The Original Mauna Kea Summit Sunset & Stargazing Tour-Since 1983
The original Mauna Kea sunset and stargazing tour. We pioneered this experience in 1983 and have been on this mountain longer than just about anyone. Ride from the coast to nearly 14,000 feet in custom 4x4 Mercedes Sprinters with panoramic windows and coach seating in rows of two and three (nobody rides four across). Enjoy a real hot dinner at 9,200 feet, 3-cheese vegetable lasagna and a homemade brownie, then watch the sun set from the summit, often above a sea of clouds, as the observatories open their domes. Then what sets us apart: about two hours of guided stargazing at mid-mountain, more time under the stars than any other tour on the mountain. Green lasers, 11-inch Celestron telescopes, gourmet hot drinks and a sweet treat while you look up. Our guides measure their time on Mauna Kea in years, not seasons. Parkas and gloves provided. Max 14 guests per van. Ages 13+; health restrictions apply. Stargazing depends on natural conditions.
What you'll see & do
- ✓Travel the scenic highway between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, crossing lava flows and high-country landscapes on the way to the mountain, in a custom 4x4 Mercedes Sprinter with coach seating in rows of two and three (nobody rides four across). Your guide covers the culture, geography, geology, and natural history of the island on the way up.
- ✓At 9,200 feet we stop for a real hot dinner, 3-cheese vegetable lasagna and a homemade brownie, and a chance to adjust to the altitude before heading higher. Learn why the world's largest telescopes are on Mauna Kea and what life is like for the astronomers who work here. Parkas and gloves are issued before we engage four-wheel drive for the climb to the summit.
- ✓Arrive at nearly 14,000 feet before sunset and watch the observatories, including Keck, Subaru, and Gemini, open their domes and rotate into position. Plenty of time for photos as the sunset transforms the landscape, often above a sea of clouds. We stay until the best color has faded, then descend to mid-mountain, where the air is more comfortable and the skies stay clear.
- ✓After Sunset we spend about two hours under the stars, more time stargazing than any other tour on the mountain. Your guide traces the sky with a green laser, from Polaris to the Southern Cross, and brings the night's best targets into our 11-inch Celestron telescopes. Midway through, gourmet hot cocoa, coffee, or tea and a sweet treat to ward off the chill. Stargazing depends on natural conditions; more than 90% of our trips get excellent skies.
What's included
- ✓About 2 hours of guided stargazing with 11-inch Celestron telescopes and green-laser sky tour
- ✓Arctic-style hooded parkas and gloves
- ✓Hot dinner at 9,200 ft: 3-cheese vegetable lasagna and a homemade brownie
- ✓Pickup & drop-off: Kailua-Kona, Waikoloa Beach, Waikoloa Village, or Maunakea Visitor Station
- ✓Tea and coffee
- ✓Custom 4×4 Mercedes Sprinter with coach seating in rows of two and three (no four-across benches)
- ✓Professional guide, fully narrated
What's not included
- ✓Hotel pickup and drop-off (meet at a designated pickup point)
- ✓Gratuities (optional)
Good to know
Wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Minimum age is 13 years
Travelers with a BMI of 40 or higher are not permitted
No scuba diving within 24 hours before the tour
Pants and closed-toe shoes required; parkas and gloves provided
Pickup times vary throughout the year with sunset
The summit is nearly 14,000 feet, with 40% less oxygen than sea level
Emergency response on the mountain can take about 2 hours, and a medical incident may end the tour for everyone on board
The mountain road is long and bumpy and may not be suitable for travelers with back injuries
Summit temperatures average around 30°F with frequent wind; parkas and gloves are provided
Dinner is vegetarian lasagna; guests with dietary restrictions may bring their own food
Pickup times vary by location and season and are confirmed after booking
This tour returns late at night
Tours may be canceled due to weather or road closures; stargazing depends on natural conditions and is not guaranteed
Not permitted for pregnant travelers
Not permitted for travelers with any history of heart problems, including surgery, stents, pacemakers, or arrhythmias
Not permitted for travelers with COPD, emphysema, lung conditions or surgeries, or pneumonia or RSV within the past 6 months
Asthma must be fully controlled, and travelers must bring their inhaler
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.
