Hawaii 2025 – Circumnavigating the Big Island

† Explanation of BAC Ride Fee – This fee is not included in the Estimated Cost and is non-refundable once submitted. The Ride Fee for US and Canada is $85 and $100 for all other countries, both are per participant.

Ride Description

OVERVIEW

Aloha!  Escape the cold weather of winter and surrender to the siren call of the warm, sunny, lush Island of Hawaii with beautiful beaches and tropical breezes.  This tour allows us to circumnavigate the Big Island counterclockwise and experience many stunning locations.  We will have adventures not only with cycling but with swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, visiting world class beaches and national parks and the extraordinary experience of snorkeling with manta rays.   This is the first time this popular tour has been offered since 2019.

RIDE RATING

This tour is rated 2B!  There are two riding days where the mileage and elevation exceed the rating (it is indicated with an * below).  We will have a passenger shuttle available to assist on those days.  Roads will include state highways and county roads, some with shoulders and some without.  In some areas traffic may be heavier with no shoulders and cyclists should be comfortable riding in these conditions.  Riders wishing more of a challenge should note that ride options include a 4C ride to Waimea, a 4D ride to Volcano, and an optional 3C or 4D Pahoa route.

ITIINERARY

Day 1 (January 10th) Kailua-Kona.  Our hotel will be the King Kamehameha Resort – Kona Beach.  Assemble bikes and enjoy being by the ocean.  Happy Hour is at 5:00 pm.  A welcome dinner for the group will follow.

Day 2 (January 11th)  Kailua-Kona off day – Local riding in the Kona area and visiting various historic areas. Relax beside the pool, take the free trolley to nearby snorkeling parks or rent a kayak and explore the turquoise waters of Kailua Bay. Dozens of shops, restaurants and attractions are all just a short walk away. 

Day 3 (January 12th) A short scenic ride (23 miles and 1938 ft) to the Outrigger Resort at Keauhou Bay, a 4-star hotel where we’ll be staying for 2 nights. Many activities are available including a Kamehameha III cultural walking tour, as well as snorkeling, kayaking and paddle boarding.  Later on you’ll have the unforgettable opportunity to night snorkel with manta rays.

Day 4 (January 13th) Ride to the trailhead to Captain Cook Monument to snorkel and/or kayak in Kealakekua Bay.   

Day 5 (January 14th) Ride from the Outrigger Resort to Volcano to stay at the Kilauea Lodge and Restaurant and the Volcano Village Estates.* The ride on this day exceeds the 2B rating so you will have three riding options for cycling up to Volcano Village.

1.      Shuttle from the Outrigger hotel to Naalehu for lunch.  Bike the uphill climb to Volcano to the Kilauea Lodge and Restaurant (38 miles and 4261 ft *).

2.      Ride your bike to Naalehu  (53 miles and 3809 ft *.) You can stop at Naalehu for lunch at the Punalu'u Bake Shop and shuttle the rest of the way to Volcano.

3.      Ride your bike and stop for lunch in Naalehu.  After this rest stop, ride your bike the remaining distance to Volcano.  (92 miles and 8070 ft)

The group will pre-select their option.  Approximately half the group can choose Option 1 and half can choose Option 2 due to the capacity of the passenger shuttle.

Day 6 (January 15th) Volcano off day.  Options include visiting the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.  Extending from sea level to 13,680 feet, the park encompasses the summits of two of the world's most active volcanoes - Kilauea and Mauna Loa - and is a designated International Biosphere Reserve and UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Bring your National Park Pass and start your day at the Kilauea Visitor Centre.  Park fee is $30 per person without a pass.  We’ll also provide an optional ride to the Pahoa Lava Zone Museum and back (60 miles and 3900 ft) for those who would like to ride.  There is a local art center to visit and interpretive walks around the volcano caldera, the large depression formed when a volcano erupts and collapses.

Day 7 (January 16th) Ride from Volcano to Hilo (36 miles and 425 ft) to stay at the Hilo Hawaiian Hotel. This is an enjoyable downhill route with sites to visit along the route – Atkatsuka Orchid farm, the Mauna Loa Nut farm and the Panaewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens.

Day 8 (January 17th) Hilo off day.  A day to relax, visit the Pacific Tsunami Museum, stroll through the colorful local farmer’s market and taste fresh poke, a Hawaiian specialty made of cubes of marinated sushi grade fish which is tossed over rice and topped with Asian inspired sauces. Mauna Kea volcano is nearby for those who are interested. 

Day 9 (January 18th) Hilo to Waimea (60 miles and 5300 ft)*  Today we ride along the coast before turning inland to Waimea and to the Kamuela Inn.  Shuttle pickup will be available after 43 miles and 3543 ft. *

Day 10 (January 19th) We’ll have a beautiful ride along lush green hillsides from Waimea to the cute town of Hawi for lunch then ride on to Hapuna Beach on the Kohala Coast. (43 miles and 2340). We’ll stay two nights at the Westin Royal Hapuna, a 5-star resort located on one of Hawaii’s favorite beaches. Hapuna Beach is voted year after year by Conde Nast as one of the best beaches in the entire country. 

Day 11 (January 20th) Hapuna Beach off day.  Relax on the beach to boogie board and snorkel, or ride to south Kohala (25 miles and 2775 ft) to view petroglyphs and fishponds and snorkel at various spots along the way.

Day 12 (January 21st) Hapuna Beach to Kona (32 miles and 1389 ft). We will follow the Ironman route back to Kona.  You will be able to see the Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park enroute before arriving in Kona to our initial hotel the King Kamehameha.  Happy hour will be followed by our final group dinner – an authentic Hawaiian luau.

Day 13 (January 22nd) Departure day – tour ends after breakfast.

