Mauna Kea Summit And Stars Small-Group Adventure Tour - Hawaii Volcanoes National Park - With Reviews & Ratings

Mauna Kea Summit And Stars Small-Group Adventure Tour - Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

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Tour Information

Key Details

  • Mobile Voucher Accepted
  • Free Cancellation
  • Instant Confirmation
  • Lowest Price Guaranteed
  • Duration: 8 Hrs
  • Language:
    English
  • Departure Time :
    Departure time varies between 1:40pm and 4:00pm, depending on the time of year and accommodations
  • Departure Details :
    Hawaii Forest & Trail Kona Headquarters, 73-5593 A Olowalu St, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, USA
    Traveler pickup is offered
    Also can pick-up from:
    Queens' Market Place, 69-201 Waikoloa Beach Dr, Wa.. read more
  • Return Details :
    Returns to original departure point
  • Cancellation Policy :
    For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience. Tours booked using discount coupon codes will be non refundable.

Overview

Head to the Mauna Kea Observatory, nestled high in the mountains of the Big Island, and experience an intriguing and provocative journey through space and time. Discover Hawaii from the top of the island's tallest peak, Mauna Kea, also known as 'White Mountain,' located 13,796 feet (4,200 meters) above sea level. Limited to 28 people, this small-group star-watching tour ensures a personalized and unique experience at the enchanting Mauna Kea summit.

Highlights

Free snacks included

All taxes, fuel surcharges and service fees included

See the sights illuminated at night

Dinner included

Know More about this tour

View a spectacular sunset from the top of Mauna Kea and enjoy a unique stargazing experience on this Big Island adventure tour. After departing from Hawaii Forest & Trail's Kona Headquarters and a brief pickup from the Queens' MarketPlace in Waikoloa, you'll travel toa Hawaiian historical ranch in a 4x4 luxury van at the base ofMauna Kea.

Enjoy a hot, picnic-style dinner (see sample menu in the Itinerary section below) at a former Hawaiian ranch site where you're provided with a warm, hooded parka. Then prepare to make the climb to the summit area of Mauna Kea, learning about the Big Island's cultural, natural and ecological history from your naturalist guide.

From the summit, enjoy views of Mauna Loa and see Maui's volcano, Haleakala, along with other special points of interest. Stand among some of the earth's most powerful telescopes as you enjoy the sunset view.

After sunset, travel to the Mauna Kea Visitor Station at 9,000 feet (2,743 meters), where your guide sets up a telescope for a personal, entertaining and educational star party. Learn how Mauna Kea's unique geography draws scientists from all over the world to study the heavens, and also allows for incredible nighttime views of the stars.

Enjoy hot beverages and dessert as your guide gives a personal astronomy lesson before your return to Kona.

Itinerary:

Picnic Dinner Menu (please specify at booking):

1. Teriyaki Chicken (gluten free)
Served with brown rice, carrot, zucchini, bok choy, yellow squash with a garlic & white wine sauce, and a caramelized pineapple garnish 

2. Kalbi Beef Short Ribs (gluten free)
Served with brown rice, carrot, zucchini, bok choy, yellow squash with a garlic & white wine sauce, and a caramelized pineapple garnish

3. Vegetarian Thai Curry (gluten & dairy free, vegetarian, vegan)
served with brown rice, red bell pepper, green bell pepper, portobello mushroom, sugar snap peas, green beans, zucchini, yellow squash, onion, bok choy

*Food is prepared in a facility with nuts, oils, & other potential allergens; please be aware cross contamination may occur during preparation.

Sauce Ingredients:

Thai Curry Sauce
Lemon grass, fresh ginger, fresh garlic, coconut milk, coriander, paprika, tomato puree, Thai Curry Paste, cumin and gluten free soy sauce

Teriyaki Sauce for Chicken
Soy sauce (gluten free), sugar, ginger, garlic, and sesame oil

Teriyaki Sauce for Short Ribs
Soy Sauce (gluten free), mirin, sake, sugar, ginger, garlic

Inclusions

Guide

Hooded parkas and gloves

Hot picnic dinner

Hot cocoa and cookies

Private star show with telescope

Local taxes

Exclusions

Gratuities

Hotel pickup and drop off

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability

Minimum age is 16 years

Due to the high altitude; this tour is not suitable for those with respiratory, heart or circulatory conditions, poor health, or pregnancy

Scuba divers should be aware of altitude dangers

Please advise your parka size (small, medium, large, x-large or xx-large) and choice of meal (Teriyaki Chicken, Kalbi Beef Ribs, or Vegetarian Thai Curry) at time of booking. If you do not indicate this at the time of booking, you will be required to call and advise them of this information directly.

There is minimal walking on this tour, the maximum being about 150 yards

We recommend that guests wear closed-toe walking shoes or hiking boots, long pants and bring a light sweatshirt or jacket

The access road to Mauna Kea is four-wheel drive only, so it can be bumpy. The custom off-road transit vans will get you to the top and back in safety and comfort. The transit vans can carry a maximum of 14 passengers

Snow is seasonal at Mauna Kea, with the heaviest snowfall occurring during the winter months

Traveler Reviews

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  • 13-Nov-2019

    What a treat to see the moon rise from the clouds atop the sunset hillside! Then to see the planet's through the telescope and catch a glimpse of the international space station fly over us! All with my parka and hot cocoa! Mattiio was a great guide.

  • 27-Sep-2019

    An amazing experience. Huge thanks to Tour Guide Jeff at Hawaii Forest and Trails for making this a wonderful experience.

  • 26-Aug-2019

    Mauna Kea summit was close due to protesters. Weather did not cooperate. But guides did everything possible to make this tour on western slopes of Mauna Kea as interesting as possible. And they succeeded. We have seen number of interesting birds including pallila and good telescopic observations of the sky that had opened only in the last moment. So all in all it was interesting tour.

  • 08-Jul-2019

    Really great trip, very well organised. Our tour guide was very informative and friendly, the sunset from the mountain top is unforgettable and the stars are amazing. Food is good, hot chocolate and brownies excellent.

  • 03-Jul-2019

    This tour was my favorite on the Big Island! Sunset at the top of Mauna Kea was amazing and I enjoyed learning about the constellations. Justin was our tour guide and he was very knowledgeable and went out of his way to accommodate everyone in the group. Highly recommend this tour!

  • 03-Jul-2019

    My express purpose to visit the big island of Hawaii was to go to the summit of Mauna Kea. The bus broke down half way up the mountain and was told a replacement bus would come too late to get to the summit. We were still charged $200 for a frozen dinner. I felt sorry for the guide as he tried to make the best of a bad situation.

  • 03-Jul-2019

    Justin was our guide, he was awesome! You wont go wrong taking this tour. One bit of advice it gets cold wear socks!!

  • 03-Jul-2019

    What can I say but WOW ... it was a fantastic. Our guide, Justin, was awesome ... he was very considerate of all the guest with any questions or concerns anyone had and very knowledgeable. I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in seeing the night sky. The sunset was a once in a lifetime adventure.

  • 03-Jul-2019

    Mat was great, had a great time and he was very knowledgeable when it came to picking out the stars and constellations.

  • 12-Apr-2019

    One of the must have experiences if you visit the Big Island. Sunset and star gazing on Mauna Kea is a not soon to be forgotten experience. If you can, ask to go with Justin Potter an extremely knowledgeable and personable guide. Dress warm and heed the safety instructions. The air is cold and thin over 13,000 feet! The meal provided was filling and delicious. Our only hesitancy in rating the tour 5 stars is the cost is fairly steep and the tour bus was showing it's age.

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