For those of you adventurers looking for the perfect place to get your adrenaline pumping, put Kauai on your radar, because adventure is exactly what you’ll find there. Kauai is one of the North-Western islands of Hawaii, and also one of the less crowded and less developed ones. AKA no beaches crammed with tourists and skyscrapers, yay!
As if you really even needed an additional reason to travel to beautiful Hawaii, on top of the postcard-perfect beaches and Aloha atmosphere, are some adventure options on the small island of Kauai that are seriously mind-blowing! Oh, and if you ever thought Kauai was a place for couples or families only, trust me when I say that this little adventurer had a phenomenal time wandering around there solo!
There’s zip-lining, mountain hikes, and even a helicopter tour that will make you feel like your life is a movie (because it takes you to several movie filming locations, I’m not just trying to be ironic). There’s lookouts, coves, and of course, my personal favorite, a ton of waterfalls to chase!
The flights to Kauai aren’t always exactly ideal, but don’t forget that it’s because you’re flying to the middle of the ocean! Once you’re there, another added perk for solo adventurers is that there are affordable hotel options, which means you definitely don’t have to stay at an expensive beach resort…unless of course you want to. Now there’s actually the option to have the best of both worlds since the new Hilton Garden Inn Kauai Wailua Bay opened; it’s affordable AND it’s right on the beach!
So put on your adventure pants and check out these 5 best things to do in Kauai for solo adventurers…or anyone looking to have an awesome time for that matter!
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1. Chase the Kauai Waterfalls by Helicopter
When I researched the top waterfalls to see in Kauai, I was a little bummed to find out that many of the best ones weren’t accessible by foot. Then I discovered that there was a more epic way to see them; by taking a helicopter down into the mountains where they hide! I say that you’ll feel like “Your life is a movie” because several movie scenes were filmed in Kauia‘s mountain and coast region where the helicopter tour flies!
Some popular movies and TV shows you may recognize include; Jurassic World, King Kong, George of the Jungle, Lilo & Stitch, and the islander’s clear favorite, Blue Hawaii featuring the one and only, Elvis Presley.
You’ll also fly over the mountain ridge towards the Napali Coast (at least on the tour I picked did with Blue Hawaiin Helicopter Tours), where if you’re lucky (and by “lucky” I mean “if it just rained”) you’ll see tons of small waterfalls everywhere, including in the crater that the small helicopter takes you inside of!
2. Chase the Kauai Waterfalls by Land
Since I couldn’t go play in the waterfalls that I saw from the helicopter, I decided to go find the other ones in Kauai that are accessible by land. I found a few near where I was staying at the Hilton Garden Inn Kauai, and used one of the free bikes (the keyword there is free) they offer there to try and go see them.
As it turns out, beach cruisers are not, in fact, the best option for trying to ride up the side of a mountain. So yeah, I’m just going to write it off as a good workout, and maybe suggest renting a car or you know, a mountain bike.
Anyway, the waterfall I was trying to go see is called Opaekaa Falls and when I finally got there, I had a great view of it from the side of the road. That’s the closest you can get without doing a strenuous hike.
If you have more time you can rent a kayak or take a tour to some of the other accessible waterfalls though! Which brings me to number 3 of the best things to do in Kauai…
3. Kayak to Secret Falls in Kauai
Obviously Secret Falls isn’t that big of a secret if everyone knows about it, but the way you get there will definitely make it feel like it is. You can only get to Secret Falls by kayaking there, which you can do with a tour, or by renting a kayak on your own. I had the front desk at Hilton Garden Inn arrange a kayak for me, and it was double-easy to get there since it’s right up the road from the hotel.
The tours and rentals tend to run early, so if you want to do this adventure, make sure you make it the first adventure of your day. It’s also a good idea to go early anyways because this spot is said to get a bit crowded!
4. Partake in a Hawaiian Sunrise Ceremony at Hilton Garden Inn
This is more of a cultural adventure, but still an interesting one nonetheless. It requires waking up at the crack of down to do it, but I promise the sunrise is worth it! So anyway, the new Hilton Garden Inn Kauai is renovated from hotel that was built on a sacred Hawaiian site (go ahead an let that one sink in for a sec). That means the locals maintain the traditional Sunrise Ceremonies three times a week that anyone could partake in.
