Big Island: Mauna Kea Summit and Stars Small-Group Adventure Tour
Recommended by 97% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Big Island of Hawaii, USA
- 8 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Why travelers loved this
·
Explore our promoted experiences
Overview
Experience big skies and incredible nighttime views on this Mauna Kea stargazing trip with a small group. Enjoy a pre-trip picnic, then embark on a ride in a 4x4 luxury van to the summit of the Big Island's tallest peak. After admiring a sunset view, continue down to 9,000 feet (2,743 meters) for a stargazing session, complete with a telescope, hot chocolate, and dessert.
- 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's Included
- Pick-up & Dropoff from Central Meeting Locations
- Hooded parkas and gloves
- Hot picnic dinner
- Hot cocoa and cookies
- Private star show with telescope
- Local taxes
- Central Meeting Locations for Pick-up & Drop off
- Guide
- Gratuities
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting points
Select a meeting point
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Itinerary
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.
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.
1
Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel
5 minutes • Admission Ticket Not Included
2
Maunakea Visitor Information Station
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
3
Mauna Kea Summit
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Included
4
Maunakea Visitor Information Station
1 hour • Admission Ticket Included
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- 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.
- Guests must bring their own water bottles. Tour operator will provide filtered water refills.
- 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.
- No scuba diving within 24 hours
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 12 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Sarah_K
What an incredible experience! The sunset was spectacular, and the stargazing was out of this world! :) Our guide and driver Jeff was so knowledgable and shared fascinating information about the history, geology, and culture of Hawaii. He took wonderful care of us. Dinner was tasty (although served quite early in the day to accommodate our itinerary), and the cookies and hot chocolate hit the spot after it got chilly once the sun went down. There are plenty of (clean!) bathroom breaks. I can't recommend this highly enough!
Reviews
4.8
based on 1,561 reviews
Eileen_L, Mar 2026
Experience of a lifetime. Our guide Jeff, was absolutely incredible. Prepared, amazingly knowledgeable, professional, friendly, and overall great guy. I would recommend this tour to anyone wanting to see and learn about Hawaii’s geology, culture, astronomy and other wild amazing facts. Would highly recommend this to our friends and family. A must do tour
Bev_B, Feb 2026
Small group. Jeff was an amazing guide. Star gazing was informative and out of this world. Learned a lot!
barbara_M, Feb 2026
We did the Maunakea Summit & Stars tour with Hawaii Forest & Trail on Thursday, February 12th, and it was outstanding from start to finish.
Jason was our guide for a group of 12 in a microbus, and he was absolutely sensational. He has a fantastic speaking voice (sounds like actor Jeremy Piven) is incredibly knowledgeable, and effortlessly weaves together Hawaiian history, cultural context, correct pronunciations, geology, and celestial science. His depth of expertise—especially around the night sky—made the entire experience both educational and inspiring.
He created a positive, approachable atmosphere for everyone in the group. Jason was attentive throughout the evening, making sure everyone was comfortable, well fed, snacked, and had ample time at the Stellina digital telescope for star viewing and photos.
The pacing was perfect—plenty of time at the summit to take in the observatories and views, without ever feeling rushed. The entire experience felt thoughtfully organized and professionally executed.
Highly recommend this tour—and if you can, request Jason. He truly elevates the experience.
Peter_H, Feb 2026
Absolutely wonderful trip to the top of the mountain, to watch the sun set and to see the galaxies. .
Carol_L, Feb 2026
The tour guide was very knowledgeable and certainly added to the experience. People do need to understand that breathing can be effected
Brandon_T, Feb 2026
Be prepared for cold and wind but especially for an amazing trip! Jon, our guide, was very knowledgeable and provided great information and welcomed questions. The dinner was some of the best stew I've had and I wish I could get the recipe! Views were spectacular! Stars were shining bright and numerous!
