What an incredible place! One of the most wonderful mansions I ever visited. Beautiful location just by the shore with complex of buildings, pools, water cascades & landscaping nicely planned. Superb collection of unique artifacts. Everything in mansion was designed with such a grate taste; there is absolutely no impression of randomness of anything there!Highly recommended for everyone. Be sure to plan your stay in Honolulu well - with advance reservation of tour to Shangri La (visited January 24, 2018)

A magical place in paradise! Make your arrangements early, reserve your tickets as the tours fill up fast. The photos do not so this beautiful property justice. Breathtaking and interesting - so glad I was able to go - I hope to re-visit someday.

The Shangri La house was beautiful, living here on the island it was a nice break from everyday life to see how the other half lived long ago. Dorris Duke had great taste and for thought in collecting these rare and beautiful treasures from a time long ago, some of these pieces would surely have been destroyed by war if they werent saved. The property is well cared for and the house is well maintained and pretty much stands as is. If youre from here take an afternoon and visit and if youre visiting from off island try and squeeze it in between beach days. Make sure you try and park at the museums school first before you go and pay at the pay lot.

If you get the chance, definitely do the Shangri-La tour!!! Really cool experience and a chance to see art dating as far back as 1200 Persia (or something like that). The house is incredible and very inspiring. Plus the views are just amazing! Our tour guide was also very friendly and very knowledgeable about Doris Duke, the art, and the home. Would definitely do this one agian.PS. I posted several pictures but left some out for you to discover on your own, enjoy

Loved this place, it was gorgeous and beautiful location. Tour was great and guide very knowledgeable. High light of the trip to Oahu.Only piece of feedback was that when were returned to the museum about 2PM the on-site museum cafe was closing. By that time you (with a noon pick up) you are really hungry. So, if you do this tour advise to eat well 1st.

Plan to visit again but my 1st was everything and more. Something good out of all that death

A must see. Totally worth the time to visit and tour this place. There a small number of visitors allowed per day so you must register very early. The art and the architecture of the house are amazing. I am so happy I saw this.

Stunning collection, if impossible to fully take in during the hour tour. Id go back a few times if I had the chance. Completely jaw-dropping pieces of art displayed in a comfortable yet opulant home style. So worth the visit. Beautiful architecture and oceanfront setting as well.

I visited Pearl Harbor, I hiked Diamond Head, but I think Shangri La was my favorite thing I did during my time in Honolulu. Its such an amazing place with so much art and gorgeous views. Its hard to imagine anyone ever actually lived there. We also had a great tour guide (wish I could remember her name!) who was very knowledgeable and relaxed with the tour. I recommend this to anyone visiting Honolulu who is even mildly interested in art.Make a reservation in advance, and note that this is a guided tour that takes 2 hours. The only way to get to Shangri La is on the tour shuttle that leaves from and returns to the Honolulu Museum of Art. In other words, you cant go park at Shangri La and then leave the tour whenever you want. So plan your visit beforehand!

There are no words to describe how beautiful this plablce is. We really enjoyed our tour and the guide was knowledge and conversational.

One of the most elegant and exotic tours we’ve seen. A serene Hawaiian location has this gift painstakingly constructed with ideal balance, beauty and detail to impeccable enlightenment. Thats the only word to describe the joy when we left. So glad they opened these acquisitions to a dedicated Islamic Design cultural museum for all to witness. We will tour it every time.Book tix in advance thru Honolulu Museum of Art and pick up the shuttle at HMOA for your time allotted. It’s very organized how to visit. Tour HMOA after ShangriLa, both amazing.

This is, literally, the most beautiful estate I have ever visited to date. Amazing architecture and decor inspired by Spanish, Egyptian, Iranian, Syrian, Turkish, and Indian influence. The tour was informative & enjoyable, and the groups are not too large. We even received free decorative wooden fans (perfect for a hot day)! Its too bad we missed seeing the pool and some of the gardens due to construction, but it should be completed soon.

