Best of Kauai Tour
Best of Kauai Tour
4.5
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No Hassles - Just the Best of Kauai! Be effortlessly chauffeured by our personable and entertaining tour guides on a day filled with the absolute Best of Kauai. Are you looking for a fun-filled Kauai vacation tour that incorporates the perfect blend of breath taking views, scenic Kauai beaches, waterfalls, Island history and culture, as well as local advice on the best things to do while visiting Kauai? Kauai Northshore Limousine & Tours has been welcoming visitors to the Garden Island with their Best of Kauai Tour since 1987. Let us show you the absolute Best of Kauai on one of Kauai driving tours or land/air combo tours. We offer a variety of Kauai tours including a land and air tour combo which includes our Best of Kauai tour plus an hour long aerial tour of the island by airplane.
Kilauea, Hawaii
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
282 reviews
Excellent
225
Very good
25
Average
12
Poor
12
Terrible
8
nelskb
3 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
This was a shore excursion tour during our NCL cruise. It was an 8 hr tour on a coach bus, so involved a lot of sitting and riding the bus. However we saw some beautiful sights. The sun was shining and the Waimea Canyon was beautiful. A delicious lunch was included and at a peaceful restaurant. We made a quick photo op stop at a the Spouting Horn blow hole, then proceeded to the Waimea river and fern grotto (included a boat ride up the river), then one more stop at a scenic overlook before heading back to the ship. The bus driver was from the island and gave a narrative as he drove. Our bus had mechanical problems - first the AC didn’t work so they brought another bus which later had engine problems. We were refunded 25% of the cost by NCL. Overall it was nice to see the beautiful sights, but be prepared for a lot of sitting on the bus.
Written January 24, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This tour was offered by another company as we don't operate any tours going to Waimea Canyon through NCL.
Written January 25, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Marc P
7 contributions
Feb 2020 • Couples
After driving in to the marina, we felt like we were Smith’s highest priority and focus for a tremendous experience over the next eight hours! We started with the air tour, which was fabulous! Our pilot couldn’t have been more informative, accommodating, or professional - truly a wonderful 70+ minute flight over every part of the island. We took time to see all the falls, the Na Pali coast, and even did a little whale watching! He made sure both sides of the airplane got the best view.
Then the boat tour. Beautiful ride up the Waimea River, past the Sleeping Giant to the Fern Grotto! Spectacular, including our own personal musical performers. Entertaining and funny, a nice ride.
We spent the rest of the day riding with Steve Yoder, a local personality with a depth of history on the island. After a fantastic lunch at Kountry Kitchen, we explored the northeast coast, including a stop at Kilauea Lighthouse and wildlife refuge! He really took time to show us the development of the island, the culture, and gave us an intimate appreciation of life in Kaua’i.
This trip was a blessing - we have memories that we will keep forever! Thanks to the Smith Family for this offering!!
Then the boat tour. Beautiful ride up the Waimea River, past the Sleeping Giant to the Fern Grotto! Spectacular, including our own personal musical performers. Entertaining and funny, a nice ride.
We spent the rest of the day riding with Steve Yoder, a local personality with a depth of history on the island. After a fantastic lunch at Kountry Kitchen, we explored the northeast coast, including a stop at Kilauea Lighthouse and wildlife refuge! He really took time to show us the development of the island, the culture, and gave us an intimate appreciation of life in Kaua’i.
This trip was a blessing - we have memories that we will keep forever! Thanks to the Smith Family for this offering!!
Written February 5, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I'm glad you folks had a great tour! It is a pleasure to share Kauai with our guests and our guides do their best to make sure everyone has a great day.
Written February 6, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ChrisH
Frederick, MD551 contributions
Feb 2020
Took "The Best of Kauai Tour" via Norwegian Cruise Lines and the Pride of America on a Thursday in early February.
About an eight hour tour including the fantastic Waimea Canyon Lookout, nice buffet lunch at Keoki's Paradise restaurant, boat ride at Wailua River State Park to see the Fern Grotto, and several other scenic stops.
