Vacation of a Lifetime - Hiking Trip in Hawaii
Written: Jan 14 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: see the "real" Hawaii
Cons: none
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| gregbnyc's Full Review: Hawaii |
I have traveled all over the world. My favorite vacation was a light hiking trip on three islands of Hawaii.
My girlfriend and I did not want to camp, but we wanted to do some hiking. She found a tiny tour operator called Eye of the Whale on the net. After a little more research we decided on their “Islands Of Aloha” 10 day trip. This trip involved day hikes, natural history exploration and we stayed in lovely bed & breakfast. So, we avoided luxury hotels and we did not have to camp.
The trip stared in Kauai. This dramatically beautiful island is best explored by getting off the beaten path, and that is exactly what we did. The Ne Pali Coast Trail is more amazing picturesque that almost anyplace on Earth. As our guide took us along the coast, we could only laugh at the people that came to Kauai and missed this experience.
Since we had a guide, we did not have to worry about anything. Food was always available, we did not have to struggle to find our way around, we were briefed on what to expect from each day. On the other hand, we really got to see the wild side of Hawaii.
I am not going to go through everyday of the trip. You can check out the itinerary at http://www.eyeofthewhale.com/. After Kauai we traveled on to Maui and then to the Big Island.
You cannot believe how many different types of geography and climate zones you will be able to see in 10 days. Rain forests, volcanoes, deserts, beaches, waterfalls, and more.
One example of why this trip is truly, absolutely, totally memorable. I had read in a commercial magazine that they recommended a specific Luau because it was limited to only 150 people. Our Luau was held for the 12 of us (just us!) at a Hawiian family’s house. It was authentic and educational, and fun!
The food was very good (food is my life). Nothing fancy, but fresh and tasty. The groups are small (12 or fewer I think). The accommodations were comfortable. The B&B at the Volcanoes National Park was wonderful and in touch with nature.
If I had gone without a group and a highly experienced guide, we would have not been able to do as many hikes (and it would have been harder to keep so motivated). We also would not have learned so much about the people, places, flora and fauna. You will never notice how much you learned until you get home and reflect on the trip of a liftetime.
The trip cost $1800 per person. This included almost all meals and transportation within the islands. It is up to you to get yourself to Kauai. Anybody who is in reasonably good shape will be fine with the level of activity. Couch potatoes might find it a little too strenuous.
Just thinking back to this trip last summer has brought a huge smile to my face. It is freezing here in New York. What’s the temperature in Hawaii today?
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
gregbnyc
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Reviews written: 139
Trusted by: 179 members
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