Quick Details
Private Group Minimum
Covers up to 10 people
$ 1,000
Private Group Adults
Price per additional adult age 18+
$ 95
Private Group Children
Price per additional child age 5 - 17 years old
$ 50
Immerse yourself in the serene beauty of Hawaiʻi’s tropical cloud forest on a peaceful 2.5-hour guided tour of the Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary – family-forested with love since 1982..
Walk the Extended Montane Jungle Trail, surrounded by stunning rare trees, ferns, palms, bamboo, flowers, and the bird songs of native Hawaiian honeycreepers. Discover the unique climate, geology, and history of this lush ecosystem while learning about its delicate balance and human impact. Breathe fresh mountain air, calm your mind, relax your body, and connect deeply with nature on this unforgettable journey through a mile of sacred trails.
Our mission is to inspire conscious connection with nature, self, and community to cultivate a world where humanity thrives in harmony with the Earth.
This tour is for you if:
- You love plants and forests and are ready to become an expert naturalist!
- You are eager to explore and learn about the only cloud forest in the United States!
- You want the full immersive Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary experience, including the Pan-Tropical Forest and the Montane-Tropical Forest trails.
- You are ready to ascend to the higher elevation parts of the Sanctuary that no other tour visits!
- You love birds and want to see and hear the native Hawaiian honeycreepers!
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- Tranquility
- Lasting memories
- Appreciation & Respect
- Walking sticks
- Bug spray
- Water
- Photos
- Tree hugs
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- Drinks other than water
- Snacks
- Merchandise
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- 15 minute introduction to the Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary
- Over 2 hour exploring all of the wisdom and beauty that the Sanctuary has to offer
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- This is the only full length Sanctuary tour, customly curated to your private groups’ interest
- Maximize your time in the forest and see all of the different reforested areas and unique biodiversity within the Sanctuary
- Visit areas that inspired James Cameron and the cast of Avatar!
- Hear and see native Hawaiian honeycreepers & other birds
- Experience a tropical conifer forest
- Witness active reforestation in action
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Check-in details
Please arrive at least 10 minutes early for check-in. Program starts on time.
What to bring
- Rain jacket (be prepared for rain)
- Comfortable outdoor clothing (pants recommended) – Expect 10 to 15 degrees cooler temperatures
- Closed-toe shoes
- Hat
- Reusable water bottle
- Desired snacks
- Positive attitude, open heart and mind
Restrictions
- Participants must be confident walking on natural volcanic rock and tree root terrain,
- Participants must be comfortable walking and standing for up to 3 hours without sitting
- No strollers
- No walkers
- No wheelchairs
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I explore the Sanctuary on my own or do I need a guide?
- It is required to be with a guide to explore the Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary for safety purposes as well as it creates a much better experience when you learn the story of this privately stewarded land from your tour guide!
When are your tours?
- We offer guided tours everyday of the week! Check our tour schedule for the most up to date availability.
What do I need to bring for the tour?
- Please wear closed toed shoes you will be comfortable hiking in, water, a camera to take photos and a rain jacket. Always be prepared for rain; in a cloud forest it can rain at any time! And of course, remember your adventure hat!
When should I arrive for the tour?
- We ask that you arrive 10 minutes before the tour begins. The tour will begin on time, so it’s important that you arrive early so that you are ready to begin at the start time.
Do you have a bathroom?
- Yes, we have a bathroom for use at the trailhead.
Do you have drinking water and food available?
- We do not have water or food available at this time, please come prepared with what you need.
Do you have a trash can?
- We do not have a trash can. Please follow pack in and pack out guidelines. Any trash / wrappers that is brought in by you needs to be brought out by you. When we all do our part we keep the Sanctuary, the forest and the trails clean.
Do you sell gift cards?
- Yes! You can purchase a gift card on our website. When you click the “Book Now” button at the top of the page, at the bottom of the experiences listed, you will see the option to purchase a gift card.
Where are you located?
- We are located 15 minutes up the mountain from the Kailua-Kona Airport and 20 minutes from Kailua-Kona town.
Do you offer private tours or school group experiences?
- Yes we do! Call or email us to inquire about what we offer and/or to book a private experience for your school group, organization or private group.
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KCFS Cancellation Policy – Public Experiences
Intention: to address the limited capacity and high demand of our experiences, this policy aims to provide all customers an equal opportunity to visit the Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary when desired.
48 hour cancellation policy:
- Customers may receive a full refund, credit, or rebooking up to 48 hours before your reservation time.
- All bookings are considered final within 48 hours of your reservation start time.
- 50% rebooking fee will be applied to rebookings within 48 hours.
- No refunds or credits will be issued within 48 hours (without Trip Protection).
Trip Protection OPTION:
- Trip Protection may be purchased at checkout for maximum flexibility and peace of mind, and allows for last minute cancellations up to 2 hours prior to reservation time for a full refund, rebooking, or credit.
- Requests must be made by email or phone.
- No refunds, rebooking, or credit will be issued for cancellations within 2 hours of reservation start time, late arrivals, or no shows.
No refunds will be issued due to weather unless operations are cancelled by the operator. All customers must understand that this is a cloud forest and rain should be expected and prepared for. Additionally, Operator cannot guarantee any weather conditions.
Operator reserves the right to cancel any experiences at any time. In the case of Operator cancellation, customers will have the opportunity to rebook their experience or receive a full refund or credit. This may be due to, but not limited to safety, inclement weather, or other unforeseen circumstances.