Haleakala Crater Hiking Experience

Great experience! The views of the crater and the hikes were amazing. Our guide was very informative and personable. Highly recommend to active people looking for something really cool to do while visiting Maui.

This was an amazing trip our guide was excellent! Amazing sunrise with Hawaiian drummers, so special! And then a great breakfast! Looking forward to coming back!! I love Maui!!

This is a must if you’re visiting Maui. Hike Maui provided an excellent service and our guide P.T. was super knowledgeable and couldn’t be more accommodating to the group. The tour takes you up 10,000 feet where you will take a hike about a mile into a shield volcano and back out. There were two parts because the landscape is vastly different. It gets a little cool at the summit depending on the season you may need a few more layers. Hike Maui provides jackets and backpacks if needed and plenty of snacks our guide immediately had us snacking and hydrating the moment we started our van ride up the summit. He was well stocked with a variety of snack chips granola bars beef jerky fruit and nuts also water and you get a sandwich for lunch. P.T. will find a good spot with excellent views to have a lunch break at. There are plenty of opportunities to use restrooms, this is a national park and you stop at two visitor centers along the way. There you can fill water bottles use the bathroom and purchase souvenirs. The hike isn’t very challenging but it’s a spectacular experience. I was very impressed with Hike Maui and our guide P.T. Don’t second guess yourself book this hike.

I did the Haleakala Crater hike, which was simply stunning! The landscapes and the overall experience was just incredible. Our guide Momo was so cool - lovely person, extremely knowledgeable and very capable. I also did the waterfalls hike with PT, and that was so enjoyable as well. If you love hiking and enjoy getting out in nature, you'll be in good hands with Hike Maui!

Great way to experience Haleakala Crater - loved the two hikes we did with very different landscapes. One was more lush and the other felt like we were on Mars! Marko was very kind and prepared. I appreciated the attention the overall itinerary and making sure that each of us would have a comfortable experience with water, snacks, lunch, and jackets.

This hike was breathtaking. I went with my husband and 8 year old boy who loves hiking. The trails were not too hard, though all uphill on the way back for both hikes. Our guide was very knowledgeable, we all learned so much during our hike. Highly recommend for anyone who loves exploring nature on foot!

Momo is a great tour leader. Very knowledgeable and informative. Stunning views, well prepared tour with backpacks, jackets, snacks, lunches, and water. All the driving and guiding taken care of. This is a recipe for a perfect hiking day.

Marko was a very entertaining and informative guide. His able guides in training were also very helpful. The trek was challenging but they gave you all the time needed to complete the journey. Scenery was starkly beautiful

Amazing view and experience. Felt like we were on another planet. Watching the sun rise above the clouds was unique and heavenly

Amazing experience! The views were absolutely breathtaking. Dave is very knowledgeable and an awesome tour guy. Highly recommend!

I’m a hiker. I love this very unusual terrain for hiking. I was looking for a hike to go all across the entire crater, but could not find one, but this was a good substitute. The only thing I would say was the second hike was difficult because the rocky path was so uneven and really easy to twist an ankle. Great scenery everywhere.

Great experience all around. The weather was perfect for the crater hike, but clouds moved in for the second part. But it was still amazing. Make sure to wear sunscreen and good fitting shoes. Our guide Toby was knowledgeable and very friendly. Highly recommend.

The views were amazing. Our guide Marco was very knowledgable of the flora and fauna. I would highly recommend a Hike Maui.

A really amazing day. Our guide Dave was entertaining and knowledgeable. The views were amazing and the 2 hikes let us see 2 different areas

This was not the adventure for us. It’s hard to have a “bad” day in Haleakala as it’s such a beautiful otherworldly place, but unfortunately this hike with Hike Maui didn’t align with what we expected. On their website we don’t feel they give enough detail on what to expect. “Two-mile hike at the 10,000-foot summit where huge cinder cones dominate the desert-like, expansive scenery. Another two-mile hike at 8,000 ft. on a lava trail lined with rare native plant species.” They provide the above plus a “challenging” rating due to altitude, but neither really gave us a great view of what to expect, other than the 700 disclaimers you must accept from a liability waiver perspective. For the curious: hike one is less steep but constant scrambling over medium to large rocks which gave us blisters in our well broken in hiking shoes, and hike two is more steep but more small pebbles/gravel to less challenging in our opinions. Both doable, but certainly not easy. Our guide Marko is clearly very experienced. He has been with Hike Maui 20+ years. While very friendly and a wealth of knowledge, we found it hard to focus on being in nature and just enjoying the hike at times as he was very talkative. I know it comes down to personal preference and this is a group tour, so not everyone will get their desired way. Lovely guy, well traveled, able to answer lots of questions, just when we wanted to focus on the hike / breathing in the high altitude it wasn’t always the easiest to be having a conversation. It did feel we were in very capable hands should anyone need medical attention, but thankfully no one did. In all, if you are fit, hike daily and/or live in the mountains somewhere, this may be a walk in the park for you. Unfortunately for us it was not, nor did it seem worth the price.

