7 Best Road to Hana Tours, Maui (2026) – Luxury, Adventure & Family Picks

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When we lived on Maui, we drove the Road to Hana numerous times and always discovered something that we’d missed on a previous trip. We’ve driven it forward, backwards, done overnight trips to Hana, and have taken friends and family on the road.

But the most stress free and educational way by far has been going out with a guide.

While a guide isn’t necessary and you can absolutely drive the 600+ curves and 46 one-lane bridges yourself, a good guide will deliver an experience you won’t soon forget. The interesting stuff can be hard to find and what really brings it to life is the stories that go with the road.

I know it’s difficult to know what tour to pick (there are so many!) and it’s an expensive adventure. We’ve done the legwork for you and compiled a list of the best Road to Hana tours we’ve been out with or we’ve had our friends and family enjoy and recommend to us:

Quick links to book the best Road to Hana tours:
– Get 10% off with Valley Isle Excursions using code HVG10 and booking here!
– Go local with Hana and Beyond on their unique backside tour.
– We’d opt for a private halfway to Hana tour with young kids
– Get more in a Road to Hana + Haleakala sunset combo tour with Experience Maui.
– Go for choices with 4 options from Holo Holo Maui Tours, including a trek through the bamboo forest, and set out in a convertible Bronco!
– Arriving in Kahului on a cruise ship? Book the tour designed for cruise passengers!

The Best Road to Hana Tours

While there are plenty of tours to choose from, we think these provide the best overall tour experience: 

Valley Isle Excursions: Best Group Tours

We love Valley Isle Excursions. After living on Maui and seeing plenty of tour groups on the Road to Hana, we wholeheartedly recommend Valley Isle Excursions for a group tour. A group tour isn’t for everyone, but if you don’t mind being in a van with fellow visitors, this is a great tour. 

On this small group tour, up to 12 people are in the van but this isn’t an uncomfortable van ride. All seats are 23” captain chairs with USB ports. The chairs are elevated and have 40” windows, which help you get a good view along the way. Meals and reservations to Waianapanapa State Park (home of the famous black sand beach) are included. The tour runs 11-12 hours and they allow travelers of all ages to join.

Receive 10% off your booking by using promo code HVG10 at checkout. You must use our direct booking link when using the code.

Hana & Beyond: Best Local Road to Hana Tour

While all great Hawaii tour companies are proud to employ local tour guides (it makes such a difference), Hana & Beyond stands out. They are a Native Hawaiian family-owned and operated business with tour guides that are from Hana. So you get a truly local view of the stops along the Hana highway as well as great stories, education, and more. 

Hana & Beyond also provides only Road to Hana tours, so they are hyper-focused on creating exceptional experiences for one specific tour. 

Their Road to Hana tour is a full-circle tour, so you get to see sights past Hana. The tour runs roughly 10 hours and you’ll be in a van that holds 9-14 guests.

While they do offer private tours, the tours are not customizable. They provide breakfast and lunch as well as snacks and drinks throughout the day. 

Awapuhi Adventures: Best Private Full and Halfway to Hana Tour

If you’re not interested in a group tour and you’d rather customize your trip experience, Awapuhi Adventures is a great choice. They specialize in private tours and you can choose your activity level.

They offer a full Road to Hana tour where you can customize your stops, including being dropped off to enjoy the Pipiwai Trail hike. A full day Road to Hana tour is around 12 hours. If that’s too much for your trip, they also offer halfway to Hana tours which won’t take you all the way to Hana, but you’ll get to experience the beauty of the tropical windward side of the island during the 7-8 hour tour.

It’s also a great option if you’re traveling with kids who you don’t think can do an entire Road to Hana day.

Base pricing is for two people in the vehicle and you can add on passengers for an additional fee. If you have little ones, kids 2 and under are free.

Experience Maui Tours: Best Combo Tour

If you’re prepared for a long day where you get to see both the Road to Hana and Haleakala, this is the tour for you. Experience Maui offers a private group tour that combines a Road to Hana and Haleakala sunset. The tour follows the full loop past Hana town around Haleakala, so you get to drive on the backside. 

Each car can hold up to seven passengers (for larger groups, additional cars can be used) and the stops along the Road to Hana are completely customizable. Meals are included and they usually stop for lunch as well as have a light charcuterie board dinner on Haleakala prior to sunset. 

The tour runs from approximately 9 am to 8 or 9 pm.

Holo Holo Maui Tours: Best for Options (4 Road to Hana Tours!)

If you know you want to head out on a private tour, but you want more flexibility in choosing your route, Holo Holo Maui Tours is a fantastic option. If you have fewer than 4 in your group, you’ll head out in a convertible Bronco! They also have a Honda Odyssey minivan for any guests who use a wheelchair.

