Days Off Travel - Adventure: Bicycling

8 Day Big Island Ride.

Balmy island evenings, amber sunsets, palm-fringed white and black sand beaches, lush tropical rainforests, red hot lava pouring into the deep blue ocean, spectacular vistas of mountains and the crashing surf -- this is the Big Island of Hawaii. You’ll explore on foot, bike, and in the water its very best parts, including many hidden spots most travelers miss. Our local experience will give you a Hawaii vacation unlike any other.

Includes:

accommodations
three meals a day (except one lunch)
drinks and snacks from support van
maps and written route directions
support vans and trailers
all gratuities to waiters (except for items that you pay for) and baggage handlers
two guides
all maintenance on rental bicycles
all park entrance fees
sea kayaking, rafting, canoe rentals, wildlife cruises, boat rides, snorkeling, and tourist attractions where noted in the itinerary

Difficulty: Moderate: average 45 miles daily (35 - 60 range; longer or shorter routes are available)

Terrain: Level - 40%; Rolling Hills - 50%; Hills - 10%

2003 Trip Dates: January 11, January 25, February 8, February 22, March 8, March 22, April 5, April 19, May 3, May 17, May 31, June 14, September 27, October 11, October 25, November 8, November 22, December 6, and December 27.

Priced from: $2564

Bike Rental: $144

DAYS ITINERARY

Day 1 BEGIN IN HILO. We start in Hilo on a Saturday morning and head north to a tropical park with a spectacular waterfall. We then follow farm roads through banana and papaya plantations and sideroads along the beautiful and rugged coast, which lead us back to our hotel overlooking Hilo Bay.

Day 2 LAVA FLOWS On Sunday we cycle a wonderful network of quiet roads through a portion of this island the locals love, but of which tourists are generally unaware. We visit recent lava flows, soak in natural thermal pools, and cycle through forest, farmland, and coastline. We spend the next two nights at Kilauea Lodge, a luxurious country inn near Kilauea Crater.

Day 3 VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK Monday is a layover day for hiking in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. In the morning we hike into the dramatic Kilauea Crater, whose breadth and depth seem to swallow us as we explore its steaming crevasses. In the afternoon you may choose to go on another great hike, go for a ride up the gentle slopes of Mauna Loa, cycle the eleven miles around the crater’s rim (visiting a museum and volcano observatory along the way), or relax at the lodge. Nature permitting, we’ll also drive through the park down to the ocean, where you’ll witness a red river of lava flow into the steaming surf. Watching the island literally grow is nothing less than spectacular.

Day 4 KONA Tuesday’s cycling includes a fantastic 25-mile downhill from Kilauea Crater to lunch on a black sand beach with sea turtles. We’ll explore the remote South Point area, then it’s on to Kona and Keauhou Beach Resort, our oceanfront lodging for the night.

Day 5 KOHALA COAST On Wednesday we cycle south through the famous Kona coffee plantations past mango, banana, and avocado trees, then down to the ocean to another park, the City of Refuge. Long ago, Hawaiians who had displeased their King fled here for their lives. We have lunch on the white sand beach at this historic spot and stroll through the ancient ruins. In the afternoon we cycle past a famous painted church and head to the Outrigger Waikoloa, an upscale hotel on the Kohala Coast that will be our home for the next two nights.

Day 6 KOHALA COAST Thursday is another layover day. We provide snorkeling equipment at no extra charge so you can swim among the sea turtles and a rainbow of fish at the hotel’s beautiful beach. The entire day is relaxed: You can head into Kona for shopping, swim in the hotel pool (and slip down its long waterslide), or enjoy many other features of our 15-acre resort.

Day 7 PARKER RANCH Friday we cycle north along the Ironman triathlon route beside the coast. We stop at the best beach on this island, where many guests try some body surfing. After lunch at a park beside the rocky shore, we hike into a remote and roadless valley filled with lush vegetation, exotic flowers, swaying palm trees and a black sand beach. Then we cycle or shuttle inland along a ridge with panoramic views to Waimea and the rolling cattle country around Parker Ranch, where we spend the night. Dinner tonight is at Merriman’s, which Travel & Leisure says “could be the best meal on the island.”

