Big Island: Mauna Kea Summit Tour with Free Night Star Photo
Overview
Available languages
8 hours
Mobile ticket
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.
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.
Please note that, depending on any guests get altitude sickness or other conditions, the time spent at the summit and the stargazing location may be adjusted.
Guest under 16 years old or older than 75 cannot participate
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 75 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 shuttle bus stop in backside of the shopping mall, a LARGE parking lot near the NOT Starbucks (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)
What‘s Included
An astronomical telescope
Mauna Kea Summit Tour
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)
Snow parker, Ski pants, and Gloves
4x4 Passenger Van to the summit
Gratuities
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Options
Queens Market place Pick up
Starting point: Queens' Marketplace, 69-201 Waikōloa Beach Dr, Waikoloa Village, HI 96738, USA
Target Parking Lot by McDonald
Starting point: Target, 74-5455 Makala Blvd, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USA
Reviews
1,597 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
James was an excellent...
Emily B,May 29, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00James was an excellent tour guide. He had thoughtful stories to tell along the way, made the experience fun, safe, and an unforgettable part of our trip. Would highly recommend this tour!
Epic opportunity to view sunset high above the clouds
Ann K,May 29, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This was a well organized tour and one that I would highly recommend. Chris, our tour guide made sure that everyone clearly understood the procedures to avoid altitude sickness. I was worried about this but taking a stop for 45 minutes at the visitor’s center allowed us to acclimate to the lack of oxygen at the summit. I would not have wanted to do this drive myself. Besides being very dark on the way back, the terrain is very bumpy above 9,000 ft. requiring 4 wheel drive. Once at the summit, Chris knew the optimal locations for viewing and photos and took lots of photos with everyone on our group using his DLR camera. After sunset, we did stargazing below the summit and the guides were able to point our constellations in the clear night sky and we were able to see the moon through a telescope. Chris made sure we were all safe and comfortable throughout our journey. This is a tour you don’t want to miss!
Great guide James! Me and...
Jiayi Q,May 28, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great guide James! Me and my friend enjoyed this experience, was worth it:) thank you for an amazing time
Amazing Mauna Kea Tour
Xiaoyue D,May 27, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This tour was a highlight of our trip! The sea of clouds, sunset, and stargazing at the Mauna Kea summit were absolutely breathtaking. Our guide, James, was fantastic—extremely knowledgeable, supportive, and kind. He shared great stories about Hawaiian history and his hometown of Maui. He also gave us a great overview of the telescopes at the summit and helped us capture stunning sunset photos. The provided sandwiches and hot cocoa were a wonderful touch! Make sure to dress in warm layers because the summit is freezing. Highly recommend this tour and James!
Best experienced so far!
Sarah R,May 27, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We had James for a guide . He was the best. Felt so safe and he was very knowledgable. His coworker Wed was great too. He was in the other van that was paired with us. Together they make the best team.
Incredible experience with Yoki (John)!
Yudi W,May 27, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Our Mauna Kea Summit Tour was absolutely unforgettable, largely thanks to our amazing guide, Yoki (John). From the very start, he was incredibly organized and kept the entire group engaged and informed. He was highly proactive throughout the trip, constantly looking out for the best photo spots for us and capturing stunning pictures. If you want a perfectly run tour with breathtaking photos to remember it by, hope that you get Yoki as your guide!
Great view but uncomfortable journey
SWETA M,May 27, 2026
- Review from Viator
4.00The view from the summit was absolutely amazing and our guide, Chris did a good job. However, the tour van itself was extremely uncomfortable. The entire cabin felt like a total space crunch. The seats were quite hard, completely lacked headrests, and offered very little legroom for a taller person. While the 8 mile unpaved Access Road to Mauna Kea is naturally rough, this vehicle made the bumpy ride feel the worst. I highly recommend checking out other tour companies in advance for this sunset experience.
This was such an amazing...
Michael M,May 26, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This was such an amazing experience. Watching the sunset from Mauna Kea was a once in a lifetime experience. Our tour guide Shoyo was so knowledgeable.
This was an amazing...
Kari H,May 26, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This was an amazing experience. Would definitely recommend. Our guide, Shoyo, was very knowledgeable and helpful.
It was great!
Shravya R,May 25, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00We had a great time with Shoyo, he explained us everything about the telescopes & their differences. The sunset was spectacular, and it was our favorite part of this tour. The stargazing was okayish, not a lot of time was allocated for this, so it felt rushed. Also it was a bright moon night, so I wish they had waited for longer to do it. But everything else was great.
From US$290.00
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