OUR PICKS · SHORE EXCURSIONS

Best Shore Excursions — Our Top 15

15 tours  ·  from $70 a head

The 15 best shore excursions you can book today, with the per-head fare, how long you are aboard and who each one suits. Number one is at the top for a reason.

Bay of Islands Glow Worm Caves & Scenic Shore Excursion - Haruru Falls gives the day an easy opening
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Bay of Islands Glow Worm Caves & Scenic Shore Excursion

1.Bay of Islands Glow Worm Caves & Scenic Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 317 reviews · from $139Our pick

Travel from Waitangi Wharf or your hotel with guides such as Dyson, Rob, or Gareth to Haruru Falls, Makana Chocolate Boutique, Kawiti Glow Worm Caves, and the Manginangina Kauri Walk. Expect a compact, informative day with bottled water, live commentary, and a careful return to port.

“We have done many shore excursions and were somewhat disappointed in this tour. While the logistics of being picked up and returned were fine, our guide did not really engage with us like guides in the past (and especially compared to ouRead more”

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Tauranga Shore Excursion: Top Half Day Curated Highlights Tour - Mount Maunganui and the harbor crossing
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Tauranga Shore Excursion: Top Half Day Curated Highlights Tour

2.Tauranga Shore Excursion: Top Half Day Curated Highlights Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 152 reviews · from $69Best value

From the Mount Maunganui cruise port, you’ll visit Gate Pa, a kiwifruit orchard, Minden Lookout, and McLaren Falls Park. Expect a small-group van, live commentary, a forest walk, manuka honey and kiwifruit tastings, coffee with a muffin, and hokey pokey ice cream. Guides may include Jan, Duncan, Stephen, Terry, or Marina.

“We had a fantastic tour with Marina. She was very knowledgeable about the area and she took us to every place advertised in the tour description plus so much more. She allowed time for my husband to walk in the water so he could Read more”

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Shore Excursion: Amazing Day Cruise at Ha Long Bay - Sailing past Stone Dog and Fighting Cock Islets
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Shore Excursion: Amazing Day Cruise at Ha Long Bay

3.Shore Excursion: Amazing Day Cruise at Ha Long Bay

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 46 reviews · from $89Top rated

Cruise Ha Long Bay with an English-speaking guide such as Sonny, Monica, or Johnny. Visit Sung Sot Cave, Luon Cave, Ti Top Island, pearl farms, and famous islets, with lunch, water, and kayaking or bamboo boating included.

“Fantastic trip with a lovely guide. She was very helpful and enthusiastic. Great scenery while sailing with a visit to an amazing cave. The crew of the boat were also perfect and provided a very nice meal. Excellent service by everybody.”

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Halong Bay Shore Excursion: Full Day Cruise Tour from Cruise Port - Meeting at Ha Long International Cruise Port
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Halong Bay Shore Excursion: Full Day Cruise Tour from Cruise Port

4.Halong Bay Shore Excursion: Full Day Cruise Tour from Cruise Port

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 40 reviews · from $79

Meet your guide at Ha Long International Cruise Port for a seven-hour boat trip among limestone islands, cave steps, pearl farming, and floating scenery. Guides such as Johnny, Sonny, and Mickey help cruise passengers stay on schedule, with lunch included and an optional speedboat ride available.

“Wonderful easy way to see Halong Bay as a cruise ship excursion. Well organized, excellent lunch, and our guide, Sonny, was very informative and helpful. He did a great job. We saw a lot and our group was small so it was much more enjoyable than an overcrowded cruise ship sponsored option. Would definitely recommend this tour and Sonny as your guide.”

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Bay of Islands Shore Excursion: Puketi Rainforest Guided Walk - From Waitangi Wharf to the forest
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Bay of Islands Shore Excursion: Puketi Rainforest Guided Walk

5.Bay of Islands Shore Excursion: Puketi Rainforest Guided Walk

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 27 reviews · from $157

From Waitangi Wharf, guide Ian, Helen, or another local forest guide leads you through Puketi Rainforest beneath ancient kauri trees. Expect a small-group hike, steep and sometimes muddy sections, waterfalls, birdlife, Māori legends, and port pickup and return.

