The Best of Hawaii

Tour begins: 4:30 PM, The Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort. A transfer is included from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport to your extraordinary resort, The Royal Hawaiian – affectionately known as the "Pink Palace of the Pacific" – set on the white sand shores of Waikiki Beach. Stay in ocean-view accommodations. Tonight, your Tauck Hawaii tour begins with an exclusive evening – a private after-hours tour, reception and dinner at Queen Emma's Summer Palace, the secluded mountain home and summer retreat of Queen Emma of Hawaii and her family.

Begin the day with an opportunity to discover more of Oahu on a sightseeing drive through historic Honolulu and along the island's scenic southeastern coast. See landmarks associated with Hawaii's royal heritage, including Washington Place and the King Kamehameha Statue, as well as the State Capitol, Kawaiaha'o Church and Punchbowl National Memorial Cemetery. Continue along the southeastern coast, where beautiful beaches, bays and dramatic coastal scenery reveal another side of the island, including the beach famously featured in the film From Here to Eternity. Return to your resort on Waikiki Beach, where the remainder of the day is free to enjoy as you please.

The day begins with a visit to Pearl Harbor National Memorial, where exhibits and an audio tour introduce you to the events of December 7, 1941, and their lasting significance. Continue to the USS Missouri Battleship Memorial in Pearl Harbor; the surrender of the Japanese on her deck brought the Second World War to an end. Back on Waikiki Beach, you have a choice this afternoon: discover an ancient cultural tradition when you take a ride aboard an outrigger canoe – used for fishing and transport along Hawaiian shores for over 2,000 years – or, accompanied by a local guide, tour The Royal Hawaiian to learn about the fascinating history of this landmark resort firsthand. Reserved beach chairs and umbrellas are also available for Tauck guests. The remainder of the day is free to enjoy the pleasures of Waikiki as you please.

Fly to the youngest of the islands, the Big Island of Hawaii, home to Mauna Loa and Kilauea, two of the world's most active volcanoes. In 1866, when Mark Twain saw the sizzling lava of Kilauea, he wrote, "Here was room for the imagination to work!" At Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, explore a remarkable volcanic landscape where views range from stark lava fields to lush tropical rainforest. Visit the rim of Kilauea Caldera, with views of the crater and steam vents that reveal the powerful geological forces still shaping the island. UNESCO named the park an International Biosphere Reserve because of its outstanding scenic and scientific values. The park protects a wide diversity of ecosystems and habitat for native Hawaiian plants and animals; it is also rich in cultural and historic sites. Your day ends at your resort on the Kohala Coast, where centuries of Hawaiian history are reflected in the surrounding landscape. The area is crisscrossed by early Hawaiian footpaths, royal fishponds and lava formations.

Spend the day doing whatever interests you most on the Big Island of Hawaii. Your options are plentiful; you can indulge in the optional activities offered by your resort (some at additional cost), learn more about Hawaii's beautiful botanical world with a guided walk around the resort's renowned gardens or relax at the resort as you please. This evening, join us for a sunset catamaran sail along the Kohala Coast as the sun sets on another perfect day in Hawaii. 

Spend the day relaxing at your resort or join us for an included excursion along the Kona coast. Begin with a visit to the Painted Church overlooking Kealakekua Bay; built in 1899, this historic Roman Catholic church features extensive hand-painted scenes throughout its interior. Continue to the Kona Coffee Living History Farm, where you'll discover the traditions behind one of Hawaii's most celebrated products. Kona coffee is prized the world over; see how a typical coffee farming family of the early 20th century lived and worked, exploring a historic Japanese coffee farmer's home, family coffee mill and plantation gardens as you learn about cultivating the bean, from the coffee tree to the freshly brewed coffee cup. Return to your resort for an afternoon spent as you please. Have dinner tonight at your choice of the resort's restaurants.

Fly to the Garden Isle of Kauai, where the landscape is lush with orchids, hibiscus and plumeria. Travel to Kilohana Plantation, where you'll have lunch; translated from Hawaiian, the name Kilohana means "not to be surpassed" – and that was what sugar baron Gaylord Wilcox had in mind when he built this legendary plantation estate in 1935. Throughout the years, the plantation was a working homestead as well as the site for extravagant parties, social gatherings, diplomatic meetings and ceremonies. This afternoon, discover why Kauai is known as the "Garden Isle" when you visit Allerton Garden, a member of the National Tropical Botanical Garden, a nonprofit institution dedicated to conservation and preservation, as well as the restoration of endangered habitats. The garden is stunning, and its history is rich, intertwined with the history of Hawaii. Arrive late afternoon at your beachfront resort; the remainder of the day is free.

First up this morning – an amazing experience that truly immerses you in all that Kauai is about – a 45-55-minute helicopter flightseeing adventure* over the rainforests and mountains of the lush "Garden Isle" – an amazing helicopter adventure that introduces you to a world of lush tropical rainforests, jagged mountains, sea cliffs, beaches and craters. Music and narration combine as you view the best of the island, including spectacular Waimea Canyon and views of the Na Pali Cliffs. Then, the day is yours to enjoy as you wish – you may want to swim, snorkel, sunbathe, spot the island's abundant marine life from monk seals to green sea turtles, or simply enjoy all your resort has to offer. Dine at your leisure at the resort tonight.

Fly to Maui, named for an ancient god. Travel through the mist-shrouded Iao Valley to see the famed Iao Needle. A visit to the Maui Ocean Center introduces you to Hawaii's unique undersea ecosystem, millions of years old, populated by rare species existing nowhere else. Then it's off to the The Fairmont Kea Lani, your beachfront resort home for the next three nights, set on the Wailea Coast. The remainder of the day is free; dine at your resort at your leisure tonight.

The entire day is free to explore as you please on this island known for fabulous beaches, wildlife-rich waters and perfumed gardens. Your resort, Fairmont Kea Lani Maui, is just steps from scenic Polo Beach on the Wailea coast – and the many amenities include a 24-hour fitness center and classes, boutiques, three swimming pools, two activity pools connected by a 140-foot water slide, various beach activities and nearby championship golf. Or, join a private Art & Culture Tour at your resort with artist Dale Zarrella, whose sculptures draw inspiration from Hawaiian myths and legends. Stroll the resort grounds as he shares the stories behind his work and the island traditions that inspire it.

Join us for a trip up Mount Haleakala (meaning "house of the sun"), rising 10,023 feet above Maui, with a visit to the 9,740-foot elevation near the crater rim. From this extraordinary vantage point, weather permitting, take in sweeping views of the vast volcanic landscape, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The crater is more than seven miles across, and the mountain is home to two endangered species, the nene (Hawaiian goose) and the silversword, a specially adapted plant. After enjoying extraordinary views from the mountaintop, learn about island agriculture as you descend through Maui's upcountry farmland and return to your oceanfront resort for an afternoon spent as you wish. This evening, gather for a memorable farewell celebration at a private Hawaiian luau, where traditional music, hula dancing and island cuisine bring the spirit of Hawaii to life. It's a wonderful way to celebrate the experiences you've shared and the many sides of Hawaii you've discovered together.

Tour ends: Maui. Fly home anytime; a transfer is included from The Fairmont Kea Lani to Maui's Kahului Airport. Allow a minimum of two hours for departure flight check-in at the airport.