Discovery Tour

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Description   Discovery Tour

Description of Active Adventure

Come explore Kaua'i's peaks and canyons, rivers
and coastlines on a seven-day six-night journey taking in sacred trails, hidden pools, blue lagoons,
alabaster beaches and shimmering waterfalls that
compose the spectacular landscape of beautiful
Kaua'i.

Experience the many moods of Kaua'i! River paddle
and hike to secret falls or a verdant fern grotto. Look for Spinner Dolphins off the
Na Pali Coast Trail. Hike the misty highland bogs or dry land forests of Koke'e.
Snorkel the clear blue waters above a reef. Turn on the technicolor splendor of
Kaua'i's underwater majesty, where giant Green Sea Turtles drift lazily amid darting
neon streaks of tangs and wrasses. Hike the chromatic rim of the Waimea
Canyon. Bird watch at scenic Kilauea Lighthouse for graceful albatrosses and
hovering frigate birds. Cap and celebrate your journey with a sea kayak trip or
hike along the remote coastal cliffs of Na Pali. Whale watch for Humpbacks
during our winter.

Your guides are denizens of the rivers, trails and sea. They are at their happiest
when sharing their unique strain of folklore. A support vehicle allows you to travel
light. A combination of tasty local foods and coastal lodging (two person
occupancy) affords the luxury of exploring the many layered highlights of "Nani O
Kaua'i" beautiful Kaua'i.

When And Where: Saturday to Friday - 52 weeks a year. Fly into Kaua'i's
Lihue Airport for our afternoon van pick up.

Specials: If you interested in a trip in the very near future or are a single, you
should check our specials page. We will confirm two passengers on six to eight
weeks notice if we can obtain the accommodations.

Included: Transportation to/from Lihue Airport, accomodations in historic or
beachfront locations, full linen service, guides, communal gear and a well-appointed
menu.

What To Bring: A detailed equipment list is on our page and the itinerary follows.

Physical Requirements: This discovery tour of Kaua'i is great family fun and is
rated moderate, but can be challenging at times. Participants should be in good
physical condition, at home in the water and up to the rigors of the trail.

Variations: This itinerary can be abbreviated. If you prefer we can provide two
to five-day trips for groups of five or more. .Tier pricing applies. .Make your
reservations early.

Price: $1350.00/per person plus Tax

Typical Day

Itinerary:

".... though I have visited many islands in my many
years on this planet, I still remain amazed by the
diversity of this small, 30 mile wide, isle of Kaua'i
perched in the middle of a vast big blue sea.
Yesterday we paddled sea cliffs with dolphins and
flying fish. On shore a floating glass ball of exquisite green greeted my
beachcombing efforts. Today we are terrestrial beings and hiking along a canyon
to a waterfall perched precariously on edge. Tomorrow we soft paddle the Wailua
River to a nameless waterfall. Before breakfast there was an anue'nue (rainbow) to
the west. It qualified my day! " log of John Franklin 11/28/92

Saturday: Orientation and briefing: Fly into Kaua'i's Lihue airport for our
afternoon van pick up. You will arrive shortly at our seaside lodging after driving
through a rolling landscape of swaying sugar cane and distant green mountain
peaks. After unpacking, a hike, a swim, or snorkel is never far away. We end the
day galvanized with good foods such as ahi, tropical fruits, and fresh vegetables.
After dinner offers a great opportunity to get further acquainted, to plan tomorrow
and explore a night sky full of sparkling stars.

Sunday: Are you ready for a classic hike? Today you will enjoy discovering the
valley of Hanakapi'ai. Two miles of hiking along the famed and rugged Na Pali
Coast Trail brings us to the lush, verdant valley. Another two miles towards the
mountains, full of exotic birds and native plants, we are rewarded by Hanakapi'ai
Falls, cascading 300 feet into a deep plunge pool. This is a full day of hiking with
an opportunity, as a finale, to explore Ke'e Lagoon and the sacred landscaped
gardens of the Hula area.

