Day 1(Tues) Depart for Hawaii: Tour guests arriving in Hawaii who have made their flight arrangements with YMT Vacations, please meet your YMT representative in the baggage claim area for a warm Aloha w elcome with a beautiful flower lei greeting and transfers to your hotel in Waikiki. The rest of the day is at your leisure. Overnight: Oahu, Waikiki - Ohana East Hotel
Day 2(Wednesday) - Leisure Day: This morning meet your fellow travelers at the welcome briefing and orientation in the hotel. Your Tour Director will tell you all you need to know about the arrangements and plans for the days ahead and will also explain in detail, all the optional sightseeing and entertainment that we recommend to our guest’s during their stay. It’s up to you what you chose – you can to sign up to as little, or as much as like with your Tour Director. Today, our first optional tour departs around noon and is to the North Shore of Oahu to visit the Polynesian Cultural Centre. The second most visited attraction in Hawaii, here you will learn about the spirit of the Polynesian Islands, followed by dinner and a show with over 100 cast members. Overnight: Oahu, Waikiki - Ohana East Hotel
Day 3(Thursday) - Honolulu City Tour: This morning we take the included Pearl Harbor and Honolulu city tour. We head first to Pearl Harbor where we take a Navy launch out to the USS Arizona Memorial to pay tribute to the fallen heroes who lost their lives on December 7th 1941. You’ll have time to explore the visitor center, view the 23 minute film, relax in the park and see the USS Bowfin submarine before we head off to see the sights of Honolulu. Next we take the H3 Highway, mile for mile, one of the most expensive highways ever built in the US, as we head to Pali lookout. From here there are stunning views overlooking the entire windward coastline of Oahu and this was once the scene of the greatest battle victory by King Kamehameha. Set in a real dormant volcano, we visit Punchbowl Crater – home of the National Cemetery of the Pacific before continuing onto downtown Honolulu where you’ll see the State Capitol and Iolani Palace, which you may recognize this as the Police HQ in the new Hawaii Five-0 TV show, but in reality was the residence of the last Queen of Hawaii, Liliuokalani at the end of the 19th century. Finally a drive through China Town, views of King Kamehameha’s statue and return to Waikiki. This afternoon, take in the world famous Waikiki Beach and enjoy a swim in the warm turquoise waters, or explore the stylish shops of Kalakaua Avenue. Throughout Waikiki you’ll find Duke Kahanamoku statues, photos and memorabilia. Duke was a local boy who became an Olympic athlete and who was largely responsible for spreading the popularity of surfing, a -Hawaiian sport, to the rest of the world. This evening we recommend the evening optional Magic of Polynesia Dinner Show, the most popular show in Waikiki and a ‘must see’ stage spectacular comprising stunning illusions, humor and traditional acts. Overnight: Oahu, Waikiki - Ohana East Hotel
Day 4(Friday) - Leisure Day: Take the day at your leisure, or we suggest the best way to see the rest of Oahu is to join our optional exclusive YMT Circle Island Tour. Almost a complete round trip of the island, this tour includes stops at the Dole Pineapple Plantation, the famous surfing location – Sunset Beach, Hanauma Bay and Diamond Head amongst others. The highlight of this tour is an audience with the Samoan Chief Sielu. For those seeking evening entertainment, tonight our pick is the SOS cocktail show – the longest running and best known show in Hawaii, a mixture of music and comedy, a real favorite with our guests. Overnight: Oahu, Waikiki - Ohana East Hotel
Day 5(Saturday) - Fly to Hilo and City Tour: This morning we check out of our Waikiki hotel for the short drive to Honolulu airport for our Hawaiian Airlines 55 minute flight to Hilo, on the Island of Hawaii (the Big Island). Upon arrival in Hilo once off the plane, we take care of your baggage, so it’s straight out to the waiting motorcoach and we depart on a sightseeing tour. In the shadow of Mauna Loa, the world’s biggest volcano, we take in the natural beauty of Rainbow Falls (an 80 foot cascade that drops over a deep cave), Old Hilo town and a real treat for those with a sweet tooth – a stop at Big Island Candies. Our optional program today includes a once in a lifetime afternoon helicopter adventure and this evening, the Evening Volcano Explorer tour. See 500 acres of newly created land and if you are lucky you might see some live lava flows before a BBQ dinner at the Puna Ranch. Overnight: Hawaii (Big Island), Hilo - Castle Resorts Hilo Hawaiian Hotel
Day 6(Sunday) - Hilo to Kona: Today we travel across the island of a full day tour en route to Kona. First we make two short stops, a Macadamia nut factory and an orchid nursery, both important exports from Hawaii, before we head off for the main event and one of the highlights on the whole tour. This is truly a special day - you will as¬cend the rugged countryside to Volcanoes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site where you’ll see a real, smoking and steaming volcano as you look out across the Kilauea Caldera, within which lies the Halemaumau Crater. It’s here that we also visit the Jaggar Museum and visitor center to learn all about the geology and history of the volcano. Next we’ll make a short stop to take a walk through Thurston’s Lava Tube (involves steps and uneven ground) and before we leave the park and head for Kona there is the chance to view the expanse that is Kilauea Crater and its steam vents. We then depart to Punaluu black sand volcanic beach. After a lunch stop we start our journey across the island, arriving in Kona late afternoon. Overnight: Hawaii (Big Island), Kona - Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel
Day 7(Monday) - Leisure Day or Optional Tour: Our optional exclusive YMT Kona Historical Tour takes place today and explores the beautiful coastline of the region, as well as visiting Kealakekua Bay to the south, where Captain James Cook first set foot on the island in 1778 and where he was eventually killed. You’ll also visit the ‘City of Refuge’, a 180-acre national historic park that was once the home of royal grounds and a place of refuge for ancient Hawaiian lawbreakers. This evening our recommendation is the optional Sunset Dinner Cruise from Kona aboard a 72 foot catamaran, with glass bottom and live entertainment. Overnight: Hawaii (Big Island), Kona - Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel
Day 8(Tuesday) - Leisure Day: Nearing the end of your stay in Hawaii, today, you can relax by the beach or stroll along the bay to explore the quaint waterfront old town of Kona, complete with shops, galleries, restaurants and cafes - a perfect way to spend your final full day in Kona. You won’t want to miss this evenings’ optional event and join your fellow travelers on our final night Luau, a celebration of Hawaiian and Polynesian culture in the form a feast accompanied by entertainment and local custom - great food end a lot of fun! Overnight: Hawaii (Big Island), Kona - Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel
Day 9(Wednesday) Depart for Home: Say farewell to your Tour Director and new friends. Your journey home begins with a transfer to Kona airport for the 45 minute flight back to Honolulu from where you’ll take your flight to your home city. Please note: Due to several factors, including the need to route from Kona to Honolulu at the end of the tour, the available flight times for the Mainland, and the time zone changes, guests should expect to arrive to their final destination the next day.
|
Travel Protection Plans
Print Itinerary
I was so impressed with all the knowledge that was provided. All together, it was a lovely experience and I look forward to doing more tours with you folks.
- J. Drinan, FL