The tours
Private tours of Kīlauea and the Puna coast.
Three ways to see the island that’s still being made — always private, always with Scott.
Halemaʻumaʻu from the caldera rim · April 2016
01 — Volcanoes National Park · Summit
Kīlauea Lava Tour
Starting at $150
A private tour of the summit eruption inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Scott walks you through the eruptions that came before and how this whole landscape came to be — then brings you to a safe viewpoint to watch the lava from a distance.
Kīlauea is one of the most active volcanoes in the world, and it rarely looks the same two weeks running. Scott gives you the historical perspective — the earlier eruptions, and how it all evolved — so what you see at the crater actually makes sense.
- Private — just your group
- Inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park
- Lava viewed from a safe distance
Elevated unrest
The Halema'uma'u eruption of Kīlauea is currently paused after episode 56 fountaining ended on November 5. The summit is reinflating and the next episode of lava fountaining is likely more than a week away.
From the Lava Guides archive · August 2016
02 — Puna coast · Car-to-car
Red Road Coastal Tour
Starting at $200
Follow Scott car-to-car through the jungle along the famed Puna coast — the last untouched coastline in Hawaiʻi — to the newest black sand beach on Earth. You stay in your own rental car the whole way, with a 2-way radio in every vehicle because cell coverage out here is limited.
It’s a personalized, follow-me tour: you drive, Scott leads, and the radio keeps the stories coming between stops.
- Follow-me tour in your rental car
- 2-way radio in every vehicle
- Ends at the newest black sand beach on Earth
Twilight on an active flow · January 2013
03 — Volcanoes National Park · After dark
Night Photography Tour
Starting at $325
For photographers who want more than a snapshot. Scott takes you to locations in the park chosen for big volcanic landscapes with the Milky Way overhead, and tailors the night to your group and your gear.
Tours can be custom tailored for individuals or groups. Get your gear ready for your own private photography adventure.
- Private — custom-built for your group
- Locations picked for the Milky Way
- Bring your camera gear
Where we go
The east side of the Big Island.
The lava and night-photography tours stay inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, around Kīlauea’s summit. The Red Road tour follows the Puna coast through the jungle to the sea.
Not sure which fits your trip? Tell Scott what you’d like to see and he’ll build the day around it.
Plan a custom dayGood to know
Before you book.
Something else on your mind? Call 808-640-4098 — Scott’s happy to talk it through.
Will I actually see lava?
Kīlauea’s summit eruption comes and goes in episodes, so it changes week to week. The “Kīlauea right now” panel on the homepage shows the latest USGS update — and if you’re unsure, call before you book and Scott will tell you what the volcano has been doing.
Is it safe?
Yes. The lava tour uses viewing areas inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park that sit a safe distance from the active lava. A safe, educational day is the whole Lava Guides promise.
Do I need my own car for the Red Road tour?
Yes — it’s a car-to-car, follow-me tour. You stay in your own rental car the whole way and follow Scott. Every vehicle gets a 2-way radio, because cell coverage along the Puna coast is limited.
Are the tours private?
Always. Every tour is just your group and your guide, with per-person rates for individuals and small groups.
Can you plan a custom day?
Yes. Tell Scott what you’d like to see and he’ll build the day around it — photography tours especially are tailored to each group.
Ready when you are