Very well done tour. Fantastic views. The boat ride took about 1 ½ hours up the river, walk to the Fern Grotto and return. There is Hawaiian music and dancing on the way up. A short lecture and more music at the grotto and a talk about the river on the way back. Well done.
But, as usual, no soap or hand towels in the Hawaii Parks rest rooms plus the men's rooms were absolutely filthy. Nonpotable water too.
Waimea Canyon Overlook was totally a mess WRT parking. No ranger control. A lot of illegal parking by cars such that it took our tour bus almost 10 minutes to maneuver out of the lot.
The Hawaii Parks facilities are just a disgrace.
About an eight hour tour including the fantastic Waimea Canyon Lookout, nice buffet lunch at Keoki's Paradise restaurant, boat ride at Wailua River State Park to see the Fern Grotto, and several other scenic stops.
Very well done tour. Fantastic views. The boat ride took about 1 ½ hours up the river, walk to the Fern Grotto and return. There is Hawaiian music and dancing on the way up. A short lecture and more music at the grotto and a talk about the river on the way back. Well done.
But, as usual, no soap or hand towels in the Hawaii Parks rest rooms plus the men's rooms were absolutely filthy. Nonpotable water too.
Waimea Canyon Overlook was totally a mess WRT parking. No ranger control. A lot of illegal parking by cars such that it took our tour bus almost 10 minutes to maneuver out of the lot.
The Hawaii Parks facilities are just a disgrace.
Written March 1, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lins H
6 contributions
Mar 2022 • Family
I was disappointed in this trip, especially for the high price tag. We signed up to tour the north and east shores as we had seen very little at that point in our trip and it was our last day. Our tour was 6 hours in length, and we spent five of them in the van…this was not at all explained to me and I wish we had known. I would have never done it. Our tour guide refused to volunteer information and insisted on quizzing us all and making us guess everything, even obscure random facts we would never have known. When we clearly didn’t know what he was asking, he would give us the first letter and then the second until we guessed it…..for five hours. It was exhausting. Many of our “sights” were just pulling off the side of the road and snapping a picture with a load of other tourists before getting right back in the van. The “waterfalls” you see are just pulling off the road and viewing over a railing, the second from a great distance. We had rented a car on the island and we very easily could have just looked at the stops and done them ourselves. They offered nothing above that. We were dropped awkwardly at beaches and told we had ten minutes and to call the guide when we wanted to be picked up….what does one do in street clothes on a beach for ten minutes besides stand awkwardly with all the beach goers? We had brought suits but it was clear that there wasn’t time for that. For a “private luxury tour” lasting six hours, they didn’t so much as offer a small bottle of water or snack. Honestly, I’m having trouble understanding why anyone would rate this expensive tour five stars. Lastly, we had hoped to be back on time so that we could drive back to Hanalei Bay and actually enjoy it. Our guide dropped us off 1.5 hours past time and we were not able to go as a result. Giving three stars because we technically “saw” the places they promised, but I would recommend just renting a car and driving to the locations yourself. Much cheaper and probably more enjoyable.
Written March 19, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sheryl R
San Francisco, CA14 contributions
Jan 2020
I'm glad we included the plane ride, because that was the only part really worth it (even though the pilot was texting for part of the flight!). The bus picked us up from our hotel at 8:00 a.m. and got back at 3:30 p.m. Mostly I felt like we were driven around to tours we could have taken ourselves. We never were shown the Spouting Blowhole that was supposed to be included in the tour, but we were shown where the guide went to high school (why?). The tour info said lunch would be on our own, so I assumed we would have a choice (like from a variety of food trucks, such as are present all over the island), but we were taken to Kountry Kitchen in Kapaa. It was cute, and they did have a somewhat diverse menu, but I got the impression the main reason we were brought there was for the kickback free breakfast they gave our driver for delivering us. The day was just okay, not too bad until the last 15 minutes or so, when our driver Steve made a shameless, tasteless, long-winded pitch for a tip -- He strongly suggested we each should give him $20.00!
If you're in Kauai and didn't rent a car and have all day long to be driven around to tours you can take yourself, then go ahead, but factor into the cost that you are also expected to buy your own lunch and tip the pilot of the plane ride, the dancers and musicians on the boat ride to the fern grotto, and the bus driver. I would never do this tour again.