Shangri La Museum is like stepping into a whole different world of Islamic culture and art. Last time I was there was back in March 2003. I traveled with my parents and we met the global international facility as guests. We took the Shangri La Tour with the University of Hawaii Faculty. I simply had a blast and yes you have to dress up nice. The seabreeze was great to cool off.

Fascinating exhibition of a once private residence of Doris Duke on Kahala Wai, Oahu.Amazingly secluded on the dazzling ocean, in the affluent but busy residential community.See it for yourself, tours start at Honolulu Academy of Arts, shuttle rides are included in the fee.

Doris Dukes Shangri La mansion is a must see landmark destination. You must be overwhelmed by such unique location: a truly authentic middle eastern opulent architectural heritage in Oahu!

Absolutely incredible!!! Tour guide Susan was quite knowledgeable.. the house and grounds are nothing short of amazing. And the view!!! Lord!! Take the time to go!!

Beautiful and educational experience overall! Very much enjoy it and I will go back soon! My favorite part was its location! From each angle you will see the ocean, the big waves, and all the surfers playing in the water. A majestic place to visit, and so much to learn. I consider it a hidden gem on the southern part of the island. You can combine hike to the famous Diamond Head with a visit tour at Shangri La Museum

A beautifully ornate museum dedicated to the collections of Doris Duke. It was fascinating to perform on this property.

Amazing property with great art. And its on the beach

This was one of the best value, and most interesting things we did in Hawaii ... the building is amazing and the tour is well organized and very slick, you dont feel rushed at all ... but you are managed without even realizing it... Id go back again tomorrow if I could as I wondered around in a daze...everywhere you turned had at least 3 amazing things vying for your attention ... not really suitable for children, so, leave them at the hotel and book a tour

This is another place to add to your visiting list, especially if youre local. You need to make arrangements through the Honolulu Academy of Arts to see it - dont bother showing up to the site otherwise - but its well worth the effort. They have an impressive array of Islamic art and architecture; quite remarkable considering this was a private residence.

Beautiful collection, lovingly assembled and curated. I wished I could take photos indoors.

To see the place the richest women in the world for her time lived was great

One of the most memorable places I visited in Hawaii, this palatial estate is like the U.S. equivalent of the Alhambra. Like most world-class museums, both the building itself and the collection it houses are works of art. Doris Duke collected almost exclusively works from the Arab world and drew inspiration for the mansion from a palace in Iran. The end result is like being transported half-way across the world. Seeing this level of Islamic art in Hawaii is just mind-blowing. Add the scenic, oceanside vistas and immaculate estate grounds - its perfect. Make sure you combine this visit with the Honolulu Museum of Art, which is definitely worth visiting as well.

Well worth the visit. If you’re planning to go to the art museum this is only $5 more. Book ahead as it books up

Excellent home turned museum offering an impressive middle Eastern collection that rivals any museum. Our tour guide was excellent and offered unique insight from his years spent in the middle East.Only downside is you must go to and from the Honolulu museum of art. Small annoyance because we were staying walking distance from the house.

This was the best travel suggestion we got before coming to Hawaii. The tour was great, the art was outstanding examples of Islamic ceramic works. And the ocean view from the living room of the house and garden was spectacular.

Doris Duke created a truly unique home that is true to its origins in a beautiful ocean front location..

This is one of those hidden gems that not a lot of people know about. There is a lot of art you simply wont see anywhere outside of the middle east. The estate has breathtaking ocean views as well. If youre interested in middle eastern art and architecture this is a must see.

Its a beautiful place! And the tour was very interesting!

Great time. Fabulous experience.

Shangri La was the highlight of our trip to Oahu. Beautiful place, and the tour guide was fantastic, he was very passionate about the art and Doris Dukes estate.

Tour guide Cynthia was the bomb. Breezy house. Nice location

Intriguing peek into a tobacco heiress world

A must visit whether you live in Hawaii or not. Our docent was wonderful!

The House is a truly amazing treasure. There are priceless very old antiquities that are among few left in the world. Thankfully we are able to share Doris Dukes Legacy.

