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Mauna Kea Summit Adventures
Big Island of Hawaii, Hawaii, USA
$336
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 43 years ago, and we've been on this mountain longer than just about anyone.
Ride from the coast to nearly 14,000 feet in custom 4x4 Mercedes Sprinter vans with coach-style seating and panoramic windows. Enjoy a hot dinner at 9,200 feet, then watch the sun set from the summit, often above a sea of clouds, as the observatories open their domes. We stay until the best color has faded.
Then comes what sets us apart: more time stargazing than any other tour on the mountain. At mid-mountain, your guide leads a full stargazing program with green lasers and 11-inch Celestron telescopes, plus gourmet hot drinks and a sweet treat.
Parkas and gloves provided. Pickups in Kona, Waikoloa, and at the Visitor Information Station. Max 14 guests per van. About 7 to 8 hours, because the best parts deserve the time. Ages 13+; health restrictions apply. Stargazing depends on natural conditions.
Ride from the coast to nearly 14,000 feet in custom 4x4 Mercedes Sprinter vans with coach-style seating and panoramic windows. Enjoy a hot dinner at 9,200 feet, then watch the sun set from the summit, often above a sea of clouds, as the observatories open their domes. We stay until the best color has faded.
Then comes what sets us apart: more time stargazing than any other tour on the mountain. At mid-mountain, your guide leads a full stargazing program with green lasers and 11-inch Celestron telescopes, plus gourmet hot drinks and a sweet treat.
Parkas and gloves provided. Pickups in Kona, Waikoloa, and at the Visitor Information Station. Max 14 guests per van. About 7 to 8 hours, because the best parts deserve the time. Ages 13+; health restrictions apply. Stargazing depends on natural conditions.
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All Day
Tour guide
Language: English
Human tour guide
- Transport in a custom 4x4 Mercedes Sprinter van
- Hot vegetarian lasagna dinner with a homemade brownie
- Gourmet hot cocoa, coffee, or tea with a sweet treat
- Stargazing with 11-inch Celestron telescopes (conditions permitting)
- Professional guide
- Arctic-style hooded parkas and gloves
- All taxes and fees, including the Maunakea stewardship fee
- 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. Your guide shares the culture, geography, geology, and natural history of Hawaiʻi Island along the drive (pass by)
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Maunakea Visitor Information StationDescription: At 9,200 feet, we stop for a hot dinner and a chance to adjust before heading higher. Learn why the world's largest telescopes are located on Mauna Kea and what life is like for the astronomers who work here. Before continuing, we hand out parkas and gloves and shift into four-wheel drive for the steep ascent to the summit.
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Mauna Kea SummitDescription: Arrive at nearly 14,000 feet before sunset and watch the observatories open their domes and rotate into position, including Keck, Subaru, and Gemini. There is plenty of time for photos as sunset transforms the landscape, often above a sea of clouds. We stay until the best of the color has faded.
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Mauna Kea ObservatoriesAfter sunset, we descend to mid-mountain, where the skies stay clear and the air is more comfortable for stargazing. Your guide leads a full stargazing program, tracing constellations from Polaris to the Southern Cross with green lasers and showing planets, star clusters, and galaxies through 11-inch Celestron telescopes. Hot drinks and a sweet treat are served along the way. Stargazing depends on natural conditions.
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!
Mauna Kea Summit Adventures
Big Island of Hawaii, Hawaii, USA
$336
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!