The 4 Best Haleakala Sunrise Tours (+ our 10% off code)
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Haleakala Volcano, which fittingly translates to House of the Sun, is an amazing and awe-inspiring place to watch the sunrise. Head up to the summit of Haleakala in the dark and wait for the first break of sun to light up the crater. This is one experience that (when the conditions are right), really lives up to the hype. It makes the list as one of our top things to do on Maui.
While you can do this early morning adventure yourself, doing it with a tour is so much more enjoyable. Not only do they take care of everything for you (no need to try to get a reservation yourself) it is a true luxury not having to drive yourself up the mountain in the dark. Especially if you head out with one of the best Haleakala sunrise tours that we have included on this list.
Bring a jacket (and maybe a blanket) and head out with one of our recommended tour operators.
Want to get right to it without reading all the details? Jump in and book these recommended tours:
Use code HVG to get 10% off with Valley Isle Excursions
Book a morning tour with Skyline Hawaii (Saturday tours available!)
Book your adventure with Polynesian Adventures
The Best Haleakala Sunrise Tours
While there are plenty of great tours to choose from, these are our top three picks for a great trip! We are including the breakfast restaurants which are correct at the time of publishing, though they may change.
Valley Isle Excursions Sunrise Tour
We had the opportunity to experience sunrise with Valley Isle Excursions, and it was a pretty epic morning. Dare we say, worth the 2:30 am wake up.
We were picked up very early and driven up with 16-ish new friends. Thankfully, our guide knew we wanted to continue sleeping so he kept things quiet and we were able to sneak in another hour of sleep as we went up the mountain. As soon as we reached the entrance, we woke up excited!
We made it to the summit visitors center approximately an hour before sunrise. While this felt very early, I was happy to be there so early as we were able to get a great front row spot.
After the stunning sunrise and chant, we headed back to the van. We made one additional stop in the park before heading down the hill. We drove through upcountry Maui to breakfast at the Mill House in central Maui.
Receive 10% off your booking by using promo code HVG10 at checkout. You must use our direct booking link when using the code.
You can see a video of our tour experience with Valley Isle Excursions below. We had an amazing time!
Included in the tour: transportation, a knowledgeable guide, entrance to Haleakala National Park, the sunrise reservation, breakfast. Gratuity for your tour guide is not included.
Again, receive 10% off your booking by using promo code HVG10 at checkout. You must use our direct booking link below when using the code.
Skyline Hawaii
Gear up for an early morning tour with Skyline Hawaii! Before we get into the tour details, you should know that this company is committed to conservation. Since 2002 they have planted over 20,000 trees and have given over $1.8 million to environmental and community nonprofits. So this is a company you can feel good about supporting.
Their tour begins with an early morning pickup from your hotel or resort. They provide jackets for the sunrise viewing (though wear warm layers and socks…trust us!). After sunrise you’ll get an informative driving tour to learn about the history of Haleakala, the flora and fauna, and more. Breakfast is at Kula Lodge in upcountry Maui, and then you’ll be back to your hotel with the rest of the day ahead of you!
Included in the tour: transportation, a knowledgeable guide, entrance to Haleakala National Park, the sunrise reservation, breakfast. Gratuity for your tour guide is not included.
Polynesian Adventures
One of the largest and most trusted tour operators in Hawaii also offers a great Haleakala sunrise tour. Like the other tours, you’ll be picked up from your hotel or resort very early in the morning. The tour bus will take you up the hill (feel free to nap!) and you’ll arrive at the summit visitors center with plenty of time to spare. Once you watch the spectacular sunrise, you’ll be escorted back down the mountain while your guide entertains and educates you. Honestly on all of these tours you’ll learn a lot about Hawaiian history.
You’ll drive through upcountry to reach a local favorite spot, Kula Lodge, where you get impressive views of Maui as you eat breakfast. After breakfast you’ll enjoy the remainder of the drive back to your hotel or vacation rental.
Included in the tour: transportation, a knowledgeable guide, entrance to Haleakala National Park, the sunrise reservation, breakfast. Gratuity for your tour guide is not included.
