The Ultimate 8 Day Kauai Itinerary

Are you thinking of planning a trip to the beautiful island of Kauai? This ultimate 8 day Kauai itinerary includes the best beaches, restaurants, attractions and where to stay to minimize driving times. This itinerary will allow you to explore most of the island during your stay. If you prefer more relaxing beach days and less adventure, I have also included beach day alternatives. Planning an island hopping vacation? Check out my 10 day Maui & Kauai itinerary.

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Where is Kauai?

Kauai is the northernmost and smallest of the Hawaiian islands, and is known as the Garden Isle due to its lush, tropical landscapes. The most famous of its lush landscapes is the breathtaking Na Pali Coast. The Na Pali Coast, with its towering, jagged cliffs, has been the backdrop of many Hollywood movies, including Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones & the Raiders of the Lost Ark, King Kong, and Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

Kauai is the least populated of the four Hawaiian islands, and the most rural. There is a rule that buildings cannot be taller than a coconut tree, so there is not the city vibe that you will find on some of the other islands, like Oahu. It is an authentic island vibe. Kauai’s Na Pali Coast should be on everyone’s bucket list, it is truly the gem of Hawaii.

Where to Stay in Kauai

This fabulous map created by Shaka Guide is a great visual of the layout of Kauai. There are 6 main regions of Kauai: The North Shore, Na Pali Coast, West Side, South Shore, East Side and Lihue. The South Shore is known to be the sunniest part of the island, while the lush North Shore has a rainforest climate, making it the wettest part of the island. It is important to note that even though it is the rainiest part of Kauai, it usually does not rain all day. This is a tropical climate, where rain is likely, but passes quickly.

The cliffs of the Na Pali Coast take up the entire northwest part of Kauai, making it impossible to drive completely around the island. Driving from the southwest corner of Kauai, to the northern town of Princeville will take a little over 2 hours.

In order to cut back on driving times, I recommend that you stay part of your trip in the South Shore and part of your trip in the North Shore. This will give you the best access to your attractions with the least amount of driving time. If you don’t want to switch accommodations in the middle of your trip, I suggest you stay on the East Side in the town of Kapa’a.

Top Rated Hotels by Region:

South Shore:

Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa

Koloa Landing Resort at Poipu

Ko’ a Kea Resort on Poipu Beach

Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club

Sheraton’s Kauai Resort

Whaler’s Cove Ocean Front Resort

North Shore:

1 Hotel Hanalei Bay

The Cliffs at Princeville

The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas

Hanalei Bay Resort

Club Wyndham Bali Hai Villas

Makai Club Resort

East Side

Kauai Shores Hotel

Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach Resort

Fern Grotto Inn

Aston Islander On The Beach

Waipouli Beach Resort

If you are traveling as a family, consider a vacation home rental in lieu of a hotel. We are a family of 5 and would need 2 hotel rooms. Most vacation rentals are more affordable than 2 hotel rooms per night, plus you don’t have the added expense of eating every single meal at a restaurant. We grocery shop upon arrival for breakfast and lunch foods for the week. It is convenient to pack lunches for the beach or a hike.

Click here to search VRBO for vacation rentals in Kauai

Also, check out my post on the Top-Rated Vacation Rentals in Kauai.

When To Visit Kauai

The most popular time to visit Kauai is May-September when the weather is warmest and rain is less likely.

Whale watching season is November-March, so if you want to have a chance at spotting whales, that is the time you should go. Although rainy season in Kauai is November-March, it rarely rains on the entire island. It could be raining in the northern or central part of Kauai and sunny on the south and east sides. The North Shore and central get more rain than other parts of the island. If you visit during that time, plan to stay on the East or South sides.

The shoulder months of April and October are great times to visit and less crowded. We visited Kauai the second week of April and were surprised to see a mama and baby whale on our Na Pali Coast boat tour. We thought we had just missed whale watching season.

We did not have any rain in April the entire week we were in Kauai. Even though the weather apps we were watching the week before called for rain every single day! So, if your weather app is showing rain, don’t stress! It might not rain at all on your part of the island, and even if it does, it likely will not rain all day.

Flight into Lihue

For the most spectacular view of the Na Pali Coast from the airplane, select seats on the left side of the plane. We lucked into this without even knowing and the views coming in were just spectacular.

