Kauai Itinerary: 7 Days of Hiking, Beaches & the Nāpali Coast

Planning a Kauai itinerary? Known as the Garden Isle, Kauai is the most dramatically beautiful of the Hawaiian Islands and the most rewarding for hikers.

In 7 days, you can hike the legendary Kalalau Trail along the Nāpali Coast, descend into the Grand Canyon of the Pacific at Waimea Canyon, dine beneath towering sea cliffs on a dinner cruise, and hike through the highest-elevation swamp in the world. Oh, and you’ll see wild chickens absolutely everywhere. Kauai is that kind of place.

We spent one week in Kauai after 7 days in Maui as part of a two-island Hawaii trip, and Kauai genuinely blew us away. The hiking here is world-class. Here’s exactly how to plan your own 7 day Kauai itinerary, day by day.

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Best Time for a 7 Day Kauai Itinerary

There truly isn’t a bad time to visit Kauai. There are two seasons in Kauai. The wet season runs during the winter months from November through March. During this time, Kauai receives an average of 41 inches of rain.

This is what helps to keep the island lush, green, and beautiful. Additionally, temperatures range from 65-80°F from November through March. This is a great season for whale watching on the island, but swimmers beware, as the surf is high.

The dry season runs from April through October in the spring and summer months. This is a perfect time to enjoy Kauai with mostly sunny skies and warm temperatures averaging around 75-85°F.

The dry season is perfect for hiking, snorkeling, and all outdoor activities. However, this is the high season, so expect more visitors. That being said, Kauai never felt “crowded” to us at all. Additionally, expect to pay a bit more for accommodations and tours during the high season.

But wait, what about rainbows? Expect passing rain showers at all times. Since this is the case, you never know when or where you’ll see a rainbow. We traveled here in mid-June. The weather was amazing, and we had so much fun!

The Itinerary And Map

Discover the beauty of Kauai with our easy-to-follow map and daily itinerary. Each stop is color-coded to give you a quick visual overview of top sights, must-do activities, and the best hikes for every day of your trip. Planning your island adventure has never been easier!

Planning Your Kauai Itinerary

Getting There

Kauai is served by one airport: Lihue Airport (LIH) on the east side of the island, about 20 minutes from Wailua Falls and 30 minutes from Princeville, where you’ll spend your first two nights. Most mainland visitors cannot fly directly to Lihue and will connect through Honolulu (HNL), which adds a short 35-minute inter-island flight to your journey. It’s a seamless connection in most cases, but factor it into your travel day planning.

Arriving in Kauai mid-afternoon or earlier gives you a real shot at catching Wailua Falls and making the evening at Ha’ena State Park on Day 1, which is exactly how this itinerary is designed.

If you’re coming from Maui, as we did, the routing is Maui → Honolulu → Lihue, which amounts to about 2 hours of total flight time, including the connection. Inter-island flights are frequent and inexpensive, and this island-hopping approach is hands-down the best way to experience Hawaii if you have two weeks.

West Coast travelers flying from Los Angeles, San Francisco, or Seattle will find the most direct flight options and shortest total travel times. Midwest and East Coast travelers should budget for a longer travel day and consider flying into Honolulu first to break up the journey.

One important note: book your rental car before you book anything else. Rental cars on Kauai are limited, and prices spike dramatically as availability drops, especially in the summer. We cannot stress this enough. Lock in your car at Booking.com or on Expedia the moment your dates are set, then circle back for everything else.

Things to Know

• Kauai is expensive! However, there are plenty of free outdoor activities, including hiking, swimming, walking, etc, that you can do to keep the cost down.
• Slow Your Roll! This means take it easy, drive slow, enjoy the sights, and take your time. Why be in a rush? You’re on island time now.
• Kauai’s best experiences are split between the north shore and the south/west. We recommend spending your first 2 nights in Princeville for Ha’ena and the Kalalau Trail, then moving south to Poipu for the remainder. The drive between them is about 1.5 hours and is only worth doing once.
• Bring plenty of sunscreen! If you are swimming in the ocean, make sure it’s reef-safe! 🐠 Please protect Hawaii’s amazing ecosystems!
• Bring bug spray and be prepared for mosquitoes. Our favorite is Bens30.
• Pack clothes you don’t mind getting stained. Kauai’s famous red dirt will find its way onto everything, especially on the Pihea Trail and in Waimea Canyon.
• If your budget allows one splurge on this trip, make it a Kauai helicopter tour!
• It’s important to Leave No Trace while hiking and exploring Kauai. Learn more about how to do so here.

