Grand Circle Island Tour

Hawaii
4.9 95879 ratings
Trusted by 7,000 Shaka Guiders
15 Must-See Stops
Made in Hawaii
2 Starting Points
Counterclockwise Route
Full-Day Driving Tour

About The Tour

Get an in-depth look at Oahu on the Grand Circle Island Tour! You’ll travel the island stopping at world-renowned surf spots, historic sites, foodie towns, and the famous North Shore. Here are just a few of the fun things you can do on the tour!
•⁠ Watch surfers at Sunset Beach and Banzai Pipeline
•⁠ Hike to a waterfall at Waimea Valley
•⁠ Eat garlic shrimp in Kahuku and shave ice in Haleiwa
•⁠ Snorkel at Shark’s Cove
•⁠ Grab a Dole Whip at the Dole Plantation
And so much more! With 15 unforgettable stops this full-day tour gives you a true sense of the island's beauty, history, and unforgettable landscapes.
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Grand Circle Island Tour Map

Explore Tour Map

Meet the Creators

Gray Gleason

Narrator

I’ll be your guide on this tour. Press play to hear a sneak peek of the stories waiting for you as you browse.

Grand Circle Island Tour FAQS

Inclusions/Exclusions

Inclusions:

  • More than a map and directions — your tour, fully guided
  • Audio storytelling that plays as you drive
  • Music and immersive sound to upgrade your drive
  • Human-created, professionally narrated tours
  • Pre-planned route with turn-by-turn directions
  • Itinerary mapped out with must-see stops
  • Expert travel tips
  • Offline access – works without data or wifi
  • Flexible, self-paced experience
  • One purchase per vehicle (not per person)
  • Lifetime access (tours never expire)
  • Reliable customer support

Exclusions:

  • Private transportation (use your own or rental vehicle)
  • Meals
  • Attraction admission or park entrance fees
  • Parking fees
  • Live tour guide or in-person services
  • Trip planning or booking services
  • Fully customizable navigation like Google or Apple Maps
  • On-demand route planning or custom directions
  • Open-ended navigation tools
Know Before You Go

Tour FAQs

1. Where does the Grand Circle Island Tour start & end?

This tour has two starting points, Waikiki on the south shore of the island and Ko Olina on the west side. Regardless of where you start, the tour will travel in a counterclockwise loop, ending where you began.

Here are some of the popular spots you can explore on the tour! 


Byodo-In Japanese Temple

Sunset Beach 

Banzai Pipeline 

Haleiwa 

Shark’s Cove

Kahuku Shrimp trucks 

Kualoa Ranch 

Polynesian Cultural Center 

Waimea Valley 

Waimea Bay

Dole Plantation 


For help planning your day check out our Oahu Grand Circle Island Tour suggested itinerary and here's everything you need to know before you go!

2. Can I join the Grand Circle Island tour along the route?

Yes! Feel free to join the tour along the route. If you don’t begin at one of the tour starting points you’ll miss a few stories, but you’ll still have a great experience.

3. What should I budget for the Grand Circle Island tour?

How much you spend truly depends on what you do along the tour route, but here’s a breakdown of some costs:
Byodo-In only accepts credit card and contactless payments.
$25.00/adult and $15.00/child per person: Waimea Valley entry
$15.00 per person: Lunch
$27.00/adult and $23.00/child per person: Dole Plantation — Train, Maze and Garden pass
$6.00 per person: Dole Whip
$4.00 per person: Pie at Ted’s Bakery or shave ice at Matsumoto’s

4. What should I pack for the Grand Circle Island tour?

Here’s our packing list for this tour. It may seem a little long, but remember, what you bring depends on the activities you choose to do for the day. 
Sneakers
Hiking Clothes
Water Bottle 
Bug Spray (for Waimea Valley)
Towel 
Bathing Suit 
Sandals 
Sunscreen 
Sun Glasses and/or Hat 
Snacks 
Cash 
Car Charger *Very Important*
Phone Mount 