Get greeted at the airport with fresh Hawaiian leis from Kauai Airport Lei Greetings! This is a custom in Hawaii to receive a lei greeting upon arrival. Reserve your lei greeting here.

You will need to rent a car upon arrival, as you will be doing a significant amount of driving. DiscoverCars.com compares prices for all of the local rental car companies in Kauai. Turo is also available in Kauai, which is where you rent your car from an individual verses a rental car company.

Here are the driving times from the airport to the resort regions.

Lihue Airport to South Shore: 20 minutes

Lihue Airport to East Side: 20 minute

Lihue Airport to North Shore: 45 minutes

Day 1: South Shore of Kauai

Arrival and Check In

Upon arriving in Kauai, pick up your rental car and drive to the South Shore to check in to your South Shore accommodations. If you would rather not change accommodations mid-trip, you can stay on the East Side for the whole trip. There is a Costco in Lihue not far from the airport. If you want to buy a boogie board or beach supplies and your accommodations do not supply those, you can buy them at Costco for cheaper than it would be to rent them. Our VRBO came with boogie boards.

An alternative to buying beach chairs and boogie boards is the Facebook group Pass It On Kauai. Visitors post pictures of their beach gear that they are leaving behind, and where they are leaving it. You can go pick it up for free from them and then just pass it on when your vacation is over.

After checking in to your accommodations, head to the grocery store to pick up some food for the week. If you are staying at a vacation rental with a kitchen, plan to buy food for lunch and breakfast. You can pack lunches for some of your beach days. This collapsible travel cooler is perfect for bringing to the beach and will fit in your suitcase. If you are in a hotel, but have access to a refrigerator, consider buying lunch food for some of the days, or you can just pick up some fruit and snacks for in between meals.

Afternoon: Kiahuna Beach

If your flight arrives early in the day, spend the afternoon at Kiahuna Beach, a great beach for both snorkeling and boogie boarding. There is a small cove just to the left of the main beach that is perfect for snorkeling. Bring your own snorkel gear to snorkel off the beach. These full face snorkel masks are all the rage and great for all ages as they have no mouthpiece and allow you to breathe normally whether in or out of the water. Bring your GoPro to get great underwater photos and video.

Evening: Dinner at The Beach House

The Beach House restaurant is the best way to end day one in Kauai. The location and atmosphere of this beachfront restaurant is fabulous. The entire ocean-facing wall of the restaurant is open, giving the feel of outdoor dining wherever you are seated within the restaurant. The sunsets are breathtaking on this beach. Time your reservations with sunset for the best dining experience. Reservations are required in advance.

Day 2: South Shore of Kauai

Morning: Na Pali Coast Kauai Boat Tour

Start the morning with an incredible boat tour of the majestic Na Pali Coast. There are several boat tours to choose from, depending on what experience you are looking for. The large boat tours have more stability in choppy waters and are best for people who get sea sick easily. The small boats have the advantage of not just cruising closer to the shore, but most of the small boats can maneuver right into the sea caves of the Na Pali Coast. We did a small boat experience and it was incredible. The sea caves were our favorite part! We also saw 2 whales, an entire pod of dolphins swam right up and under our boat and we snorkeled at the base of the jagged cliffs. The small boats can be bumpy in choppy water, so if you are prone to sea sickness, take some medicine before you go. Check out my blog post of our Na Pali Coast boat tour The Most Incredible Na Pali Coast Boat Tour in Kauai.

Note: All of the tours below except for the one noted leave from marinas in the South Shore. If you book the one that leaves from the North Shore marina, add it to one of your North Shore itinerary days.

Top Rated Large Boat Tours:

Ni’hau and Na Pali Coast Snorkel Boat Tour

The Lucky Lady Na Pali Coast Boat Tour

Na Pali Catamaran *Leaves from the North Shore-if you book this one add it to your North Shore day*

‘Imiloa Express Na Pali Snorkel Boat Tour

Top Rated Small Boat Tours:

Na Pali Experience (this is the one we did)

Raft Adventure Half Day Na Pali Snorkel

Na Pali Pirates

Na Pali Coast Super Raft Adventure

Afternoon: Spouting Horn Blowhole & Poipu Beach

After the Na Pali Coast boat tour, make a quick stop at the Spouting Horn Blowhole. Spouting Horn is a natural lava tube that shoots seawater 50 feet into the air. The blowhole is a very short walk from the parking lot.

