Tri Travel 7-Night Hawaii Tour
Join the Tri Travel 7-day Hawaii Tour and let our experts help you have the best race possible.
Tri Travel will be celebrating our 25th Hawaii tour in 2026 by introducing our new 7-night Tour. Our 7-night tour allows enough time for acclimatisation, allows time for training sessions in the Energy Lab and course orientation on the Queen K, and caters to athletes and their supporters who cannot stay for our recommended 10-day tour. This tour is designed similar to Tri Travel’s successful 7-night tours used at World Championship events and Challenge Roth. We are the experts at designing the best tour activities and providing the best advice that will help you have your best race possible!
The Tour offers airport transfers, a group swim, runs along Alii Drive and the Energy Lab, bike course orientation by bus and a Q&A with one of the top professional athletes. Guests will all come together for our Tri Travel welcome function at Humpy’s Big Island Alehouse and post-race celebration at the Kona Brewery.
Tri Travel are the tour experts in Kona and offer an unparalleled experience which is 25 years in the making. Whether this is your first time to Kona or your 10th time, Tri Travel will guide you through race week and take the stress out of travelling – no one knows Kona like Tri Travel.
7-night Tour Dates: Monday 05 October – Monday 12 October 2026 (7 nights)
The Event
The World Championship held each year in Kailua-Kona will once again be welcoming both the men and women to the Big Island for this festival of triathlon in 2026. On Saturday 10 October, 2026 the world’s best professional and age group athletes will set off into Kailua Bay to start their personal journey over the 226km journey to the finish line under the famous Banyan Tree on Alii Drive.
The Tour
The famous Tri Travel Hawaii Tour has been running since 2001. During this time we have helped thousands of athletes complete their Kona journey and when it comes to Kona, experience counts. Race week in Hawaii is unique, and Tri Travel help our athletes navigate the event schedule so they can optimize their race preparations.
This 7-day tour provides support for both first timers and returning athletes to Hawaii. This tour is perfect for athletes and their families to enjoy all the spoils of the Hawaii experience, make new friends and enjoy the best of Hawaii.
Struggling to decide between the 7 and 10 day tour? Contact the team at Tri Travel for more advice.
When it comes to Kona, we know what works, and our itinerary is designed around our proven winning formula.
We are pleased to offer a 7-night tour and accommodation package, with the following inclusions.
7-night Tour Inclusions
- 7-nights accommodation 05 October – 12 October
- Airport transfers to hotels
- Assistance with bike collection from airport on arrival
- Guided by experienced tour leaders
- Swim course orientation
- Shopping trips
- Tri Travel Welcome Function
- Bike Course orientation in air conditioned coaches
- Energy Lab Run
- Q&A session with pro athletes and Tri Travel tour leaders
- Race Day spectator viewing areas
- Tri Travel Post Race Celebration
- Tour gifts & merchandise
- Access to massage services – Body by Juliet
- Access to bike mechanics – Ceepo
Throughout the tour, our team of experienced Tour Leaders will be on hand to provide support, advice and assist you with all your race week needs.
Each year Tri Travel book the best accommodation in the best locations for all of our tour members and we have great accommodation for both February and October. Our accommodation options have been hand picked over the past 20 years and offers convenience and comfort for our tour guests.
Royal Kona Resort
Situated facing the Pacific Ocean on Kailua Bay and within 600m of the event start/finish area, the Royal Kona Hotel boasts an outdoor swimming pool, an on-site restaurant and rooms offering mountain and ocean views. Rooms are decorated in soft colours with rich wood accents and offer comfortable verandas.
Sea Village
The Sea Village is an ocean front condo complex situated 2km from the race start, with an ocean front pool, spa and BBQ area. The complex has a choice of one and two bedroom fully self contained apartments and is ideal for families.
Kona Pacific
Kona Pacific is one of the closest complexes to Kona to walk to restaurants, shopping and the beach. The complex offers a quiet and peaceful atmosphere with well maintained grounds, a large remarkable upgraded pool & BBQ area and covered guest parking. The complex also has elevators to the apartments.
Event Location
The west coast of Hawaii is known as the “Kona Side” and Kailua-Kona is the lively centre of it all. This historic seaside town sits in the middle of the Kona coast.
Getting there
All visitors to Kona arrive via Hawaiian inter-island flights. The Kona Airport (KOA) is about 30 minutes from the township of Kona, and Tri Travel provide transfers for all of our tour members who are booked not he 10-night arrival and departure dates.
Visa
Australian visitors to the United States, for business or tourism, staying 90 days or less, do not need to obtain a visa. However an online travel authorisation needs to be obtained through ESTA, which is a quick, free internet application with authorisation received within a few minutes.
Location Highlights
Now, because of its central location and tropical weather it has transformed into a lively town that is the activity capital of the Big Island. It is the city on the Big Island that is best equipped for tourism, but still retains the ‘old Hawaii’ feel with none of the high rises or large shopping centres the Waikiki has.
There are many shops and markets selling locally produced items and there is a good offering of restaurants. Relax and look at the waves crashing over the black lava rocks while sipping from a cup of the world-famous Kona coffee, or have some freshly caught ahi (tuna) at one of the seaside restaurants.
