Mauna Kea Summit Adventures tour
best prices on Mauna Kea Summit Sunset & Stargazing Tours
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Mauna Kea Summit Adventures
Join us on an epic Mauna Kea Summit Adventures Tour to one of the most amazing mountains in the world! Travel from sea level to the summit of Mauna Kea at 14,000 ft./4200 m. in one evening for a trip that you’ll remember for a lifetime!
Don't miss out on the
Mauna Kea Summit Adventures
of a lifetime
The Mauna Kea Summit Adventures tour offers breathtaking views, unparalleled sunsets, stargazing, and an experience you’ll treasure forever.
Did you know that from the ocean floor to its summit, Mauna Kea is approximately 33,500 feet (10,200 meters), significantly taller than Mount Everest?
GET 15% OFF ON MAUNA KEA TOUR
Arnott’s Lodge Guests will get a 15% DISCOUNT on the Mauna Kea Summit Adventures Tour when Booking a Hotel Room and the Tour Together!
Regular rate is $240.00
Book Your Mauna Kea Summit adventures Tour Today!
Don’t miss this incredible opportunity to experience one of the world’s most spectacular destinations, offering you an evening filled with wonder, beauty, and unforgettable memories.
Review from one of our guests
WHAT WE OFFER ON OUR
MAUNA KEA SUMMIT ADVENTURES TOUR
- A small group tour with a maximum of 13 passengers.*
- A professionally guided, informative tour in a 4WD van or SUV. Relax, knowing you are in good hands with our drivers!
- A brief stop at Rainbow Falls in Hilo (for guests picked up in Hilo only.)
- A chance to learn about a place rich with cultural, astronomical, and geological history.
- A view from the summit at sunset**
- Starshow above 9,000 ft. with our trained guides using a handheld laser**
- Jackets are available upon request.
- A tour departure from Hilo. We offer pickups at most of the major hotels in Hilo, or we can meet guests at the Onizuka Visitors Center.
- For guests in Kona or Waikoloa, we require a minimum of 4 guests in order to utilize our transport provider to our meeting point. If you are located in Kona and would like to take our tour, please contact us for more details at +1-808-339-0921 or by email at reservations@arnottslodge.com.
MAUNA KEA SUNSET TOUR
You’ve likely seen countless sunsets throughout your life, but nothing compares to watching day turn to night from atop Hawaii’s highest peak. When the golden light bathes the volcanic landscape in warm hues and the shadow of Mauna Kea stretches across the island, you’ll understand why our guests often fall silent, overcome with the majesty of the moment.
Our journey begins in Hilo, where the lush rainforests and flowing waterfalls of Waianuenue (Rainbow Falls) offer a striking contrast to the otherworldly terrain you’ll encounter 14,000 feet above sea level. As your experienced guides, we’ll take you from the historic downtown area, past the Japanese gardens of Liliuokalani Park, and up through the diverse microclimates that make the Big Island so unique.
Many visitors come to Hilo for the Mauna Kea Sunset Tour to discover a different side of Hawaiian beauty—one where ancient Hawaiian cultural significance meets cutting-edge astronomy, where the laws of nature seem to bend as you ascend from tropical paradise to alpine desert in just a couple of hours
As you travel with us through the misty saddle between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, you’ll notice the gradual transformation of the landscape, Mars-like terrain of the summit area.
Whether you’re staying in Hilo’s charming downtown or along the scenic Hamakua Coast, our comfortable 4WD vehicles will transport you safely to an experience that many describe as the highlight of their Hawaiian vacation.
MAUNA KEA
STARGAZING TOUR
You haven’t truly seen stars until you’ve witnessed them from the summit of Mauna Kea. From our home base in Hilo, we take you on a journey that transforms how you see the universe. Our Mauna Kea Stargazing Tours reveal the cosmos in a way few people ever experience.
Ancient Hawaiians considered this mountain kapu (sacred) and explain why modern astronomers have built some of the world’s most powerful telescopes at this location.
