Big Island Mauna Kea Summit Tour 8 hr - Image 1
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Big Island Mauna Kea Summit Tour 8 hr

TourTruth score 7.4 out of 10

AverageTop 43% in Big Island of Hawaii

2,151 reviews · Rated on 2 providers · How we score

  • Big Island of Hawaii
  • 8 hrs
  • Updated November 4, 2026

Watch sunset from Mauna Kea, then stargaze with a guide and take home complimentary DSLR photos of your Big Island adventure.

About this tour

As daylight fades over the Big Island, Mauna Kea’s high summit offers a striking place to watch the sunset. This 8-hour Mauna Kea Summit Tour pairs the mountain’s changing colors with a night under the stars, with a guide capturing the experience in complimentary DSLR photos.

Travel by 4x4 passenger van to the summit, where you can take in the sunset and use an astronomical telescope. Afterward, continue to a separate location for stargazing. A snow parka and BLT sandwich are included, and your guide will take photos of you with the sunset and stars, weather and moon phase permitting. The images are sent to your smartphone at the end of the tour.

Conditions can affect visibility, and the time spent at the summit or stargazing location may change if guests experience altitude sickness or other conditions. Guests must be 16 to 75 years old; a moderate fitness level is recommended. Join this Big Island Mauna Kea Summit Tour for mountain views, a guided night-sky experience, and photos to remember it by.

Highlights

  • Watch the sun set from the summit of Mauna Kea
  • Stargaze after sunset from a separate location
  • Take home free DSLR photos of the sunset and stars
  • Ride in a 4x4 passenger van to the summit
  • Enjoy a BLT sandwich during the tour

What's included

Included

  • Snow parka
  • Astronomical telescope
  • Mauna Kea summit tour
  • Mauna Kea admission fee
  • Free DSLR photos of you with the stars, weather and moon phase permitting
  • 4x4 passenger van to the summit
  • BLT sandwich

Not included

  • Gratuities
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Private tour

Ratings on each provider

The ratings and review counts each booking site shows for this tour.

What reviewers mention

Themes that come up most in this tour's reviews.

Common complaints

Important information

  • Guests under 16 or over 75 cannot participate
  • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, pregnancy, poor cardiovascular health, respiratory problems such as asthma, or weight over 300 lb
  • A moderate level of physical fitness is recommended
  • Tell the provider about dietary restrictions by the day before the tour
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  • Pickup time and location are sent by message after booking confirmation
  • The pickup location has free parking; the provider is not responsible for damage or loss
  • Bad weather and moon phase can affect sunset and star visibility
  • Time at the summit or stargazing location may change if guests experience altitude sickness or other conditions

Frequently asked questions

Where does stargazing take place?

Stargazing takes place after sunset at a location other than the summit.

Are photos included?

Yes. The guide takes DSLR photos of you with the sunset and stars at no extra charge, weather and moon phase permitting. Photos are sent to your smartphone at the end of the tour.

Is sunset or stargazing guaranteed?

No. Bad weather and the moon phase can affect visibility.

What should I know about pickup?

Pickup time and location are sent after booking confirmation. The pickup location has free parking, but the provider is not responsible for damage or loss.

Are there age or health restrictions?

Guests under 16 or over 75 cannot participate. The tour is not recommended for travelers with certain health conditions, respiratory problems, or weight over 300 lb.

How this score is calculated

This tour scores 4.81 on Viator and 4.79 on GetYourGuide. Ratings on these sites cluster near the top of the 5-star scale, so we compare each one with all other ratings on the same site before combining them.

How the score works and rating distribution in Big Island of Hawaii
  • Each provider rating is turned into a percentile: the share of that provider's ratings it beats, weighted by review counts.
  • Listings on different providers are combined in proportion to their review counts.
  • Tours with few reviews are pulled toward the average until more reviews come in, so a handful of perfect reviews can't top the list.
  • The result is shown from 0 to 10: this tour scores 7.4. Top 43% in Big Island of Hawaii means it ranks in the top 43% of tours in Big Island of Hawaii by this score.

Provider rating distribution in Big Island of Hawaii

How many tours in Big Island of Hawaii have a provider rating at or below each value. The dashed line is this tour.

  • GetYourGuide
  • Viator

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