Movie Locations on Kauai: Which Film Tour Is Worth Your Day?
4 min read
Our Kauai selection has two film tours, and they are different days out. The Movie Locations Tour is the one built around films: it has 81 reviews, a rating of 4.1 and costs €153.18. The Highlights & Movie Sites tour is a general island day with film clips played at its stops, at €151.07. Pick the first if films are the point, the second if you want one long day covering waterfalls, Hawaiian heritage sites and film locations together.
The two tours side by side
| Tour | Duration | Group size | From | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Movie Locations Tour | 7 hours | Up to 50 people | €153.18 | 4.1 from 81 reviews |
| Highlights & Movie Sites | 9 hours | Up to 24 people | €151.07 | 3.7 from 29 reviews |
Both have a live guide in English and list free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start, and both state that pickup is included; the second says it applies to select Kauai hotels. The Highlights & Movie Sites page lists 36 named pickup locations, mostly hotels and resorts; for the Movie Locations Tour, the pickup details appear once you check availability.
What the Movie Locations Tour covers
The page names the shooting locations of Jurassic Park, Pirates of the Caribbean, Gilligan’s Island, Blue Hawaii, Six Days, Seven Nights and Tropic Thunder, with trivia and insider stories from the guide along the way. The group can be large, up to 50 people. The guided tour is included; tips also appear in the same list, so check on the booking page whether they are covered. Only the guided tour is listed as included, so plan to pay for lunch yourself; one reviewer mentions a lunch stop on the north side of the island.
Two stops involve a walk: at Moloa’a Bay and Gilligan’s Island the page says guests walk an uneven, narrow incline. Bring comfortable shoes, water and comfortable clothes, as listed.
What the nine-hour tour adds
The Highlights & Movie Sites tour starts at Opaeka’a Falls, described as a 151-foot waterfall, and stops at Ahukini Landing and the Hanalei Valley Lookout. Lunch is on your own in Hanalei town, where the page mentions Tahiti Nui, where The Descendants was filmed. The afternoon turns to Hawaiian history, with Poli’ahu Heiau and the Birthing Stone, and ends at the Lydgate Chocolate tasting room. Bottled water and local treats are included; lunch and gratuities are not. The page adds that weather varies and views are not guaranteed. Worth knowing before you book: Opaeka’a Falls, Poli’ahu Heiau and the birthing stones lie in Wailua River State Park. According to the Hawaii State Parks notices, only the river and the designated landings and trailhead reopened there on 30 October 2026, and a notice of 2 November 2026 says all other Kauai state parks remain closed after the storms; neither notice names the falls or the heiau. Ask the operator which of these stops the tour currently makes.
Accessibility and who should skip it
The Movie Locations Tour carries a wheelchair-accessible label. The details matter, though: ADA vehicles must be reserved at least 48 hours ahead, collapsible wheelchairs of 50 pounds or less are allowed, wheelchair lifts are not available on the vehicles, and the page says not all stops are accessible, with sandy, uneven or unpaved paths. Non-folding wheelchairs are not allowed. Anyone who needs step-free access should confirm each stop with the operator before booking.
If you are looking for the sets you cannot reach by road, these tours will not take you there; see the helicopter and air tour comparison for the air side. A full day on a coach also suits you less if you prefer to choose your own pace; the Waimea Canyon and island tours page and the things to do on Kauai page list alternatives.
Our recommendation
For most film fans, book the Movie Locations Tour: it is the shorter day and puts the films first. Choose the nine-hour tour if you want a general island tour with a smaller group and film clips as a bonus.