Rental Car

Make sure to take a video of the outside AND inside of the car before you leave the rental car lot. This will save you from any damage claims made by the rental car company after your return. We know from a very bad experience on this!

We typically reserve our rental car well in advance with a pay-later option. This way, you can monitor the prices leading up to your trip. If the price drops, simply cancel for free and rebook at the lower rate! Most major rental car companies offer free cancellation for pay-later bookings, but always double-check the terms and conditions.

🚗 Check out the options and prices for rental cars at Expedia or Booking.com. Book your car now!

Where To Stay

We recommend staying in the northern section of Kauai for the first few days of your Kauai itinerary. Then, head south for the rest of your trip. That being said, Kauai is somewhat small, and you can get to most places on the island within 1-2 hours, depending on where you are going.

Best places to stay in northern Kauai near Princeville:

• Ali’i Kai Resort – We loved our stay here! 2 bed/2 bath condos located on a bluff overlooking the ocean and close to Queen’s Bath. No A/C in our unit but still comfortable. Check out the options on VRBO.
• Club Wyndham Bali Hai Villas – This location has an excellent rating with Expedia, with top-rated pools and free parking. Compare prices on Booking.com, too.
• 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay – Top-rated, luxurious oceanfront sanctuary on Hanalei Bay with outstanding views. This location is super pricey, so head here if you are looking for luxury. Book it on Expedia or Booking.com.
• The Westin Princeville Ocean Resort Villas – 1 and 2-bedroom villas with full kitchens, onsite restaurants, and pools. Check it out now on Expedia or Booking.com.

Top-rated accommodations in south Kauai near Poipu:

• Poipu Kai Resort Condos – This was a perfect home base for us in South Kauai! Condos with private pools and within walking distance to beaches. Book this location now on VRBO. You won’t be disappointed!
• Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa – A sprawling luxury resort with a lava-rock river pool, waterslide, and saltwater lagoon. This one is pricey, but check it out on Booking.com.
• Ko’a Kea Resort On Poipu Beach – an intimate resort on a prime beachfront spot on Kauai’s south shore. Reserve your stay now on Expedia or Booking.com.
• Aston At Poipu Kai – a top-rated beach location and outdoor pool. Walk to nearby Poipu and Shipwreck Beaches to watch the sunset every night. Check it out on Expedia or Booking.com.

Day 1 – Travel Day, Wailua Falls, Ha’ena State Park

First up on your 7 day Kauai itinerary is to travel to the beautiful islands! We were already in Maui during the prior week, so it was just a short flight from Maui to Honolulu to Lihue. This might look a bit different for you, so day 1 on your Kauai itinerary can be a day of relaxing or traveling, depending on your time of arrival.

If you arrive in the morning, head to Wailua Falls! The trails around Wailua Falls are closed for safety, but you can view the falls from the road. After that, stock up on groceries for the week and head north to Princeville.

If you are lucky and can secure reservations, visit Ha’ena State Park in the evening. Walk down Ke’e Beach for amazing views of the Kauai coast! Ha’ena State Park is truly one location that you don’t want to miss.

Day 2 – Ha’ena State Park & Kalalau Trail (Nāpali Coast)

Spend the day at Ha’ena State Park and hike the amazing Kalalau Trail. If there is one thing to put on your Kauai bucket list, this is it! Secure reservations early. Yes, I know, I have said that multiple times, but I really mean it. For a nice day hike, walk 8-9 miles to visit Hanakāpī‘Ai Beach and Hanakāpīʻai Falls.

To make this into an overnight or multiday hike, secure a permit and reservations to hike the entire 20-mile out-and-back Kalalau Trail.

🥾 Find the full details on how to spend a day hiking the Kalalau Trail on our post here.

Finally, spend the evening at Queen’s Bath, which is located near Princeville. Getting there involves a hike down the steep coast and onto the black lava rock.

Day 3 – Waimea Canyon State Park

Next, your Kauai itinerary will take you on an amazing journey to visit the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific”. Waimea Canyon is an epic location with a 6.6-mile loop hike with outstanding views. Start your morning with a 2.5-hour drive from Princeville to Waimea Canyon.

🏞️ Get the full details on our post here about how to complete the epic loop hike at Waimea Canyon State Park!

Trust us, the long drive will be worth it once you see this amazing spot! Plus, you’ll be staying in Poipu for the second leg of the trip, so this will put you in a great position. Visit and park at the Kōkeʻe Lodge and begin your hike to Waimea Canyon. There are restrooms, a gift shop, and a cafe with delicious provisions.

