Going on the road trip up the north coast was wonderful for me and my wife, you made our day truly personal, seeing your amazing coast line and beaches, words can not truly describe Kauai’s beauty.
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Trip Details
The tour breakdown
Price
These prices are for an exclusive private tour with just you and your party in the car. If you are a cruise ship passenger please see the information here.
Children under 12 are $95. Big savings for families! Please have your own car seats if you have more than one child. If not I can provide it at an additional cost.
Departure time
7:30, 8 or 9 am.
One tour per day.
Meeting point
I will pick you up at your accommodation or cruise ship. There are places you can park in Kapaa for the day.
*Due to the recent surge in gas prices I need to charge $50 for pickups in Poipu or Princeville. Poipu and Princeville pickups add an hour and a half to my driving time. With the unique geography of Kauai, the tours work best from Kapaa, the middle point on the island and our one main, and in parts, only highway.
Duration
Approximately 6 Hours, includes stop for lunch
Group size
1-7 people
Please note that my tours are exclusive, private tours. When you make a booking, it will only be your group on the tour.
* The information above does not apply for cruise ship passengers. If you are a cruiser then please click on the link below for cruise ship specific information and booking requests.
Included
A beautiful drive to Kauai East and Kauai’s North Shore, including Opeakaa Falls, Kialuea Lighthouse and bird sanctuary, and Hanalei beach and Hindu Monastery stop available upon special request. I have cold water but you are welcome to bring your own! A stop for lunch will be included as well.
Not included
While we will stop for lunch, the meal itself is not included. I know some of the best spots in the island to stop, but let me know if you have any dietary restrictions to accommodate, i.e. vegetarian. Vegetarian diets are a bit challenging but we’ll do our best.
What to bring
Cash, camera, water, light jacket, light walking shoes, sandals (optional comfort), curiosity…
Staff
1 x local expert and friendly guide—Uncle Doug
Good to know
No long walks/hikes. There are non-stair options for the lookout spots—just let me know if you need to use them. If weather happens I’ll do my best to follow the sun and have some fun! Only one tour per day.
This tour is more suitable than the Waimea Canyon Tour for those who suffer from motion sickness.
Please note that my tours are exclusive, private tours. When you make a booking, it will only be your group on the tour – unless you are arriving on a cruise ship, in which case please see my Cruise Ship Tours page.
What you'll see
Kauai’s North Shore is tropical and generally cooler and more jungle-like compared to the drier, sun-baked south side.
The famous North Shore is the side that people think of when they think of Hawaii. Packed with coconut trees, stunning volcanic mountains and far more scenic lookouts than on the westside, the tropical north end offers a completely different perspective of this ancient Hawaiian island. If you’re wondering what to do in Kauai, wonder no more! Join us on this exciting sightseeing tour and see why it’s named the “Garden Island”. Here are some of the sights we’ll see throughout the day:
- The pretty little town of Hanalei – I’ll show you where I jogged on the beach with George Clooney as an extra in “The Descendants”!
- The awe-inspiring cliffside Kilauea Lighthouse and National Bird and Wildlife refuge
- Some of the best beaches in Kauai – Lumahai, Haena, Ke’e, Anini
- The upscale and luxury Princeville – see Bali Hai from “South Pacific”
- Off-the-beaten-track destinations – let’s take the backroads and go where many others can’t
Have we mentioned we’re gonna have fun? Life is too short for me to have started this tour business at the ripe age of 62 without the opportunity to enjoy myself. I want you to feel like your uncle or old high school buddy just gave you the tour of a lifetime. That’s how I roll. I have friends and couches waiting for me all over the world, and I want you to become a part of my friends list!