Absolutely amazing tour! Marco was great guide, with great information, no rush, tasty snacks, food, water, enjoying himself what he was doing! We were blessed with great weather and very clear day. Tour consists of 2 hikes about 2 miles each and stopping by for spectacular view in a top of summit. I have back and hip problems and pretty bad plantar fasciitis, and I forgot my hiking sticks and I was able to do it fine ( plantar fasciitis was a biggest limitation). One of my kids was slightly nauseous and lightheaded from altitude, but otherwise everyone were fine. They give you jacket. We were wearing long pants , but it was no all necessary. Don’t forget sunscreen and enjoy this amazing activity!

We loved our Haleakala Crater excursion with our wonderful guide, Michael. In addition to the friendliness and attentiveness we have always appreciated from the Hike Maui guides, Michael is steeped in geological and horticultural knowledge but, just as important, Hawaiian history and important mythology. He also was ready to slow down the pace should that be needed, and gave us enough breaks during this ambitious hiking excursion on Sliding Sands (inside the crater) and Halemau’u, which shows off the flora and fauna. The weather was perfect and the crater astounding. (And the lunch and snacks wonderful.) The drive up and down Haleakala also offer spectacular views. An exceptional Maui experience that is otherworldly. We’d recommend this trip to hiking enthusiasts. Mahalo, Michael and Hike Maui!!!

Sadly the weather Gods were not on our side for our hike this particular day (that is the risk of a trip at high altitude). Our guide Dave was very informative and did his best to provide us with other options due to the whiteout we experienced at the peak. Whilst the rain persisted when we went to look at Makawao, we did manage to encounter the turtles at Ho'okipa Beach, which helped to make up for it.

This was an excellent day trip that I recommend visitors to Maui take. Our tour guide was excellent and provided us with useful information about the area and some of Maui's history. The tour was well organized & timely. We were provided with snacks, lunch & water & were reminded to eat and stay hydrated since we were going to 10,000ft. Stopped at a few places prior to reaching the peak. (1) After reaching the peack, we went on our first hike )2 miles round trip and elevation climbed ~1000ft The scenery looked like Mars- incredible ( 2) Had lunch before going back to summit (3) Went to a lower elevation for hike #2. This one was on a more rock trail but limited elevation change. Our guide gave a good description of the plans we saw (2 mile round trip) (4) Recommend Hike Maui for this trip

My wife and 17 year old son and I loved this tour. Jacob our guide was knowledgeable, kind and a great ambassador for Maui and Hawaii. It was a wonderful experience and Jacob made it all even better. We want to return to Maui some day, especially Lahaina which we love so much. Mahalo to all the great people of Maui 💕

Great day with our guide Kimo. Kimo was fun, knowledgeable, shared his experience, and was prepared. The hikes were good, and the views were amazing.

The Haleakala Crater Hike was amazing! We had perfect weather. It was so clear we see the volcanos on the Big Island. Dave was a fantastic guide. He educated our group throughout the hike. I was the slowest hiker and Dave stayed with me to keep me going! Excellent from start to finish.

The guide was very knowledgeable and made the day great. She had water, snacks and was a great driver. I do wish the two short hikes had been a bit longer.

It was an awesome experience. Not only were the views incredible, but the guide (Des) was informative about what we were seeing as well as about Hawaiian culture, traditions, beliefs and people.

Haleakala We loved the views. You could see both sides of the island at once. We enjoyed the nene. The change in scenery was awesome. It is cool at the top- bring a windbreaker, or something warm- 55-65 degrees with a wind. We went to Hosmer Grove- and saw trees he planted from all over the world. There were also many birds there. It was beautiful. We also hiked the Sliding sands, starting behind the visitor center.