Spend the rest of the afternoon of Day 2 at Poipu Beach. This beautiful beach is most known for its marine wildlife. It is a habitat for Hawaiian Monk Seals and sea turtles. Monk seals often lounge right on the beach! There are signs reminding visitors it is against the law to disturb the seals, but it is such an amazing experience to be on the beach with them. Bring your snorkels and GoPro to Poipu Beach, there are some great spots to snorkel.

Evening: Aulii Luau or Dinner at Eating House 1849

For an authentic Hawaiian experience, attend the Aulii Luau, located beachfront at the Sheraton Kauai resort. This is Kauai’s only beachfront luau. Reservations are required in advance.

Another dinner option is Eating House 1849. This is one of the best restaurants in Kauai, with thousands of five star reviews for delicious food and impeccable service. Reservations are required in advance.

Day 3: South Shore of Kauai

All Day: Waimea Canyon

Waimea Canyon is known as “The Grand Canyon of the Pacific.” There are several breathtaking lookouts as you drive to to the top of the Canyon. At the very top of the drive are the Pu’u O Kila and Kalalau Lookouts. These two lookouts have stunning views of the Na Pali Coast–from above! This is the same view you had the day before from below. You can even spot the boat tours from above the jagged cliffs.

These two lookouts can get foggy with very low visibility by mid-morning, so get to the Canyon early and drive straight up to the top, bypassing all of the lookouts on the way. Trust me–resist the urge to stop at the lookouts on the way up. You can stop by those lookouts on the way back down, they are on the opposite side of the road and do not get the fog from the coast. You don’t want to miss the spectacular views from the top due to the fog. Try to be at the top between 8:00-9:00 am. The earlier the better.

Waimea Canyon has some of the best hiking trails in Kauai. The top two trails are the Canyon Trail to Waipo’o Falls and the Awa’awapuhi Trail. If you plan to do either of these trails, wear hiking boots.

If hiking is not your thing, check out this popular and top rated bike tour of Waimea Canyon. A van takes you to the top of the Canyon to the Pu’u O Kila and Kalalau lookouts where you receive your bicycles. Then you take a leisurely bike tour back down to the entrance of the park, stopping at the lookouts on the way down.

Tips for Waimea Canyon

1. The entrance fee is $5 per vehicle. There are pay stations at the parking lots.
2. Pack a lunch because there is nowhere to eat inside the park. There are picnic tables at each of the lookouts for lunch with a view.
3. It is a one hour drive from the entrance to the park to the very top where the Pu’u O Kila and Kalalau Lookouts are, so plan accordingly in order to arrive at the top before the fog rolls in.

Afternoon Option: Hanapepe

If you don’t hike in Waimea Canyon, you will be done shortly after lunch time. In that case, head to the town of Hanapepe to check out the famous Swinging Bridge and Salt Pond Beach.

Evening: Dinner at Kalaheo Cafe & Coffee Company

Stop at Kalaheo Cafe & Coffee Company in Kalaheo for dinner. Reservations are not required. This restaurant also has a spectacular breakfast menu.

Day 4: South Shore of kauai

Morning: Zip Lining in Koloa

Spend the morning at the popular and top rated Koloa Zip Line. Fly through the jungle and above the water on 1,000 foot zip lines. Book well in advance, as they do sell out. Koloa Zip Line can be booked through Trip Advisor or Viator.

If zip lining is not your thing, head to Shipwreck Beach. You can spend the morning at the beach or hike the popular Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail. This scenic coastal trail starts at Shipwreck Beach and takes you along the coastal cliffs of Kauai’s South Shore. It is a 4 mile easy hike.

Afternoon: Helicopter Tour of Kauai

This is one of the must-do activities in Kauai. If you are doing an island hopping adventure, save your helicopter tour for Kauai! The helicopter tour will fly you right over and between the massive jagged cliffs of the Na Pali Coast, over and down into Waimea Canyon, and along Wailua Falls. This is a jaw-dropping, bucket list adventure that will leave you speechless. If you don’t do anything else on Kauai, do this!

