Witness the dawn of a new day on a Haleakala Sunrise Tour. Standing at the top of majestic Mt. Haleakala, renowned for its stunning sunrises and beauty, you'll be amazed by the raw beauty that inspired literary giant Mark Twain. You haven't experienced Haleakala until you've seen it at sunrise on a Haleakala Crater Sunrise Tour!
Rising over 10,000 feet (3,000 meters) from sea level, Haleakala is renowned for its unique scenery. On his visit in 1866, Mark Twain was moved to write that this dormant volcano was "the most sublime spectacle I ever witnessed and the memory of it will remain with me always."
Your Haleakala Sunrise Tour begins with a scenic early-morning drive, taking you through Kula District, past the Puu Ulaula Overlook and the island's rare Silversword plants. See the sun rise over Haleakala Crater and behold the magnificent sunrise!
I am torn about how to review this excursion. Let's start with the incredible sunrise. The views are amazing and worth every second of the 2.5 hours it takes to get to Haleakala. It's quite the scene to watch the sun come up over those clouds at 9,000 feet.
Review by: Yvonne M, June 2018
Breathtaking experience. A must while in Maui...
Review by: mirna m, April 2018
Our tour guide Glen from Polynesian tours, was very knowledgeable. He kept us informed about what to expect during our tour. Bathroom breaks, snacks, coffee, and breakfast. It was 40at the summit, so the coffee provided by the tour company was very helpful. My only advice would be to bring and insulated cup with lid, so your coffee stays warm. I will cherish this memory for years to come
Review by: Liane P, April 2018
Our driver was fantastic. Amazing early morning. Food good too at the golf course. Pre snacks in the early AM good too. Driver totally informative. A self 'funk and wagnal' encyclopedia of knowledge about the Islands in general. Love the driver.
Review by: jkdouglass, March 2018
This tour was amazing!
Review by: Andy N, February 2018
Loved it. It was well worth getting up early and heading out to see the stars and sunrise. Breath taking. The tour guides were great and I would recommend them again. Keep in mind it is cold on top of the crater, dress warmly in more than a light jacket. Saw a lot of cold people because they did not heed the warning of being cold. People where wearing socks on thier hands and wrapped in towels, defiantly not comfortable
Review by: christine h, February 2018
Worth to pay someone drive you up in the wee hours however, according to the bus driver, the changes made by the NP, prevent people take the bus tour to get on the trail/summit, this is disadvantage of the tour.
Review by: Elisa P, January 2018
Despite the early start this tour is well worth the early start. Be prepared it can be very, very cold especially before sunrise, but it is beautiful watching black turn to indigo, blue, then orange. Thaw out in the warmth of the suns first rays, and watch the stark landscape appear, as the world comes alive._br/_ Maui Sunrise looked after us with coffee, and fantastic service.
Review by: Barnett152, January 2018
Well worth the early morning and cold. Seeing the space station fly over was an unexpected highlight. The view was fantastic. This tour is all the more relevant after reading about Maui the Demi god
Review by: Nancy P, January 2018
An unforgettable experience and a must do while in Maui. This is my second time taking this tour and we love it every time. The views are amazing specially if you appreciate spectacular sunrises.
Review by: Anil T, December 2017
Bus Driver was very good and did his job well. However, due to the weather, we could not see anything at all. Hence, we lost the time and money and did not get anything back. The breakfast was O.K. nothing to be excited about. Consider choosing a different place where they are flexible in food selection especially for vegetarian option. They did not allow any substitution. Otherwise cut the priced down and don't supply the breakfast.
Review by: Margit D, December 2017
Die Tour war super - der Fahrer hat an alles gedacht wie heiße Getränke, Taschenlampe und war rundherum sehr fürsorglich. Der Sonnenaufgang war ein einmaliges Erlebnis -nur zu empfehlne.Allerdings war es schwierig den genauen Abholort zu vereinbaren, da wir ein Apartment gemietet haben. Beim Anruf bei Polynesian Tour wurde ich 4mal weiterverbunden und ausländische Rufnummer werden nicht zurückgerufen.
Review by: April Hyeryung K, November 2017
Our tour driver Nettie was amazing. Because of her, we were able to have a full experience of Haleakala sunrise. The weather was somewhat cloudy but it was still beautiful and surreal. Highly recommended.
Review by: chetan d, November 2017
Do not buy this if the weather is projected to be even remotely cloudy. They will go ahead with this trip even if there is a hurricane because they are too greedy to lose out on on the money if you normally expect them to cancel the trip and refund the amount.
Review by: Chloe S, October 2017
Was a good tour, but I probably wouldn't do it again. There was so many people I couldn't really see and so so so cold even though I had come prepared with several layers. Good but not great. Also if you want to buy anything at the little gift shop- make sure you have cash- they didn't have eftpos when I visited but that may have changed now.
Review by: Norman E S, September 2017
This was outstanding
Review by: Deborah W, September 2017
Beyond awesome!!
