Everything you wanted to know about the Kauai Mountain Tubing Adventure!
Overview
The Kauai Mountain Tubing Adventure, offered by Kauai Backcountry Adventures, is the real deal. One of the most popular activities on Kauai, this unforgettable experience consistently exceeds expectations. It is a real-life version of what amusement parks aspire to create. Part log ride and part river tubing adventure, this one-of-a-kind excursion takes participants floating through irrigation canals that were originally built in the 1870s to supply water to the island's vast sugar cane plantations.
Before the adventure begins, participants are outfitted with an inner tube, gloves and a helmet equipped with a headlamp. After a brief safety orientation, the journey downstream begins. As you float along the canal, you'll be surrounded by lush tropical scenery and tranquil jungle landscapes. One of the highlights of the adventure is the series of hand-dug tunnels, which add an exciting and memorable dimension to the experience.
The water in the canals is generally calm, allowing plenty of time to relax and take in the scenery. Along the way, knowledgeable guides share the fascinating history of the irrigation system, Kauai's sugar plantation era and the surrounding landscape, making the excursion both entertaining and educational.
In addition to the tubing adventure, the tour includes a scenic drive through the former Lihue Plantation lands, a stop at a spectacular panoramic overlook and a picnic lunch.
Combining relaxation, adventure and a glimpse into Kauai's rich history, the Kauai Mountain Tubing Adventure is an experience enjoyed by visitors of all ages (5 and older) and offers one of the most unique ways to discover the island's natural beauty.
Restrictions
- Ages 5 and up
- Must be a minimum of 43 inches tall.
- Weight limit – 300 lbs.
Our Experience
We recently took a spin with the Kauai Mountain Tubing activity, and it exceeded every expectation. From beginning to end, it was an exhilarating, immersive and thoroughly enjoyable ride that perfectly blended relaxation with adventure.
Before the tour, we had a couple of questions that were quickly put to rest. The water is refreshingly cool without being uncomfortably cold, and the current strikes an ideal balance—gentle enough to relax and take in the scenery, yet brisk enough to keep the adventure engaging.
Overall, we give the Kauai Mountain Tubing Adventure five out of five stars and highly recommend it to anyone planning a vacation on Kauai. It is one of the island's most memorable experiences and an adventure that truly lives up to its outstanding reputation.
The meeting point for the Kauai Mountain Tubing Adventure is a large warehouse-style building located in the Hanamaulu neighborhood of Lihue. Because the Kauai Backcountry Adventures building is situated behind another building, be sure to watch for the entrance as you approach.
Kauai Backcountry Adventures
3-4131 Kuhio Hwy
Lihue, HI 96766
Phone: 808-245-2506 / 1-888-270-0555
Website: https://kauaibackcountry.com/tubing/
Map: Google Maps
We arrived about 30 minutes before our scheduled departure time to be fitted with helmets, gloves and water shoes before setting off on the adventure.
Water-friendly clothing, such as swimsuits, board shorts and rash guards or other swim shirts, is recommended for this activity. Bringing a waterproof bag containing a towel, a change of dry clothes, sunscreen and insect repellent is also a good idea. Some participants on our tour arrived with nothing more than their helmet, gloves and water-friendly clothing and footwear. We chose to bring a waterproof bag with a towel and sunscreen, which was sufficient for our needs.
Below is a list of things to bring according to Kauai Backcountry Adventures:
- Water friendly shoes NO FLIP FLOPS (rental shoes available)
- Swimsuit or clothing that can get wet (rental board shirts available)
- Towel and change of dry clothing
- Reef safe sunscreen
- Bug repellent
- Waterproof bag to keep your wet clothes and belongings in.
Kauai Backcountry Adventures provides:
- Gloves
- Helmets
- Headlamps
- Tubes
- Picnic Lunch and Water
We also brought:
- GoPro Camera
Before departing, we checked that our helmets, water shoes and gloves fit properly. We also took advantage of the restroom facilities and helped ourselves to the complimentary bananas provided by Kauai Backcountry Adventures.
Our group of 20 departed exactly on schedule aboard an open-air tour bus. In fact, the entire three-hour excursion ran precisely on time, with approximately 30 minutes allotted each way for transportation, 30 minutes for the picnic lunch and the remaining time devoted to the tubing adventure. Tours operate rain or shine unless extreme weather or flooding makes conditions unsafe.
The adventure takes place in the general vicinity of Wailua Falls. The open-air bus ride follows two-lane Highway 583 toward the falls before turning onto a gated dirt road that leads deep into the Kauai backcountry.
Along the way, our friendly tour guide shared the history of the irrigation canals, officially known as the Hanamaulu Ditch. During the late 1800s, the area was dominated by the vast sugar cane fields of the Lihue Plantation. To supply the plantation with the large volumes of water needed to grow sugar cane, laborers hand-dug a four-mile-long irrigation canal and a series of tunnels beginning in 1870, diverting water from Kauai's rain-soaked interior. After the plantation closed in 2000, AOL founder Steve Case purchased the property. Recognizing the area's recreational potential, Kauai Backcountry Adventures leased the land from Case in 2003 and transformed the historic irrigation system into the mountain tubing adventure enjoyed by thousands of visitors each year.