Very interesting, save time for museum too

Been in Hawaii for over 40 years and cant believe I have never visited this amazing island treasure. It is more about the architecture and design. The guided tour is well versed and you learn so much about the life of Doris Duke and what led up to this amazing adobe.From the moment you arrive, you can feel that you are in a very special and unique place. Every room is something exotic and eclectic. So much in the tour to see and experience.I recommend going on the first tour of the day. As part of the ticket price, you can visit the Honolulu Academy of Art Museum afterwards for no additional charge. Take advantage and see all other amazing collections there or have lunch at their amazing restaurant. You also can visit the Spalding House contemporary art museum on the same ticket, so you can spend a full day on the price of just one admission.Parking is challenging in the area, but across the street from the Honolulu Academy of Art Museum is the Honolulu Academy of Art School and they offer parking in an attended lot for only $5.You must book your tickets in advance to visit this amazing site, so plan ahead and book right away.This is a walking tour with steps. If you have any handicap, you should inquire further about this activity if it is appropriate for you.

A jewel box of Islamic art and architecture in a spectacular setting, yet with details and unique treasures that give one insight to Doris Dukes passion and sensibilities.Easy online scheduling, follow suggestions for parking at HMA to catch the van. Unfortunately, not a venue for the mobility impaired or handicapped.Ill return some winter...

Beautiful estate. Scheduled walk through tours only. So call weeks in advance.

Amazing place especially when you take into consideration when it was built!

INSPIRING, EXQUISITE, worth the wait.

Enjoy the music and Cultural history of Listening, While Muslim yesterday. Expertly linked resistance music with the movement of oppressed people.

Scheduled walk through tours only. So call weeks in advance.

An incredible experience inside and out. Access via the Honolulu art museum.

Former home of heiress Doris Duke and currently a museum of Islamic Art. Meticulously maintained and well worth a detour to see both the house, its amazing contents and the incredible ocean views it enjoys. A must see if you love design!

The tour of the Doris Duke mansion is arranged through the Honolulu Art Gallery and is an interesting look at what money can do in building a very unique collection of Islamic art. Well worth the time and reasonable fee.

An incredible home perched behind Diamond Head and alongside the coastline. Make sure to reserve tickets in advance via the Honolulu Museum of Art. The home is beautiful, full of history, and works from different countries in the Middle East. Doris Duke is also a fascinating personality to learn about. If youre interested in art, architecture, and design, plus want to see incredible views of the ocean, check out Shangri La.

WOW. Very interesting look into Doris Dukes home and her collection of Islamic art. The ocean views are spectacular.

Eye-opening education about Doris Duke and her wonderful collection of Islamic art. Not to mention the gorgeous estate

Make sure to book much much ahead of time online!

Went there with my best friend. She wanted to see it for years and I am glad I agreed to go. The late Doris Duke built this home on Black Pointe - 5 acres fronting the ocean. No expense spared and filled with priceless antiques. Small groups are toured through the house and grounds with a very knowledgeable guide. Definitely one of the highlights of my trip to Honolulu. Highly recommend it if you can get in.

After many tries at getting reservations to coordinate with my repeated visits to Oahu, I finally scored reservations. It was well worth the wait! A must see! Loving kept just as Ms. Duke instructed. The docent proved to be very knowledgeable and answered each question anyone in our small group (about a dozen people) threw at her. I never felt rushed thru even though we were kept on a strict schedule. Id go again in a heartbeat.

WOW just wow.... Stunning collection, the hour tour isnt enough time.. So worth the visit. Beautiful architecture and oceanfront setting as well.

This is the most amazing tour I have been on....please dont miss thisThe guides were brilliant and so hospitable and kind.

Beautiful and luxurious house! Fully of islamic Antiques from the world which are very accessible unlike in museums. Totally worth visiting! Reservation is needed ($25), and they typically only offer English-speaking guide.

Absolutely gorgeous. Definitely a must-see.