Review by: Janice C, September 2017
The view is AMAZING!!! Our guide was excellent -- knew exactly where to go to get the best view and be sheltered from the wind!!
Review by: Ebony J, August 2017
This Sunrise tour was absolutely an amazing experience and so worth it. The tour leaves really early around 2am, so if you are coming in from stateside I would recommend doing the tour on your first morning as it is easier to adjust to the time difference. The tour arrives about an hour before sunrise which gives you time to take in the night sky, gazing at the stars and you can even see a few planets. It is very cold so dress warm and be sure to bundle up. Also a small flashlight is helpful for navigating before sunrise.
Review by: tracy.rye, August 2017
This trip obviously starts out very early. I suggest it be one of the first things you do after arriving in Maui so it's easier to get up so early. Wayne was a wonderful guide and extremely knowledgeable about Hawaiian history. Haleakala didn't disappoint!
Review by: Christina J, August 2017
Great tour, great guide but the breakfast after felt a bit disconnected to the tour itself.
Review by: lizsisk, June 2017
We enjoyed our tour so much our guide was Wayne and he was courteous, informative, funny and very nice. I highly recommend this tour - you'll be astounded at the beauty and you will learn so much!!!_br/_ Liz Sisk
Review by: Monica M, May 2017
We were picked up from our hotel at 2:10am. Since the driver picks up about 20 people, if you are first to be picked up, it will seem like it takes forever to be on your way. But I can't blame the tour for that, its just the way it goes. So I advise a little patience in the morning. If you are good at sleeping anywhere this will not bother you. Our tour guide's name was Glenn, who was very informative and generally a very chill guy. After everyone was on board we stopped at a small mini mart for a bathroom break and if you are so inclined, some early morning snacks. The tour guide stops there to pick up hot coffee and hot water for when we reach the top of the mountain. To give you a time estimate. We got on the bus at about 2am and were at the top of the mountain by 4:50 almost 5. At the top of the mountain you can help yourself to the store bought Svenhards Pastries and hot coffee and hot chocolate available on the bus also included in the cost of the tour. Bring a blanket for the top and wear long pants and a jacket or sweater. Even though it is warm on ground level, when you go up to that mountain it's freezing. There are bathrooms at the top of the mountain but keep in mind since it is cold your behind will get iced from the cold toilet and when you wash your hands the water is freezing as well. There are several bus tours on that mountain for sunrise so the moment you get there try to stake out a spot by the railing to get the best panoramic shots before it gets too crowded and then you have to stand behind people. You will still be able to see well but the best seats are by the railing. The sunrise is WELL worth all I just mentioned. It is amazing and so gorgeous to see. After we all had our fill of the sunrise the guide took us a little further up the mountain to another scenic point which was also amazing. After which you stop on the way back down to a smaller scenic area that wasn't much but it did have bathrooms just incase all that coffee and chocolate hit you. For breakfast we had a choice of 3 options. Bacon and eggs, Pancakes and sausage or a fruit plate. There are no substitutions. You do however eat the breakfast at a country club below where the guide drops you off. After the country club another shuttle came to pick us up and took us back to our hotel. We were back at around 10/11am I believe. Overall I highly recommend this tour. But here's a tip. If you are not afraid of driving winding roads in the middle of the night just get a reservation pass for 1.50 from the government recreation site. Then you can park where all the buses park in the morning and spend so much less and have your own self guided tour. We were going to do that and had it all set up but when we arrived to Maui it was raining and we didn't feel comfortable driving in the rain up a road we have never been on, so we took the tour. If you are uncomfortable driving the winding road at night, do the tour! It is well worth it overall as the sunrise is something you have to see and the breakfast was decent.
Review by: Ginette A, May 2017
Highly disappointing- sky was clear when we arrived but clouds rolled in moments before sunrise, completely blocked the valley and view. The tour guide tried to make light of the situation but it was very annoying. Wish they offered a gag gift, like shirt or cap for that. Breakfast was average at best
Review by: Rosemary P, February 2017
Very memorable trip and the sunrise was spectacular. Some advice is if you get motion sickness, take Dramamine or something for the ride up and back. Also dress warm. It was 32 degrees and windy and was very cold.
Review by: Nina P, January 2017
Most amazing place I have been in US. Highly recommended tour!!
Review by: Gio, December 2016
amazing!!!!
Review by: Bello, November 2016
Our wonderful tour guide Nettie was fabulous! Be prepared as you may not see the sunrise, and rug up with extra clothing as it was absolutely freezing the morning we went.
Review by: Jennifer S, October 2016
Amazing trip! Spectacular sunrise! Our tour driver Nettie was very knowledgeable and went beyond the expected in taking photographs for clients and telling us where to get the best shots. Her interest in photography was very evident and much appreciated. We were all suitably Nettified!!. Remember to have warm clothes, beanies and gloves, even a blanket to keep warm in the dark before that beautiful sunrise breaks through. Absolutely fabulous!!!