Kim_d, Feb 2026
Amazing experience to see the sunset above the clouds and stargazing . Wilson, our driver, was wonderful. So knowledgeable about the mountains/volcanoes ! And the stars.
Peter_B, Jan 2026
A must do and the only place on earth to do it! You can rent a jeep and drive up yourself but it is very dangerous and I highly recommend this tour for safety and the experienced tour guide and extra benefits like parka jackets (it’s cold up there) and private star gazing. Most amazing night sky ever, never saw so many stars. And the sunset was the best. Definitely recommend doing as a tour not on your own in a rented 4x4!!
Lauren_E, Jan 2026
This was hands-down our favorite tour/part of our trip. The experience was incredible and literally out of this world. John was the best.
HSIU_T, Jan 2026
We had an amazing evening on the tour. Jeff our driver / guide was extremely informative and made sure that everyone was comfortable and safe (contant reminder to take slow deep breaths as we climb up to higher altitudes.). It was my best stargazing experience to date, blessed by clear skies, 2% moon and multiple images on 2 different telescopes. I would recommend this tour in a heartbeat!
China_W, Jan 2026
I booked this tour for my parents, my partner, and myself on the last day of our trip (which also happened to be a moonless night) and it turned out to be an excellent way to end our vacation. Our tour guide Jason was the best! He is super knowledgeable and kind, and I felt like we were in good hands the entire way.
The sunset was awesome but for me, the highlight was the stargazing afterwards. We went to a spot just above the visitor station so it wasn't as cold and we weren't as affected by the altitude, plus only tour groups were allowed there so it wasn't crowded at all. The night sky was simply incredible to look at. I've never seen that many stars before! Getting to look at deep space objects through the telescope was very cool and Jason's own passion for astronomy made the whole night even more enjoyable. (The attached image was taken with an iPhone and a mini tripod, which we brought with us.)
The provided parkas were very warm, though I'd recommend bringing as many layers as you can, plus a warm hat and gloves. Dinner was simple but satisfying, though I did feel a bit rushed since we only had 30 minutes to eat, use the restroom (there's always a long line for the ladies' room so go early), and visit the information center.
Geraldine_L, Jan 2026
Awesome experience! Jason was fantastic and knowledgeable. The trip was laid out perfectly to get the best experience possible. Sunset and the night sky was better than expected. The food and drinks were very good as well. Highly recommend.
Frank_K, Jan 2026
Hawaii Forest and Trails did a great job with the tour. The guide Jeff was excellent. The sunset and the stargazing were excellent. Jeff had two telescopes to look at distant planets stars and galaxies. Be prepared for the cold as you are at 13000 feet
Kelli_D, Dec 2025
It’s quite cold, but worth every second. They provide warm coats and mittens along with hot chocolate. Sunset was once in a lifetime!
Douglas_L, Dec 2025
Wilson did a great job. His demeanor, promptness attention to safety and knowledge made the tour a great experience. The views at the top were amazing 👏
Christine_K, Dec 2025
We enjoyed our trip to Mauna Kea and the stargazing afterwards. They were very pleasant to work with and flexible with our pick up location. We learned so much more than what we would have had we attempted to do this ourselves. We also especially appreciated the attention to the change in the elevation and precautions taken.
Mary_A, Dec 2025
First off the van was super comfortable and roomy. Our guide was all about safety, fun and memories and boy did Jeff deliver! We were served a delicious hot chicken stew which was filling. They had a vegetarian option that was also gluten free which my husband required. We made a couple of stops to acclimate to the high altitude. Saw a gorgeous sunset at the summit of Mauna Kea then descended 1000 feet for the most stars I’ve ever seen in my life. Just wow!
Benjamin_V, Dec 2025
A true on top of the world experience that was surreal. Eugene our guide was very knowledgeable and made the trip wonderful.
