Predawn-morning Haleakala Bike Tour 6,500 To Sea Level

If you aren’t close to a professional biker, don’t take this tour. Joe told me I should go back in the van and not complete the bike tour because I was too slow. He then proceeded to ask me if I’ve ever been on a roller coaster.Many others said same as me and he denied it! I should have read reviews before.

Great experience!!! We enjoyed the variety of terrain and especially the views!! Joe & Nani are full of knowledge & information about the area. We loved our breakfast stop Makawao too! Overall it was a 10/10 experience!

Good fun morning out. Fun guides who were there to make sure you enjoyed yourself. Bikes look ropey but turn out to be way faster (more fun!!) than the fancy looking bikes that other operators are using.

This, by far, was the best experience with Joe and Nani. It was amazing and I would highly recommend it to anyone.

Fantastic experience!! Joe's was a great guide!! We would recommend it anyone so much fun!!

Joe and Nani were awesome! I was a bit nervous but Joe was a great leader and guide making for a great trip! We will recommend to anyone we know coming to the island to use this company!

Itinerary improved from the listing. Left a little less early in AM to see the sunrise, then started the bike ride lower on the volcano (fewer tough switchbacks) as practice, then took us back for a second ride down to enjoy the spectacular views. Fantastic Family Fun - Wonderful!

Joe and Naani were so awesome and kind. Safety was paramount and they were very understanding when my daughter was nervous and just starting the ride. They took the time to speak with her and make sure she was comfortable. And on the other end of the spectrum, they also ensured that my son was able to race down the hill at his own pace with no limitations since he is a more avid rider. Coolest part, getting to do the ride twice! Highly recommend!

Tour guides were very accommodating and flexible to riders needs. We did the primo, up and down top portion three times because of the rain below. We got a little wet, but didn’t care because we were having so much fun. Light layers and light rain gear helped.

Unbelievably amazing! Our experience was truly unforgettable and something we will recommend to all who are interested. The group was small which allowed for a better and more personalized experience. The ride was insanely fun. Joe and Noni were outstanding! Extremely knowledgeable, kind, funny, and lovely hosts.

Fabulous excursion, operators week were amazing as focused on safety but also allowed for some independence. Great ride, breakfast stop a local bakery and cafes, hen another element of the ride back to where you started.

Our tour guide Joe knew I was nervous so he put me up front with him and made me feel so great about being adventurous and facing my fear of heights. It was a wonderful adventure and I would recommend to anyone who loves to take in beautiful sights and challenge themselves to face their fears!! The stop in the town was also very nice and a good break after waking up so early to have some breakfast and explore the local area!!

Totally recommend this to everyone coming to MAUI the staff was a blast the trip was fantastic (wear a coat or warm jacket to sunrise) would do this again and again

Greatest experience in Maui so far. I'm so glad we went with Mountain Riders vs the bigger company. We ended up riding with just 4 people and our guide (who had 25 years of experience) and we had an empty road vs being out there with 20+ riders with the bigger company (we saw them setting up as we were taking off down the mountain). The bikes Mountain Riders use are heavier and have bigger tires and drum brakes, which means you go faster and feel safer going around turns. Both our guide and our driver were amazing and we learned a ton in the van, including which celebrities live in which houses up in the mountains and where to get the best donuts on a stick. We had a great stop for breakfast and coffee before a nice easy downhill coast back to the starting point. I don't regret skipping the sunrise tour at the top of the mountain and just going with the pre-dawn tour. We got to see all the colors in the sky but we stayed 10 degrees warmer and got 2 more hours of sleep. My one tip is to dress warmer than you think you need (and bring gloves!) because at least in late Nov it gets cold at 6500 feet!

The ride was really nice and the weather was clear. Definitely worth going to see the mountain and its views. Bobby or guide was very entertaining and put everyone at ease. He had very compelling story to tell and I appreciated the personal story he shared.

We had a WONDERFUL day on the sunrise and bike ride adventure! I felt like a kid again bike riding down the volcano. I would recommend this excursion to everybody!!

A fantastic experience with wonderful guides! Highly recommended! Tip: if you're traveling from Wailea or anywhere far from Paia, make sure you schedule pre-dawn transportation to the headquarters with your hotel. Ubers are plentiful in Paia for the return trip home.