The Original Mauna Kea Summit Sunset & Stargazing Tour-Since 1983
The original Mauna Kea sunset and stargazing tour. We pioneered this experience in 1983 and have been on this mountain longer than just about anyone. Ride from the coast to nearly 14,000 feet in custom 4x4 Mercedes Sprinters with panoramic windows and coach seating in rows of two and three (nobody rides four across). Enjoy a real hot dinner at 9,200 feet, 3-cheese vegetable lasagna and a homemade brownie, then watch the sun set from the summit, often above a sea of clouds, as the observatories open their domes. Then what sets us apart: about two hours of guided stargazing at mid-mountain, more time under the stars than any other tour on the mountain. Green lasers, 11-inch Celestron telescopes, gourmet hot drinks and a sweet treat while you look up. Our guides measure their time on Mauna Kea in years, not seasons. Parkas and gloves provided. Max 14 guests per van. Ages 13+; health restrictions apply. Stargazing depends on natural conditions.
What you'll see & do
- ✓Travel the scenic highway between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, crossing lava flows and high-country landscapes on the way to the mountain, in a custom 4x4 Mercedes Sprinter with coach seating in rows of two and three (nobody rides four across). Your guide covers the culture, geography, geology, and natural history of the island on the way up.
- ✓At 9,200 feet we stop for a real hot dinner, 3-cheese vegetable lasagna and a homemade brownie, and a chance to adjust to the altitude before heading higher. Learn why the world's largest telescopes are on Mauna Kea and what life is like for the astronomers who work here. Parkas and gloves are issued before we engage four-wheel drive for the climb to the summit.
- ✓Arrive at nearly 14,000 feet before sunset and watch the observatories, including Keck, Subaru, and Gemini, open their domes and rotate into position. Plenty of time for photos as the sunset transforms the landscape, often above a sea of clouds. We stay until the best color has faded, then descend to mid-mountain, where the air is more comfortable and the skies stay clear.
- ✓After Sunset we spend about two hours under the stars, more time stargazing than any other tour on the mountain. Your guide traces the sky with a green laser, from Polaris to the Southern Cross, and brings the night's best targets into our 11-inch Celestron telescopes. Midway through, gourmet hot cocoa, coffee, or tea and a sweet treat to ward off the chill. Stargazing depends on natural conditions; more than 90% of our trips get excellent skies.
What's included
- ✓About 2 hours of guided stargazing with 11-inch Celestron telescopes and green-laser sky tour
- ✓Arctic-style hooded parkas and gloves
- ✓Hot dinner at 9,200 ft: 3-cheese vegetable lasagna and a homemade brownie
- ✓Pickup & drop-off: Kailua-Kona, Waikoloa Beach, Waikoloa Village, or Maunakea Visitor Station
- ✓Tea and coffee
- ✓Custom 4×4 Mercedes Sprinter with coach seating in rows of two and three (no four-across benches)
- ✓Professional guide, fully narrated
What's not included
- ✓Hotel pickup and drop-off (meet at a designated pickup point)
- ✓Gratuities (optional)
Good to know
Wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed
All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Minimum age is 13 years
Travelers with a BMI of 40 or higher are not permitted
No scuba diving within 24 hours before the tour
Pants and closed-toe shoes required; parkas and gloves provided
Pickup times vary throughout the year with sunset
The summit is nearly 14,000 feet, with 40% less oxygen than sea level
Emergency response on the mountain can take about 2 hours, and a medical incident may end the tour for everyone on board
The mountain road is long and bumpy and may not be suitable for travelers with back injuries
Summit temperatures average around 30°F with frequent wind; parkas and gloves are provided
Dinner is vegetarian lasagna; guests with dietary restrictions may bring their own food
Pickup times vary by location and season and are confirmed after booking
This tour returns late at night
Tours may be canceled due to weather or road closures; stargazing depends on natural conditions and is not guaranteed
Not permitted for pregnant travelers
Not permitted for travelers with any history of heart problems, including surgery, stents, pacemakers, or arrhythmias
Not permitted for travelers with COPD, emphysema, lung conditions or surgeries, or pneumonia or RSV within the past 6 months
Asthma must be fully controlled, and travelers must bring their inhaler
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.