Monday: After breakfast, we paddle a lazy jungle river with mountain vistas.
After lunch a short drive brings us to the Kilauea Wildlife Refuge. Perched on the
most northerly point of Kaua'i, the Kilauea Lighthouse is home to the largest nesting
bird sanctuary in the inhabited Hawaiian Islands. Look above for the avian antics
of Boobies, Shearwaters, and Frigate birds. Look below into the aquamarine
waters and a turtle may surface or, during the winter a Humpback Whale might
spout. We end the day snorkeling at nearby Tunnels or Ke'e Lagoon.

Tuesday: Infused with the relaxed island way of life, you are ready for the
challenge of sea kayaking the dramatic cliffs of Na Pali (May-Sept), or snorkeling
Anini Reef (year round). This day starts early with 4 to 6 hours of intermittent
paddling along remote coastlines and the possibility of seeing flying fish, turtles,
spinning dolphins and maybe the rare and endangered Monk Seal. Lunch is on a
secluded beach. On the Na Pali we hike to a waterfall. If the surf does not allow
us to paddle the Na Pali coast, we spend the day beachcombing the shores of
Anini while looking for landmark boulders that the early Hawaiians used to sharpen
their implements. While exploring these small isolated coves and beaches that dot
this marvelous shore we will have an opportunity to snorkel clear waters and cast
the salt water off our bodies under the cascading sweet waters of a waterfall.

Wednesday: After the rigors of sea kayaking or the calm buoyancy of snorkeling,
it is nice to have a plantation style cottage or historical inn to cast off the weather.
After breakfast, a tour of the Koke'e Museum with its excellent exhibits, will help
place Kaua'i's land form and natural history in perspective. The highlands of
Koke'e are a mysterious land, shrouded in mist and imagination, and the
Nu'alolo/Awa'awapuhi trail lends to this magic. It is one of the premier trails on
Kaua'i, offering spectacular views of the Na Pali coast from narrow exposed
ridges.

Thursday: Awake to the sound of the waves. Return to Koke'e for a gentle last
hike along the rim of Waimea Canyon, the Grand Canyon of the Pacific. The short
hike leads to Waipo'o Falls, plunging dramatically into the canyon. A clear pool
with big boulders and fragrant ginger is a perfect setting for an idyllic lunch and
swim. We return to our cottages in sleepy Waimea for our final night.

Friday: Today we head for the Wailua River. The Wailua was the center of
activity for early Hawaiians and is considered sacred. At night, it is said, one can
still hear ancient drums thunder in concert with the nearby surf. A short paddle
brings us to the North Fork where we leave our kayaks. The trail leading to our
secret waterfall is a beautiful greenhouse where flowers, brooks, and ferns abound.
Uluwehi Falls is hidden in a grove of Kukui Trees, the state tree of Hawaii, whose
nuts were burned as a source of illumination before the time of Capt. Cook. The
early Polynesian culture is well represented here, steeped in a colorful past, rich
with rock wall terracing, legends and lore. Paddling further on the Wailua, we
by-pass the gardens of the Fern Grotto to splash off a rope swing into a fern
bordered pool. A short drive from the river will get you to back to the Lihue
Airport. Hopefully, during your stay on Kaua'i we have helped answer the
imponderable, informed you of the mundane and smoothed the trail less traveled.

Itinerary is subject to change based on weather conditions and group dynamics.
NOTE: If you are not up to the rigors of sea kayaking or simply want a day to
strike out on your own; a replacement activity can be arranged and substituted at
the additional cost of the activity: helicopter, motor boat tour, horseback riding,
windsurfing, deep sea fishing, scuba charters, etc.

Age range, type of group

Singles, couples, familys.

Sleeping and meals

Unique beach vacation rentals, plantation cottages, and mountain lodging.

Restrictions

None

Rates

$1,550/person + tx

For more info or reservations contact us at

Reviews & Comments  Discovery Tour

Listing Address

Listing Name & Address
Discovery Tour
Kayak Kauai
P.O. Box 508
Hanalei, Hawaii 96714
United States

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