Discover why Kauai is dubbed the “Garden Island”
Kauai’s North Shore is an enchanting lush wonderland that looks like it’s been plucked straight from a movie. In fact it has – and I was an extra in one! Packed with jagged mountains, luscious green paddy fields, spectacular waterfalls, historic Kilauea Lighthouse and some of the best beaches in Kauai, there’s something for everyone. This privately guided sightseeing tour is absolutely breathtaking. And the best part? Your friendly local expert (that’s me, Doug) will be on hand to inform and answer any questions you may have about this stunning island.
Frequently Asked Questions
Use your favorite app but you need these three towns for a weather check: Princeville, 96722 for North Shore, Waimea, 96796 for West and Southside and Kapaa, 96746 for the Eastside. It can look totally blown out in Kapaa but the westside is sunny, go figure, but true. That is why the weather cancellation with 100% refund is my call.
Oftentimes it can be rainy on one side of Kauai and sunny on the other. I will be the one to determine if we must reschedule. This is where my 13 years of living here and driving a school bus from one end to the other come in very handy. If we have to cancel that day, I will give you another possible day or you can get a full refund. I know you have planned and looked forward to your day, as you should, and I don’t want to disappoint! And, perhaps most importantly, if you have booked a two day tour with the second day 20% off it is a hedge against losing a day of touring.
Both! It’s a King Solomon’s choice when it comes to the two sides of Kauai. Most people elect to see the Waimea Canyon but the North Shore has so much to offer as well. Don’t miss out and book the 10hr tour in 2 days which leaves your afternoons free, a backup date if rainy on one of your days, and secures you a tour date with the Kauai Tour Guy. Remember, the second day is 20% off!
Picking up in Poipu or Princeville, regardless of Hotel or accommodation, adds 2 hours to my driving time but does not take away from your tour time. That charge is $35. Due to the unique geography of Kauai the most effective way to tour Kauai is from Kapaa, where I live. We can make arrangements where you can leave your car in Kapaa if you prefer. That charge is $35 or you can meet me in Kapaa. I am happy to start and end your tour from wherever is most convenient for you.
There is no pick up charge for Lihue Airport or Nawiliwili Harbor for the cruise ships.
You’ll need to book the 2-day (10 hours total) private guided tour. On those tours, we go from Hanalei to Waimea Canyon, covering the entire accessible portions of Kauai. As far as I know, I am the ONLY tour company offering guided private tours of the entire island for individual parties at this time.
In America the answer is of course, but only if I gave you a tour that went above and beyond your expectations! I believe a tip should be earned and not expected. My tour pricing does not reflect a built-in gratuity. A customary tip for a private tour guide is $20 per person-per day or 15-20% of entire tour cost not including the taxes. Truly, the knowledge you enjoyed Kauai is my reward, but tips help too!
My tip for you is “you always tip on the amount of the meal or service, not the taxes and fees that might be included.”
Yes! I will pick you and only your travel companions up from Hotel, Cruise Ship or your local accommodation or pre-arranged location. My tours are private tours, only your party.
Highlights
Visit Wailua State Park, vistas, waterfall and Hawaiian history
Stop at some of the most spectacular Hawaiian beaches
Take the Kauai backroads in my Sienna, and discover territory where no bus can go!
Enjoy the picturesque clifftop Kilauea Lighthouse and the National Bird and Wildlife Refuge
Tour Kauai in a 2022 Toyota Sienna Hybrid 8 passenger Van
Check out what our guests are saying
Doug was a great tour guide! Punctual and respected our time. We opted for a shorter than usual tour and he was able to squeeze in many beautiful sights! Very knowledgeable on island history and gave some great tips on restaurants and locations to see for the rest of our trip! Highly recommend!
What a fantastic way to see this stunning island. He is a fountain of information and takes you to all the best spots. Relaxed, fun, informative. No waiting for the other 50 people on a tour bus to take photos and have bathroom breaks, I know we saw so much more by using Doug.
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Thanks Doug for my perfect first tour of the beautiful island of Kauai! Low key, personal and fun, exactly what we were looking for.
Will highly recommend you to anyone looking for a personal experience exploring your gorgeous island. Mahalo
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