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The Original Mauna Kea Summit Sunset & Stargazing Tour-Since 1983
Big Island of Hawaii, Hawaii, USA
$351
This is an experience gift voucher. The recipient will book the experience after
they redeem the gift voucher.
Overview
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.
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.
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Mauna Kea Summit Adventures
Tour guide
Language: English
Human tour guide
- Professional guide, fully narrated
- Custom 4×4 Mercedes Sprinter with coach seating in rows of two and three (no four-across benches)
- Gourmet hot cocoa, coffee, or tea with a sweet treat during stargazing
- Pickup & drop-off: Kailua-Kona, Waikoloa Beach, Waikoloa Village, or Maunakea Visitor Station
- Hot dinner at 9,200 ft: 3-cheese vegetable lasagna and a homemade brownie
- Arctic-style hooded parkas and gloves
- About 2 hours of guided stargazing with 11-inch Celestron telescopes and green-laser sky tour
- Gratuities (optional)
- Hotel pickup and drop-off (meet at a designated pickup point)
Meeting point
Best for guests in Hilo, Hamakua, Puna, or Volcano, about 1 hr 10 min from Hilo. Fill up on gas; there are no services on Saddle Road. Park in the Lower Dirt Parking Lot below the visitor center (restrooms available), then walk up to meet our vans in the paved lot above. Keep your phone on.
Kohala Coffee Co. is near the gas station at Waikoloa Plaza in Waikoloa Village. This locally owned café has restrooms and indoor seating for customers while you wait, so grab a coffee before the tour. Our vans will be parked out front for easy identification. Please arrive a few minutes early.
Queens' Marketplace
We pick up on the back side of the complex, near Snorkel Bob's. Look for our vans in the rear parking lot, where we will also drop you off after the tour. We recommend checking the location before your tour day so you know exactly where to go.
Kona Crossroads Shopping Center.
Enter from Henry St. Domino's and AutoZone are on the mountain side and Denny's is on the ocean side. Park on the ocean side and look for our signs with the company logo. Restrooms, picnic tables, and benches are near AutoZone and Sakura Restaurant.
Return details
Best for guests in Hilo, Hamakua, Puna, or Volcano, about 1 hr 10 min from Hilo. Fill up on gas; there are no services on Saddle Road. Park in the Lower Dirt Parking Lot below the visitor center (restrooms available), then walk up to meet our vans in the paved lot above. Keep your phone on.
Kohala Coffee Co. is near the gas station at Waikoloa Plaza in Waikoloa Village. This locally owned café has restrooms and indoor seating for customers while you wait, so grab a coffee before the tour. Our vans will be parked out front for easy identification. Please arrive a few minutes early.
Queens' Marketplace
We pick up on the back side of the complex, near Snorkel Bob's. Look for our vans in the rear parking lot, where we will also drop you off after the tour. We recommend checking the location before your tour day so you know exactly where to go.
Kona Crossroads Shopping Center.
Enter from Henry St. Domino's and AutoZone are on the mountain side and Denny's is on the ocean side. Park on the ocean side and look for our signs with the company logo. Restrooms, picnic tables, and benches are near AutoZone and Sakura Restaurant.
- 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. (pass by)
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Maunakea Visitor Information StationAt 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.
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Mauna Kea SummitArrive 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.
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Mauna Kea ObservatoriesAfter 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.
If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
How it works?
01
—
You choose from 10,000+ experience gifts
02
—
We deliver the eVoucher or the Physical box to the recipient
03
—
Recipient books the experience and creates unforgettable memories!
The Original Mauna Kea Summit Sunset & Stargazing Tour-Since 1983
Big Island of Hawaii, Hawaii, USA
$351
This is an experience gift voucher. The recipient will book the experience after
they redeem the gift voucher.
How it works?
01
—
You choose from 10,000+ experience gifts
02
—
We deliver the eVoucher or the Physical box to the recipient
03
—
Recipient books the experience and creates unforgettable memories!