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Mauna Kea Summit and Stars Small-Group Adventure Tour

4.8 (1196)
Kailua-Kona, US
4.8 (1196)
Kailua-Kona, US
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Free cancellation up to before the experience starts (local time)

Experience the magic of the Mauna Kea summit on this small-group adventure tour. Journey to the top of Hawaii's tallest peak and witness breathtaking views of the island from 13,796 feet above sea level. Discover the enchanting Mauna Kea Observatory and dive into an immersive star-watching experience with our knowledgeable guides and 11" Celestron telescopes. Start your adventure with a delicious picnic-style dinner before witnessing a stunning sunset above the clouds. Then, venture to a more comfortable elevation and let the night sky captivate you. This personalized tour ensures an unforgettable journey through space and time. Don't miss the opportunity to explore the hidden wonders of Mauna Kea. Book your adventure now!

About this experience

  • Free Cancellation For a full refund cancel at least before the start of your booking
  • Admission Included
  • 8 hours
  • Suitable for 1-12 Participants
  • Private Tour, Small Group Tour
  • Guided Experience
  • Hot picnic style dinner before summit
  • Sunset overlooking Pacific Ocean
  • Revealing the night sky with telescopes
  • Mauna Kea Summit experience
  • Personalized and unique small-group tour
  • Private star show with telescope
  • Hooded parkas and gloves
  • Central Meeting Locations for Pick-up & Drop off
  • Hot cocoa and cookies
  • Local taxes
  • Guide
  • Hot picnic dinner
  • Gratuities

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More about this experience

Introduction

Experience the awe-inspiring Mauna Kea Summit and Stars Small-Group Adventure Tour, where you'll embark on a captivating journey through space and time. Nestled high in the mountains of the Big Island, you'll discover Hawaii from the peak of Mauna Kea, also known as the majestic 'White Mountain,' towering at an impressive altitude of 13,796 feet (4,200 meters) above sea level. This small-group tour promises a personalized and unique adventure at the enchanting Mauna Kea summit.

What to expect?

During this remarkable tour, you'll enjoy a total duration of 480 minutes, immersing yourself in the beauty and wonders of Mauna Kea. You'll begin with a hot picnic-style dinner, rejuvenating your senses before ascending to the summit. As the sun sets, witness a breathtaking view above the clouds, gazing out over the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean. Your expert guides will then unveil the celestial marvels of the night sky using high-powered 11" Celestron telescopes, allowing you to explore the universe like never before.

Who is this for?

This extraordinary experience is designed for anyone with a curiosity for the cosmos and a thirst for adventure. Whether you're an astronomy enthusiast, a nature lover, or simply seeking a unique and unforgettable encounter, this tour welcomes all. Families, couples, and individuals alike will find themselves captivated by the mesmerizing beauty and rich history of Mauna Kea.

Why book this?

Embark on this tour that sets itself apart from the ordinary. Be swept away by the magic of Mauna Kea as you stand atop the world, gazing at the captivating sunset and immersive starry night sky. With a small-group setting, you'll receive personalized attention from knowledgeable guides who will share their fascinating insights and stories about this astronomical wonderland. The opportunity to explore the universe through state-of-the-art telescopes will leave you with memories that will last a lifetime. Book this tour and unlock the secrets of the cosmos, immersing yourself in a truly extraordinary experience.

Good to know

Before embarking on this adventure, please note that guests meeting at the Courtyard by Marriott King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel must arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the tour's departure time. Dress warmly and prepare for changing weather conditions as you journey to higher elevations. This tour includes a delicious hot picnic-style dinner and all necessary equipment to fully enjoy the stargazing experience. Relax and let the expert guides take care of every detail, ensuring a seamless and unforgettable adventure.

Reviews

Previous visitors have expressed their awe and wonder at the Mauna Kea Summit and Stars Small-Group Adventure Tour. They praise the knowledgeable and friendly guides who enhanced their experience by sharing captivating stories about the history and significance of the site. The sunset views and stargazing opportunities left them feeling inspired and humbled by the vastness of the universe. Overall, guests have expressed their utmost satisfaction with this unique and memorable tour, truly applauding the magical journey through space and time that Mauna Kea offers.

How long before the event do I need to book?

  • You can book at any time before the event

Vouchers accepted in the following formats

  • Mobile

Your Itinerary

Maunakea Visitor Information Station

Enjoy a hot picnic style dinner before making your way to the summit

Admission Included

Mauna Kea Summit

Enjoy a sunset from above the clouds while overlooking the Pacific Ocean atop Maunakea. After the sunset, travel to a more comfortable elevation and let our guides reveal the night sky with our 11" Celestron telescopes.

Admission Included

Reviews

(1196)

4.8 (1196)

Alan_B

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour guide in spite of snow flurries and cloudy weather. We were not able to see any stars, but still enjoyed time with our new “Ohana”. New shuttle van was extremely comfortable.

