6 Best Circle Island Tours in Oahu

If you are one of the lucky ones who are going to spend your holidays in Hawaii, you can't miss out on any of the tours to get the most out of the island. Here are the ones you shouldn't miss.
6 Best Circle Island Tours in Oahu

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Hawaii is the dream of many adventurous travellers. If you want to enjoy a memorable trip, I recommend you take a look at the best tours on the island of Oahu.

1. Tours to explore the island's natural beauty spots

Halona Blowhole Geyser| ©Lee
Halona Blowhole Geyser| ©Lee

There are many reasons to travel to Hawaii but one of the most powerful is to see the beautiful scenery that has made this Pacific Ocean archipelago famous. An idyllic place with rainforests, white sandy beaches, mountains and breathtaking cliffs, it's reminiscent of paradise.

Oahu is Hawaii's most touristy island and the largest after Big Island and Maui. It may not be the most unspoilt, but it does have everything you need for an unforgettable adventure exploring its waterfalls, dormant volcanoes, verdant valleys and beaches lapped by turquoise waters.

The best way to discover the diversity of Oahu's landscapes is to take a bus tour that will take you to spectacular sites such as Diamond Head Crater, Waimea Valley, Halona Blowhole Geyser, Hanauma Bay, Nu'uanu Pali Lookout, Sunset Beach and the island's popular North Shore, among many others.

The experience is even more fascinating if you choose a guided tour of Oahu's landscapes that combines Hawaiian history and culture with the beautiful sights. There are tours that make stops at Dole Plantation, the Buddhist temple Byodo-In or the town of Haleiwa. After seeing it all, you'll want to stay and live there!

Book a guided tour of Oahu

2. Snorkelling tours

Enjoy snorkelling| ©Patrick Jansen
Enjoy snorkelling| ©Patrick Jansen

Not only does the surface of Oahu have some dreamy scenery, but beneath the waters surrounding the island there is a whole universe of coral reefs, craters and lava tubes waiting to be discovered.

Due to the characteristics of its underwater topography and the clarity of its waters, Oahu is the ideal place for experienced and novice divers alike to spend an unforgettable day snorkelling.

You'll have the opportunity to observe a unique ecosystem of green sea turtles, manta rays, dolphins, whales and colourful fish, as well as sail the Pacific Ocean aboard a beautiful boat to take stunning photographs.

Some of these snorkelling tours include a small lunch, which is always a good way to recharge your batteries after your workout. It's the best way to end a fun-filled day on a high note.

Book the best snorkelling tours

3. Atlantis Submarine Tours

Tourists entering the Atlantis Submarine in Oahu| ©Brian Sterling
Tourists entering the Atlantis Submarine in Oahu| ©Brian Sterling

Most travellers get to know the underwater charms of Oahu by snorkelling but there's another exciting and fun way to explore the waters of the Pacific... by riding the Atlantis submarine!

If you've never been on one of these tours before, it's definitely something you have to do on your Oahu holiday.

It's not every day that you get the chance to climb aboard one of these vessels to cruise the seabed 30 metres below the surface, spotting the rich underwater life that inhabits the island's waters: coral reefs, tropical fish, green turtles, eels, sharks, yellow tangs, manta rays and much more.

It's a truly amazing experience as you will also see aeroplanes and sunken ships on which the marine flora has grown and which seem to be shrouded in a ghostly halo of mystery.

You will feel like Captain Nemo from "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea"!

Book your visit to Atlantis

4. Waikiki sightseeing bus tour

Sightseeing Bus| ©boaski
Sightseeing Bus| ©boaski

The island of Oahu is the third largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago and has a large number of tourist attractions.

To get to know it inside out, a good idea is to take a tour bus that will take you to discover the most iconic sites of Waikiki and Honolulu while you sit comfortably and listen to the driver's narration about the places you are seeing.

The tour buses have several routes that cover different parts of the island. With the Hop-on Hop-off system, you can get off at any stop along the way to explore a particular area at your own pace and then get back on the bus to continue the tour until you've completed the route.

The best sightseeing bus tours

5. Pearl Harbor Sightseeing Tours

View from the deck of the USS Missouri| ©Bernard Spragg. NZ
View from the deck of the USS Missouri| ©Bernard Spragg. NZ

Pearl Harbor is one of Hawaii's most iconic tourist attractions. What happened on the morning of 7 December 1941, which changed the course of World War II, is well known in film and literature, but there is something moving and fascinating about seeing this naval base in person that cannot be described in words - you have to go there to experience it!

Pearl Harbor Naval Base is located about 14 kilometres from Honolulu and although you can get there by taxi or City Bus, I recommend taking an organised bus tour from Waikiki to the base so you don't have to worry about getting there or queuing at the National Monument ticket office to get tickets for the day.

There are many tours that offer this excursion to Pearl Harbor but I recommend choosing one that has a guide to give you the necessary context to understand Hawaii's role in the war and why it was targeted by Japanese aircraft.

Once there you can see the USS Arizona, the USS Missouri or the USS Oklahoma Memorial, among other places of interest.

Compare the best Pearl Harbor tours

6. Helicopter Tours to fly over Oahu

Discover Oahu's amazing sights from the helicopter| ©Eric Tessmer
Discover Oahu's amazing sights from the helicopter| ©Eric Tessmer

Hawaii is a spectacle in itself and seeing Oahu from a bird's eye view is a very special experience that you can't miss, even if you have a bit of vertigo, because the landscapes of the island are simply wonderful and there are some that can only be admired from the air as there are points of the geography that are difficult to access.

The helicopter tours are an unforgettable adventure as the beautiful views of Oahu and the Pacific Ocean are combined with the adrenaline of flying at over 200 kilometres per hour.

Plus, during this excursion you'll have the chance to take some of the best photos of your trip to show off on social media.

So don't hesitate and hop on a helicopter to fly over Oahu- you've never seen anything like it!

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What will I see on a Circle Island tour?

    Circle Island tours explore the entire island of Oahu and all its points of interest in a single day, including Dole Plantation, the North Shore beaches, Diamond Head, the dormant volcano, Hanauma Bay and Waimea Falls.

  • What does a snorkelling experience include?

    You will go on a private boat for up to 6 passengers and will be given your snorkelling equipment for an underwater experience guided by an expert diver. You will dive for two hours, during which you will see giant green turtles and Hawaiian tropical fish.

  • What can I do with an Oahu Go Card?

    You'll have unlimited access to the USS Bowfin submarine at Pearl Harbor, Makani Catamaran, Habauma Bay Snorkel, USS Arizona Memorial, Polynesian Cultural Center, Sea Life Park and various tours. Plus, you get to choose a premium experience from a sunset catamaran dinner, a surf lesson, Oahu's hidden jewels tour and snorkelling with turtles, and the Ka Moana and Ali'i Luau Dinner shows.

Reviews from other travellers

4.5
· 2570 Reviews
  • A
    A.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    The lunch we were offered was perfect for a kayaking excursion.
  • Z
    Z.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    I would recommend bringing a camera to capture the beauty of the bay.
  • S
    S.
    4
    (0 Reviews)
    We had a great time! We had a fantastic guide, she knew all about local history, plants and animals, and we got to see several sea turtles and a monk seal!
  • S
    S.
    5
    (0 Reviews)
    The most enjoyable activity we did on Oahu. My mother was nervous about this activity, but it was her favourite too.
  • K
    K.
    4
    (0 Reviews)
    A must experience in Hawaii. Fun and a perfect location for kayaking.