The sunrise was beautiful. The ride down was great. The guide and driver were knowledgable and funny. I think the tours should explain the fact they don't drive to the top and you ride only a certain part of the road down. We had a great breakfast and ride through the little town

Booked the Haleakala pre-dawn bike tour for $130 USD per person. It's $100 cheaper and held later than the one with the sunrise, so perfect if you've already done the sunrise thing and don't wanna get up so early. They moved the time back from 0430h to 0530h, notified us the afternoon before via text message, A-OK by me! Ended up in a group of four riders with tour guide Manny and van support Mark. Sweet to have such a small group considering all the other groups we saw were like 15+ people, which would suck for more experienced and daring riders. I felt we did quite a bit of waiting around at the start, so really happy they moved the tour an hour back. Check-in was fine once we located the place, drove by it twice due to dark conditions and poor signage. Waivers done online the day before, or at the shop, water and granola bars were made available in the office prior to the tour. The confirmation email stated we had to wear masks on the bus, but this was not the case. I asked the administrator Noni to please update this detail. There was also no pre-video we had to watch even though the email said there was. Eh, keep it simple. Drove us up to the 6500' mark area, where we watched the sky change colours and the guys did some bike maintenance. Found it a bit weird that the bikes were not prepped and ready before the tour, but it didn't slow us down. I just felt it was a bit daft for us to be hanging out there for like an hour before we started our ride. Fortunately the weather was excellent, and not cold at all, just a bit chilly. More layers needed for the ride of course, I would highly recommend gloves. They were provided from a rather motley selection. Going down the high part of the mountain was the best part, and we got to do it twice! Unfortunately since February 2023, part of the ride down the mountain (where the ranch ends and leading up to Makawao) is forbidden for biking companies. I get it, but it would have been nice to know beforehand. So instead we rode down the high part twice, and being in a small group, the second run was at our leisure. Naturally we blasted down as fast as we would dare, reaching a top speed of 43km/h (about 33mph). Super sweet. I tried to convince Manny to take us up a third time, no luck! Took about 20 minutes to ride down the second time. Mark then drove our group to Makawao, where we got a 45 minute break to get some snacks etc. The ride continued after this, from Makawao to Paia, all downhill, comfortable coasting. Honestly we had really friendly service from Manny and Mark, they were so funny, genuine, and just legit local! It felt more like a cool small business than a big tour company, which is what we wanted. Our tour partners from Michigan were also great, and Manny went out of his way to make sure the one person who had physical limitations felt safe and comfortable. We all cheered her on as she finished her second run from the top with Manny keeping an eye on her. Would recommend this company highly for the small group, the personal touch, and the heavier bikes with the drum breaks. Made for a great ride, brought back BMX memories for me. So, so much fun. Mahalo!!

Tour guides were excellent and made the trip perfect. Even provided an extra coat and gloves for the chilly portion.

Our guides, Bobby and Monnie (?sp) were knowledgeable and informative! We learned some great intel about the Haleakala volcano and the surrounding landscape. Our acquired mascot the Jackson Chameleon was very entertaining too! The ride through the eucalyptus groves was amazing!

This adventure was recommended by a friend, and I could not be more pleased! It was a Great Experience!!! and the views were amazing! The hosts were funny and made the experience one to remember!

Tour guide was great. Could have been slightly shorter, but overall an amazing experience. Would recommend

We totally enjoyed this tour and would highly recommend it. Bobby and Nauni were great guides. They were educational, inclusive and fun. Biking down Haleakola was so much fun and the views were beautiful. It felt very safe but was also exciting. The stops a long the way also added to the experience. Thank you very much for a wonderful morning!

Pickup location had snacks and water ready to go. Kind local tour guides that genuinely love their Mountain. The sites during mountain rider experience are beautiful. Bring a jacket for the morning bus ride.

We had the best time! Nani was great. Very professional and most of the island was without power so they had to navigate that in order to get us going. Bobby was incredible. His knowledge of the history was amazing and his ability was mind-blowing. We met wonderful people and it was quite a bonding experience. We had a blast!