“We did a shore excursion trip with Puketi Rainforest Tours last week. Ian picked us up as we came off our ship, and drove us to the start point, providing a positive and gracious commentary as he drove. His wife Barbara drove us back to town Read more”

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Shore Excursion Discovery Hanoi City from HaLong Bay Port - Hoa Lo Prison: the day’s most serious stop
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Shore Excursion Discovery Hanoi City from HaLong Bay Port

6.Shore Excursion Discovery Hanoi City from HaLong Bay Port

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 26 reviews · from $139

Travel privately from Ha Long International Cruise Port to Hanoi with a guide such as Kimo, Linh, Nora, or Dac. Visit major historic sights, eat pho or bun cha, stroll the Old Quarter, and pause for coffee near Train Street before returning to port.

“We enjoyed our tour with Lin in Hanoi. She was very sweet and conscientious. The library of literature and education was a highlight as was seeing the horror of the Hanoi Hilton. We shared a pho lunch that was very good . The train street was Read more”

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Shore Excursion: Wonderful Heritage Day Cruise at Halong Bay - Sung Sot Cave and the climb inside
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Shore Excursion: Wonderful Heritage Day Cruise at Halong Bay

7.Shore Excursion: Wonderful Heritage Day Cruise at Halong Bay

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 19 reviews · from $79

Join a roughly 7.5-hour Ha Long Bay cruise from Ha Long International Cruise Port. You will see famous limestone islets, explore Sung Sot Cave, kayak or ride a bamboo boat at Luon Cave, and eat a Vietnamese set lunch. Guides such as Johnny and Son have been especially praised for clear explanations and attentive service.

“A very good experience - would recommend to fellow travellers. The Tour Operator has provided very good information and directions prior to the trip. On the day of the trip, everything was well organised and the service provided was very good. We were taken to see many things and we particularly like the buffet lunch on the cruise.”

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Best of Private Hanoi City Shore Excursion from Halong Bay Port

8.Best of Private Hanoi City Shore Excursion from Halong Bay Port

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 18 reviews · from $165

Travel from Halong Bay Port to Hanoi in a private, air-conditioned vehicle with a guide such as Mickey, Donie, Tony, or Kong. See Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum, pagodas, the citadel, Hoa Lo Prison, the Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake, and Train Street, with lunch and entrance fees included.

“Great way to experience Hanoi in a day especially if you are on a cruise ship and have limited time.”

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A Day in Paradise: Halong Bay Shore Excursion - Meeting Florence or Amy at the cruise port
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A Day in Paradise: Halong Bay Shore Excursion

9.A Day in Paradise: Halong Bay Shore Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 17 reviews · from $120

Meet your guide at Halong International Cruise Port for a four-hour cruise through Ha Long Bay. Visit Thien Cung and Dau Go caves, enjoy lunch aboard the boat, and hear the stories behind the bay from guides such as Florence or Amy. Groups are limited to 14 people.

“Amy was an awesome guide. She was very knowledgeable and approachable. She was very energetic and enthusiastic about the tour”

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Shore Excursion: Full-day Hanoi City Tour from Halong Port - Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum: a serious first stop
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Shore Excursion: Full-day Hanoi City Tour from Halong Port

10.Shore Excursion: Full-day Hanoi City Tour from Halong Port

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16 reviews · from $130

Travel from Halong Port to Hanoi by air-conditioned vehicle, with an English-speaking guide such as Gam or Victor. Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, Tran Quoc Pagoda, Train Street, Hoan Kiem Lake, Ngoc Son Temple, and the Old Quarter, with lunch included.

“Our guide in Hanoi was friendly and helpful; I use a mobility scooter so accessibility is very important to me!! The lunch was truly a delight and we got to try lots of things we might not have otherwise. We would recommend!”

