Mountain Tubing on Kauai: Plantation Ditches & Tunnels

What the experience is like

Kauai Backcountry Adventures runs the tubing on private plantation land near Lihue. After a short van ride up into the mountains, you settle into a tube and float roughly three miles through open ditches and several long tunnels, some hundreds of feet long and pitch black except for your headlamp. It is relaxing rather than thrilling. Think lazy river with history.

Who it is good for

Riders must be at least 5 years old and 43 inches tall, and under 300 pounds. The water is calm, so it suits families, non-swimmers (life vests are provided), and anyone who wants adventure without adrenaline. It is also a good rainy-day activity, since you are getting wet anyway and the mountain mist adds to the atmosphere.

Cost and booking

Expect about $169 per person with lunch included, and book ahead. Tours sell out, especially in summer and on rainy days when everyone reschedules beach plans. Trips run morning and afternoon and take roughly three hours including transport, tubing, and lunch.

What to bring and wear

Wear a swimsuit and quick-dry clothes, bring water shoes or secure sandals, and pack a towel and dry clothes for after. The company provides tubes, gloves, and headlamps. Leave valuables behind. You will be fully in the water.

A bit of history

The ditches you float through were dug by hand over a century ago to move water to sugar fields, part of the plantation system that shaped modern Kauai. Guides share that history along the way, turning a fun float into a window on the island's past.

Frequently Asked Questions