Volcanoes National Park: Kilauea Crater Hike

Embark on an unforgettable adventure at Volcanoes National Park with a private or group hike through the stunning Kilauea Iki Crater. Explore steam vents, native forests, and the iconic Thurston Lava Tube.

Duration: 6 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Kīlauea Visitor Center - This hike highlights the remarkable features of Volcanoes National Park, focusing on sustainable tourism and education. The custom route starts at the Kilauea Visitor Center and covers about 8 miles. The journey begins with a visit to the Halemaʻumaʻu Crater, which has been experiencing lava eruptions since December 23,…
What's Included
  • Backpacks and trekking poles
  • Lunch
  • Snacks
What's Not Included
  • National Park Pass - $15 USD
  • Admission fees
Additional Information

A remarkable trek in Volcanoes National Park. Our journey begins at the Kilauea Visitor Center and provides stunning vistas of the Kilauea Iki Crater. This roughly 8 mile circuit leads you across a landscape speckled with steam vents and into an indigenous Hawaiian forest. Eventually, we step into the actual crater, with the hike culminating at the memorable Thurston Lava Tube, one of the highpoints of the park.

Location
Kīlauea Visitor Center
Crater Rim Drive
We will meet in front of visitor center. I will be under the big trees next to the picnic table.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(16 Ratings)
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671laurae
Jan 26, 2026
Wonderful crater hike - I highly recommend the guided tour through the crater at Volcano National Park. Jennifer is so knowledgeable! The black crater is full of history, Hawaiian lore, geological activity, flora and fauna. Things you might miss without a guide. Great snacks and sandwiches too! This was one of the highlights of our trip to the Big Island.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nathanwl4887sa
Jan 5, 2026
Highlight of our trip. - This was the highlight of our vacation adventures. You can buy a pass and hike the trails on your own but you won't get the in-depth knowledge that they have. We had the pleasure of Yvonne leading our tour and she is passionate about volcanos. She was able to show and share things about the whole region that we would've totally missed if we hadn't done this tour. Thank you for sharing your love of volcanos with our family. Very fun day hiking around the park.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ian_l
Nov 23, 2025
Jennifer was amazing -... - Jennifer was amazing! Knowledgeable and flexible, she tailored our experience to what we wanted out of it. What a fantastic way to spend a day!
Review provided by Viator
Anne_k
Nov 3, 2025
A must-do for Info Nerds - Yvonne lives and breathes the park and it's contents -- especially volcanology -- told through stories, experiences, & answering literally any question we had. Be prepared for an amazing hike!
Review provided by Viator
Adrienne_b
Jul 24, 2025
Beautiful and peaceful... - Beautiful and peaceful hike with knowledgeable guides committed to our desired/personalized experience. We had two guides with our group and they struck a perfect balance in talents and knowledge.
Review provided by Viator
Eric_w
Jul 7, 2025
Awesome Hike - It was awesome. Jennifer was very knowledgeable about the the fauna and the volcano. It’s a great hike. The morning breakfast was a nice welcome And lunch was perfect for the day. You will love this trip. I’m t may even by the highlight of the Hawaiian Islands.
Review provided by Viator
Grant_c
Jun 17, 2025
Great day hike! - We had a great time on this hike. We got to see some beautiful areas of the park, including a hike across the bottom of the small crater. Our guide was very knowledgable and we learned a lot. The highlight of our trip was getting to see an eruption!!
Review provided by Viator
Nancyf913
May 22, 2025
Extraordinary day hike into volcano national Park - On Friday, May 16, we had a really great hike into the national park! We were very fortunate to have the show of the volcano erupting! our guide Jennifer was very knowledgeable on the volcano, the history and the science. She also could identify the local plants. I was very grateful for her knowledge of culture and lore of the native people of Hawaii! She provided us with backpacks, trekking poles, water, snacks, and a really delicious lunch! I would highly recommend her as a guide
Review provided by Tripadvisor
C0lleenmc
Feb 20, 2025
If you can only do one thing - this is it! - If I could give 10 stars I would. Jennifer MADE our trip to the park. Her attention to detail and her knowledge is outstanding. She paced the hike to our level - we are 65 and in just okay shape. The snack and lunch were great. She brought information sheets with visuals that helped us understand the geography and geology. We couldn’t be more grateful.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Chris_g
Jan 1, 2025
Awesome Experience! - This was the highlight of my trip! We hiked down into 2 calderas. While we were there, Kaluapele had an active lava flow. Exciting! The lava tube was very cool, the lava flow was very cool, lunch was at an amazing lookout, and the forest was awesome. Jennifer added a lot of good information about the area and brought some great food! Would wholeheartedly recommend.
Review provided by Viator
From $220
up to 10 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).