A ATV experience by Kipu Ranch. Back to all Kauai tours.
Tour Summary: A 3-hour UTV tour through 3,000 acres of private Kīpu Ranch cattle land, descending into Huleʻia Valley and finishing at an overlook above Kipu Kai beach.
Large photoKīpu Ranch's 3,000 acres are private and inaccessible outside of these tours. Image: Kīpu Tours. - Large photo
The Stop-N-Go format keeps the convoy moving between stops, covering more of the ranch in the available time. Image: Kīpu Tours. - Large photo
The Huleʻia Valley section of the route runs through wild coffee, bamboo, and tropical ginger. Image: Kīpu Tours. - Large photo
. Image: Kipu Tours. - Large photo
Guests of all experience levels drive the UTVs; drivers must be 18 or older with a physical license. Image: Kīpu Tours. - Large photo
Top speed on the tour runs around 15 to 17 mph; the draw is the private land access, not the driving itself. Image: Kīpu Tours. - Large photo
The final stop is a ridgeline overlook above Kipu Kai, a private beach with no public land access. Image: Kīpu Tours.
5 Tour Highlights:
- Private access to 3,000 acres of Kīpu Ranch, a working cattle ranch with no public trail access
- Descent into Huleʻia Valley through bamboo forest, wild coffee, and tropical ginger, followed by a ridgeline climb to Mt. Haupu views
- Final stop at an overlook above Kipu Kai, a private beach inaccessible by any public route
- ilm location stops with guide commentary: Jurassic Park, Mighty Joe Young, Lilo & Stitch, and The Descendants were all shot here
- Kawasaki TERYX-4 side-by-side UTVs (seats up to 4); convoy rotates vehicle order so all guests cycle through the front position
Important: Only for ages 9+. All drivers MUST provide a valid Driver’s License.
Tour Information:
| Price: | Adult | Youth |
|---|---|---|
| (excluding taxes & fees) | $190 | $128 |
Price note: The vehicle (Kawasaki TERYX-4) seats up to 4. The minimum booking requires 2 guests at $190 per person. A solo traveler who does not want to share the vehicle pays $377 (the "Solo Driver Teryx -- No Passengers" rate)
Tour Provider: Kipu Ranch
Activity: ATV
Tour start time: 9:30 am, 1 pm
Duration: 3 hours
Departure from: Lihue
Pick-up available? No
Included: Instruction & practice with the UTV is included.
Cancellations: Refunds will be issued for cancellations requested sooner than 48 hours of the activity date. Rescheduled activities within the cancellation period are subject to a $75 fee per vehicle. Rescheduled activities are non-refundable.
Read more: about atv in our Kauai atv guide.
# Read more about this tour
Private Land, No Public Access
Kīpu Ranch is a 3,000-acre working cattle ranch outside Līhuʻe that stays private the rest of the week. The only way to see Huleʻia Valley, the rainforest ridge below Mt. Haupu, and the Kipu Kai beach overlook is to be on one of these tours. No public trail connects to any of it.
Traverse Huleia Jungle with wild coffee, abundant bamboo forests, and tropical ginger plants. Image: Kipu Tours.
You ride in Kawasaki TERYX-4 side-by-side UTVs, not motorcycles or traditional ATVs. Each vehicle seats up to four people. The format is Stop-N-Go: the convoy keeps moving through each terrain section, so you cover more ground with less waiting between stops.
The guides come up more in reviews than the vehicles or the route do. They rotate vehicle order throughout the tour, so every guest cycles through the front, middle, and rear positions during the drive. They cover the ranch history, the Hawaiian context of the land, and which shots from Jurassic Park, Mighty Joe Young, Lilo & Stitch, and The Descendants were filmed where. The film locations give guides something concrete to anchor the history to, and they use it.
Great for beginners or experienced riders. Image: Kipu Tours.
The Route: Pasture to Valley to Ridgeline
The tour descends into Huleʻia Valley through pastures where cattle, wild pigs, peacocks, pheasants, and wild chickens appear without warning. The valley floor holds wild coffee plants, bamboo forest, and tropical ginger. From there the route climbs under rainforest canopy to views of Mt. Haupu, finishing at an overlook above Kipu Kai, a private and undeveloped beach accessible no other way from land.
Top speed in the UTVs runs around 15 to 17 mph. The draw is private land access and the scenery along the route, not the adrenaline of the drive itself. Anyone expecting ATV-style terrain and throttle time will be disappointed. The negative reviews are almost entirely from people who expected more speed and rougher terrain.
Passengers feel the terrain more than drivers do. If you are booking as a pair of adults, the rear seats can stay empty. Bumps at speed are more pronounced back there.
What to Know Before You Book
Tours run Tuesday through Friday only. Block out more than 3 hours for the full experience: check-in, the gear fitting, and the practice run all happen before the tour clock starts.
his signature tour offers a Stop-N-Go style ride with less downtime. This lets you cover more ground to get to scenic stop locations. Image: Kipu Tours.
Kīpu Ranch red dirt stains permanently and extensively. Wear dark clothing you are willing to write off. The operator recommends long pants and long sleeves over sunscreen and bug spray, for both coverage and protection. Closed-toe shoes are required; sandals are not accepted. Bring a water bottle; there is a refill station at check-in. Helmets and goggles are provided. Bring cash for a guide tip. Drones are not permitted.
Drivers must be 18 or older with a physical driver’s license. Digital licenses are not accepted at check-in. Guests must be at least 9 years old to participate. The tour is not available to pregnant guests, guests who have had recent surgery, or guests with serious health conditions or significant neck, back, or knee issues.
A note for solo travelers: The vehicle seats up to four people. Standard bookings require a minimum of two guests. Solo travelers who prefer not to share a vehicle pay $377, which is effectively the cost of booking both front seats for one person. There is no option to pair with another solo traveler at check-in. To book at the standard per-person adult rate of $190, at least one other guest must be added to the booking.
Adult rate: $190 per person. Youth (ages 9 to 17): $128 per person. Solo driver (no passengers): $377.
# [Video] Video about the Off-Road Ranch Tour
# About Kipu Ranch
Kīpu Ranch has operated as a working cattle ranch since 1872. Kīpu Ranch Adventures, the tour operation, has been running guided UTV tours on the property since 1999. In 2019 the Sustainable Tourism Association of Hawaiʻi named them Sustainable Tour Operator of the Year. We list them because the private land access they provide is not replicable anywhere else on Kauaʻi, and their guides know the ranch’s history well enough to make the route worth more than the scenery alone.
Diverse landscape, abundant wildlife, and spectacular views makes this signature tour one of the premier eco-tour locations in Hawaii. Image: Kipu Tours.
# Affiliate Disclaimer
Booking through this page costs you nothing extra and is made directly with Kipu Ranch. We earn a commission from the operator, not from you, and it is what pays for the research that keeps lovebigisland.com free and free of paid placement. We only list operators we would send a friend to. Details on our affiliate links are here.