Sarah_K, Dec 2025
What an incredible experience! The sunset was spectacular, and the stargazing was out of this world! :) Our guide and driver Jeff was so knowledgable and shared fascinating information about the history, geology, and culture of Hawaii. He took wonderful care of us. Dinner was tasty (although served quite early in the day to accommodate our itinerary), and the cookies and hot chocolate hit the spot after it got chilly once the sun went down. There are plenty of (clean!) bathroom breaks. I can't recommend this highly enough!
Ken_R, Dec 2025
This was an amazing and incredible experience for everyone who participated in the trip. Our tour guide Jeff was informative, friendly and very knowledgeable about Mauna Kea and the sky above. The food and the stops were well-executed and our van Ohana had a great time overall. And, I was able to get some incredible pictures thanks to our guide.
Be prepared for a long and sometimes bumpy journey, which is not meant as a negative comment, just a heads-up.
Rosalind_J, Nov 2025
Amazing experience. Our tour guide, Wilson (from Seattle), was "the best" ever. He paced everything out well, had amazing knowledge, was accommodating and supportive, and helped create a bit of astrological community during the tour. And, then on the way home, we got a great "tunes" playlist that was all about space. The food was great (hot, tasty, and comforting) and the equipment (parka, travel vehicle, and telescopes) were the best. I highly recommend the company, Wilson, and the adventure.
Lorine_S, Nov 2025
Jeff was one of the best tour guides for this type of tour that we’ve ever had. Knowledgeable, informative and showed true care for the well being of the people on the tour.
Barbara_H, Nov 2025
It was cold, misty rain and lots of fog and cloud cover. You can’t control the weather but what we saw was magical. Our driver was awesome explaining history and related facts while taking care of our needs. He pointed out star constellations each time the clouds lifted.
Sue_B, Oct 2025
Learning all the history of volcanos and the islands was an unexpected bonus. Food was quite good, our tour guide, Jeff, was fabulous, and Mother Nature may or may not give you a glimpse of the stars.
cwdouty58, Oct 2025
This was our seventh trip to Hawaii, but this was the highlight of our first visit to the Big Island. Watching the sunset above the clouds followed by stargazing is breathtaking. Jeff is an excellent guide. His knowledge of astronomy and the Big Island is impressive.
Laura_W, Oct 2025
Absolutely amazing. 10 out of 10! On time, informative and friendly guides, delicious food and every need thought through for you.
dann_w, Oct 2025
A amazing tour, our guide was knowledgeable,even the lava land near the road he could tell the year.
Randall_H, Oct 2025
Ask for Wilson. Fantastic guide. Knows all about stars and the drive up to mauna kea. Best tour yet!
Emily_C, Oct 2025
The experience was nothing less than excellent! Jeff, our tour guide, made sure several times throughout the tour that we were safe and well taken care of! Also was very knowledgeable on all things Mauna Kea and space. I would definitely tour with them again!
fred_g, Oct 2025
Jeff was a great guide. For best view of milky Way plan around New Moon. Take it slow and steady. Your at over 13,000 feet and gravel so take it easy
Likely to Sell Out
From $329.84
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
Compare Similar Experiences
Current
Likely to Sell Out
Big Island: Mauna Kea Summit and Stars Small-Group Adventure Tour
1,561
8 hours
Free Cancellation
From
$329.84
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
Attractions in Big Island of Hawaii, USA
- Keauhou Bay Tours & Tickets
- Honokohau Harbor Tours & Tickets
- Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park Tours & Tickets
- Captain Cook Monument Tours & Tickets
- Kona (Kailua Bay) Cruise Port Tours & Tickets
- Punaluʻu Black Sand Beach Tours & Tickets
- Kohala Coast Tours & Tickets
- Kohala Tours & Tickets
- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Tours & Tickets
- Rainbow Falls Tours & Tickets
- Hualalai Volcano Tours & Tickets
- Hulihee Palace Tours & Tickets
- Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden Tours & Tickets
- Waimea Falls Tours & Tickets
- Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary Tours & Tickets
More attractions near Big Island of Hawaii, USA