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Halong Bay Shore Excursion 6 Hour Private Cruise from Cruise Port - Sailing among Ha Long Bay’s limestone islands
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Halong Bay Shore Excursion 6 Hour Private Cruise from Cruise Port

11.Halong Bay Shore Excursion 6 Hour Private Cruise from Cruise Port

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 10 reviews · from $207

Spend six hours exploring Ha Long Bay by private cruise from Halong International Cruise Port. Your English-speaking guide leads you to Sung Sot Cave, Ti Top Island, and Luon Cave for kayaking or a bamboo boat ride, with seafood lunch and port pickup included.

“We were happy with this cruise. The guide was very accommodating. And she was very patient with us .”

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Hanoi 2 Days 1 Night From Halong City (Shore Excursion) - Four hours among Halong Bay’s limestone islands
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Hanoi 2 Days 1 Night From Halong City (Shore Excursion)

12.Hanoi 2 Days 1 Night From Halong City (Shore Excursion)

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 5 reviews · from $462

From Halong City, you get a private four-hour boat ride, Dong Thien Cung Cave, an evening Hanoi food walk, egg coffee, and major sights such as Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Hoa Lo Prison. Guides may include Joe or Ming, with private transport and one hotel night included.

“It was a good trip, boat ride near Halong Bay was nice and beautiful scenery. We had the whole boat to ourselves and the chef gave us a lot of food for lunch. When we were done, we drove from Halong Bay to Hanoi. It was a Friday and trafRead more”

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Lyttelton Shore Excursion: Twin Harbour Tour (Lyttelton & Akaroa) - Crossing Banks Peninsula toward Akaroa
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Lyttelton Shore Excursion: Twin Harbour Tour (Lyttelton & Akaroa)

13.Lyttelton Shore Excursion: Twin Harbour Tour (Lyttelton & Akaroa)

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 4 reviews · from $167

Spend a port day touring Banks Peninsula by air-conditioned vehicle, with views of Lyttelton Harbour, Akaroa Harbour, Lakes Forsyth and Ellesmere, plus a two-hour Black Cat nature cruise. You may see rare Hector’s Dolphins. Port transfers and lunch are available, depending on your booking option.

“We found it difficult to meet the bus although we followed instructions given. Had to phone the company who came and picked us up. Along with another group who were booked on the same tour. The drivers then conducted several head cRead more”

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Private Full Day Cruise Shore Excursion in Halong Bay - Sung Sot Cave and its climb beneath the trees
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Private Full Day Cruise Shore Excursion in Halong Bay

14.Private Full Day Cruise Shore Excursion in Halong Bay

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $114

Leave Hanoi’s Old Quarter for a seven-hour Halong Bay cruise with an English-speaking guide. Visit Sung Sot Cave, kayak toward Trinh Nu beach, swim, pass Bai Tu Long Bay, eat lunch, and make fresh spring rolls during sunset. The boat carries no more than 30 people.

“The scenery on this tour was breathtaking - towering mountains, misty valleys, and quiet rivers. Tiger Trail Travel really delivered on their promise of unforgettable journeys. I came home with amazing memories and lots of great photos!”

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Shore Excursion: The Beauty of Hanoi City from Halong Cruise Port - Tran Quoc Pagoda beside the water
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Shore Excursion: The Beauty of Hanoi City from Halong Cruise Port

15.Shore Excursion: The Beauty of Hanoi City from Halong Cruise Port

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $148

Travel from Halong Cruise Port into Hanoi on a private, flexible day tour with port pickup, a local guide, Vietnamese lunch, and entrance fees included. Visit the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, One Pillar Pagoda, Tran Quoc Pagoda, Old Quarter, Imperial Citadel, Hoan Kiem Lake, and Hoa Lo Prison.

“Guide and driver both excellent and provided wonderful day, providing interesting and valuable commentary. Would definitely recommend ‘Tim Tam’ and the driver.”

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