I know little about Islamic art so I cant rate the collection. However the setting is spectacular and the docents are very good.

The mansion is beautiful, but not great enough to cover the rudeness and stubbornness of the tour guide.When the tour started, my family and I were discussing about the information introduced by the guide quietly. We were no where loud enough to disrrupt the rest of the group. The lady was enraged and stormed up to us with the look that she is about to kill us, and was not kind with her words. I can even see the rest of the group were terrified of her.Because of upsetting start, everyone was scared to talk to their friends and family. Our tour became very quite.(We even heard other worker at the museum ask our tour guide why we were so quite. She responded proudly that she yelled at some of us at start, and laughed.)During the rest of the tour, the lady forced all the guests to squeeze in on a sofa that is clearly not big enough for everyone. It was extremely uncomfortable. She also asked us to move out of the way when we stand in the spot that she normally stands, and said the spot has better fan coverage. She even said it herself that she spoiled everyone’s good mood.My family had a terrible experience at the Shangri-la. We do not plan to return or recommend it to anyone.

So very important and fortunate that Ms Duke established the vehicle and provided the means to sustain her seasonal residence and share it with the public at large through the Honolulu Art Museum. Dont miss the opportunity.

What a unique experience. I did the tour recently and was blown away at how beautiful the home is. The docents are very friendly and knowledgeable. Totally worth the time and cost to check this place out!

Very nice and talanted workers....in there countries they become less money...and the governement doesnt respect them....thanks for the usa and hounolulo

Most beautiful, but it is a hidden secret to the general public.

Im sure that this is a wonderful museum... However after driving an hour to get there, I was not allowed access... The gentleman I spoke to at Shangri la was rude, short and disrespectful.. I had contacted the museum several times to coordinate this trip, and Im blown away that no one mentioned the fact that I needed a reservation....I guess all of this to say I Im sorry to say that I will not be supporting this museum with my funds.. all due to the lack of acceptable customer service

Worth the wait for tickets. Excellent tour guide; learned a lot and saw some unique beauty. Be prepared for heat, humidity, and no place to sit, however. We were exhausted by the end. Still very glad we did this.

I had the privilege of living here back in the 60s. Mom was Aunt Doris personal chef, Aunt Luise housekeeping, Johnny Gomez always worked tirelessly on artwork. I played in the cascading salt waterfalls, which entered the pool. Played on the swinging beds suspended from the ceiling of the play house. Aunt Doris was a very erudite and passionate person. Walker Inman( her nephew) was a friend and we lost track. Memories are Gods way of humbling us of times we enjoyed. I will return next year 2018, to embrace a time so long ago. This is a must see if given a chance!!

Its a wonderful tour. Definitely worth a visit if you have the time! I came here to gawk at the beach view and the architecture of this place! They give free limited tours for Kamaaina on the first saturday of every month. To sign up you need to book it online through their Kamaaina web page the two Thursday prior to the saturday tour. The web page will only be active on that Thursday around 930 am HST. I do wish that they would allow self-guided tour, since youre literally being watched and herded for the 2 hours youre there, so there isnt much freedom to take photos. However since Im sure they would like to preserve this museum as long as possible, I do understand the need of supervision. Another note is that you meet at Honolulu Museum where a tour bus will take you to the Shangri La. Parking/driving directly to Shangri la is not allowed. Definitely recommend if you have time!

Definitely worth a visit if for no other reason than to appreciate the beautiful tile work and other objects dart. Matt was an excellent docent, funny and engaging. The setting is truly magnificent.

The estate is beyond beautiful. The tour guides are informative. I recommend this tour to everyone. However, how you actually get there is ridiculous. From Waikiki you drive all the way across town to the Honolulu Musuem of Art. Dirve around for a while looking for parking; get on a shuttle bus; and come alllll the way back to where you were to begin with. I realize they cant have people drive right up to the estate, but could the shuttle not leave from a more convenient location?

Amazing place. The tour guides are lovely. The grounds are immaculate. Tours are booked out a few months so plan ahead if you want to go here. Really incredible place.

