The Perfect Kalalau Itinerary: How Many Nights Should You Reserve?

So you’re planning on hitting the Kalalau trail and are getting ready to try for the coveted permits. Great! But now you’re wondering: How many nights should I stay? There are many right, but also potentially a few wrong answers to this question. And it depends on you and your circumstances. A few factors to consider:

• Is this just a quick excursion for you or the main reason you come to Kauai? How much time do you have?
• How good a shape are you in, especially related to long, challenging hikes under (potentially) heavy load? 
• Related: How much time will you need to recover from the hike in before you’re physically able to tackle the return? Your age and prior training will also have an impact here.
• Are you going during a season where weather is going to be more unpredictable (around November through March)? During the colder months, you might also end up with a few more or heavier items of clothing, although Hawaii has a pretty warm climate year-round.
• How much weight can you reasonably handle on a long hike on tough terrain?
• Are you going solo or with a group or even your family (with children)?
• Are you planning on camping out in Hanakoa on the way in or out?

The more nights you go, the heavier your pack will be. Obviously you’ll have to bring more food and snacks, but you might also pack more clothes and maybe comfort gear. 

This hike is quite challenging, even for the well-trained adventurer. After the trek in, there’s a good chance your legs will be pretty destroyed and sore, so keep that in mind when planning for your return.

Here’s a run-down of the options with some related thoughts:

0 nights - Yes, some people do this! Unless you’re a very experienced ultra-runner or extreme hiker, 22 miles in one day on this terrain isn’t really an option for many. And why would you rush through this hike, likely with very little time at the gorgeous destination? This is a no-go for most.

1 night - For mortal hikers this is the minimum number of nights. On the plus side, your pack will be very light and you can move briskly. But: You’ll arrive in camp in the afternoon and can expect to be wiped out. By the time you walk around a little, maker dinner, and collapse into your tent or hammock, it’s almost time to do this again! Maybe you even plan on heading back early at 6 AM with very sore legs, which got very little recovery, and just a few hours of sleep. I would consider this option quite brutal. Main disadvantage: You will only experience the Kalalau trail, but not Kalalau itself, which is also about the valley and the surroundings. 

2 nights - Things get a little more realistic here. You’ll experience the trail, will feel less rushed, and have at least one day in camp and to explore the valley. Your body will have a chance to recover (somewhat). I would still consider this a short time, but it’s doable when pressed for time and longer isn’t an option.

3 nights - Personally, I think this is the sweet spot. Your pack is going to be reasonably light (relatively speaking) and you’ll have ample time to experience the beach, the valley, and whatever else you want to explore. This is enough time to settle in and tune into the environment. You’ll feel you’ve given this adventure enough time and got to really experience things.

4 nights - This will start to feel a little long and your pack will begin to get heavy. But this can be a good duration, especially if you want to a night in Hanakoa camp.

5 nights - This is the maximum allowable time. It’ll feel more like a week or more, but you’ll have the chance to truly immerse yourself in all things Kalalau. When you return to civilization, it’ll be like you’ve lived in the jungle for a while. It’s almost like you’ll have to get used to “normal life” again. Your pack will unfortunately be quite heavy. You’ll be sure to enjoy that first warm shower and cold drink.

There’s one more angle to determining the number of nights you should book: unknowns. There’s always a chance the trail could be closed due to weather for a day or sometimes more. If that happens, you won’t be able to start your hike and might be forced to delay. Or streams could swell up and become impassable. In that case, you might be stuck, not able to proceed further towards Kalalau or return to the trailhead. (To be prepared, you should also always bring some extra food!) You could also get injured or simply need more time to recover because you’re too exhausted to safely make it back.

For these reasons, it could be advisable to play it safe by reserving one night more than you actually plan on staying. (Unfortunately, that means you would be blocking another adventurer from using that night, which some might consider inconsiderate.)

All in all, choosing the right number of nights comes down to balancing adventure, recovery, and the weight of your pack. While 1 night might feel rushed and 5 nights could feel like an extended jungle retreat, most hikers find that 2-4 nights hit the right balance - enough time to soak in the beauty of Kalalau without being crushed under the weight of your gear. Whatever you decide, plan wisely, listen to your body, and leave room for the unexpected. The trail will challenge you, but the reward is an experience unlike any other.