5. What are the hours of operation for stops on the Grand Circle Island tour?

Leonard's Bakery  5:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m, open daily 
Moanalua Gardens 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Green World Coffee   7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. daily
Dole Plantation  9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., open daily 
North Shore Soap Factory Weekdays 10AM–4PM
                                             Saturday 8:30AM–4PM Sunday 11AM - 4PM
Matsumoto Shave Ice  10:00 AM - 6:00 PM, open daily 
Waimea Bay    10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Hawaiian Temple - Pu'u o Mahuka Heiau    7AM–5:30PM  Daily
Ted's Bakery  8:00 AM - 6:30 PM, open daily  
Kahuku Shrimp & Food Trucks  10AM–6PM daily
Laie Temple  9 AM to 9 PM daily
Laie Point   7AM–6:45 PM  daily
Polynesian Cultural Center  12:45 PM – 9:00 PM, open Monday - Saturday, closed Sundays. Restaurant and Marketplace open at 11:00 AM
Kahana Bay 7AM–8PM  Daily
Kualoa Ranch  8:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., open daily  
Byodo In - Japanese Temple 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., open daily

6. Can I take the Grand Circle Island tour in the opposite direction?

No, this tour can only be done counterclockwise. If you’re looking for a similar experience but want to travel clockwise around the island — starting your day on the North Shore — check out our Legendary North Shore Loop. 

7. How is Shaka Guide Different from Other Navigation Apps?

Shaka Guide isn’t just about getting from point A to point B — it’s like having a tour guide in your car, sharing stories and local insights as you drive. Unlike other navigation apps, we’ve planned the route for you, so instead of focusing on directions, you can focus on the experience. This means you can’t customize the route, but that’s kind of the point. You’re still in control though, you can skip stops, go at your own pace, and explore freely. It’s not just about getting there; it’s about enjoying the journey.

8. Other Questions? Contact us!

Still have questions? Send us an email at aloha@shakaguide.com or give us a call at (808) 201-8138.

What is an Audio Tour Guide?

Think of us as your personal tour guide in an app. Our tours provide everything a guided tour does, but with the freedom to explore on your terms. Here’s how it works:

GPS triggers audio narration to play automatically as you drive or walk. Listen to stories, get local insights, visit must-see stops and get turn-by-turn navigation.
The app works offline so even with spotty service we’ll get you where you need to go.
Pretty cool huh? We think so! Check out our tours and let’s explore together.

Reviews

4.9 95879 Ratings

Kellie Lohmeyer

We loved the Shaka Guide North Shore Kauaʻi Driving Tour! The app was incredibly easy and intuitive to use, with great directions, interesting Hawaiian history and stories, and stops we prob...

Randal64

We have used these for Sedona and Grand Canyon. Just yesterday we did North Shore of Oahu. All are fabulous and super informative. They allow you to drive and move at your own pace without m...

Miriam Messer

The tour was perfect! Exactly what I was looking for. You travel at your own pace, and it gives you the option to stop and explore all the sites. I spent time swimming at Waikiki Beach, shop...

G&JCH

We love the tour and particularly the fact that you could drive down to any particular beach and the tour picks you up and tells you all about it. A really nice feature.

ShakaMETOYER

AMAZING

LWfam

We really enjoyed the Oahu Circle Island tour. Very informative, entertaining and accurate. The only recommendation that we have is allowing a little more notice when you have to get on/of...

Jobeiber

We loved this tour. We were able to see so many great parts of the island. The best part was we were able to contour own pace. The directions were perfect and the tour guides history of the...

aeitingon

How do you make a trip to Hawaii even better? With this great app! Gray was our companion, friend, comedian, and trusted counselor. Highly recommend.

JJM Spartan

We purchased a Hawaii pack after hearing good things about Shaka Guides. We were not disappointed - if anything they over delivered. Great info on both a North Shore Oahu and the Maui Road t...

Thexplorer_dora

Hubby and I decided last minute to do North Shore loop and their audio guide was so helpful, both for driving (our rental didn’t have GPS), history, and finding spots we wouldn’t have known...

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Grand Circle Island Tour $ 19.99  ·  4.9 (95879)