My family and I (myself and 4 other adults) really enjoyed this experience. Our guide, Tim, was extremely knowledgeable and entertained us all day with interesting information and stories. The hike includes two trails. One is pretty steep but mostly flat. My whole family was able to do this one. The second trail was extremely rocky and somewhat difficult. Tim stopped us about halfway down the trail to allow anyone who didn't want to continue the opportunity to turn around and head back to the van. Some of our party went back which was smart. I completed the hike to the rainbow bridge which was beautiful but probably not worth the risk to see if you aren't very sure-footed! There was a lot of driving before and in between each hike, but Tim made sure to keep us happy with lots of snacks, and I also enjoyed the provided lunch. In addition, I appreciated the available rain jackets and backpacks to use if we did not already have our own. It did get pretty chilly and was extremely windy as we got up in elevation. Overall, this was one of my family's favorite activities, and I would highly recommend it!

Our tour guide was Michael and made our experience very enjoyable, He was very knowledgeable and was very patient with inexperienced hikers. I would highly recommend this tour.

Our hike was wonderful! We were very fortunate to have a beautiful day! We had Michael as our tour guide. He was very kind. He was very knowledgeable about Hawaii, the crater, the plants and almost any questions asked he could answer!

Great tour!! Tim was an excellent guide and very knowledgeable not only on the craters but also on Maui and Hawaii as a whole.

I am traveling solo in Maui and would have been apprehensive about doing this hike alone. Tim was a fantastic guide. He fostered a great group dynamic and took some great pics of me to share with family and friends. Beyond informing me about the crater, Tim gave me an education about Maui and Hawaii in general for which I am very grateful.

This hike was the highlight of my trip. The scenery was amazing but more importantly the knowledge from our guide was exceptional. 10/10. Highly recommend. Thank you Jacob.

We had a beautiful day hiking at Haleakala and learned a lot from our extremely knowledgeable guides Tim and Dave. I have to mention the order and pace of the two spectacular and biodiverse hikes we did which matched our late middle age abilities perfectly. A joyful check mark off the bucket list.

After 10 long years I finally fulfilled my dream of returning to magical Maui and hiking in the Haleakala Crater. Hike Maui was a small, intimate group experience and I felt so fortunate to have Jacob as our guide - not only was he knowledgeable, personable and professional, he also talked story with us and gave us greater insight and understanding into Hawaiian culture, history and the Aloha spirit. Mahalo to Jacob and Hike Maui for an incredible and unforgettable experience.

I had a great day with Jacob and four other hikers at Haleakala. We started with a short part of the "Halemau'u Overlook Trail", about an hour in and an hour [plus] out. The highlight is the view into the crater from the "Rainbow Bridge" -- and seeing the beginnings of the switchback trails that would take you to the bottom of the crater if you had another four hours. The second trail was the "Sliding Sands Trail" starting near the "Haleakala Summit Visitor Centre" at about 2,980m we descended into Haleaka and stopped at a vantage point on the trail at 2,760, some 200m or 700ft deeper into the crater. This was total immersion in this alien environment of subtle rock colour changes and almost complete silence. Three quarters of an hour down and an hour [plus] out. During both hikes Jacob provided details of the geological features and volcanic forces that created Haleakala and of the vegetation that has adapted to the environment, Also during the hikes and on the drive to and from Haleakala Jacob shared his knowledge and stories about the Hawaiian people. A great day well worth the time spent.

Team Maui Hike and Marko, tour guide...AWESOME! Continuous updates on weather conditions to ensure safety as number #1 priority. MAHALOS!

The Hike Maui team have been great. We adapted our experience a bit to start earlier and they were very accommodating. Joel was an excellent guide, great with the teenagers and full of relevant and interesting info about the geography, history, plants and animals of the area. He made a good call to go straight to the top whilst it was clear and by the time we descended the cloud had arrived. Phew! Lots of kit provided including backpacks which were very helpful. Tasty lunch too. Thanks

Des was an excellent guide. She drove smoothly up and down mount Haleakala and had a wealth of knowledge that she shared with us from Hawaiian history, culture, language, geography and more. The pace of the hikes were perfect and the views were spectacular. I highly recommend this trip! Thank you, Des!

