Oahu Audio Tour: Explore Tropical Scenery and Culture

Embark on an immersive audio driving tour in Oahu, Hawaii with GuideAlong. Explore tropical scenery, turquoise waters, and rich culture with fascinating stories and local tips.

Duration: 16 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • North Shore - Hawaii is considered the cultural home of surfing and ancient Hawaiians enjoyed surfing just for the pure joy and fun of it. The north shore of Oahu is home to 3 of the most famous waves in the world; Banzai Pipeline, Sunset Beach and Waimea Bay.

Winter is the most predictable time of year when large swells can roll in. It always takes some luck, but if you are there when the surf is “big”, you are going to be a little intimidated and pretty impressed.

At any time of year, these beaches are worth checking out and if you plan to go into the water, just be sure to be safe and not get caught in conditions beyond your abilities.

  • Hanauma Bay State Park - Hanauma Bay is the most popular and favorite snorkeling location on Oahu and spectacularly located within the half-crescent rim of an ancient cinder cone. Optional stop - timed ticket reservations required.

Reservations are now needed, as an online reservation system has been launched to assist with restricted public entry.

  • Diamond Head State Monument - The most famous extinct volcanic crater on Oahu is the picturesque Diamond Head, located just a few minutes drive from Waikiki. Drive through the tunnel in the crater wall to park inside. A parking fee is payable at the entrance.

It’s perfectly fine to enjoy the views inside the crater, but if you can handle the 271 stairs and sometimes steep trail, the most popular thing to do is to hike to the crater rim.

From the top, you will enjoy outstanding views to Waikiki, Honolulu and along the coastal beaches. Expect to spend 90 minutes if you plan to do the hike.

  • Kailua Beach Park - One of Oahu’s most amazing sandy beaches, a beautiful beach two and a half miles long, between Alala and Kapoho Points.

From the shore, you will enjoy views to the Mokes, a pair of islands that sit just 1 mile off the shore.

Join a guided kayak trip to paddle out and explore. Be aware that parking restrictions are enforced stringently, especially on weekends.

  • Punchbowl Crater - Punchbowl Crater stands regally in a crater above the city and provides a poignant reminder of the sacrifice of service men and women who lost their lives in theaters of war at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.
  • Ko Olina - Ko Olina is a planned resort community located at the end of the H1 Freeway, in the south-western part of the island. It’s the home of the Disney Aulani Resort.

Four giant and protected lagoons have been created on the shore, and provide a safe and calm environment for swimming and enjoying the beach. You do not have to be a guest at one of the resorts in Ko Olina to enjoy the lagoons - the public is welcome.

  • Laie Point State Wayside Park - The Laie sea arch sits just offshore from Laie Point and makes for a lovely photo. You will also enjoy views up and down the windward coast on this side of the island. It only takes 10 minutes to enjoy the views and there is no cost to visit.
  • Byodo-In Temple - The Byodo-In is a replica of a famous Japanese temple that has the same name, located just outside of Kyoto.

That original is nearly 1000 years old. This Byodo-In has a stunning location beneath the Ko’olau Mountains and you will want to get pictures of the temple backdropped by those stunning, scalloped cliffs.

The grounds and temple are picturesque and well-worth the 45 minutes or so that it will take to visit. Optional stop, there is a small entry fee.

  • Pearl Harbor National Memorial - Pearl Harbor is the location where the Japanese executed a sneak aerial attack on the US ships and brought America directly into WWII. Today the events of the fateful day, and the coutless lives that were affected are memorialized.

Expect to spend about a 1/2 day visiting Pearl Harbor and absorbing the many presentations. Visiting the USS Arizona Memorial is by boat. There is no cost to visit, but tickets to the USS Arizona are first come-first served. Be sure to sign up for the next available boat as soon as you arrive at the site.