WEATHER

The temperatures vary between 50 to 82 degrees with the cooler temperatures at higher elevations.  The amount of rain varies between 2 to 10 inches per month based on elevation, wind direction and the winter weather patterns.  The east side (Hilo) of the island gets more rain.  Plan to bring wet weather gear suited for warm temperatures.

LODGING

Lodging will vary from small local hotels to larger resort/spa hotels (4 to 5-star accommodations).

LOGISTICS

We start and finish in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.  Our hotel is 8 miles from the airport.  City Bus (Heleon) Taxis, Speedy Shuttles and Uber offer service from the airport (KOA) to our hotel. Happy hour the first night at the Courtyard Marriott King Kamehameha is 5:00 pm followed by a group dinner.  The ride leaders suggest Bike Works Kona for bike rentals and service.  https://www.bikeworkskona.com/.  To rent snorkeling gear for the trip we recommend Boss Frog's Snorkel Gear Rentals. https://bossfrog.com/all-rentals/. 

Bike boxes will be stored off-site in Kona during the tour.  A van will be available to transport luggage and supplies.  Participants are expected to complete the required rides as the van will not serve as a sag vehicle.  However, the van will be available to assist with emergencies or to accommodate riders when possible.  During a portion of the tour a small passenger shuttle will be available to transport riders on longer and more difficult ride days.  Riders who have tested positive for Covid will not be transported in the van or the shuttle.  Participants planning to use an e-bike or tandem should contact the Ride Leader.   These bikes are acceptable on the tour; however bike storage will be in the hotel rooms most nights which may provide some complications as some hotels do not have elevators and some e-bikes do not have batteries that detach. 

COST & ADMINISTRATION

The estimated cost for this tour is $ $4175 plus a $50 BAC non-refundable registration fee.  Cost includes two dinners, 8 breakfasts, 12 happy hours with snacks and beverages, RWGPS files, and luggage transfer.  The initial deposit is $2500 with the final payment of $1675 due no later than September 1, 2024.

HEALTH and SAFETY

Vaccinations for Covid are recommended, but not required. Participants are expected to come to the tour in good health and ready to ride.  A plan will be in place and communicated in advance of the tour start date to all ride participants in case someone’s health becomes compromised during the tour and the group’s health and safety are placed in jeopardy.  The expectation is for the group to work together to mitigate any spread of infection or illness as a means to ensure the tour can continue as planned.

SINGLES AND SOLOS POLICY:

Singles are a great addition to a tour and we welcome them.  However, on this tour we can only accommodate a limited number of singles who will share a room with a roommate due to room accommodation limitations in some of the hotels. We recommend that singles find their own roommate prior to signing up.  Ride Leaders will introduce and assist singles to find roommates, but singles must make their own rooming decision. The solo supplement is $2375 which is due on September 1, 2024.  Please contact the Ride Leader if you want to be solo, since extra rooms may be difficult to reserve.  Solo supplement payments need to be sent to the BAC office. Checks should be made out to “BAC” with a notation of the tour name included on the check.  They should be mailed to:  Bicycle Adventure Club, PO Box 23998, San Diego, CA 92193.

CANCELLATION POLICY:
The BAC Ride Registration Fee and Payment Processing Fee is not refundable unless the entire tour is cancelled because the number of participants registered is less than the minimum established for the tour.  Refunds of tour payments will depend upon whether a replacement rider signs up, and on costs that can be recouped.  The amount refunded will be based on the principle that the tour’s remaining participants will not incur any additional cost as a result of cancellations.  If the canceling participant is replaced, a refund will be made at that time.  If the canceling participant can't be replaced, any refund will be determined after the ride and final expense report are completed.  If a single participant cancels and another roommate cannot be found, in addition to other costs that cannot be recouped the cancelling roommate may also be liable for the single supplement fee of the roommate remaining on the tour.  BAC encourages members to purchase trip cancellation insurance.

RIDE PARTICIPANT RESPONSIBILITY
Please remember that BAC Ride Leaders are volunteers, and that successful tours depend on participants providing much of their own support.  Participants are expected to come to the ride well trained, in good health and ready to accomplish the required daily riding using well-maintained bicycles.   All participants should accept responsibility for a safe and enjoyable tour.  We encourage you to read the ride description carefully and respond to requests from the Ride Leader.  While on the ride, support your Ride Leader with offers to help with various tasks such as happy hour preparation and clean-up.  Please do not interfere with the ride by inviting non-participants onto any portion of the ride or tour.  Please keep the Ride Leader informed of any special request you may have and respect the Ride Leader’s decisions.

Before participating in any BAC tour, you should assess whether your medical and travel insurance coverage is sufficient. BAC maintains insurance that covers expenses related to accidents.

While in the US:  BAC maintains insurance that covers expenses related to accidents. This coverage applies when touring inside the US, regardless of your nationality. It’s assumed that members’ personal insurance will cover medical emergencies such as sudden and unexpected sickness, so these have not been included in the BAC policy. Coverage is subject to a $1000 deductible. You may want to consider personal coverage for emergency evacuation, as this is not included. The costs of treatment or quarantine for Covid and other unexpected illnesses are not covered. You should ensure that your vaccinations are up to date.

SIGN-UP

To register for this ride, use the sign-up links just above the Ride Description. After preliminary acceptance, you will be moved to the pending list and receive an email requesting you to go back to the BAC site to digitally accept the terms of the Release of Liability (ROL), and pay the Tour Deposit of (XX) and the non-refundable BAC Ride Registration Fee of $50 by credit card.. As soon as your deposit has been processed, your name(s) will be added to the Participant List. BAC members with questions may contact the Ride Leader by "clicking" the name at the top of this Ride Description.