Review by: Elouise L, October 2016
Wonderful Experience. Driver was on time, courteous, informative. Would highly recommend.
Review by: Lynda B, October 2016
A once-in-a-lifetime experience for us. If you are visiting Maui and want a great memory, this may be just what you are looking for. The sunrise was spectacular however, it was definitely cold up there!
Review by: Judith S, October 2016
We were supposed to go on this tour at 2AM the morning of the 14th. We had spent the day of the 13th in Pa'ia, ending with dinner there. On the way back to our hotel in Napili, we were flooded out. The road became impassable, finally closing from mud slides. We spent the next few hours in a Red Cross emergency shelter. Finally, around midnight, we were allowed on the road. When we arrived at the hotel, we knew the conditions on the road which the tour would be taking were treacherous at best. We called the company and reported we could not go on the scheduled trip. I was charged anyway. Not only did we get flooded out, spent hours in a shelter, missed our trip, but I even got charged. Not happy.
Review by: Coach, October 2016
Beautiful trip to an amazing site! Unfortunately, there is limited space along the railing to see the sunrise, and the spaces were filled with people by the time we arrived.
Review by: Juana S, September 2016
We had a great time! Glenn was very knowledgeable and funny! We had lightning on the way up Haleakala very rare and saw the most beautiful sunrise! Nice having a safe driver too!
Review by: Julie L, September 2016
This sunrise was gorgeous. I've never experienced such magnificent beauty before. I must say it DOES get cold. As NYer's we thought we would be fine but we totally regretted not bringing warmer clothes. Don't be dumb. Bring warm clothes. Our driver... NETTIE was the best! She was so entertaining and took such beautiful pictures of us. Nettie made getting up at 2 AM completely worth it. It does make for a long day but this memory will last a life time.
Review by: jerrymalkowski, September 2016
Great experience for our 40th anniversary. Nettie was a fantastic guide. The tour is the only way to enjoy the experience.
Review by: Cezary J, September 2016
Nie zapomniany widok, jedna z lepszych atrakcji na Maui. Na prawde warto.
Review by: James S, September 2016
Love Netty! She was Fabulous! For having to catch the bus at 2:10 am she sure knew how to wake us up! You will never see a more Glorious Sunrise ever. This is a must do at least once in your life!
Review by: Lauren M, August 2016
The tour itself was great. Nettie was awesome! We could tell she loves her job and was very informative. The downside is we didn't get to see the sunrise as the clouds never cleared.
Review by: Adam R, August 2016
Rory, our guide, was fantastic. The trip was comfortable and his knowledge about the island was fascinating. He also made it a priority for his clients to see as much as possible. My family loved it
Review by: Melinda F, August 2016
It's as close as you can get to God! Despite having to get my teenagers awake for the bus to pick us up at 2:30, and the 35 degree temp at the top, it was an absolutely spectacular morning. Our tour guide, Nettie was the best. She made it an adventure warning us of car sickness and kept us entertained. Totally worth it and my kids will agree years from now
Review by: Luz M, August 2016
This tour was amazing! Totally worth the 235 AM pick. Nettie our tour guide was the best. All the reviews said she was great and she was. To see the sunrise above the clouds was breathtaking. Nettie even took amazing pictures for you to capture the memories. Dress warmly it does get cold.
Review by: Kenneth L, August 2016
Unbelievable! You must do at least once but be aware that you may see nothing if it's cloudy. We were lucky - we saw a full range of colors in the sky and the clouds were below us. Rory is a great tour guide - informative and enthusiastic. He kept us on a tight schedule to ensure we arrived in time to get a viewing spot upfront.
Review by: Stephen G, July 2016
Heavy clouds and misty rain prevented us from seeing a sunrise, very disappointing. Hoards of tour vans created a pretty big crowd at the site. We wish we had drove up later in the day to enjoy the sights along the way.
Review by: Anne Katharina B, July 2016
Die Tour an sich war atemberaubend. Das Frühstück am Ende war gut, hätte man sich aber sparen können, weil alle müde waren und ins Hotel zurück wollten. Der Guide wirkte etwas überfordert. Grundsätzlich sollte man diese Tour aber unbedingt buchen, wenn man auf Maui ist!
Review by: Woo C, July 2016
Wished that I was notified the weather conditions up there.
Review by: Patrick k, July 2016
My family although Hating the very early out of bed throughly enjoyed the sunrise and the beautiful views!!
Review by: Richard G, July 2016
This tour was amazing!
Review by: Richard E, November 2015
This was an awesome tour. A glorious Sunrise that was breath taking.
Review by: Alice S, November 2015
The best part of course was the sun rising...a beautiful sight!! The volcano was really cool looking! We had a knowlegdable and great driver. He took the stress of driving to Haleakala from us. Do take a coat and hat to protect your ears-very cold and windy. Worth the price!
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