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.
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
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Snow parker, Ski pants, and Gloves
An astronomical telescope
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)
4x4 Passenger Van to the summit
An optional TIP per person for good service is customary in Hawaii.
Guest under 16 years old or older than 75 cannot participate
Please arrive at the meeting location 5min prior to pick up time
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)
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
1,288 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Our tour guide was so...
Rhonda S,
Nov 6, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Our tour guide was so knowledgeable, interactive and friendly!! The tour is amazing, the sights are unbelievably beautiful. Our guide took us to less crowded spaces for viewing and photo opps!! He even set up a telescope for us!! This was the only tour that took photos of the passengers
Our tour guide was great....
g5gv9hc4my,
Nov 5, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Our tour guide was great. Unfortunately moon was full so couldn’t see many stars. Plan trip when moon is not so bright
Great Mauna Kea summit tour
Passenger08007928297,
Nov 5, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00James - our tour guide was very knowledgable and kept us informed on what we were seeing during our drive, the time is would take to get there, and a bit of history. The star gazing was not great (hence the GOOD, not EXCELLENT rating) because the moon was very bright - which James of course had no control over! He did show us what he could. The food provided was good. I would recommend this trip for those interested in astronomy and stars.
Nice tour and there’s...
WanTing Y,
Nov 2, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Nice tour and there’s even refund if we don’t the the sunset or stargazing. Also, James took lots of pics for us!! Overall, highly recommended!
Everything was perfect....
Nora N,
Oct 30, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Everything was perfect. Our guide was amazing, he was very helpful and took care of everyone. The view was amazing.
Best Mauna Kea Summit Experience
SanthoshKumar R,
Oct 29, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The tour experience was amazing . The crew was very friendly. Our guide was Shoyo who was very friendly and shared a lot of facts and his driving was very safe and he made sure everyone was comfortable. The team knew the best spots to park for viewing the sunset. Definitely recommend as the roads were not paved and definitely having an expert tour guide made it very safe and enjoyable
Amazing tour all around,...
Ashley O,
Oct 28, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Amazing tour all around, so many great things to experience and so much interesting information given along the way by the excellent guide James. My fiancé and I agree that this was one of the coolest experiences of our lives. Thank you so much to James for being such a wonderful tour guide. You can tell he’s passionate about his job and has so many skills to make the experience as memorable as possible. -Logan & Ashley
Awesome experience
Heriberto V,
Oct 27, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00It gets pretty cold up there, they provide dinner, jackets and ski pants. Also they talk about constellations and set up the telescope to look at some planets/stars.
Cool Adventure
Leslie C,
Oct 27, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00The tour guide was helpful, safe and kind. Also very timely on the pickup. The tour allowed for some good mountain views and cool sunset pictures. Sandwich was ok. Hot chocolate was delicious. Overall would definitely recommend others give it a try!
Ask for Wes!
Vily B,
Oct 26, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This was truly an unforgettable experience and Wes made it so fun! The views of the sunset and stars were both jaw dropping, highly recommend!
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