--- title: The Original Mauna Kea Summit Sunset & Stargazing Tour-Since 1983 lang: en type: tour city: Big Island country: United States price: 305 currency: EUR price_unit: per_person availability: bookable rating: 4.71 reviews: 688 duration_minutes: 420 duration_max_minutes: 480 languages: [en] free_cancellation: "true" rank_in_category: 8 of 8 (Mauna Kea Summit & Stargazing) schedule_checked: 2026-11-07 data_updated: 2026-11-08 canonical: https://guidekin.com/usa/big-island/tours/the-original-mauna-kea-summit-sunset-stargazing-tour-since-1983/ --- # The Original Mauna Kea Summit Sunset & Stargazing Tour-Since 1983 **Guidekin's take:** Watch sunset from Mauna Kea's summit before a telescope session with a guided sky tour. Hot dinner, parkas, gloves, hot drinks and transport are included; meet at a designated pickup point rather than your hotel. 4.71 from 688 reviews at €305 per person for 7h–8h. In our comparison: #8 of 8 in Mauna Kea Summit & Stargazing, by rating weighted by review volume (table below). ## Overview The original Mauna Kea sunset and stargazing tour. We pioneered this experience in 1983 and have been on this mountain longer than just about anyone. Ride from the coast to nearly 14,000 feet in custom 4x4 Mercedes Sprinters with panoramic windows and coach seating in rows of two and three (nobody rides four across). Enjoy a real hot dinner at 9,200 feet, 3-cheese vegetable lasagna and a homemade brownie, then watch the sun set from the summit, often above a sea of clouds, as the observatories open their domes. Then what sets us apart: about two hours of guided stargazing at mid-mountain, more time under the stars than any other tour on the mountain. Green lasers, 11-inch Celestron telescopes, gourmet hot drinks and a sweet treat while you look up. Our guides measure their time on Mauna Kea in years, not seasons. Parkas and gloves provided. Max 14 guests per van. Ages 13+; health restrictions apply. Stargazing depends on natural conditions. ## Before you book - Meeting point: Best for guests in Hilo, - Max 14 people: shared group - Food included: see what is included - Wheelchair accessible: operator-marked - Age rule: Minimum age is 13 years **Pickup:** No hotel pickup: everyone meets at the start point ## Key facts - Price: from €305 per person - Duration: 7h–8h - Rating: 4.71/5 from 688 reviews (collected from Guidekin & Viator & Tripadvisor) - Free cancellation (see policy below) - Operator: Mauna Kea Summit Adventures - Group: Shared, up to 14 travellers - Guide languages: English - Booking: Instant confirmation, mobile ticket - Price checked on Viator: 2026-11-07 ## Reviews 4.71 from 688 ratings on Guidekin, Viator & Tripadvisor. 94% of ratings with a star breakdown are 4 or 5 stars: 647 of 688. - 5 stars: 573 (83%) - 4 stars: 74 (11%) - 3 stars: 15 (2%) - 2 stars: 7 (1%) - 1 star: 19 (3%) ## What's included - About 2 hours of guided stargazing with 11-inch Celestron telescopes and green-laser sky tour - Arctic-style hooded parkas and gloves - Hot dinner at 9,200 ft: 3-cheese vegetable lasagna and a homemade brownie - Pickup & drop-off: 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 (no four-across benches) - Professional guide, fully narrated ## Not included - Hotel pickup and drop-off (meet at a designated pickup point) - Gratuities (optional) ## Itinerary 1. **Saddle Road** (pass by, no stop) - Travel the scenic highway between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, crossing lava flows and high-country landscapes on the way to the mountain, in a custom 4x4 Mercedes Sprinter with coach seating in rows of two and three (nobody rides four across). Your guide covers the culture,... 2. **Maunakea Visitor Information Station** (40m) - At 9,200 feet we stop for a real hot dinner, 3-cheese vegetable lasagna and a homemade brownie, and a chance to adjust to the altitude before heading higher. Learn why the world's largest telescopes are on Mauna Kea and what life is like for the astronomers who work here.... 3. **Mauna Kea Summit** (1h) - Arrive at nearly 14,000 feet before sunset and watch the observatories, including Keck, Subaru, and Gemini, open their domes and rotate into position. Plenty of time for photos as the sunset transforms the landscape, often above a sea of clouds. We stay until the best color... 