Fantastic, thrilling and beautiful way to see Maui! Nani and Bobby are wonderful. Bobby will educate you about what you are seeing as you bike down the mountain. It can be chilly in the morning, so I would highly recommend to bring a jacket and gloves. When you arrive in the morning to the address provided, it'll be a gravel lot. You will feel like you are in the wrong place. But, do not worry! Mountain riders will come and pick you up. We met some wonderful people in our group. It was a highlight of our vacation and I would recommend it to anyone traveling to Maui!!

Although, this trip was beautiful and the scenery was breathtaking, I had to give four stars for the following reasons: I was under the impression we were going to have a sunrise tour. Only certain companies are allowed to go in the National park, this is not one of them. Although, we watch the colors of the sky luminate as the sun rose it was not a sunrise tour, as we did not get to watch the actual sun rise. The tour guide was aggressive and frustrated that I was cautious riding a bicycle 40+ miles an hour straight down a mountain/volcano. The moment he threatened "to put me in the van", because he felt I should be going faster, really frustrated me. The two riders behind me thanked me for keeping the pace, as the tour guide arrogantly flew down the mountain without hands on the bike, repeatedly stating he has done over 4,000 tours as he would fade out of sight ahead of us. I agree he should be more comfortable and adventurous with his 4,000 rides versus our first ride. I am confident he was trying to motivate us, but it come out rude, arrogant, and condescending. I have to give compliments to the willingness to take our pictures, having choreographed poses, and knowledgeable spots for the "photo shoot", as we descended down the volcano. We loved he quaint town we stopped in for breakfast, (breakfast is not included you have to pay yourself). It was delightful to watch the chickens roaming freely in the small village. Again, the mountainous views are unbelievable and breathtaking. Just remember to ride at a pace you are comfortable with.

Absolutely awesome adventure, I have done this adventure three times in the last 20 years. This is the first time I went with Maui mountain riders, Bobby was our guide that joined us on the bikes and Nani was the driver that protected us from passing traffic. They were so professional, funny and caring, My son was nervous and a bit unstable, as a team they immediately noticed and Bobby got him comfortable and confident right away. As long as they work here I will never go with another company.

The pre-dawn tour was an excellent option to avoid getting up too early, but without missing the morning sky. The meeting point is a little hard to spot in the dark, so if you're at a property with lots of sheds then you're at the right spot. It's still cold at the departure point at this time, so recommend wearing gloves and a wind breaker as a minimum. Our father-son tour guides (Bobby and Bobby Snr) were fun and provided interesting info/told some great stories without being over the top.

The best experience!! My husband and I were visiting Maui on our honeymoon and this was the best activity. We ended up being the only ones on the tour, so we had an unplanned private tour, and it was amazing! Bobby and Nani were amazing people and made us feel welcomed, comfortable, and fully prepared for the ride. 10/10 recommend!

My husband and another couple we traveled with did this tour and it was AMAZING! We loved having local guides. They were very helpful, courteous and kind. Bobby and Nani were tremendous - warm and hospitable, so welcoming. The ride was lovely - tip: bring leggings/sweats/gloves/jackets; it’s COLD (like 30-40 degrees) in the morning on the mountain! Bobby used colorful language with our group (there were no kids) so if that sort of thing offends, something to consider. Our group had a great time and laughed our heads off. This is ready more of a “coast down the mountain” - not strenuous at all, we felt very safe. Really nice helmets, bikes in well maintained conditions. We had a great time, they stopped in places there were NO other people so we got amazing photos! Bobby and Nani also shared information about local wildlife, plants, social happenings. The stop in town was great as it allowed us to patronize local shops (Komoda bakery doughnuts are AMAZING!). 10/10!!!

What can we say? Nani and Bobby were absolutely amazing! We had such a fun time on this tour! The early start is worth it for the beautiful sunrise we got. Then zooming down the mountain was such a rush! Wow! Unforgettable day with great great people. Thank you!

Best part of our vacation to Maui. I was nervous at first. Bobby made me confident and was there to give supporting tips along the trail. Breakfast stop at Freshie’s was a treat. If you are up for an adventure, don’t miss this one.

