While simply the 4th biggest Hawaiian Island, Kauai nonetheless remains rich in beauty and tropical activities. With the verdant high cliffs of the Napali Coast, 50 miles' worth of beach coastline, and loads of small town appeal, Kauai is a prominent location for great reasons. There are so many things to do in Kauai, it's not even funny.

1. The Top 5 Things to Do on Kauai
Kauai may not be one of the biggest of the Hawaiian Islands, but it’s surely one of the most
beautiful. With the verdant cliffs of the Napali Coast, 50 miles’ worth of beach coastline, and
plenty of small town charm, Kauai is a popular destination for good reason. There are so
many things to do in Kauai, it’s not even funny.
As you prepare for your trip here, however, it’s important to pare down your list of
activities, lest your itinerary overflow and overwhelm you. For that very purpose, we’ve
created this top 5 list of things to do on Kauai. By following it, you’ll discover plenty of
brilliant sightseeing areas, exotic sea creatures, and exhilarating sports, which are generally
impossible to find on the mainland.
So here we go…the top 5 things to do on Kauai begins with a…
Sightseeing Tour: Like we said, the sights on Kauai are splendid. It’s for that reason that a
sightseeing tour has to be on the top of our list of things to do on Kauai. Due to the island’s
size and the array of locations worth visiting, these tours usually last a full day—but, boy,
are they worth it!
One popular sightseeing tour involves heading into Waimea Canyon, the so-called “Grand
Canyon of the Pacific,” for a cruise down the Wailua River. On this excursion, you’ll gaze up
at the canyon’s towering, 300-ft. walls, visit the natural amphitheater called “Fern Grotto,”
and set your eyes on the magnificent Opaekaa Falls, which touches the heavens at 151 ft.
Other sightseeing tours center around the waterfalls of Kauai. In addition to Opaekaa Falls,
you’ll see other brilliant cascades such as Wailua Falls, Kipu Falls, and Waipoo Falls.
Meanwhile, further options such as Manawaiopuna Falls are accessible by helicopter tour
only.
Air Tours: It should come as no surprise, but air tours are second on our list of top five
things to do on Kauai. Virtually nothing is closed off to you when you’re soaring through
the skies; indeed, many inaccessible landmarks open up to you!
There are airplane and helicopter tours here that will give you over an hour of discovery
time. Most aerial excursions from Lihue will take you up the Napali Coast, for a
breathtaking look at its world-renown cliffs, and will dangle you over volcanic Mt.
Waialeale. In addition, you’ll view two major canyons from the sky: Olokele Canyon and
Waimea Canyon.
Still other air tours make a point of heading to Hanalei Bay, the world-renowned surf spot,
plus the waterfalls that line adjacent Hanalei Valley. And, in the winter, you might get the
chance to streak over the western coastline in order to spot the humpback whales that
migrate into the waters of Kauai every year! What’s the second best thing to do on Kauai?
An air tour!

2. Napali Coast: Few things on the planet are as magnificent as the Napali Coast, and for that
reason, it easily qualifies for our list of the top 5 things to do on Kauai. This 17-mile
stretch of foliage-rich cliffs is enough to leave anyone in disbelief.
Whether you should go to the Napali Coast isn’t really a question, but how you should do it
is. This isolated shoreline can only be accessed on land by taking the 11-mile-long Kalalau
Trail; as such, there are several hiking tours to accommodate this method of travel, some of
which include overnights on Hanakapiai Beach! For those who’d prefer to avoid staying on
their feet that long, especially considering the trail’s somewhat challenging conditions,
stops at the Napali Coast appear almost universally on airplane, helicopter, and kayaking
tour itineraries.
In other words, there’s really no excuse for not viewing the peaks of the Napali Coast, one
way or another. Whether you travel by air, by land, or by sea, the important point is simply
that you get here!
Snorkeling: Fifty miles of beaches means potentially 50 miles at which to snorkel.
Combined with Kauai’s crystal clear waters, that potential becomes a reality! Most of the
snorkeling tours take place off of Kauai’s north shore, at places like Anini Beach, Hanalei
Bay, Kee Beach, and Tunnels Beach. There are some winners on the southern and eastern
shores, too, like Poipu Beach and Lydgate Beach. All told, with snorkeling, you’ve got one
great thing to do on Kauai.
Guided snorkeling expeditions last upwards of three hours and introduce travelers to the
wonders that lie just below the ocean’s sun kissed surface. Some are more known for
certain features than others. Tunnels Beach, for instance, is famous for its massive lagoon
and protective, hook-shaped reef, plus the underwater arches and caverns that lie just
beyond the reef—accessible to more experienced snorkelers and divers. Meanwhile, Kee
Beach is legendary for its view of the Napali Coast and an impressive variety of tropical fish,
making it a quite busy snorkeling site.
In short, no matter where you go to snorkel, you’ll experience one of the best things to do
on Kauai!
Scuba Diving: Due to the conditions that make Kauai such a snorkeling hotspot, the island
is likewise a scuba diver’s paradise! With massive reef systems, underwater caverns, and
native dolphins and green sea turtles, Kauai is an inviting place to plumb the Pacific Ocean’s
depths.
As we previously mentioned, Tunnels Beach, or “Makua” as it’s called locally, is top notch
for advanced divers who want to investigate the rocky, underwater tubes and caverns.
Meanwhile, lots of exotic creatures and coral reefs are accessible even to scuba rookies at
beaches on Kauai’s southern shore.
In addition to beach dives, many companies offer boat dives that will take you out to remote
locations around the Pacific Ocean. On a tour out to a place like Turtle Bluffs, you can see a

3. genuine turtle cleaning station, plus a healthy supply of white-tip reef sharks. Even more
popular is Sheraton Caverns, where lava tubes, caves, and overhangs serve as habitats to an
infinite cache of sea life. All told, scuba diving easily makes the cut as one of the greatest
things to do on Kauai.
For more info, http://kauai-tours.us/what-to-do-in-kauai/