Well worth the visit. The guides know their stuff and enjoy their work. I would compare this to the Hurst Castle in San Simeon, CA.

An amazing history of a variety of styles of Islamic Art. With the Pacific as a backdrop, this site cannot be missed. The staff at Shangri La are informed and go above and beyond to make sure you are comfortable and have all your questions asked. There is no photography allowed inside, but you may photograph the grounds outside. Even if you arent into art or architecture, you would be missing out on a wonderful experience if you dont venture to Shangri La.

If youre interested Islamic art, youd love this place. There is art from early Islam in Iran, South Asia, and more. There are no bathrooms inside the house, and no bathroom breaks during the tour. You have to stay with the group during the entire tour, which is about an hour.

Shangri-la is a nice 90 minute tour of the house designed by Doris Duke. Access to Shangri-la is only via the shuttle from the Honolulu Art Museum (reservations required). There is a very nice presentation about Doris Duke while on shuttle bus ride to the location.Shangri-la displays Doris Dukes love and fascination of Islamic art and architecture.NOTE: No photos or videos are allowed within the house.

Definitely check this out

The mansion is gorgeous and surrounded with a natural beauty. Ms. Duke created a paradise for her Hawaii home.Those artifacts are lovely and interesting. Especially those paintings from Indian Mogul Dynasty are attractive. I want to know each individual story. No clear explanation of each artifact and no clear research on each item.The docent we had was a good speaker, but she could answer about any story behind those artifacts.It would be nice for the foundation spend some money to further research on those artifacts because Shangri La is now marketed as a collection of Islamic arts and promote Islamic cultures. Well, why not pay more attention on artifacts and they history .On the other hand, the docent was trained to give an overwhelming biography of Ms. Duke. The focus is not on arts, then they should call Doris Duke Museum and her Shangri La.

A gem which everyone should see. Docents were very knowledgeable.

Awesome place to visit when in Honolulu

I am sure this must be a wonderful place, but double-check before coming as they are closed for maintenance and renovations until nov 22nd, as posted in their website!

Beautiful and interesting home/museum. Must make reservations for the tour.

No information that I have to book the visit through HOMA, even I visited HOMA a day before, if I knew that. So when I came very far today by bus, only found the information on the fence, so disappointed, no such clear information like this, I really hate this

After taking the tour last summer, I wanted to live in this beautiful home with its long garden, priceless art, and ocean view. I knew nothing of Islamic Art before the tour, but I loved eclectic way the collections were displayed. Our docent was very knowledgeable and courteous. This would be a great tour for any interior decorator to get ideas from.

Incredible.

A Must See when in Oahu.

A must see when you visit Oahu. Make sure you book your tickets in advance.The rooms that we saw we just spectacular filled with an eclectic variety of Islamic Art from floor to ceiling, and the visit was enhanced by very knowledgeable and passionate guides. The views of the ocean from the house are breathtaking.

Need reservation (Wed through Sat) through the Honolulu museum of art. Dont drive there by yourself. So I didt know it in adanvced.

Amazing and beautiful estate. I would definitely come back here again and again.

This is a must visit attraction!

What an awesome experience with a knowledable and articulate tour guide. Doris Dukes collection of art and furniture is awe inspiring.

Love!!!!

Amazing experience!

If you have not visited this Museum it is a work of art. It has so much history and so much character I highly recommend it and the view of the beach is breathtaking

Doris dukes former house near diamond head on the ocean. Quite spectacular with a lot of art. Reserve tour at honolulu art museum.

So we could not find this place if our lives depended on it. There are only 2 possible entrances that we thought eould take us there. Neither did

If you love architecture or Islamic Arts you have to go on a tour. Check the Honolulu Art Museum four sign up.

Best tour on Oahu.

Gorgeous art.

I thought that the home was a treasure. I true museum of great deal of art and love for art.

Great place to visit in Honolulu, must make reservations through Honolulu Museum of Art.

Book early. Fabulous!