 am to 7 pm EST
Reach us by phone
Reach us by email