The best way to enjoy the beauty of the Napali Cost is hiking the famous Kalalau Trail which is a tough and very demanding 11 miles hike. The hills and the whole scenery is stunningly beautiful and the views of the Na Pali coast are worth the great effort.

But you should always keep in mind that there are quite a few hazards along the trail! The path itself is very narrow in most parts, there are some river crossing which can become quite dangerous after heavy rain, you always have to watch for falling rocks and the currents along the beaches are very strong so swimming is not recommended at any time of the year! There have been many drownings during the last years.

The first stop along the trail is Hanakapi'ai Beach which you'll reach after about 2 miles. From here the path is less crowded and you'll need a permit to head on. The next possibility to pitch your tent is at Hanakoa which you'll reach after about 6 miles. The camping area is surrounded by jungle and the mosquitos are very annoying. If you're a fit person I would recommend to head on from here and hike all the way to Kalalau Beach in one long hiking day. You'll need about 7-8 hours without any breaks from Ke'e Beach to Kalalau Beach. This doesn't sound as exhausting as it is in reality. On a hot sunny day you'll be totally tired once you reach your final destination but I would still recommend to do the whole trip in one day. Why? Because Kalalau Beach is just wonderful and you should spend as much time here as your permit (and your timetable) allows for!

After about 9-10 miles the path winds down into Kalalau Valley and you'll reach the wonderful long beach soon after. It's best to walk along the beach until you reach the area where a small waterfall provides fresh water (which has to be filtered!!!). You can pitch your tent here below some small trees or you can sleep directly on the beach. We spent 2 nights right on the beach and I can absolutely recommend it! You'll hear the sound of the ocean when you wake up in the morning and the clear sky at night is awesome for stargazing.

At Kalalau Beach you can spend the day by just relaxing in the sun or you can hike into one of Na Pali's most beautiful valleys. At the far end of the beach there's a nice cave which you can explore or you can just sit on the beach and enjoy the wonderful scenery. You should stay at least 2 nights at Kalalau Beach, the more, the better! On your last day a tough hike awaits you - so better start your trip back early in the morning before the sun burns too hot and take plenty of water with you, there are only a few spots along the way where you can refill your water reservoirs.

Enjoy your hike!