Things to do in Oahu › Oahu tours and activities › Circle island tours › Oahu Circle Island Tour with Byodo-In Temple
Oahu Circle Island Tour with Byodo-In Temple
★ #6 of 14 in our list “Circle island tours” Picked from the 176 circle island tours in the Oahu catalog, the way every tour here gets picked.
Updated price re-read every day; listing, times and pickup notes reviewed with it
Go Tours Hawaii takes you around Oahu with a stop at Byodo-In Temple. The 9-hour route costs from $159 per adult. Daily departures start at 7 a.m. using Waikiki and Ala Moana meeting points. Your temple admission covers a 30-minute visit to the grounds. It's a sightseeing day with beach stops and no planned swim.
Our check
Oahu Circle Island Tour with Byodo-In Temple at a glance
| Duration | 9 hours |
| Price | from $159 per adult |
| Main stops | Byodo-In Temple and Sunset Beach, with Dole Plantation later |
| Swim stop | None, beach visits for sightseeing |
| Group | Bus, maximum 40 guests |
| Pickup | Six Waikiki and Ala Moana meeting points |
| Departs | 7 a.m. daily, meeting times from 6:50 to 7:20 a.m. |
| Food | 40-minute lunch stop, food and drinks bought separately |
| Main trade-off | Bus boarding without a ramp |
| Guide languages | English |
Read from the operator's listing on the booking page, October 30, 2026. The price is the tour's starting price in U.S. dollars, re-read every day, last on . Children pay less.
What's included
- Waikiki Pick-Up & Drop-Off
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Professional Guide
- Admission to Byodo-In Temple
What's not included
- Gratuities
- Guest should bring money for food and drinks
Options
Which option to book
The single sightseeing option includes Byodo-In Temple admission. You join at a fixed meeting point for the daily 7 a.m. tour.
| Option | Departures |
|---|---|
| Hidden Gems | 7 a.m., daily |
The catch: The 40-passenger bus has no ramp, so wheelchair users must walk aboard with a companion.
Route
How does the day work?
The drive links southeast coast lookouts with Byodo-In Temple before continuing to North Shore beaches and Dole.
- 20 min
1. Waikiki
The day starts with boarding at your assigned Waikiki stop.
- pass by
2. Queen Kapiolani Park
Your bus passes the park beneath Diamond Head.
- pass by
3. Waikiki Aquarium
You pass the aquarium as the bus leaves Waikiki along the coast.
- 20 min
4. Amelia Earhart Lookout
The coastal lookout provides ocean views. A summit hike isn't part of the visit.
- pass by
5. Koko Crater
You see the volcanic ridge during the drive east.
- pass by
6. Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve
The route passes Hanauma Bay without entering the preserve.
- 20 min
7. Halona Blowhole
The blowhole can send spray above the shoreline when waves reach its lava tube.
- pass by
8. Halona Cove
The cove is a view from the Halona stop. There isn't time set aside for swimming here.
- pass by
9. Sandy Beach
You pass the sand and shore break from the bus.
- pass by
10. Makapuu Point
Your bus rounds the Makapuu headland toward the windward side without stopping here.
- pass by
11. Waimanalo Beach
This beach is scenery along the drive through Waimanalo.
- 30 min
12. Byodo-In Temple
The grounds include koi ponds and garden features. Your admission is covered for the temple visit.
- pass by
13. Koolau Mountains
The mountain cliffs remain in view during this part of your ride along the coast.
- 30 min
14. Tropical Farms
The farm outlet offers coffee and macadamia tastings beneath the trees.
- 20 min
15. Kualoa Regional Park
Take your coastal photos with Mokolii offshore and the Kualoa mountains behind.
- pass by
16. Kualoa Ranch
The bus passes the ranch entrance area. Ranch tours aren't part of this ticket.
- pass by
17. Kahana Bay
The bay and valley pass your window on the coastal road.
- pass by
18. Laie Hawaii Temple
The drive includes an outside view of the temple.
- 40 min
19. Kahuku Farms
Your lunch break leaves the meal choice to you. Food is a separate purchase.
- 20 min
20. North Shore
The fruit stand sells fresh fruit and cold coconuts.
- 20 min
21. Sunset Beach
You stop to see the surf beach from shore.
- pass by
22. Banzai Pipeline
The view of Pipeline from your window depends on the waves and surfers that day.
- pass by
23. Sharks Cove
You pass the cove without getting out to snorkel.
- pass by
24. Laniakea Beach
The route passes this beach before the separate turtle stop.
- 20 min
25. Puaena Point
The beach visit is a chance to look for resting turtles. They aren't guaranteed to appear.