Top-Rated Helicopter Tours:

Kauai Eco-Adventure Helicopter Tour

Hughes 500 Doors-Off Helicopter with No Middle Seats

Private Doors-Off Helicopter Tour with No Middle Seats

For a less expensive alternative, check out this Small Plane Tour.

Afternoon Options: Koloa Rum Company & Brennecke Beach

If you do not do a helicopter tour or you still have time in the afternoon, head to Koloa Rum Company for a rum tasting. The distillery has a store where you can purchase rum cakes, sauces, jellies as well as Koloa Rum. Another option for the afternoon is the beautiful Brennecke Beach.

Evening: Dinner at Keoki’s Paradise

Make reservations well in advance for dinner at Keoki’s Paradise. The atmosphere in this restaurant is similar to the Rainforest Cafe. The decor and ambience gives you the feel of dining in a tropical jungle. The food is also good, but this restaurant is definitely about the experience! Reservations are required.

Day 5: East Shore of kauai

Morning: South Shore Check Out & Wailua Falls

Start the morning by packing up and checking out of your South Shore accommodations. On the way to your North Shore accommodations, you will spend the day on the East Shore of Kauai.

The first stop will be Wailua Falls. This is a must-see destination in Kauai, but it is a quick stop. The falls are right off the parking lot so no hiking is required. These twin falls are 80 feet long!

Afternoon: Wailua River Kayaking, Paddleboarding or Tubing Tours

The Wailua River is a must-do experience on the East Shore of Kauai. The Wailua River can be experienced several ways. The Wailua River Kayak and Secret Falls Tour is one of the most popular ways to explore the Wailua River. Another popular Wailua River activity is the River tubing. Take in all of the breathtaking sights while floating down the river on an inner tube.

Another way to access Secret Falls is with a Guided Paddleboard Tour. Both the guided paddle board tour and the kayak tour include a short hike to the famous Secret Falls.

These waterproof phone lanyards are great for all of these tours. I also recommend wearing water shoes with sturdy soles like these.

If you are looking for lunch (or dinner depending on what time you finish the Wailua River) check out these East Shore restaurants:

Evening: Check In to North Shore Accommodations & Dinner at Ama Restaurant

After your Wailua River adventure, drive to the North Shore to check in to your accommodations for the remainder of the week. For dinner, you can make reservations in advance at Ama Restaurant in Hanalei.

If you did not do the Aulii Luau in the South Shore, The Luau Kalamaku is a highly rated luau on the East Side. This could be a dinner option for you on Day 5 before you head to the North Shore accommodations. Smith’s Luau is another very popular luau on the East Side.

Day 6: North Shore

Morning: Limahuli Garden & Preserve

Start day six off by exploring the beautiful Limahuli Garden & Preserve in Hanalei. This is a beautiful botanical gardens on 17 acres and is home to many endangered species. After the gardens, stop in the quaint town of Hanalei for some shopping and lunch at Hanalei Bread Company. Don’t leave the town of Hanalei without stopping at Wishing Well Shave Ice for the best shave us in Kauai!

Afternoon: Hanalei Beach

Spend the afternoon at the most famous beach in Kauai, Hanalei Beach. Hanalei Beach is home to the famous Hanalei Bay Pier, featured in Hollywood shows like Fantasy Island. There is a beach right at the pier, but it can be crowded. There is a less crowded beach just north of the pier called Hanalei Beach Park Pavilion. Spend the afternoon at the Beach Park and then head down to the pier for the most beautiful sunset.

Evening: Sunset at Hanalei Bay Pier and Dinner at Wellina Terrace

Watch the sunset at Hanalei Bay Pier. Pat’s Taqueria is a food truck at the pier that you can grab tacos to eat on the beach. Wellina Terrace is an upscale restaurant located inside the 1 Hotel Hanalei, which has phenomenal views of the sunset at Hanalei Pier.

Day 7: North Shore

Morning: Hike the Kalalau Trail From Ke’e Beach to Hanakapi’ai Beach

There are 4 ways to see the Na Pali Coast and this itinerary covers all four ways: 1) From the water on a boat, 2) From the sky in a helicopter, 3) From the Kalalau and Pu’u O Kila Lookouts in Waimea Canyon, and 4) Hike within it on the Kalalau Trail.