There’s chanting, which you’ll be encouraged to join in on, and an explanation of why the site is sacred, but it’ll honestly be hard to pay attention to anything while the gorgeous neon-colored sunrise is happening over the ocean. Definitely go with your cameras ready!
Even if you aren’t into the whole spiritual chanting thing, practicing your photography skills on those Hawaiian sunrises is definitely worth the 5am wake up call!
5. Go Ziplining Through the Kauai Jungle
Ok so maybe it’s not like a legit jungle, but it definitely feels like it is when you’re ziplining through the canopies of massive trees! There’s no monkeys or tigers (unfortunately), BUT! It is where George of the Jungle was filmed, so that’s gotta count for something, amiright?!
Anyway. Not only would I consider ziplining to be one of the best things to do in Kauai for adventurers, but for anyone as well! It’s seriously not as scary as it looks or sounds, and I saw people of all ages, shapes, and sizes doing it! It’s a lot of fun, plus you get some seriously incredible views!
Don’t worry, it’s totally safe. The guys that guide you through the ziplining tour are total professionals, even if they do encourage you to zipline upside-down like I did!
6. Bike Along Wailua Bay
For solo adventurers, it may be a little hard to just sit still and lay out at the beach. At least it is for me anyway. But there’s still an active, adventurous way to enjoy the beach, namely the one at Wailua Bay.
You can again rent a bike, or if you’re also staying at the Hilton Garden Inn Kauai, use one of their free beach cruisers, and cruise yourself up the coast for miles. There’s a safe bicycle sidewalk along the coast with designated bike and pedestrian crossings, and the bikes come with locks so that you can park them and run into the water if your little adventurous heart desires!
More About the Hilton Garden Inn Kauai Wailua Bay:
Disclaimer: Part of my job as a travel blogger is to honestly provide the best tips and recommendations for you, my beloved audience, which is why I choose to voluntarily add this section explaining more about the hotels I’m sponsored by, and what I thought about them. Without these sponsorships, it would not be possible for me to experience many of the things and places that I do, and thus provide my informative tips for you, and without you I wouldn’t have anyone to preach to, so from the bottom of my world-traveling heart, THANK YOU EVERYONE!
I am very proud and grateful to say that I was invited to the beautiful island of Kauai to experience the newly renovated Hilton Garden Inn Kauai at Wailua Bay. They clearly knew I’d be a big fan not only of the best things to do in Kauai as a solo adventurer, but the affordable options they offer for hotel rooms as well.
Straight up, Hawaii is expensive. That’s why I was interested in seeing this new option for affordable accommodation at the Hilton Garden Inn. But, it was also more than just affordable; the Hilton Garden Inn Kauai is also brand newly restored (is that a real phrase? “Brand newly”?), which means it’s more like a legit beach resort than your typical hotel inn.
Every room was a super comfy bed, brand new carpeting, appliances, furniture, bathroom fixtures, etc., and the lobby again looks like something you’d expect to see at an expensive resort. Room rates run around $190, which, in my opinion isn’t terrible since it’s Hawaii, and also since it’s a brand new hotel that’s located ON the beach.
The Hilton Garden Inn Kauai Wailua Bay is also a super short drive from the airport, and just minutes from all of the awesome adventures listed above!
Kauai looks soo amazing! You make me want to go right now haha do all of the things you recommend and paddle board as well 🙂 .. I agree with Fanny you make us women more confident to just go and travel solo, the experience is different to
when you go with someone else but very enriching. Thank you!
Hi Alyssa! I love your blog and I wanted to thank you because you make me confident for travelling solo as a woman. Also, thank you for sharing all your travel experiences and for your helpful advices. Kauai is definitely the place where I would love to paddleboard!
Thank you so much Fanny, I really appreciate that! 😀 Kauai would definitely be amazing to paddle, can I come too??
I’ll be going to Hawaii in July for a wedding, and I’m planning to travel around for at least a week! I was looking at something not too touristy and this list is great 🙂 Did you also surf or SUP is Kauai?