TourTruth score 9.8 out of 10
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Mauna Kea Summit Sunset and Stargazing Tour
TourTruth score 6.3 out of 10
Average
688 reviews · Rated on 1 provider · How we score
- Big Island of Hawaii
- Updated November 2, 2026
Watch sunset above the clouds, then explore Mauna Kea’s night sky with telescopes, hot drinks, and a guide on this classic island tour.
About this tour
Experience Mauna Kea’s dramatic shift from coastal daylight to a high-altitude night sky on the original summit sunset and stargazing tour, operating since 1983. Travel in a custom 4×4 Mercedes Sprinter with coach seating as the route climbs toward the summit, nearly 14,000 feet above sea level. Pause at 9,200 feet for a hot dinner of three-cheese vegetable lasagna and a homemade brownie, then watch the sun sink from the summit, often above a sea of clouds, as observatory domes open around you.
After sunset, spend about two hours stargazing at mid-mountain. Your guide uses 11-inch Celestron telescopes and green lasers to point out features in the night sky. Hot cocoa, coffee, or tea and a sweet treat make the chilly viewing more comfortable, while provided parkas and gloves help protect against summit temperatures that average around 30°F. Pickup is available at designated points in Kailua-Kona, Waikoloa Beach, Waikoloa Village, or Maunakea Visitor Station.
Choose this Mauna Kea Summit Sunset and Stargazing Tour for a narrated journey, a warm meal, and extended time beneath the stars. Book your outing and see the mountain after dark; stargazing depends on natural conditions and is not guaranteed.
Highlights
- Watch sunset from nearly 14,000 feet, often above a sea of clouds
- Explore the night sky with 11-inch Celestron telescopes and green lasers
- Savor hot vegetarian lasagna and a homemade brownie at 9,200 feet
- Warm up with hot cocoa, coffee, or tea and a sweet treat
- Ride in a custom 4×4 Mercedes Sprinter with coach seating
What's included
Included
- About 2 hours of guided stargazing with 11-inch Celestron telescopes and a green-laser sky tour
- Arctic-style hooded parkas and gloves
- Hot dinner at 9,200 feet: 3-cheese vegetable lasagna and a homemade brownie
- Pickup and drop-off at designated points in Kailua-Kona, Waikoloa Beach, Waikoloa Village, or Maunakea Visitor Station
- Gourmet hot cocoa, coffee, or tea with a sweet treat during stargazing
- Custom 4×4 Mercedes Sprinter with coach seating in rows of two and three
- Professional, fully narrated guide
Not included
- Gratuities, optional
Ratings on each provider
The ratings and review counts each booking site shows for this tour.
-
View on ViatorViator
4.71 / 5 · 688 reviews
Important information
- Minimum age is 13 years
- Travelers with a BMI of 40 or higher are not permitted
- Not permitted for pregnant travelers or travelers with a history of heart problems, including surgery, stents, pacemakers, or arrhythmias
- Not permitted for travelers with COPD, emphysema, other lung conditions or surgeries, or pneumonia or RSV within the past 6 months
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- No scuba diving within 24 hours before the tour
- Moderate physical fitness is recommended
- Pants and closed-toe shoes are required; parkas and gloves are provided
- The summit is nearly 14,000 feet, with about 40% less oxygen than at sea level
- Summit temperatures average around 30°F with frequent wind
- The long, bumpy mountain road may not suit travelers with back injuries
- Emergency response on the mountain can take about 2 hours; a medical incident may end the tour for everyone on board
- Pickup times vary by location and season and are confirmed after booking
- For the Maunakea Visitor Station meeting point, park in the lower dirt lot and walk to the paved lot above; fill up on gas, as there are no services on Saddle Road
- The tour returns late at night
- Weather or road closures may cancel the tour; stargazing depends on natural conditions and is not guaranteed
- Dinner is vegetarian lasagna; guests with dietary restrictions may bring their own food
Frequently asked questions
How long is the stargazing portion?
Guided stargazing lasts about 2 hours, with telescopes and a green-laser sky tour.
What is the minimum age?
Guests must be at least 13 years old.
What should I wear?
Wear pants and closed-toe shoes. Parkas and gloves are provided for the cold, windy summit.
Are there health restrictions?
Guests with a BMI of 40 or higher, pregnant travelers, and travelers with certain heart or lung conditions are not permitted. No scuba diving within 24 hours before the tour.
Is stargazing guaranteed?
No. Stargazing depends on natural conditions, and weather or road closures may cancel the tour.
How this score is calculated
This score is based on one provider. Viator rates it 4.71 from 688 reviews. We place that rating among all Viator ratings and weight it by its review count. If the tour is found on another provider later, both ratings are combined.
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 6.3.
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.
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- GetYourGuide
- Viator
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