Daily Itinerary
Monday 05 October 2026 – Airport Arrivals 7-Night Guests & Run
7-night Tour airport arrivals – The Tri Travel team will greet the tour group upon arrival at
Kona Airport. We will help you load your bikes, luggage etc. and get you to your accommodation as quickly as possible.
If bikes/luggage do not arrive on your flight, our team will take your luggage receipt and collect your bikes/luggage and deliver it to your accommodation later in the day. It can happen that bikes/luggage will not arrive with you on your flight, but we have made contingencies to make your arrival into Kona easier for you.
Alii Drive run – This afternoon we will meet at the front of the Royal Kona Resort at 5:00pm for a light run along Alii Drive showing you the run course which is often described as the hottest part of the run.
Tuesday 06 October 2026 – Swim Course & Welcome Function
Swim course orientation – This morning the Tri Travel Tour bus will pick you up from your accommodation and take you to the swim start area. In this session, the Tri Travel Team swim over part of the course to show you strategic starting points based on your swimming ability, a safe entry into the water, a quiet place to prepare race morning and what to sight on the way back in. We will arrive at 7:30am to swim up to 3km. You can select your preferred distance to swim.
Grocery shopping – After the swim, the bus will leave the Kona Pier at 9:15am to take you to the shopping centre. You will be able to have a quick visit to Bike Works and do your groceries at Safeway. The bus will leave the shopping centre at 11:00am to take you back to your accommodation.
Athlete check in – Athletes can register at King Kamehameha Hotel 9:00am – 4:00pm
Tri Travel Welcome Function – Tri Travel will host a team dinner at Humpy’s Big Island Alehouse at 6:30pm after the Parade of Nations to meet each other and plan the week ahead.
Wednesday 07 October 2026 – Bike Course & Energy Lab Run
Bike course orientation – Today we head off to Kawaihae – the point in which the bike ride gets interesting. We drive to Hawi checking out all the key landmarks along the way, as we explain the crucial parts of the course. The Tri Travel Tour bus will collect athletes from their accommodation at 6:30am. Please Note: As we will be going to the Energy Lab for our run session after the bike orientation, please have your run gear with you and any snacks and drinks you may need on the bus.
Run course orientation – On the way back to town from Hawi we will enter the Energy Lab. The run is out-and-back, allowing athletes to choose the length of their session. The full run to the turnaround point on the Queen K (our last aid station) is 12km. Tri Travel will provide you with Gatorade and water at the 2 aid stations we will have set up in the Energy Lab. We have support vans and bikes so there is no need to push the pace to keep up.
After the run the Tri Travel bus will return you to your accommodation leaving the Energy Lab at 10:30am.
Thursday 08 October 2026 – Undies Run & Welcome Function
Undies Run – This morning we will meet at the Royal Kona Resort and leave at 6:45am to
walk to the start line at the King Kam Hotel and join in the fun of the Undies Run. This oneof-a-kind event is a fundraiser for the Hawaiian community.
Grocery shopping – The Tri Travel team will be available to take you for another grocery
shop.
Official Welcome Function at 6:00pm – Tonight is the traditional welcome function that
welcomes all the athletes to Kona, recognises last years’ champions and inducts this year’s Hall of Fame recipient. This is a great night out and the beginning of the build-up to race day. Race briefing is held after the function.
Friday 09 October 2026 – Bike Check-in
Bike check in – Today is the day to place your bike, helmet and race gear into the transition area. Athletes will ride their bikes to the pier for check in between 11:30am and 6:00pm. There will be a Tri Travel van stationed at Lava Java to shuttle athletes back to accommodation.
For the rest of the day, it’s time to relax.
Saturday 10 October 2026 – Race Day
Race day – Tri Travel team to meet at Royal Kona Resort and walk to the race start in wave
start groups starting at 5:00am. Guests staying out of town will be collected by the TriTravel van.
Race day spectator viewing areas – The Tri Travel team will have spectator viewing areas set-up throughout the day. The Tri Travel team will be at the top of Palani Road where you will have coffee and croissants as you watch your athlete start the bike ride as well as see them climb Palani Road around 20km into the ride. The second position is at the front of the Royal Kona Resort and is available from 11.30am where you can settle in and wait for your athlete on the run.
Sunday 11 October 2026 – Let’s Celebrate!
Post Race Celebrations at 3:30pm – Celebration post race drinks at Kona Brewing featuring guest speakers and presentations. A great way to discuss race day events and celebrate your achievements. First drinks on Tri Travel!
Awards Banquet at 6:00pm – It’s time to enjoy the party. The awards banquet is an incredible night, the pressure is off and it is time to celebrate. So, enjoy the meal, the show and then make your way down to Laverne’s Sports Bar afterwards for a night of dancing and fun.
Monday 12 October 2026 – Departures
Airport departures – Today the Tri Travel team say goodbye to our guests as they leave the island to return home or continue their holiday.
Check out our tour highlights video and see what it's like to be part of our famous Hawaii Tour.
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