When twilight fades and darkness envelops the mountain, you’ll understand why Mauna Kea is considered one of the premier stargazing locations on Earth. Free from the light pollution that obscures the night sky for most of humanity, you’ll see constellations with crystal clarity, witness the cloudy band of the Milky Way stretching overhead.
Whether you’re staying in Hilo for just a few days or you’re a kamaʻāina (long-term resident) looking to experience something new, our Mauna Kea Stargazing Tours offer a perspective-shifting encounter with the heavens that you won’t soon forget
Join us as day transitions to night atop Mauna Kea, and discover why this mountain isn’t just a geographical wonder—it’s a transformative experience that stays with you long after you’ve returned home.
Arnott's Lodge Discount on Mauna Kea Summit Tour!
Guests who stay at Arnotts Lodge in Hilo for at least one night are eligible for a 15% discount on the Mauna Kea Summit Adventures Evening Tour. Regular rate is $240. The tour must be taken within 30 days of the lodge stay date. Please contact us if you are one of Arnotts Lodge’s guests and would like to take this tour.
*The Mauna Kea Summit Adventures Tours currently has a minimum requirement of 2 passengers to run.
**Weather permitting.
***Arnott’s Lodge may occasionally offer a daytime tour to the Mauna Kea Summit. Check our calendar for availability. The schedule for this tour is different from our regularly scheduled evening tour.
What to bring
Closed-toe footwear, warm clothing, a light dinner, water, sun protection, and your camera.
We highly recommend that guests bring their own binoculars if possible, as it can enhance your experience tremendously when you have equipment that you are familiar with. Ensure that you have practice using them and that you are comfortable with adjusting them as needed. For an article on why using binoculars can be great for stargazing, click here.
Our goal
Our main objective is to reach the summit of Mauna Kea. We understand that our guests come to visit Mauna Kea for many different reasons.
Whether your goal is to try to understand the cultural and spiritual importance, to add the mountain to your list of high points visited, or to study its unique geology and history, we are here to help you reach the top.
Weather
Mauna Kea is occasionally hit by passing clouds or bad weather, which does not close the road. If the road is open to the summit, our tour WILL proceed.
We cannot guarantee that you will see sunset or stars as we have no control over cloud coverage and spontaneous weather. Both the phase of the moon and cloud coverage can affect stargazing (See here.) Check out Mauna Kea’s webcam http://mkwc.ifa.hawaii.edu/current/cams/
Restrictions ON THE MAUNA KEA TOURS
This tour is not recommended for anyone with heart or respiratory problems, high blood pressure, motion sickness, back pain, pregnant women, children, anyone in poor health, or anyone who has scuba-dived within the last 48 hours.
We strongly recommend that you not take this tour if you have indulged in alcohol to excess the night before or if you have had any alcohol to drink the day of your tour. You must be 13+ to take this tour.
As a general health indicator, all guests must be able to walk at least 100 yards briskly and climb into the van unaided.
If you have a health condition that you believe may be affected by altitude changes, or if you are unsure, please consult your doctor before booking this tour.
Step stools are rated for 250 lbs/115 kg, and guests must be able to occupy a single-seat space. Please read our FAQ on Mauna Kea.
Difficulty Level
Challenging
Please ensure that you provide the correct contact information during your booking.
Our staff will send you a confirmation notice containing information about this excursion, including meeting times, meeting location, and any preparations necessary.
Please read and keep this emailed notice to make sure you are properly informed about this tour.
cancellation policy
We have a 48-hour cancellation policy. If you cancel outside of 48 hours to the date of your scheduled tour, a $49 cancellation fee will be assessed.
If you cancel within 48 hours of the date of your scheduled tour, there is no refund offered for any reason.
This includes unforeseen events, illnesses, and injury. We always recommend travel insurance in case of unforeseen events.
other availabilities
Charters, groups, private Sunrise, Day, and Evening Tours are also available; inquire at info@arnottslodge.com or call/text/WhatsApp us at 808-339-0921 for availability.
Please read our detailed page along with our terms and conditions on Mauna Kea before booking!
Road closures
If we are aware of a road closure that will affect the course of the Mauna Kea Summit Adventures tour before the tour begins, we will let you know and offer you the option to continue with the tour or reschedule (if possible).