Haleakala Eco Tours
Take a drive with Haleakala Eco-Tours. They take care of everything. After pickup from your hotel or vacation rental, they whisk you up the mountain in their 24 passenger van. You’ll arrive in plenty of time to watch the sunrise and listen to the sunrise chant.
After the tour, you have time to visit the Haleakala Visitors Center before you head out of the park. On your way down, your guide will talk story and give you the history of the volcano and ancient Hawaii. As you drive, you’ll get to see the towns of Kula, Makawao, and Haiku.
Breakfast is in the north shore town of Paia (currently at Island Fresh Cafe). After that, you’ll continue the drive back to your hotel or vacation rental so you can enjoy the rest of your day!
Included in the tour: transportation, a knowledgeable guide, entrance to Haleakala National Park, the sunrise reservation, breakfast. Gratuity for your tour guide is not included.
Haleakala Sunrise Tour FAQs:
Can you see the Haleakala sunrise on your own?
You sure can! But there are some things to know before you do. First, you’ll need a reservation. These reservations are available through the National Park Service and are only $1, but they do sell out quickly. So plan ahead and set your alarm to buy!
You’ll also need to pay the entrance fee upon arrival to Haleakala National Park. The current entrance fee is $30 per vehicle.
There are no streetlights in the national park and the drive up the mountain is winding. Take care and drive slowly. And be sure to give yourself more than enough time to get there. You’ll want to arrive to your viewing point at least 30 minutes before sunrise, if not before. There will likely be a wait at the park entrance and you’ll want to take parts of the drive slowly, so factor that into your drive time estimates.
If you do plan to go on your own, we recommend downloading the Shaka Guide to keep you entertained during your drive.
We also have a Haleakala sunrise day in our itinerary, which will help you plan your route, where to watch the sunrise, what to do after the sunrise, and where to stop to eat on the way down. See more of the great things to do in upcountry Maui.
If you don’t want to do a tour but also the prospect of driving up this dormant volcano at 3 am isn’t exciting, you might want to consider heading to Haleakala for sunset.
Is a Haleakala sunrise tour worth it?
In our opinion, a tour was 100% worth it. We’ve visited Haleakala many times, but heading up for sunrise is another experience. We needed to leave our house at 3 am and being able to sleep on the drive up was such a luxury. Also, not being stressed about driving in the dark or getting there on time was a huge perk.
And there were other parts of the tour that made the whole experience worth it. We loved our tour guide and though we know a good amount about the history of Maui and Haleakala (it’s our job), we learned so much new, great information. And having the extra warm parkas to help keep us warm as we were waiting for the sunrise was hugely helpful. Those extra layers were important!
What to expect on a Haleakala sunrise tour?
All good tours will provide the same basic things:
- Transportation from your hotel or vacation rental
- A sunrise tour reservation
- Entrance to Haleakala National Park for sunrise
- A knowledgeable guide
- Breakfast
Make sure you dress warmly (layers are your friend!) because it is unbelievably cold atop Haleakala before the sun comes up.
What is the best place to watch the sunrise on Haleakala?
There are a few places to enjoy the sunrise, but we really enjoy watching it from the Haleakala Summit Visitors Center, which is 9,740 feet above sea level. It is closed, but standing outside of it you can get a view of Haleakala Crater which is magical as the sun rises. Don’t go to the headquarters visitors center, which is only at 7,000 feet elevation and doesn’t provide any sort of a sunrise view.
Planning your Maui vacation?
We give you the details on visiting Haleakala National Park and more. Our itinerary takes you on excursion days around the island seeing the best sights and eating at the best restaurants. Just download and your planning is practically finished!
“My husband and I recently took our very first trip to Hawaii (and first trip without our 3 young children) to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. We stayed in Maui and used your Maui Classic Itinerary. It made planning our trip so easy! We never had to worry about driving directions, finding bathrooms or parking lots, where we were going to eat a meal, the best spots to spend our day, or even details like when to leave to make the Haleakala sunrise and what trails to hit afterwards. Every single day of our trip was just about perfect, and your guide was a big determining factor for that. We even used it up until the last hour of our trip to find a good beach and great food in Paia Town before we had to be at the airport! So we just wanted to say THANK YOU for helping make this a very special trip that we will remember for the rest of our lives!”
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