The entire Kalalau Trail is 11 miles long each way, 22 miles roundtrip and requires a camping permit. However, you can hike the first two miles in, from Ke’e Beach to Hanakapi’ai Beach without a permit. This is a 4 mile roundtrip hike. If you want to hike to the stunning Hanakapi’ai Falls, that is an extra 2 miles, making it a 6 mile roundtrip hike. The first two miles takes you along the cliffs of the Na Pali Coast, with stunning views of the coastline. You will definitely want to wear hiking boots for this hike and hiking poles are extremely helpful for the stream crossing and slippery spots. Do not cross the stream if the water is high as it can be dangerous. Check weather conditions for the trail at Kalalautrail.com.

If you are not up for a 4 mile hike, just walk 1/2 mile in to see the Na Pali Coast Lookout. Well worth walking a mile roundtrip to see. The trail starts and ends at Ke’e Beach, so definitely check out the beach before taking the shuttle back to your car. You won’t have any beach gear with you if you did the hike, but we like to pack these lightweight towels in our backpacks to sit on.

Required Shuttle Reservations

The only way to access the Kalalau Trail is by shuttle bus. Shuttle tickets must be purchased in advance at Gohaena.com. The shuttle tickets go on sale 30 days in advance at 12:00 am Hawaiian Standard Time (HST). They sell out right away, so you need to be logged in at exactly 12:00am HST to purchase tickets. It is best to create your account earlier in the week, and log in a few minutes early and start refreshing the screen until the tickets are released.

Haena Beach is another option for this day, including the wet and dry caves. This is only accessible via the same shuttle that takes you to the Kalalau Trail and Ke’e Beach.

Check out my article Hiking The Kalalau Trail From Ke’e Beach to Hanakapi’ai Beach for a detailed look at this 4 mile hike.

Afternoon: Tunnels Beach and Queen’s Bath

Tunnels Beach

Tunnels Beach, also known as Makua Beach is a gorgeous beach located near the shuttle for the Kalalau Trail. No shuttle reservations are required to visit Tunnels Beach. This beautiful beach has the stunning backdrop of the Na Pali Coastline, giving absolute paradise vibes. The waters are calm in the summer months, and great for snorkeling. The winter months bring bigger waves and surfers to Tunnels Beach. This is truly a must-see beach while you are in the North Shore.

Queen’s Bath

Queen’s Bath, in Princeville, is a stunning natural pool that was once a bath to the royals. The bath is only accessible from April to September. To get there, you have to hike 15 minutes down slippery lava rocks, so appropriate shoes are required. We love these quick-dry hiking sandals. If there is rough water, the gate will be closed and locked, preventing you from going down to the natural pool. This is a great thing to do, but can be dangerous with rogue waves, so definitely read reviews and do your research ahead of time on the weather conditions.

Evening: Dinner at Bar Acuda

Make reservations in advance for dinner at Bar Acuda restaurant.

Day 8: North Shore

Morning: Check out of your accommodations and head to the airport for your departure. If you have a late flight, spend the day at Anini Beach.

If you have extra time…

This 8 day itinerary covers all of the most popular sights and activities in Kauai. If you have extra time or want to switch things up, check out these alternatives:

South Shore of Kauai:

Baby Beach: Calm beach with no waves, thanks to a naturally protected cove. Perfect for families with young kids or babies.

Keiki Cove: Another great beach for families with young kids or babies with shallow water and no waves.

Snorkel at Lawai Beach: Some of the best snorkeling in Kauai is at Lawai Beach. It is rocky, so wear quick-dry hiking sandals.

Golf at Kiahuna Golf Club Play a round of golf at Kiahuna Golf Club.

East Side of Kauai:

Ke Ala Hele Makulae Bike Path: Kauai’s only coastal bike path, it runs from Lydgate Park to Donkey Beach in Kapa’a. Rent bikes at Hele on Kauai bike rentals.

Sleeping Giant Hiking Trail: This 3.5 mile roundtrip hike up Naonao Mountain has spectacular views at the summit. It’s steep elevation gain makes this a challenging hike, but the views at the top are worth the climb!

Lydgate Beach Park

Wailua Beach

Kealia Beach

Opaekaa Falls: Beautiful waterfall accessible from parking lot, no hiking involved

Golf at Wailua Golf Course