If you're in Kauai and didn't rent a car and have all day long to be driven around to tours you can take yourself, then go ahead, but factor into the cost that you are also expected to buy your own lunch and tip the pilot of the plane ride, the dancers and musicians on the boat ride to the fern grotto, and the bus driver. I would never do this tour again.
Written January 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dana D
1 contribution
Mar 2020
We had the distinct blessing of taking the Best of Kauai tour with Domi in 2012. In 2020 we returned and looked at the same tour again and to our delight found that Domi was still doing the tour. Domi's chipper personality and infectious attitude make the tour a must if you want to learn some of Kauai's history, with all sorts of additional info on plant life and Hawaiin culture. (Domi has a great sense of humor and a good singing voice!) This was one of the highlights of our trip again this time! Omar the pig has gained a few pounds and moves a lot slower. But he still looks forward to that coffee can of goodies at the end of tour. TAKE the tour!
If we have the pleasure of a return trip in the future. We'll be looking for Domi and the Best of Kauai.
If we have the pleasure of a return trip in the future. We'll be looking for Domi and the Best of Kauai.
Written March 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Pam E.
2 contributions
Aug 2021
Our group of six took the Best of Kauai tour at the beginning of our trip and our guide was Domi (he will explain how to pronounce it). He was in the parking before the designated time. What a natural guide, storyteller, and teacher as well! He was so personable, and from the moment he greeted us he memorized everyone’s names and immediately helped the group feel engaged during the entire trip. As a native Hawaiian he was so informative. Not only did he show us the sites advertised, he also taught us many native words, showed us different local merchants that we might check out, and gave us much of the native Kauai history. I highly recommend this tour and if you are lucky you will get to have Domi as your guide. Mahalo!!
Written August 17, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Destination436160
2 contributions
Feb 2020
Spent the day with Domi learning about the culture and history of Kauai. Domi is very knowledgeable and he made the tour alot of fun. The boat trip to the Fern Grotto was worth the price of the trip alone.
Written February 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Michael B
Jacksonville, FL69 contributions
May 2021
Awesome experience! So glad we did this tour. Our guide Domi is a native of Kauai and gave us a lot of insight. We have a delicious Hawaiin style lunch at a local's restaurant, even got a chance to go by Domi's house and feed his 500 pound boar named Omar.
Written May 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eugene P
Concord, CA3 contributions
Aug 2021
It was a great tour-the places we visited were breathtaking; what made the tour awesome was our tour guide Domi; he was so knowledgeable about the island and what I enjoyed most is his sense of humor.we were very fortunate to have him as our guide; the boat ride along the Wailua River going to the Fern Grotto was fantastic; the musicians were great-impressive singing and dancing talents, amazing hawaiian songs, informative and very hilarious.I highly recommend this tour especially with Domi and the Wailua River singing group!Mahalo
Written August 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We have had a lot of people do our private Ultimate Tour. This is a great way to see Kauai at your pace in a private vehicle with your personal guide. Select between the north and east route or the south and west route.
Written December 11, 2019
Does this tour include a helicopter ride? Need to know as I dont like heights Thank you
Written September 22, 2018
This tour includes a fixed wing airplane ride. However they will pull that part out of the tour for individuals or groups that do not want it.
Written September 22, 2018
Hi,
Where is the website for Tour with the person you really like named Dom? How much does it cost? What months would you suggest to visit? thanks Sherry
Written January 14, 2016
We booked through our resort. Domo seems to know everyone or many on the island, so if you ask the concerieges at where you are staying, I feel they will know him. For cost or time of year....not sure as we went first week in October and it was nice. Other times are better for sea life, flowers, etc. but you also get more crowds. Enjoy - it's a beautiful island.
Written January 16, 2016
Can we see this from the car or a SHORT easy walk?
Written February 26, 2015
If you take this tour you will be in a 12 passenger van. The walks at the various locations are reasonably short, if I recall the longest one was at the lighthouse and was uphill a bit but not severe and the path was reasonably smooth. Most sites require some short walks to see the view but are not extremely long. Hope this helps
Written February 27, 2015
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