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Best Mauna Kea Summit Tour (Free sunset and star photo!)

Best Mauna Kea Summit Tour (Free sunset and star photo!)

Overview

We will take you to the summit of Mauna Kea to see the sunset and we will do stargazing afterward (not at the summit). Our most unique part is that our guides will take the photo of the sunset and stars for you using their DSLR camera.
All photos are free of charge and you will get it to your smartphone at the end of the tour.

City: Big Island of Hawaii

Fri 28 Nov

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $260.00

Make a reservation

Fri 28 Nov

Starting at $260.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Snow parker, Ski pants, and Gloves

Admission Fee for Mauna Kea

Free DSLR camera photo of stars with you in it! (weather and moon phase permitting))

BLT or Vegan sandwich (Please let us know by day before the tour or it will be automatically a BLT)

4x4 Passenger Van to the summit

An astronomical telescope

Additional Info

Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Please check the message on Viator. We will send a message about pick up time and location after the confirmation of your booking.
Please note that pick up location has a free parking lot but we do not take any responsibility or liability for any damage or loss caused through the parking
Please note that in times of bad weather sunset or stargazing are not 100% guaranteed and moonphase will affect the visibility of the stars.
Not recommended for person weight more than 300lb
Not recommended for person having respiratory problem such as asthma
Guest under 16 years old or older than 70 cannot participate

What To Expect

Kailua-Kona

Pick up guests from each pick up location starting from Target in Kona. (pick up time varies depending on the season) 14:00-15:00pm Target's parking lot meet in front of the Mcdonald’s that is in the Target parking area (74-5453 Makala Blvd, Kailua-Kona) 14:45-15:45pm/ Queens’ Market Place Please meet up at the backside parking area of Queen's Market Place in front of Island Gourmet Markets (69-201 Waikoloa Beach Dr #201, Waikoloa) 15:30-16:30pm/ Gilbert Kahele Recreation Park (44-5400 Daniel K. Inouye Hwy, Waimea)

Onizuka Astronomy Complex

Onizuka Visitor Information Station We will take a break at the Onizuka Visitor Center at an altitude of 2,800m or 9,000ft for early dinner and altitude acclimatization. We also change clothes for winter clothes here depending on the weather. Also gift shop is open for guests to purchase the items. (No food or drink sale)

Mauna Kea Summit

Mauna Kea summit at an altitude of 13,796 ft (4,205 m) At the peak of Mauna Kea, you will see most of the observatory at the summit and we will be watching the sunset from the highest peak oin Hawaii. Enjoy a fantastic moment！

Onizuka Astronomy Complex

After the sunset, we will do stargazing using our refractor telescope and laser pointer. Our guide will explain about the star, constellation, and planets. Also we will take the astro photo with you in it! (The location of where we will do the stargazing may varies depending on the weather conditions)

Kailua-Kona

Returning to the pick up locations starting from Gilbert Kahele Recreational park.

Show 2 more stops

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (1000)

Jose_T

Jan 2025

This was truly one of the most beautiful activities I have taken in my lifetime. Our guide James knew all about big island, hawaiian traditions, and astronomy. The road up to the mountain began with a stop at the visitor’s center to get used to the height, later we visited the observatories and got a magnificent view of the sunset at the top of the mountain (you could even see the mountain’s shadow behind, ang get a full look at Maui Island!). After sunset we drove down at the team set a telescope and hot cocoa so we could appreciate the night sky. I had never seen so many stars in my entire life. For the first time eve I got to look at the milky way, satelites in orbit, and even have a full view of Saturn and Jupiter through the telescope. The trip is a bit long and bear in mind altitude sickness is a real thing (some of our companions in the van were having a hard time with headaches and dizzyness). Also getting transportation to and from the area of the Fairmont hotel may be difficult, luckily our guide gave us a ride back to the hotel. Overall a life changing experience, well worth the ticket price.

Tin_W

Jan 2025

At almost 14000 ft elevation, one should be in good health to go. Less oxygen tension compared to sea level. There’s a reason there’s an upper age limit and I fully agree. Our guide James was friendly, entertaining and educating. It sure beats driving on your own to the top and fighting for parking! The views from up top including the sunset are… amazing and breathtaking. No pictures do it justice. As night fell we came down for educational stargazing, truly beautiful. They had jackets, gloves and pants which definitely made the stargazing comfortable.

Keenon_H

Jan 2025

I had an amazing experience with Wesley aka Wes as the tour guide! I hope i spelled his name right. He was very knowledgeable about the island's history and shared some fascinating stories and facts. He also did a fantastic job preparing us for the summit. Shared helpful tips on what to expect with the high elevation. What stood out the most was how passionately he spoke about his mother, grandmother, and his heritage. You could feel the deep pride he takes in his roots. He also had a great sense of humor that kept the group laughing and engaged throughout the trip.