If you choose to continue with the tour knowing that a road is or may be closed and you may not make it to the summit, no refund will be offered in that instance.
Mauna Kea Summit Adventures TOUR Pickup Locations
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Mauna Kea Summit Adventures Tour FAQ
Yes, guests need to be at least 13 years old. We can not accept children under the age of 13 on either the standard tour or private tours.
Yes, 2 passengers minimum.
Yes, we do. Charters, Groups, Private Sunrise, Day, and Evening Tours are also available; inquire at info@arnottslodge.com or call/text/WhatsApp us at 808-339-0921 for availability. Please read our detailed page along with our terms and conditions on Mauna Kea before booking!
No, we do not provide telescopes. We conduct our stargazing show with a laser pointer.
No, commercial tour companies are not allowed to use the telescopes at the Visitor’s Center.
No, most of the observatories are not open to the public for tours. The ones that do allow public entry are closed by the time our tour reaches the summit. If you are interested in touring an observatory specifically, please check out our Mauna Kea Day tour or schedule a private tour. Please be aware that only the Keck Observatory allows public access, and only during weekdays. If you are interested in the Subaru telescope, you will have to make reservations with them personally.
The tour costs $240 per person, and we offer the lowest rates for Mauna Kea Summit tours on the Big Island.
This tour is not recommended for anyone with heart or respiratory problems, high blood pressure, motion sickness, back pain, pregnant women, children, anyone in poor health, or anyone who has scuba-dived within the last 48 hours.
We strongly recommend that you not take this tour if you have indulged in excess alcohol the night before or if you have had any alcohol to drink the day of your tour. You must be 13+ to take this tour.
No, we don’t but ask your guide nicely, and he/she may make a food stop for you. If not, bring your own food with you. We recommend a light meal for your Mauna Kea Tour.
Guests should bring warm layers, closed-toe shoes, and water. However, jackets are available upon request. If you need to use one of our jackets, please let us know when you book your tour. We have sizes S-3XL.
No, our goal is to reach the summit. Sunsets and stargazing are definitely a bonus, but we cannot guarantee them. We have no control over weather or cloud cover. If the road is closed, the tour will be cancelled. If you still wish to try to go to the VIS even if the road may remain closed, no refund will be offered at that point.
If we are aware of a road closure that will affect the course of the tour before the tour begins, we will let you know and offer you the option to continue with the tour or reschedule (if possible). If you choose to continue with the tour knowing that a road is or may be closed and you may not make it to the summit, no refund will be offered in that instance.
We have a 48-hour cancellation policy. If you cancel outside of 48 hours to the date of your scheduled tour, a $49 cancellation fee will be assessed. If you cancel within 48 hours of the date of your scheduled tour, there is no refund offered for any reason. This includes unforeseen events, illnesses, and injury. We always recommend travel insurance in case of unforeseen events.
No, we do not have the space to accommodate large bags or equipment in our vehicles. Guests are limited to small bags only.
It all depends on the rental company and if they allow it. Your vehicle needs to be 4WD, and you’ll need to discuss with your rental car company to see what their limitations are.
TRIPADVISOR REVIEWS FROM OUR GUESTS
Enjoyable stay!! - Enjoyable, close to shopping, open market and beaches.
Clean inviting room with all the amenities needed for a comfortable stay.
Wonderful customer service. Mahalo Siobhan and Doug for making our... read more
koreagirl76 January 17, 2025
Pleasant place to stay - We enjoyed it quite a bit. We liked the kitchen in the room, and the common spaces were very pleasant. The nearby beaches were very beautiful. Having free parking was... read more
Doug M January 13, 2025
Once in a lifetime experience - Amazing experience. The top of Mauna Kea feels like you’re on Mars and the night sky is dazzling. Our guide Donna was awesome (get her to take your picture —... read more
KjinnycJanuary 6, 2025
Best horseback riding trip ever! - Amazing guide and very long tour. Definitely got our money's worth with this excursion. Many memories made today!!! Do this with Margo you won't regret it!
Inspire53981118375December 3, 2024
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