The Best of Hawaii

Tour begins: 4:30 PM, The Royal Hawaiian, A Luxury Collection Resort. A transfer is included from Honolulu International Airport to your extraordinary resort, The Royal Hawaiian – affectionately known as the "Pink Palace of the Pacific" – set on the white sand shores of Waikiki Beach. Stay in ocean-view accommodations, and enjoy dinner with stunning views of the beach and ocean in the hotel's acclaimed Azure restaurant, overlooking Waikiki Beach. Tonight, your Tauck Hawaii tour begins with an exclusive evening – a private after-hours tour, reception and dinner at Queen Emma Summer Palace, the secluded mountain-home and summer retreat of Queen Emma of Hawaii and her family.

Begin the day with an exclusive pre-opening hours visit to magnificent Iolani Palace, the opulent official residence of Hawaii's former monarchy. Built in 1882, this National Historic Landmark reigns as the only official state residence of royalty in the United States – and your guided tour provides you with an insiders perspective. Next up is an opportunity to discover more of Oahu when you circle the windward side for a tour of its southeastern beaches, bays and birds, including the beach famously featured in the film From Here To Eternity. The remainder of the day is free to enjoy Waikiki as you please.

The day begins with a visit to Honolulu and the USS Missouri Battleship Memorial in Pearl Harbor; the surrender of the Japanese on her deck brought the Second World War to an end. Further Honolulu sightseeing includes a drive through Punchbowl Memorial Cemetery and historic Honolulu, where you'll have views of Washington Place, the sumptuous state capitol building and other sites. Back on Waikiki Beach, you have a choice this afternoon: discover an ancient cultural tradition when you take a ride aboard an "outrigger canoe" – used for fishing and transport along Hawaiian shores for over 2,000 years – or accompanied by a local guide, tour The Royal Hawaiian Resort to learn about the fascinating 95-year history, firsthand. The remainder of the day is free to enjoy the pleasures of Waikiki as you please.

Fly to the youngest of the islands, the Big Island of Hawaii, home to Mauna Loa and Kilauea, two of the world's most active and accessible volcanoes; the gentleness of their eruptions allows visits to the edges of their active vents. In 1866, when Mark Twain saw the sizzling lava of Kilauea, he wrote, "Here was room for the imagination to work!" At Volcanoes National Park, you'll drive across the Kilauea Caldera (crater), where views vary from desert to lush tropical rainforest to alpine tundra. UNESCO named the park an International Biosphere Reserve because of its outstanding scenic and scientific values. The park protects a wide diversity of ecosystems and habitat for native Hawaiian plants and animals; it is also rich in cultural and historic sites. Your day ends at your resort on the Kohala Coast in the area once known as Kalahuipua'a, the birthplace of King Kamehameha I, who unified the Hawaiian Islands in the early 19th century. The area is crisscrossed by early Hawaiian footpaths, royal fishponds and lava formations.

Spend the day doing whatever interests you most on the Big Island of Hawaii. You can set off on an optional two-hour helicopter excursion for a thrilling view of Kilauea's fiery lava vents and the Big Island's coastal rainforests, available at an additional cost per person (ask for details at booking) – or you can indulge in other optional activities offered by your resort (some at additional cost). If you wish, late morning you have an opportunity to learn more about Hawaii's beautiful botanical world with a guided walk around the resort's renowned gardens. Toward evening, join us for a sunset catamaran sail along the Kohala Coast as the sun sets on another perfect day on Tauck's Hawaii tour. 

Begin your day with a visit to the Painted Church overlooking Kealakekua Bay; built in 1899, this historic Roman Catholic church features extensive hand-painted scenes throughout its interior. To get the day started just right, head to a Kona coffee plantation and living history farm. Kona coffee is prized the world over; see how a typical coffee farming family of the early 20th century lived and worked, and learn the secrets of cultivating the bean, from the coffee tree to the freshly brewed coffee cup (tasting included!).  Have dinner tonight at your choice of the resort's restaurants.

Fly to the Garden Isle of Kauai, where the landscape is lush with orchids, hibiscus and plumeria. Travel to Kilohana Plantation, where you'll have lunch; translated from Hawaiian, the name Kilohana means "not to be surpassed" – and that was what sugar baron Gaylord Wilcox had in mind when he built this legendary plantation estate in 1935. Throughout the years, the plantation was a working homestead as well as the site for extravagant parties, social gatherings, diplomatic meetings and ceremonies; a luau demonstration reveals Hawaii's rich historic heritage. This afternoon, discover why Kauai is known as the "garden isle" when you visit Allerton Garden, a member of the National Tropical Botanical Garden, a non-profit institution that's dedicated to conservation and preservation, as well as the restoration of endangered habitats. The garden is stunning, and its history is rich, intertwined with the history of Hawaii. Arrive late afternoon at your beachfront resort; the remainder of the day is free.

First up this morning – an amazing experience that truly immerses you in all that Kauai is about – a 45-55-minute helicopter flightseeing adventure* over the rainforests and mountains of the lush "Garden Isle" – an amazing helicopter adventure that introduces you to a world of lush tropical rainforests, jagged mountains, sea cliffs, beaches and craters. Music and narration combine as you view the best of the island, including spectacular Waimea Canyon and views of the Na Pali Cliffs. Then, the day is yours to enjoy as you wish – you may want to swim, snorkel, sunbathe, spot the island's abundant marine life from monk seals to green sea turtles, or simply enjoy all your resort has to offer. Dine at your leisure at the resort tonight.

Fly to Maui, named for an ancient god. Travel through the mist-shrouded Iao Valley to see the famed Iao Needle. A visit to the Maui Ocean Center introduces you to Hawaii's unique undersea ecosystem, millions of years old, populated by rare species existing nowhere else. Then it's off to the The Fairmont Kea Lani, your beachfront resort home for the next three nights, set on the Wailea Coast. The remainder of the day is free; dine at your resort at your leisure tonight.

The entire day is free to explore as you please on this island known for fabulous beaches, wildlife-rich waters and perfumed gardens. Your resort, Fairmont Kea Lani Maui, is just steps from scenic Polo Beach on the Wailea coast – and the many amenities include a 24-hour fitness center and classes, boutiques, three swimming pools, two activity pools connected by a 140-foot water slide, various beach activities and nearby championship golf.

Join us for a trip to the 10,023-foot-high rim of Mount Haleakala (meaning "house of the sun"), the world's largest dormant volcano (it's been two centuries since its last eruption) and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. The crater is more than seven miles across, and hosts two endangered species, the nene (Hawaiian wild goose), and the silversword, a specially adapted plant. After enjoying extraordinary views from the mountaintop, learn about island agriculture as you descend through Maui's upcountry farmland and return to your oceanfront resort for an afternoon spent as you wish. This evening, join us for a farewell feast of authentic Hawaiian culture at a private luau.

Tour ends: Maui. Fly home anytime; a transfer is included from The Fairmont Kea Lani to Maui's Kahului Airport. Allow a minimum of two hours for departure flight check-in at the airport.