The bike ride was cool and all but make sure you ask for Nani and Bobby to be on your trip. Seeing how happy these people are in their beautiful town was the highlight of our trip, I'm going to spread more love in the world after having spent an afternoon with these amazing humans.

This is the second tour we've taken with Mountain Riders. Our first tour was the sunrise tour, which was a great experience to see the Haleakala crater at sunrise. The weather can be hit-or-miss, rain or shine, so come prepared for the wet and cold. The predawn tour was the exact same bike ride, without the extra early wake-up call, and extra wait at the crater. If one doesn't particularly care for the sunrise views, the predawn tour is the way to go. That said, with the predawn ride, you'll see the sunrise colors over the mountain, and over the NW portion of the island (weather permitting). We found the crew to be helpful and friendly both times, and very careful with everyone's safety in mind. The views are amazing, and it's a unique way to see part of the island with very little work (you'll coast over 25.9 of the 26 miles). It will be dark when you arrive at check-in, and it's hard to find where to park. But be patient and they'll contact you at the time you're expected to check in. Have fun!

Pulled the wool over our eyes making us think we would be "mountain biking down the mountain" only to show up to get a 1 gear beach cruiser that we were to ride down a paved mountain road haha. Use Bombers. They have the permit for Skyline trail which is the one that will let you mountain bike off-road. They're equipment is much nicer too

I saw a rainbow at eye-level on the second leg of the ride! It was right before Rainbow Park! It was awesome! I'll never forget it! I was going 25 mph downhill, smelling eucalyptus and lavender, navigating turns and having the time of my life! It rained and I was soaked - who cares - it's Hawaii! Beats being at work! Bobby and Nani were the best! Truly memorable!

The ride, the day, the staff and the experience were all awesome!! It was a great time, very enjoyable that my family and I all very much appreciated.

We had a thrilling adventure with Nani & Bobby. They make an entertaining team, funny, attentive and AWAKE at 4:45am! Riding with helmets, sometimes at 30 mph, thru Eucalyptus and lavender fields ...a wonderful way to get an unique view of Maui and the local landscape! Aloha!

One of my favorite bike rides of all time (and I ride a lot). The upper levels were a little too scary for my wife (who doesn't ride a lot except on our tandem), so she rode the higher levels in the van and finished the last 10 miles or so over flatter ground. She had a great time even then with very patient and understanding team members.

Took this tour with my husband and 2 teenage boys. Driving was Nani and Bobby was leading on bikes. Definitely a bucket list type of adventure. Make sure to wear warm clothing and gloves. The scents and sights are so worth it. Would definitely recommend this company.

Great time and awesome staff! Only bummer was we were led to believe we were going to see the sunrise “above the clouds” on top of the mountain, but apparently tours aren’t allowed up anymore( we were told during the tour this has been the case for the past two years, but no one mentioned that till half way through the tour).. they take you up almost to the top ( not above the clouds)and on the other side of the mountain... you did not see the sun at all at best maybe a slight(very slight) pink hue. That part was Disappointing and misleading.

We did the sunrise and bike trip tour with this company. Had to get up at 1:30am to arrive at headquarters by 3:00am (from kanaapali). Then a long drive up the volcano in the dark. You wait at the top for hours and it was COLD (like 40 degrees), windy and wet. We did not get to see the sunrise at all. It is a gamble, and to some degree there’s nothing the tour operators can do about that. Then we went down for the bike ride portion and that was very fun. Our guide, Bobby, was really good. Funny and informative, and I felt that he and the driver were very mindful of our safety. I was concerned about the vehicular traffic on the volcano (you share the road) but there actually wasn’t much, perhaps because we were going down in the morning when most drivers would be going up if they had made it there yet. My advice would be to do the sunrise part on your own on the appropriate day and just do the bike ride portion of this tour. But even though the sunrise was a bust we still had a great time and were happy we did it.