  • Lanikai Beach - Just south of Kailua Beach Park, Lanikai Beach is a half-mile stretch of beautiful sand and palm trees.
What's Included
  • Toll-free support via phone, chat, and email
  • Offline tour availability with pre-download option
  • Comprehensive trip planners in-app, web, and PDF formats
  • Automated playback of stories, tips, and directions based on location
  • One-time purchase with no usage limit or expiry
  • Over 230 points of interest in the GuideAlong (GyPSy Guide) Audio Tour
  • Customizable itineraries with flexible routes
What's Not Included
  • Hanauma Bay State Park: $25 per adults (13+) and $3 parking fee
  • Byodo-In Temple: $5 adults (13-64), $4 seniors (65+), $2 children (2-12)
  • Dole Plantation: free admission, tours $7.75 adults, maze $8.75 adults, train tour $13 adults
  • Diamond Head: $5 (ages 4+) and $10 parking fee
  • Iolani Palace: tours start at $26.95 adults (18+), $21.95 teens (13-17) and $11.95 youth (5-12)
Additional Information

Don’t skip a beat with the self-guided audio tour from GuideAlong. This extraordinary journey encompassing Oahu’s lush landscapes, azure waters, vibrant customs, and rich history can be yours. Engrossing behind-the-scenes narratives, local suggestions, and instructions play seamlessly, keyed to your precise location.

The tour will lead you to not just the region’s popular attractions but also to less traveled treasures. These include an awe-inspiring snorkeling locale nestled within a volcanic cone, and a breathtaking viewpoint overlooking coastal bluffs.

The liberty to roam offline and at your leisure enables you to linger longer at sites you find captivating and skip those you don’t.

✅ Narratives, insights, and cues play spontaneously according to your position
✅ Wander freely
✅ Navigate offline utilizing GPS, without needing mobile service or WiFi
✅ Proposed schedules for half, complete, or multiple day usage
✅ Unlimited usage without time restriction, complimentary updates
✅ Experience the feel of having a personal guide on your drive

Kindly purchase a single tour for each vehicle.

Location
Waikiki
Commentary plays automatically based on your location, so you have flexibility on where and when you want to start and end your tour anywhere along the tour route.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.7
(12 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Brittany_b
Jun 27, 2024
Great !!! - This is a must. If you want to find fun stops with great audio. The app is perfect for getting around and the experience is perfect. Downloaded app and will be using again for sure!!!
Review provided by Viator
Carrie_e
Jun 14, 2024
good driving tour - fun way to explore Oahu -- we didn't make all the stops but enjoyed listening to the information as we drove
Review provided by Viator
Chuck
May 7, 2024
Great first time using a tool like this? - We have driven around Oahu a few times before and wanted to do a tour on our own pace and learn more about the area. The tour was very helpful in driving by keeping us in the correct lane for all the turns. The GPS was very accurate and we had no problems. It does drain the cell phone battery so keep your phone charging for the entire time. We learned very much history about the area and found a few places that we drove past before since that were great new spots to learn about. I’ll do this again on future vacation spots.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Valarie_w
Mar 5, 2024
Fantastic - We loved the precise driving instructions as well as the informative details above the island. I would highly recommend this tutorial.
Review provided by Viator
Xena_w
Feb 21, 2024
Great driving companion - We totally enjoyed the self driving choice. We were able to go at our pace and had a great day together.
Review provided by Viator
Lisa_n
Dec 6, 2023
Perfect! - Loved it! It was very nice to be on our own instead of in a van on a tour with a bunch of people we don’t know :) The only issue we had was we purchased through the website and not through the app so when we went to get the tour on the app it wouldn’t connect and didn’t show up. We ended up just buying the tour again. Just make sure to buy after downloading the app to avoid that hassle.
Review provided by Viator
Juaquita_c
Sep 5, 2023
Perfect driving guided tour app! - My first trip to Oahu and I chose this self driving tour app to have flexibility on my stops. It gave me that and interesting tidbits. I learned a lot. The navigation was accurate and easy to follow. I highly recommend it
Review provided by Viator
Jessica_t
Aug 4, 2023
Great tour! - This was such an amazing tour. I loved the commentary as we drove around and it hit all of the highlights that we wanted to see.
Review provided by Viator
Franklin_l
Apr 2, 2023
Great guide - Great suggestions along the route. Suggest everyone rent a car and use this instead of the over price tours
Review provided by Viator
Sandy_n
Feb 1, 2024
Unable to restart app after paused for a brief time. Disappointed and frustrated! - The app started just fine when we were taking our drive up to the North Shore of Oahu from the Halona Blowhole. After we paused the app to enjoy this destination, we returned to our vehicle and were unable to resume the app. We tried several different ways to resume the app before giving up in frustration. We have used the gypsy app during several of our previous vacations and had no issues pausing and restarting the app. So disappointed and unhappy with this app.
Review provided by Viator
Select Date and Tickets
up to 8 guests
1
Traveler
September 2024
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Today