Kacey, our guide was a wealth of information about Maui' history, geography, agriculture and much more. The hike was gradual and the more difficult part was going back up the crater. We were lucky to have enough cloud coverage to protect from the sun, but the sky above the crater was mostly clear. It felt almost surreal as the clods around the crater gave the impression of walking on an island in the sky.

I'm terrible with names, I wish I could remember our tour guides name, she was wonderful! Very sweet and soft spoken, and also very knowledgeable. She was very patient with the slower hikers in the group, and always made sure everyone was okay and that people were taking breaks if needed. Lunch provided was good, and plenty of snacks and water provided as well. There were two locations we hiked. It was very cloudy so we didn't get to see the crater, but still was super fun. They were not easy hikes, but not especially hard. I say you should be in good health to do them, if you never exercise, then it is probably going to be difficult lol.

Guides were friendly and experienced and really took care of us. Joel helped take amazing photographs for Instagram. Wished the hike was longer and was one continuous hike rather than splitting into two. But otherwise, it was an excellent adventure with great views.

One of the most unique and wonderful experiences I’ve ever done! My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed this hike with Marco. He was so knowledgeable, patient and a fantastic guide for this tour. We had a clear day and did 2 hikes through different terrains and climates, truly beautiful. We were with solo travelers, families and couples so it’s perfect for anyone. Dedicate a full day to this and you will truly be in awe that this also exists in the same place as the beautiful beaches!

Joel was loud guide. Very attentive. Explained in good detail. I would give 10**********. Highly recommend.

Excellent hiking in Haleakala national park. Consisted of two hikes of ~ 2miles round trip each. The first was a slight incline but nothing too strong with a rocky path so hiking boots were helpful. Went to a great lookout and guide explained some of the plants along the way. The second hike was the first part of the sliding sands trail near the summit. It was excellent!! And though it was harder (and at 10000 ft elevation), it was easy to just go as far as you wanted. Great views the whole way and we even got treated to a rainbow in the crater. We also made a brief stop at the summit. Plenty of water and snacks were provided, as well as good sandwiches for lunch. Overall well-organized and a relaxed pace (plenty of time at all stops). Would definitely recommend!

This was our second time using Hike Maui…Tim and his shadow for the day Steve were absolutely fantastic…a must do for anyone visiting Maui. The views were amazing and breathtaking

This was a terrific day and experience! Thanks to Joel, who was an amazing tour guide for the day. He obviously knew his stuff and was happy to share information about the hike, the area, the volcano, the islands and more! And thanks to Kim who helped us pick an adventure to go on and to pick what she thought would be the best weather day. I have been to the summit several times now but this was special because it was so clear at the top (in November!)

This is a well organized trip that would appeal to all hikers at various levels. The guides were professional and knowledgeable about the local flora and fauna. I would note that the hikes themselves are not suitable for individuals who are in poor physical condition. While the hikes are short (two hikes of two miles each), both involve uphill hiking at 8,000 and 10,000 feet. Sneakers are a minimum requirement and either hiking boots or trail shoes are recommended. A side comment. We did two guided tours on Maui, both involving significant time traveling in a van. To pass the time both tour guides gave effectively the same presentation on the history of Maui. Gets a bit boring the second time around.

This was a great day hike! Jacob our guide was fantastic: patient, so knowledgeable about the history of the volcano and Hawaii/Maui in general, and just all around a good guy. We did two two 2-mile hikes, stopped at the summit and another view point, and had unbelievable clear views. I thought at some points we could have done the day on our own but a) we would’ve missed out on the history which we loved hearing, and b) my husband would’ve missed the views up and back if he was driving. My 11 year old loved it too - especially peppering Jacob with questions about life, history, and of course Pokémon! Another reason Jacob is an all around gem:) Highly recommend this tour! And don’t forget to tip your guides!

A great way to experience Haleakala. We had George as a guide and he was full interesting info about the hike and the whole island. The lunch was good and George made sure everyone was prepared with plenty of water, snacks and gear. Recommend wearing lots of sunscreen!

Great hike. Majestic views of the volcano and island from 10,000 feet. Moderately strenuous, mainly because of the altitude - trails were otherwise well maintained. Lunch, snacks, water and raincoats were provided. Our guide George was awesome - very nice, very knowledgeable.