You get to choose between halfway to Hana, the classic route, or 2 full circle routes going around the base of Haleakala. One of these full circle routes focuses on a 4-mile hike through the bamboo forest. All of these tours are very nature-forward, your guide will point out both native and invasive plants and creatures and how they help or affect the habitat.

Any of these tours can be customized to your liking, and this is a perfect option for cruise ship passengers as they offer pickup right from Kahului Harbor!

Travel Shack: Best for Cruise Ship Passengers

If you don’t mind a small-group tour with up to 8 guests and want it to be a bit more all-inclusive, this is the way to go! Whether you’re arriving on the Pride of America or you’re coming into the harbor on a different cruise ship, they know the schedules and have set the tours up accordingly.

You’ll be picked up from Kahului Harbor for a day of adventure where you don’t have to worry about anything. Breakfast, lunch, snacks, and admission to ticketed entry sights are all included in the ticket price. All you have to do is show up ready for a good time.

Note: If this all-inclusive small group tour sounds right up your alley, but you’re not arriving on a ship, don’t fret! This tour is designed for cruise passengers, but it isn’t exclusive to them. Pickup is also available from the West and South Maui resort areas.

Travel Shack: Best Road to Hana Loop Route

Don’t want to do any backtracking? We don’t blame you! Doing the drive as a circle route is one of our favorite Road to Hana routes because you get to see so much more. After reaching Hana, you’ll go around the back of Haleakala for some stunning views.

This is a small, 8-guest tour that includes pickup from West or South Maui, entry to Waianapanapa State Park, and all of your food and snacks for the day.

Note: The back roads are not always open, as they may be closed for maintenance or storm damage. While the full loop isn’t guaranteed, this tour will still take you past Hana before heading back the way you came.

Best Road to Hana Tours For…

If you’re looking for a specific tour to meet your traveling needs, these tours have you covered. 

Best Road to Hana tour for the solo traveler

If you’re a party of 1 heading out on a Road to Hana trip, one of the group tours is going to be the best option for you. Both Valley Isle Excursions and Hana and Beyond offer Road to Hana tours that you can book just for one person. This won’t be a private tour, but you’ll meet some friends on your tour and have a great time. I would much rather do a group tour than drive the road alone! 

Best Road to Hana tour for a family or group

If you’ve got four or more people heading out for your adventure, I’d suggest looking at a private tour. That way you can customize your stops, enjoy the trip with just your small group, and go at your own schedule.

Holo Holo Adventures offers great tours in their Broncos!

FAQs for Road to Hana Tours

Should I drive the Road to Hana or take a tour?

The Road to Hana is at the top of most visitors’ bucket lists. And it is truly an incredible experience. You spend the day traversing East Maui, passing lush rainforests and waterfalls, and stopping for views of the dramatic coastline. 

While you can drive the Road to Hana yourself, we recommend considering a tour. The tours help you learn and see more on the road, make finding parking and visiting legal spots much easier, and ease congestion. For example, tour operators usually won’t stop at Waikani Falls or Hanawai Falls because safe, legal parking is hard to find there. Going with a knowledgeable guide helps you stay on public property and visit sites safely. 

Visit our full Road to Hana Guide to read more about driving yourself or taking a tour.

What can you expect on a Road to Hana tour?

On a Road to Hana tour, you can expect a long but really enjoyable day. While there are different tours and companies to choose from, they all offer the same key components: 

• Transportation (pickup and drop off at your hotel)
• A guide (knowledgeable and entertaining, hopefully!)
• An itinerary of legal stops
• Water and drinks (usually)

At a bare minimum, a Road to Hana tour should alleviate the headaches of driving, planning your route, and finding parking at different locations. Some tours go above and beyond that with smaller vehicles and group sizes, a fantastic guide (which makes all the difference), and meals, like a picnic or buffet lunch. 

What should you bring on a Road to Hana tour?

Your tour guide will give you a list of what to bring with you on the tour, but this list will help you get started: 

• Light jacket
• Shoes for hiking (we love Tevas)
• Bathing suit
• Sunscreen
• Towels
• Water and snacks (your guide will probably provide these but you will want to have your own if you have any dietary restrictions)
• Change of clothes
• Cash for food stalls along the way

What to consider before booking a Road to Hana tour?

The biggest factor to consider when choosing a Road to Hana tour is balancing the needs and wants of your group with your budget. 

Do you have young children? A group tour probably won’t be as relaxing for you as a private half-day tour. Do you want to be able to choose your stops? A private tour is the way to go. Do you just want to get out on the road with a great guide and have a nice experience? Finding a small group with around 10 people or fewer will probably offer you a good experience at a lower cost. 

Check out the chart below to compare our favorite options and book!

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Wow, we are on a roll. Love the itinerary for Maui. We are just getting back from Hana today. My uncle complimented me on my ability to pack it all in. 

Paula M.

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