Mauna Kea Stargazing Experience + Photos

Overview

Led by an Astronomer and Astro-Photographer, we are the only star tour operator that offers 2 hour experiences, avoids the bright moon and offers a stargazing guarantee.

The tour comes in 3 parts:

First:
Your guide will point out celestial objects and constellations with a powerful green laser pointer and answer questions about the universe.

Second:
View details of a galaxy, a nebula, a star cluster and a red giant star through a star tracker/deep space camera setup and a Unistellar EV telescope 2. We also bring binoculars and a night vision scope.

Third:
Your Astro-Photographer will take a few complimentary stellar photos of you with the Milky Way.

High Resolution upgrades are available.

Stargazing locations vary each night depending on clouds and crowds. We stargaze on the slopes of Mauna Kea or Mauna Loa, whichever spot has the best conditions.

City: Big Island of Hawaii

Thu 11 Dec

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $299.00

Make a reservation

Thu 11 Dec

Starting at $299.00

Make a reservation

New York City Tours

Unique Activities (21) Transfers & Transportation (175) Tours, Sightseeing & Cruises (252) Entry Tickets (96) Sporting Events (4) Good for Small Groups (27) Seasonal & Holiday Tours (113) Walking Tours (705) Outdoor Activities (48) Limitied Availability Tours (29) LGBT Friendly Tours (9) Family-friendly Activities (8) Wildlife Activities (6) Solo Travelers' Tours (147) Food & Drinks (96) Travelers recommend (174) Good for Groups (32) Top Activities (75) Guided Audio Tours (10) Art, Culture & History (406) Attractions to explore (43) Sustainable Tours (1) Limousine Transfers (5) Donut Walking Tour (2) Virtual Experiences (1) Additional fees (7) DSA non-compliant (17)

What's Included

Complimentary Medium Resolution Photos

Parka Jackets

Professional photographer guide

All activities

Additional Info

Service animals allowed
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Children must be accompanied by an adult
Dress code: Wear pants and closed-toed shoes
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately
Weather can reach 30F. We have parka jackets that have pockets and a hood, although that may not be enough for some
Not recommended for travelers with any mobility/ambulatory restrictions, back, heart and hearing problems or other serious medical conditions
Pregnant Travelers should discuss with their doctor before hand.
Not suitable for some senior citizens
Not recommended for chronic complainers ;)

What To Expect

Onizuka Astronomy Complex

Lead by an astronomer and astro photographer, our experiences avoid the overcrowded Onizuka Astronomy Complex. We stargaze away from the crowds on Mauna Kea or Mauna Loa and time slots are hand selected to avoid the bright moon. Experiences are only 2 hours long and offer a stargazing guarantee or it’s free.

Cancellation Policy

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

Traveler Photos

Reviews (238)

kris10clayton

May 2019

James was a very knowledgable tour guide. We met at the recreation area and then he took us up to the stargazing spots. Don’t worry too much about weather and clouds because James has multiple spots for looking out at. He provided jackets which you will definitely want. He also showed us almost all the constellations. He’s very patient when it comes to taking pictures and is great at taking photos. If you’re ever on the big island take this tour!

CLSCAW

Jan 2019

Okay - so here's the deal! We've done a lot of incredible adventures during our travels but honestly, this has to be up at the very top of the "bucket" list -- little did we know how amazing this would actually be! James' Mauna Kea Stargazing and Astro Photos tour was just incredible. James took our small group (small is best!) to a "secret" location to view the night sky - we were the only ones there (fantastic!). We were so fortunate to have a crystal clear sky to view the heavens and at the same time, ring in the new year on New Year's Eve! Truly -- it is really hard to describe -- the heavens are so vast and you feel so very small when looking up at the magnificent Milky Way, the Orion Nebula and the Adromeda Galaxy. For us, it was a spiritual moment as well - we really just stood in awe of what we were witnessing, our Great Creator and trying to fathom His power as the Author of the Universe! James was a great tour guide and pointed out many stars and constellations, and of course his astro-photos were fantastic -- great memory keepsakes. Highly highly recommended, and we would definitely book this tour with James when we return again to the Big Island.

PhotobyBrea

Dec 2018

This was a super cool tour. James took us to a secret place to see the stars and got some awesome pictures in the process. The jackets he provided were super warm! It was so cool being on top of the world looking at the stars far away from the other tourists.