The drive to the activity offered exclusive views of Kauai's lush, emerald-green interior. Towering albizia trees lining the route gave portions of the journey an almost African safari-like feel.
A scheduled stop at a spectacular overlook of Mount Waialeale was a welcome addition to the tour. The viewpoint offers an exclusive perspective that is accessible only through the Kauai Mountain Tubing Adventure. Mount Waialeale is one of the wettest places on Earth, receiving more than 400 inches of rainfall in an average year. The pristine water flowing through the irrigation canal originates from this lush, rain-soaked mountain.
Our tour included participants of all ages, from young children to senior citizens, and everyone had a blast!
Shortly after leaving the scenic overlook, we arrived at the launch point. Any belongings we didn't need on the water were packed into storage tubs and transported downstream, where they were waiting for us at the end of the adventure.
We ultimately didn't need sunscreen, as most of the route was shaded and not exposed to direct sunlight. We also didn't encounter any mosquitoes or other bothersome insects during our outing.
The safety briefing was both entertaining and thorough. We learned the two basic positions for riding through the canals: "buns in" and "buns up." (One shallow section of the canal requires a quick "buns up" to avoid bumping the bottom with your backside.) We also learned that there is no controlling the spin of your inner tube—and that proved to be absolutely true. Once you're on the water, you simply have to go with the flow.
One of the most common questions about the Kauai Mountain Tubing Adventure is whether the mountain-fed water is uncomfortably cold. For us—and for many others in our group—the water temperature was never an issue.
In fact, it is entirely possible to complete most of the adventure without getting very wet (unless it is raining). For the most part, only your lower body is in the water, with the occasional splash along the way. You generally won't get soaked unless you choose to change positions by standing in the tube or draping your arms and upper body over it.
Even so, we recommend wearing a water-friendly top, such as a rash guard, board shirt or lightweight wetsuit top, to help retain body heat throughout the tour.
With the assistance of the two guides, getting into position in the inner tubes was easier than expected.
The entire 20-person group stayed together during the trip downstream. Though others came between our party in the random current, we were usually at least within shouting distance of one another.
There were several stops along the way to regroup.
The helmets were a welcome safety feature, although we never needed them during our trip downstream. For us, the greatest potential safety concern was accidentally twisting an ankle after bumping the sides of the canal while spinning in our inner tubes.
Some parts of the canal were very calm, while there was one section that moved a little faster. The canal varied in width, with some sections wide enough for several tubes and other sections only wide enough for one tube.
The journey included five tunnels, one of which stretched for more than a mile. From the entrance of the longest tunnel, the exit was completely out of sight, adding to the sense of adventure. Each time we entered a tunnel, it was "lights on" as we switched on our helmet lamps, followed by "lights off" once we emerged back into the daylight. To our surprise and delight, a substantial portion of the adventure took place inside these tunnels, making them one of the highlights of the experience.
The tour guides were professional, friendly and genuinely committed to making sure everyone had their best time!
Getting out of the water was just as easy as getting in at the start of the adventure. From there, it was a short ride to the picnic area.
One item we would add to the "What to Bring" list is a light jacket or cover-up. The combination of wet clothing and the open-air bus ride back to the picnic area left some participants feeling chilly.
The beautiful meadow provided the perfect setting for the picnic lunch. Although you have the opportunity to change into dry clothes here, most of the people in our group simply continued wearing what they already had on.
You can take a dip in the peaceful stream that runs alongside the picnic area.
Lunch consisted of sandwiches, chips and Kauai Cookies—a satisfying way to wrap up the adventure. We scheduled our tour for mid-morning so lunch arrived at just the right time, while still leaving the rest of the day free to explore other parts of the island. After about 30 minutes at the picnic area, it was time to head back.
Overall, we thoroughly enjoyed the Kauai Mountain Tubing Adventure, and we believe you will too. It is a unique, fun, scenic, safe and family-friendly experience. Whether you are a Kauai resident celebrating a birthday or another special occasion, or a visitor looking for something refreshingly different, this adventure is sure to create lasting memories.
Make Reservations in Advance
The Kauai Mountain Tubing Adventure is one of the island's most popular activities, and tours often sell out well in advance. We recommend making your reservation several weeks—or even months—ahead of your trip to ensure you don't miss out on this unforgettable experience.
More Details
- Children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
- Temperature must be under 100.4 degrees F / 38 degrees C to go on tour.
- Not recommended for anyone claustrophobic.
- Guests should not have serious fear of enclosed spaces.
- Guests who are pregnant are not permitted to participate in the activity.
- Guests with neck, back or joint problems are not permitted to participate in the activity.
- The activity is not wheelchair accessible.
- Children 5 years old and above can participate.
- Guests must be at least 43 inches (109 cm) tall to participate.
- Guests must be below 300 lbs (136 kg) to participate.
- Throughout the adventure, the water is shallow enough to stand in.
- For cruise ship passengers, the check-in is located approximately 15 minutes from the pier by taxi.
- Your activity photos are available to purchase after the tour.
- The tour guide has full discretion to refuse service to customers based on attire, behavior, physical fitness and condition.
- Gratuity is not included in the price.