4. **Mauna Kea Observatories** (2h) - After Sunset we spend about two hours under the stars, more time stargazing than any other tour on the mountain. Your guide traces the sky with a green laser, from Polaris to the Southern Cross, and brings the night's best targets into our 11-inch Celestron telescopes. Midway... ## Schedule - Runs: daily - Schedule last checked: 2026-11-07 - These are published departures, not a live seat count; availability is confirmed at checkout. ## Cancellation For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time. ## Meeting point Best for guests in Hilo, Hamakua, Puna, or Volcano, about 1 hr 10 min from Hilo. Fill up on gas; there are no services on Saddle Road. Park in the Lower Dirt Parking Lot below the visitor center (restrooms available), then walk up to meet our vans in the paved lot above. Keep your phone on. Ends: back at the meeting point ## Good to know - Wheelchair accessible - Service animals allowed - All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible - Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness - Minimum age is 13 years - Travelers with a BMI of 40 or higher are not permitted - No scuba diving within 24 hours before the tour - Pants and closed-toe shoes required; parkas and gloves provided - Pickup times vary throughout the year with sunset - The summit is nearly 14,000 feet, with 40% less oxygen than sea level - Emergency response on the mountain can take about 2 hours, and a medical incident may end the tour for everyone on board - The mountain road is long and bumpy and may not be suitable for travelers with back injuries - Summit temperatures average around 30°F with frequent wind; parkas and gloves are provided - Dinner is vegetarian lasagna; guests with dietary restrictions may bring their own food - Pickup times vary by location and season and are confirmed after booking - This tour returns late at night - Tours may be canceled due to weather or road closures; stargazing depends on natural conditions and is not guaranteed - Not permitted for pregnant travelers - Not permitted for travelers with any history of heart problems, including surgery, stents, pacemakers, or arrhythmias - Not permitted for travelers with COPD, emphysema, lung conditions or surgeries, or pneumonia or RSV within the past 6 months - Asthma must be fully controlled, and travelers must bring their inhaler ## Compared with other Mauna Kea Summit & Stargazing | Tour | Price | Duration | Rating | Group | |---|---|---|---|---| | **This tour · #8 of 8** | €305 | 7h–8h | 4.71 (688) | shared, max 14 | | [Small Group Big Island Twilight Volcano and Stargazing Tour](/usa/big-island/tours/small-group-big-island-twilight-volcano-and-stargazing-tour/?format=md) | €281 | 12h | 4.9 (1759) | shared | | [Big Island Mauna Kea Summit Sunset and Stargazing](/usa/big-island/tours/big-island-mauna-kea-summit-sunset-and-stargazing/?format=md) | €291 | 7h | 4.99 (74) | shared | | [Big Island: Mauna Kea Summit and Stars Small-Group Adventure Tour](/usa/big-island/tours/big-island-mauna-kea-summit-and-stars-small-group-adventure-tour/?format=md) | €300 | 8h | 4.85 (1686) | shared | Ranked #8 of 8 in Mauna Kea Summit & Stargazing by Guidekin score (rating weighted by review volume). Prices here run from €232 to €305, median €277; typical length 7h. 0 of 8 are private. Figures are live from the tour cards; the rubric is our handpicked set, not the whole market. Full list: https://guidekin.com/usa/big-island/mauna-kea-stargazing-tours/?format=md ## More in Big Island - All Big Island tours: https://guidekin.com/usa/big-island/?format=md - This page as HTML: https://guidekin.com/usa/big-island/tours/the-original-mauna-kea-summit-sunset-stargazing-tour-since-1983/ Filters, the full catalogue and the URL contract for this city: https://guidekin.com/usa/big-island/?format=md