Kauai - The Jewel of Hawaii

 Day 1 – Monday January 13, 2025 - Home to Lihue (Kauai)
Leaving the cold behind, we fly into Lihue, the Garden Island’s capital city. You will be transferred to your idyllic island home on the beach for six nights, where you set your watch to relax time.

Day 2 – Tuesday January 14, 2025 - Lihue
After breakfast, the morning is free for you to explore your new neighborhood and soak up island life. This afternoon, an authentic sugar plantation train will carry us past traditional crops like taro and sugarcane, well-known tropical produce including pineapple and bananas, and experimental plantings of noni and atemoya, among others. The train’s knowledgeable conductor will narrate a historical account dating back to 1881 when the first three miles of rail were laid to move cane from the fields. You will soak in the sights and sounds of this working Hawaiian farm and even get a chance to feed the farm’s resident pigs and other animals. Dinner this evening will be at a popular local restaurant where you get to know your travel companions and Tour Director.
Today's Breakfast & Dinner are included

Day 3 – Wednesday January 15, 2025 - North Shore
Today, we embark on a journey along the North Shore of the island, beginning with a visit to the iconic Kilauea Lighthouse viewpoint, the northernmost inhabited point in the Hawaiian Islands. Next, we'll cross Kauai’s historic one-lane Hanalei Bridge to explore the fascinating Hā'ena State Park. After a relaxing stop at the beach, we'll continue to the charming and historic Waioli Huiia Church, affectionately known as the Green Church. Later, take some time to wander through the picturesque town of Hanalei. This town served as a filming location for the 1958 musical "South Pacific," the recent movie "The Descendants," and the TV series "Twin Peaks." Don't forget to visit Kauai Nut Roasters for a selection of exotic macadamia nut flavors before returning to the hotel.
Today's Breakfast is included

Day 4 – Thursday January 16, 2025 - Waimea Canyon
After breakfast, your tropical journey expands with a day filled with nature, history, and culture. We drive through century-old eucalyptus trees. After a stop at the Hanapepe Valley lookout to see a historical tropical valley once a Hawaiian taro farm, we visit the Russian Fort Elizabeth State Historical Park, home to the last Russian fort in the Hawaiian Islands. The next historical monument in our day commemorates Captain James Cook, who landed at the mouth of the Waimea River in January 1778. Before returning to the hotel for a leisurely evening, we will marvel at the Grand Canyon of the Pacific, Waimea Canyon, from its jagged cliffs to the clear, bright blue ocean.
Today's Breakfast & Dinner are included

Day 5 – Friday January 17, 2025 - Kapaʻa and Wailua River
An edible journey awaits you this morning as you get to truly taste the paradise island of Kauai by sampling your way through local neighborhoods with a knowledgeable local food guide. Meet some of Kauai’s top chefs to glean tips and tricks mingled with warm Hawaiian hospitality, and learn about Kauai’s unique local fresh ingredients in season and diverse culture. Later, we will enjoy a leisurely, guided boat ride on the Wailua River, Kauai’s largest and longest river. Here, a short walk leads you to a natural geological and botanical wonder, the Fern Grotto, where ferns grow inverted in a lava cave. Tonight, put on your Hawaiian finery and be ready to immerse yourself in a traditional Hawaiian feast, a luau. The culturally blended entertainment will include the Hawaiian hula, Tahitian drum dances, and Samoan fire knife dancers.
Today's Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner are included

Day 6 – Saturday January 18, 2025 - Kōloa
Today, embark on a guided tour of the Allerton & McBryde National Tropical Gardens. Escorted by interpretive guides, view select areas of the Allerton Garden, named one of the ’50 Places of a Lifetime’ by National Geographic Traveler. Then, enjoy a guided experience through the McBryde Garden, an active conservation and research garden with significant Hawaiian cultural importance. Later, stop to see the amazing natural Spouting Horn, which can shoot water sprays up to 50 feet high. The rest of the day is yours to explore at your own pace or just soak up some sun. Your hotel on The Royal Coconut Coast is a perfect spot to get your toes in the sand and catch a brilliant sunset while sipping your favorite beverage.
Today's Breakfast is included

Day 7 – Sunday January 19, 2025 - Lihue to Depart for home
Enjoy a final leisurely day in this little piece of paradise. Relax on the beach or browse the local shops. This afternoon, we travel to the beautiful Opaeka’a Falls, where you will enjoy the sweeping views of the Wailua River and its valley running out to the ocean. Continue on to memorable moments around the table at dinner with your travel companions. We then leave for Lihue Airport to board a plane home with new friends, a bagful of delightful moments, and stories to tell about Kauai - the Jewel of Hawaii.
Today's Breakfast & Dinner are included

Day 8 – Monday January 20, 2025 - Home
Arrive home in true aloha spirit from the Garden Island of Kauai, Hawaii’s most Hawaiian island.