Mark_M

I’m sure this tour is fabulous if weather conditions are in your favor. However this tour is dependent on low enough or no clouds at the summit and clear skies for star gazing. Be aware the tour operator runs the tour almost regardless of conditions and you assume the risk for poor weather. In our case the summit road was closed most of the day for thick fog and high winds. It eventually reopened and the tour went on with the company telling me when I inquired that conditions were improving. We were able to get to the top but saw nothing but fog and the outside of telescopes. Stargazing was also very spotty. They were unable to take pictures because of the clouds and sent us pictures from other trips. On the positive side, our guide was entertaining and tried hard to make the best of a difficult situation. If you go, they serve chicken stew in a thermos with a dinner roll. It’s very good but not a full meal so plan accordingly. We brought snacks. They also serve a cookie and glass of hot chocolate during stargazing which were also good. If you take the tour I would use Viator and take advantage of the 24 hour cancellation policy if things don’t look good. The company did give me a 15% refund after I inquired.

Aviram_B

We had a great time visiting Mauna Kea with Hawaii Forest and Trail. Jon was an excellent tour guide. Unfortunately, we had bad luck going up to the summit on a day filled with fog and even snow, but it was cool to see the telescopes. We left a bit disappointed, but we were very grateful to receive a phone call the next day informing us that we were getting a partial refund due to the weather conditions. It was nice to see the company proactively issue it, and we will definitely recommend this tour to anyone who wants to visit the Mauna Kea Summit.

sneal1968

Mauna Kea Summit and Stars. May 9, 2024 Tour Guide: Jeff Our tour started almost immediately, as Jeff described lava flows we were passing. Yes, the whole island formed by lava, but continuing flows keep the island growing. Amazing. As we climbed Mauna Kea, Jeff repeatedly checked on our adaptation to the elevation gain encouraging us to stay hydrated. My wife and I are old enough, we watched the Apollo moon landings live on our little black and white TV. We were ecstatic to see the barren area where those astronauts trained! We’ve been taking geology and astronomy courses via Great Courses, so now we could see all of this in person. At the summit, we saw some of the telescopes we had studied. YAY! Took our picture in front of the NASA IR telescope!! We absorbed a stunning sunset. By the way, the parkas supplied were perfect with the 32F temps. Then we dropped down a 1,000 ft to a little pull off and started the Star Party. Absolutely out of this world! Jeff had two telescopes set up. One, connected to a computer, was tracking celestial objects and doing timed photos which The other reflector telescope Jeff tuned to different objects and we got to see them! We started with the Moon which was crescent phase. Craters, craters everywhere, and sharply in focus. Then we moved on to star clusters, galaxies, and nebulae. This was the cherry on top of all our astronomical courses. My favorite constellation is the Southern Cross — not visible from the CONUS — it was great to see it again. Jeff was an outstanding guide the whole way. He answered all of our astronomical and geological questions, and also taught us so much we didn’t know enough to ask. He cared for us along the way, fed us great meals, and bundled us up against the cold. He is a kind teacher, driver, guide! There aren’t enough stars in the sky to give a rating for this tour and Jeff!

Aloha_B

The guide was friendly and knowledgeable, but the weather wasn’t. That is to say, if it’s impossible to see the jeep beside you at the summit, you aren’t likely to see stars. If you are tempted to believe you’ll have an opportunity to be inside the observatory, you don’t. If the weather forecast is wet and cloudy, consider canceling until it clears. Otherwise, the ride back is real quiet. However, the company, aware of the quiet ride and fog, did issue a 50% refund. Clearly, they are not in charge of fog and rain.

Stormey_D

Jeff was amazing. Very knowledgeable. The dinner and dessert was also delicious. The stars were absolutely amazing. Jeff really made the trip memorable.

Louis_S

The views at sunset from the summit of Mauna Kea were spectacular. The skies at lower elevation were mostly cloudy, so our stargazing later in the evening was limited, but our guide, John, provided so much information about the constellations and planets, how their locations shift with the seasons and latitude, illustrated with star charts and photos on an iPad, that we didn’t feel shortchanged.

NorthStar09217269408

This tour was fantastic. Our guide Jon was so knowledgeable. He told us facts in detail about the observatories, solar systems, volcanos and wildlife. The entire experience was phenomenal. Thanks for creating everlasting memories.

Ben_L

When knowledge and passion come together with a well run, absolutely unique experience , you have something special. This is what we experienced on this tour. Jeff, our guide, had incredible knowledge of both Hawai’i and astronomy. And the overall experience is something you cannot experience anywhere else in the world. Absolutely worth every $$.

stephant920

It was a great and very lucky trip. We had perfect sunset, clear night sky and even comet: 12P/Pons-Brooks! And it was very impressive, when I watched the M42 Orion Nebula with naked eye through the 11 inch telescope. (I have had an 8 inch telescope before.) But I had a bad plan beforehand: Because I had some experience in Astronomy and Photography. So I hoped to take some best photos of milky way in my whole life there. But I forgot two thing: 1. The time was not late enough to get a really dark sky. The “astronomical twilight” was still there ,when we were up there. 2. wrong season: The galactic center of the milky way is visible only in the early morning in April. But those were my faults. By the way, I still built up my camera on tripod and got some pictures. I love the one of the comet ,Jupiter and dark volcano. It was Jeff, who showed me the comet! (photo with Panasonic G9 and 20mm F1.7 cropped). Mahalo Jeff.
Collected by Evendo & our supplier partners
2024-06-01 15:47
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