If you are looking for a different kind of adventure on Kauai, the Waimea Canyon downhill bike tour with Outfitters Kauai is definitely worth it. What better way to see The Grand Canyon of the Pacific than on two wheels?
Currently, this tour offered twice per day, at 6 am and 2 pm. The van departs Poipu before sunrise for the ride up to the top of Waimea Canyon. Check in is at their offices in Koloa. This might be a good tour to do during your first few days on the Island if you are coming from the US or Canada since you will still be adjusting to the time difference.
The van ride to the Canyon is about 45 minutes. There is a quick stop to grab coffee, juices and snacks along the way.
We opted for the early morning tour and that’s what we recommend for 3 reasons.
- You will get to see the sunrise over the canyon.
- There is a lot less traffic on the road early morning making it safer.
- You will be back by 10:30 am leaving plenty of time for you to enjoy the rest of the day at the beach.
The Tour
The tour is completely safe. You will start at 3,600 feet of elevation and will ride down to sea level. The biking is 100% downhill so don’t worry if you haven’t ridden a bike in a while. There are plenty of stops for photos (some that you wouldn’t be able to access or know about otherwise) and a bit of history and interesting facts from your guides. The tour van rides down behind the group the whole way. They have spare bikes and repair equipment with them to fix any problems that you might encounter.
Like all other tours, it’s not cheap. Currently, the rates are $109 for adults and $89 for young ones (12 to 14 years of age) plus applicable taxes. Thankfully, they provide everything that you will need. Also, they have an option for those that just want to ride up but are not interested in the bike ride for a fee.
What to Wear
For this bike tour, dress in layers. It can be colder up at the top of the Canyon, especially before sunrise. You can peel off layers at the rest stops as it warms up, on the way down. Bring a windbreaker or light rain coat, shoes with closed toes (not sandals), and eyeglasses or sunglasses. Also, don’t forget the sunscreen. It might be dark when you start, but the sun will come out!
If biking isn’t your cup of tea, but are looking to do something else they offer a variety of tours. We have also done their SUP tour, which we highly recommend. We have had nothing but great experiences with them and their tour guides are top notch.
Wary Travelers Tip
Before booking this bike tour, make sure to check out the restrictions to ensure that everyone will be able to participate. Also, don’t make the same mistake we did and double check what time you need to meet the group, as opposed to the tour start time. Luckily, when they called to see if we were still coming, we were only about 3 minutes away. Thankfully, we were able to make it in time to participate.
Finally, if you are reading this post because you are planning a trip to Kauai, below are a few posts that might interest you.
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