Big Island: Mauna Kea Summit and Stars Small-Group Adventure Tour
Join your small group and prepare for an immersive experience. Travel in a 4-wheel-drive van, beginning your journey from the base of Mauna Kea to the top. Savor the opportunity to indulge in a warm, picnic-style dinner at the Maunakea Visitor Information Station before going up to the summit. Ascend up this tall peak on this Big Island, reaching heights of 9,000 feet (2,743 meters). Get settled and watch as the sun sets. Then, take part in a stargazing session and delight in viewing the night sky through telescopes. Indulge in some hot chocolate and desert as your guide shares tales of Hawaii's history, culture, and ecology. As the night goes on, stay cozy in your complimentary hooded parka and continue to watch the celestial show until the end of your experience.
Highlights
- ✓Enjoy a private stargazing show through 11” Celestron telescope and a state-of-the-art digital astro-photography scope on Mauna Kea
- ✓Learn about the history, culture, and ecology of Hawaii
- ✓Enjoy views of Maui you won't get anywhere else
- ✓Stay warm with a provided hooded parka
What you'll see & do
- ✓Travelers staying in Kailua Kona will meet the guide here. Your guide will meet you at the benches closest to the hotel's parking lot entrance at the curbside. **There may be additional meeting location stops along the way to Maunakea.**
- ✓Enjoy a warm picnic dinner while you acclimate to a higher elevation and learn about Hawaiian star navigation before you head to the summit.
- ✓Enjoy a sunset from above the clouds while overlooking the Pacific Ocean atop Maunakea. After the sunset, travel to a more comfortable elevation and let our guides reveal the night sky with our 11" Celestron telescopes.
- ✓Descend to a lower elevation after the sun sets and sip hot chocolate during a private star show with our 11” Celestron telescope. View deep space objects with our Stellina digital telescope and share captured images of the Hawaiian night sky with your friends & family
What's included
- ✓Private star show with telescope
- ✓Hooded parkas and gloves
- ✓Central Meeting Locations for Pick-up & Drop off
- ✓Hot cocoa and cookies
- ✓Dinner
- ✓Local taxes
- ✓Guide
- ✓Pick-up & Dropoff from Central Meeting Locations
What's not included
- ✓Gratuities
- ✓Tour operator will provide filtered water refills for your bottle
- ✓Private Tour
Good to know
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Minimum age is 13 years - No children under 13.
Due to the high altitude, this tour is not suitable for those with respiratory, circulatory or heart conditions, pregnancy, or poor health.
Scuba divers should be aware of altitude dangers. If you plan to scuba dive, do not plan to go to the summit within 24 hours after you dive due to the altitude.
Guests are required to wear closed-toed shoe and long pants. We recommend bringing a sweatshirt or sweater for layering.
Please provide your parka size (small, medium, large, x-large or xx-large) and meal choice at the time of booking. If you do not indicate this at the time of booking, you will need to contact the tour operator directly.
There is minimal walking on this tour, the maximum being about 150 yards. Please note we are unable to accommodate any guests with a collapsible wheelchair. All guests must be able to enter and exit our vehicles on their own, and walk comfortably on uneven terrain with limited lighting on their own.
The access road to Mauna Kea is four-wheel drive only, so it can be bumpy. The custom off-road transit vans will get you to the top and back in safety and comfort. The transit vans can carry a maximum of 12 passengers
Snow is seasonal at Maunakea, with the heaviest snowfall occurring during the winter months
Please note your scheduled pick-up time may differ from the tour start time displayed online. Contact us to confirm your meeting time & location.
Weather changes can occur quickly, and the access road to the summit can close without warning; therefore we cannot guarantee access to the summit or favorable conditions.
No scuba diving within 24 hours
Cancellation policy
- •A full refund will apply if you cancel more than 24 hours before the activity start time.
- •No refund is possible if you cancel less than 24 hours before the activity start time.