Day 8 HILO Saturday we have a great ride cycling gradually downhill on the old highway as it winds through the open cattle range. We visit the southern end of the beautiful Waipio Valley, then cycle along the coast to lunch at a beautiful park beside the raging surf. The afternoon ride to Hilo is a spectacular finish as we pass palm trees and sugarcane fields, stop beside waterfalls, watch the locals surf at a big wave beach, and visit a lush tropical garden.

Want more information or would like to book your trip? Please call Days Off Travel toll free 1-877-580-0861 or email: bikehawaii@daysofftravel.com

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DAYS	ITINERARY
Day 1	BEGIN IN HILO. We start in Hilo on a Saturday morning and head north to a tropical park with a spectacular waterfall. We then follow farm roads through banana and papaya plantations and sideroads along the beautiful and rugged coast, which lead us back to our hotel overlooking Hilo Bay.
Day 2	LAVA FLOWS On Sunday we cycle a wonderful network of quiet roads through a portion of this island the locals love, but of which tourists are generally unaware. We visit recent lava flows, soak in natural thermal pools, and cycle through forest, farmland, and coastline. We spend the next two nights at Kilauea Lodge, a luxurious country inn near Kilauea Crater.
Day 3	VOLCANO NATIONAL PARK Monday is a layover day for hiking in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. In the morning we hike into the dramatic Kilauea Crater, whose breadth and depth seem to swallow us as we explore its steaming crevasses. In the afternoon you may choose to go on another great hike, go for a ride up the gentle slopes of Mauna Loa, cycle the eleven miles around the crater’s rim (visiting a museum and volcano observatory along the way), or relax at the lodge. Nature permitting, we’ll also drive through the park down to the ocean, where you’ll witness a red river of lava flow into the steaming surf. Watching the island literally grow is nothing less than spectacular.
Day 4	KONA Tuesday’s cycling includes a fantastic 25-mile downhill from Kilauea Crater to lunch on a black sand beach with sea turtles. We’ll explore the remote South Point area, then it’s on to Kona and Keauhou Beach Resort, our oceanfront lodging for the night.
Day 5	KOHALA COAST On Wednesday we cycle south through the famous Kona coffee plantations past mango, banana, and avocado trees, then down to the ocean to another park, the City of Refuge. Long ago, Hawaiians who had displeased their King fled here for their lives. We have lunch on the white sand beach at this historic spot and stroll through the ancient ruins. In the afternoon we cycle past a famous painted church and head to the Outrigger Waikoloa, an upscale hotel on the Kohala Coast that will be our home for the next two nights.
Day 6	KOHALA COAST Thursday is another layover day. We provide snorkeling equipment at no extra charge so you can swim among the sea turtles and a rainbow of fish at the hotel’s beautiful beach. The entire day is relaxed: You can head into Kona for shopping, swim in the hotel pool (and slip down its long waterslide), or enjoy many other features of our 15-acre resort.
Day 7	PARKER RANCH Friday we cycle north along the Ironman triathlon route beside the coast. We stop at the best beach on this island, where many guests try some body surfing. After lunch at a park beside the rocky shore, we hike into a remote and roadless valley filled with lush vegetation, exotic flowers, swaying palm trees and a black sand beach. Then we cycle or shuttle inland along a ridge with panoramic views to Waimea and the rolling cattle country around Parker Ranch, where we spend the night. Dinner tonight is at Merriman’s, which Travel & Leisure says “could be the best meal on the island.”
Day 8	HILO Saturday we have a great ride cycling gradually downhill on the old highway as it winds through the open cattle range. We visit the southern end of the beautiful Waipio Valley, then cycle along the coast to lunch at a beautiful park beside the raging surf. The afternoon ride to Hilo is a spectacular finish as we pass palm trees and sugarcane fields, stop beside waterfalls, watch the locals surf at a big wave beach, and visit a lush tropical garden.