We went on the 8:30 AM tour and were back to the Honolulu Museum of Art by 11:15 AM. The home is beautiful and the artwork and design is amazing. It is definitely not a museum, but a private one-of-a-kind private estate. You do not get to see all of the interior as some of the rooms are not ready... more

It was difficult for my husband and me to take this tour very seriously. A person could easily accomplish this tour in 20 minutes. The mansion and its contents were a real mish mash. There really wasn't much in the tour that was considered serious Islamic art. Most of it was reproductions and/or pieced together from old broken tiles and... more

The home, grounds and artifacts were beautiful. Doris Duke was an exceptional woman and a great philanthropist. It was wonderful to learn about her and enjoy her superb taste in mid-eastern art. more

This is a gorgeous tour and well worth the price, I thought. You can see much of the interior online, but it lacks all the detail and personal explanation you would have on the tour. As others have noted, book this early - basically as you're booking your vacation. Except for very low tourist periods it seems unlikely you will... more

Shangri La is a worthwhile visit if you've been to Oahu a few times and have already seen the Bishop Museum in Honolulu and have visited the North Shore and other areas of Oahu. It is a beautiful home with unbelievable contents (one of the finest collection of Islamic art I've seen anywhere). The guides are fantastic, friendly and knowledgeable... more

Visiting the late Doris Duke's Shangri La has to be planned well in advance of your visit to Honolulu. The tours are booked through the Honolulu Academy of Art's website. There are only 3 tours per day, with a maximum of 20 visitors on each tour. The price is $25 which includes admission to the Academy of Art. The tour... more

Pre-book this tour and get the earliest start time. There is no A/C in the home, and it will get very hot later. The museum has a short movie looping in a couple of rooms of similar Islamic Art. Be sure to look at that before you go on the bus. If you are really into this, look up Doris... more

I visited Shangri-la last week; what a wonderful experience. (Carol, our guide, was a delight!) It is a place of serenity and beauty that feels light years away from the frenetic pace of Waikiki. There are only three daily tours -- 8:30, 11:00, and 1:30 -- and advance reservations through the Honolulu Academy of Art are a must. Admission is... more

A visit to Doris Duke's home - Shangri la - is well worth the $25 tour fee. Not all of the house is on view, but the parts which are, are well worth visiting. It was a real high point of our trip to Hawaii. more