Day 4 – Kōkeʻe State Park: Nāpali Coast Ridge Trails

Spend another day near the Nāpali Coast and hike the epic Nuʻalolo and Awa’awapuhi Trails. You can either pick one of these to hike or do both using a loop trail, including the road and the Nuʻalolo Cliff Trail that connects the two.

Each of these trails has amazing views, so we recommend the loop hike as long as the trails are clear. Park at the Awa’awapuhi Trail, walk the road first (boring!), and then prepare yourself for an amazing day of hiking through the Nāpali Coast, where you can peer over Kauai’s amazing coastline.

🛋️ Don’t forget to book your stay at Ali’i Kai Resort in Princeville.

Day 5 – Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail, Beach & Nāpali Coast Dinner Cruise

Next, spend the next day on your 7 day Kauai itinerary with a relaxing day on the island. First, check out the Maha’ulepu Heritage Trail for an easy hike overlooking the dramatic coastal cliffs of Kauai. Just watch out for flying golf balls! This trail is mostly flat with very little elevation gain, and you can walk as long or as little as you want.

Then, head to the beach! We recommend Poipu Beach. If you are staying at the great locations in Poipu, you can likely walk here from your accommodations. If not, there is a nice parking lot nearby.

Lastly, it is time for an epic dinner cruise to the Nāpali Coast. This is another thing you really can’t miss. The views of the Nāpali Coast from the ocean are absolutely breathtaking. We recommend booking your trip with Capt Andy’s or Viator!

🧭 Loving this itinerary so far? Check out more of our itineraries and learn how we visit other national parks and more.

Day 6 – Nounou East Trail (Sleeping Giant) & Beach Time

Also known as the Nounou East Trail, go on a morning hike for more amazing views of Kauai. This is a short trail that leads to a nice overlook with great views and chickens. Be careful on this trail, as it is fairly steep if you decide to go all the way up to the Sleeping Giant’s “face”.

➡️ Get all the details you need on the Nounou East Trail right here.

After that, it’s time for some Hawaiian Shave Ice. You can’t go wrong with Waikomo Shave Ice. It is SO GOOD. Finally, we recommend heading to the beach again. Poipu Beach is our top choice. Don’t forget to watch the sunset here, where you just might see green sea turtles and Hawaiian monk seals!

Day 7 – Pihea & Alakai Swamp Trail (Nāpali Coast Views)

Finally, your epic Kauai itinerary is coming to an end. Head to the Nāpali Coast for one last amazing hike into the wilderness. The Pihea and Alakai Swamp Trails offer dramatic views from the cliffs of the Nāpali Coast. This hike will likely be slippery and muddy, so be prepared to get some of Kauai’s famous red dirt on you! On the trip back to your hotel, stop at the Red Dirt store in Waimea!

This hike is about 8-9 miles out and back with a stop at the Kilohana Lookout and a hike through the highest-elevation swamp in the world! The views from Kilohana Lookout are supposed to be some of the best, but we wouldn’t know, thanks to the endless fog that didn’t clear! 😅

🚁 Want to see the Nāpali Coast from the air? Book your epic Kauai helicopter tour here!

Day 8 – Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, Travel Day

Finally, your epic Kauai itinerary comes to an end. Our flight out was in the evening, so we had the entire day to enjoy paradise for a little more time. If you find yourself in this situation, head to the Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge! Reserve your entry tickets here, and they do sell out fast!

Then, after the Kīlauea Point National Wildlife Refuge, we recommend heading to the beach to relax before going to the airport. The nearby Anini Beach is our top pick!

☀️ Get all the details here on Kilauea Lighthouse and other things to do on your last day in Kauai.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a 7 Day Kauai Itinerary Worth It?

100% yes. Our 7 day Kauai itinerary was so much fun! We jammed as much as we could into the week-long trip and never ran out of things to do. Our favorites were definitely Ha’ena State Park and the Kalalau Trail, as well as Waimea Canyon and the Nāpali Coast. 😍

Kauai is truly a hiker’s destination, as there are amazing trails with epic views all across the island. That being said, spending time relaxing on Kauai’s scenic beaches is something you also can’t miss.

We visited Kauai after spending a week in Maui. Although it was quite a bit of time and money spent here, it was well worth it to island hop while in the close vicinity of the islands! After all, it is a long way from the Midwest.

This trip may be unique for you, but we hope our 7 day Kauai itinerary provides a great starting point for planning your own unforgettable adventure!