- 30 min
26. Dole Plantation
Pineapple souvenirs and Dole Whip are available to buy during the stop.
- pass by
27. Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor is visible in the distance. You don't enter the memorial grounds.
- pass by
28. Downtown Honolulu
The return drive passes the historic center of Honolulu. Interior visits aren't scheduled.
The temple and Dole each get 30 minutes, with 40 minutes for lunch. The 9-hour duration includes travel between stops. Your drop-off is back at the meeting point.
Pickup and meeting point
- Ala Moana and Hilton: Your Ala Moana Hotel meeting time is 6:50 a.m. on Mahukona Street. The Hilton Hawaiian Village Grand Islander Bus Depot pickup is 7 a.m.
- Central Waikiki: Ka Lai Waikiki Beach pickup is at 7:05 a.m. Ross Dress for Less on Seaside Avenue is the 7:10 a.m. stop.
- Hyatt and Twin Fin: The green awning behind Hyatt Regency on Koa Avenue is your 7:15 a.m. stop. Pickup at The Twin Fin's trolley stop follows at 7:20 a.m.
- Wheelchair storage: Check storage arrangements when booking a standard folding wheelchair. You'll need a companion and the ability to walk onto the bus, which has no ramp.
Before you book
- Bring cash for your lunch stop. Vegetarian and non-shellfish dishes are available, but food and drinks aren't covered.
Fit
Is this tour right for you?
The 9-hour temple route suits you when everyone wants sightseeing without changing for a swim. Byodo-In gets 30 minutes of the day. It's a shared bus outing with up to 40 guests, and you need to board without a ramp.
For both temple and valley admission with lunch, E Noa's Majestic costs from $186.39 per adult. Fun Group's North Shore day caps the selected van option at ten guests, from $99 per adult.
Who it's not for
- Travelers choosing a tour for ocean snorkeling
- Guests who require a ramp for boarding
- Anyone expecting a Waimea Valley visit
Good to know
Know before you go
Ages 3 to 12 use child tickets, with infants through age 2 seated on laps. An adult is required in every booking.
The 40-minute lunch break gives you time to buy food. Drinks are your own purchase too, so your ticket doesn't settle the meal bill.
Only standard folding wheelchairs can be carried after advance arrangements. You need a companion and must walk onto the bus because it has no ramp.
Low passenger numbers can cancel the departure. A booking for one person is allowed, but it doesn't establish that the tour's minimum has been reached.
Cancellation at least 24 hours ahead returns your full payment. Later cancellations don't qualify, and a missed departure can cost the entire tour price.
The mobile ticket covers 1 to 30 people on a booking. That party shares the vehicle with other guests up to the bus's overall capacity.
Reviews
How is it rated?
Alternatives
Which tour to choose instead
A temple and waterfall combination
Oahu Majestic Circle Island Tour with Waimea Falls and Byodo-InE Noa includes the temple and Waimea Valley admissions along with lunch. This day costs from $186.39 per adult.
★ 4.9 · 8,377 reviews · from $186.39 per adult
A van with fewer guests
Oahu Small-Group Circle Island Tour: North Shore and Local FoodFun Group's selected option carries ten guests and leaves lunch choices to you. Its price is from $99 per adult.
★ 4.8 · 523 reviews · from $99 per adult
Walking and a possible waterfall swim
Oahu Circle Island Tour with Waimea Valley WaterfallGo Tours' Waimea route allows 90 minutes for the valley with entry covered. It costs from $154 per adult.
★ 4.8 · 4,480 reviews · from $154 per adult
All 14 tours in the list “Circle island tours” · Oahu tours and activities by category
Questions
People also ask
- Is Byodo-In admission included with Go Tours?
Yes, the price from $159 per adult includes temple admission. You get 30 minutes on the grounds. There isn't a separate temple ticket to buy for this visit.
- Does Go Tours' Byodo-In route include swimming?
No swimming session is scheduled on the 9-hour route. The beach visits are for looking around and taking photos. They don't provide an ocean snorkeling activity.
- How many people join Go Tours' temple tour?
The shared bus holds up to 40 guests. You can book up to 30 people together, but that isn't the whole vehicle's limit. Other bookings can join yours.
- Does Go Tours collect from every Waikiki hotel?
No, the temple tour uses six fixed meeting points rather than every hotel entrance. Their times run from 6:50 to 7:20 a.m. Your chosen point controls where you wait.
Times and conditions as the booking page listed them on October 30, 2026; the price is re-read every day, last on . Booking happens on the booking page, at its price; a booking through the button earns this site a commission, and your price is the same.