Big Island: Mauna Kea Summit and Stars Small-Group Adventure Tour
Join your small group and prepare for an immersive experience. Travel in a 4-wheel-drive van, beginning your journey from the base of Mauna Kea to the top. Savor the opportunity to indulge in a warm, picnic-style dinner at the Maunakea Visitor Information Station before going up to the summit. Ascend up this tall peak on this Big Island, reaching heights of 9,000 feet (2,743 meters). Get settled and watch as the sun sets. Then, take part in a stargazing session and delight in viewing the night sky through telescopes. Indulge in some hot chocolate and desert as your guide shares tales of Hawaii's history, culture, and ecology. As the night goes on, stay cozy in your complimentary hooded parka and continue to watch the celestial show until the end of your experience.
Highlights
- ✓Enjoy a private stargazing show through 11” Celestron telescope and a state-of-the-art digital astro-photography scope on Mauna Kea
- ✓Learn about the history, culture, and ecology of Hawaii
- ✓Enjoy views of Maui you won't get anywhere else
- ✓Stay warm with a provided hooded parka
What you'll see & do
- ✓Travelers staying in Kailua Kona will meet the guide here. Your guide will meet you at the benches closest to the hotel's parking lot entrance at the curbside. **There may be additional meeting location stops along the way to Maunakea.**
- ✓Enjoy a warm picnic dinner while you acclimate to a higher elevation and learn about Hawaiian star navigation before you head to the summit.
- ✓Enjoy a sunset from above the clouds while overlooking the Pacific Ocean atop Maunakea. After the sunset, travel to a more comfortable elevation and let our guides reveal the night sky with our 11" Celestron telescopes.
- ✓Descend to a lower elevation after the sun sets and sip hot chocolate during a private star show with our 11” Celestron telescope. View deep space objects with our Stellina digital telescope and share captured images of the Hawaiian night sky with your friends & family
What's included
- ✓Private star show with telescope
- ✓Hooded parkas and gloves
- ✓Central Meeting Locations for Pick-up & Drop off
- ✓Hot cocoa and cookies
- ✓Dinner
- ✓Local taxes
- ✓Guide
- ✓Pick-up & Dropoff from Central Meeting Locations
What's not included
- ✓Gratuities
- ✓Tour operator will provide filtered water refills for your bottle
- ✓Private Tour
Good to know
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Minimum age is 13 years - No children under 13.
Due to the high altitude, this tour is not suitable for those with respiratory, circulatory or heart conditions, pregnancy, or poor health.
Scuba divers should be aware of altitude dangers. If you plan to scuba dive, do not plan to go to the summit within 24 hours after you dive due to the altitude.
Guests are required to wear closed-toed shoe and long pants. We recommend bringing a sweatshirt or sweater for layering.
Please provide your parka size (small, medium, large, x-large or xx-large) and meal choice at the time of booking. If you do not indicate this at the time of booking, you will need to contact the tour operator directly.
There is minimal walking on this tour, the maximum being about 150 yards. Please note we are unable to accommodate any guests with a collapsible wheelchair. All guests must be able to enter and exit our vehicles on their own, and walk comfortably on uneven terrain with limited lighting on their own.
The access road to Mauna Kea is four-wheel drive only, so it can be bumpy. The custom off-road transit vans will get you to the top and back in safety and comfort. The transit vans can carry a maximum of 12 passengers
Snow is seasonal at Maunakea, with the heaviest snowfall occurring during the winter months
Please note your scheduled pick-up time may differ from the tour start time displayed online. Contact us to confirm your meeting time & location.
Weather changes can occur quickly, and the access road to the summit can close without warning; therefore we cannot guarantee access to the summit or favorable conditions.
No scuba diving within 24 hours
Cancellation policy
- •A full refund will apply if you cancel more than 24 hours before the activity start time.
- •No refund is possible if you cancel less than 24 hours before the activity start time.