My family took “The Pre-Dawn Morning” Haleakalā bike tour” on 3/27/21. Nani came and picked our family of 4 up at our hotel in Kaanapali at 2:10 am. We were off for our 40 minute trip to the Mountain Riders office at the base of Haleakalā . We switched vans and got on board with 8 other nice folks and we started our drive up Haleakalā. The drive up to the top of the mountain took 1 hr. 10 minutes. Due to Covid only 12 of us were in the van. We had perfect weather and hung out looking at the early morning sky and the stars. We were lucky enough to have clear skies and we saw the colors change as the sun began to rise. I am not going to lie; it was cold as heck up on the top of the volcano. Wow! You need to dress very warm as it can be drop down to 30 degrees. 10 minutes after sunrise at 6:27 am, it was back in the bus to get down and out of the Haleakalā National Park for the bike portion. The 12 of us mounted bikes, got some great directions from our tour guide, Bobby, and then we were off for the 26 mile ride down the mountain. Ronald was our driver who would follow us all the way down the mountain guarding our flank from cars. This ride is fun and easy. I have a fear of heights, but we end up riding in the middle of the lane most of the time so you don’t get close to the edge of the road. It’s not scary at all as the driver is very safe. We stopped a couple of times for pictures and scenery and then made our stop in Makawao for breakfast. We are at a restaurant called “Freshys” and it was excellent. A quick stop to the Kamoda Bakery for cream puffs, malasadas and doughnuts on a stick. Then the final 7 miles on the bike before the 10 minute shuttle ride back to the mountain riders office. I was hesitant at first to chooses this tour for me and my family due to possible weather issues. But I am so glad we did it! It was the highlight of our vacation and my children will always remember it. All 3 of the employees we dealt with were welcoming and very helpful!

This bike ride was so amazing! We saw the sunrise, a chameleon, and gorgeous scenery. The tour guides were so awesome and very lovely! They really know how to make you laugh early in the morning when doing this bike ride. The tour guides took great pictures of every family posing on the bike with the sunrise in the background. Bobby, one of the tour guides did tricks on the bike as we went down the volcano. We stopped to get donuts after 17 miles which was a great boost of sugar. At the beginning when we were getting ready to go for our bike ride I was not so confident with my biking skills, but the tour guides really made me feel safe and at ease. So much so that I was in a tuck to gain speed by the end of the ride! This was a great family adventure and I definitely recommend this tour specifically!

Highly recommend this trip. Yes, we did have to get up super early but it was well worth it even though the sunrise was not as good as it could have been but that's Mother Nature's fault. Also, expect a little rain. It's a mountain in the clouds! The bikes were well maintained and the seats were big, well padded and comfortable. Bobby, the guide was so funny and kept a close eye on everyone. Nani was also a delight to be around and navigated those steep roads with a trailer very well! Stopped for breakfast in a small quaint town for 1 hour. Would rather have kept riding though. Overall, it was worth the early rise for us!

We went on this experience on January 2, 2021 in time to enjoy the sunrise. They didn't bring us to the top of the HALEAKALA volcano and we didn't watch the amazing sunrise that we supposed to do. It was my last day in Maui so I was very upset leaving the island without haven't seen and without discovered that amazing view. We paid $128.00 per person and in my opinion, was too much. I don't know why they didn't start the bike ride from the top but I think that they have to be more clear in the description of the experience. I also thought to have the opportunity to stop to take pictures or videos or a little break whenever I wanted and it was not even possible because the "shuttle" followed us for all the bike ride long without giving "liberty" to the participants. The guides were very nice and friendly but I think they need to change somenthing to make this experience more unforgettable. Right now I would lie if I will suggest this to other people.

I am usually not keen about writing reviews but in this case I feel compelled to write one since I really do not want people to waste their time: not only do you have to get up early but given that you are likely to take a nap mid-day this really steals a lot of your precious vacation time. I got suspicious when the sender name of the email I received about picking another date for my pre-dawn tour since not too many people signed up for my chosen date was "Moutain riders" - not fixing a typo in your permanent sender name is telling. Also, they wrote in the confirmation email that the meeting time would be "between 04:15 - 04:30 (times subject to seasonal changes)" at the first 1/3 of the confirmation email and "Times: 5:15am - 9:30am" towards the end of it so naturally I did not notice the second time and came an hour early. The office location is not distinguishable from the address they provide so you have to call them to get additional directions. They apologised for the mistake only after I called them and were dismissive over the phone. The email says "we will start guests off with a hot or cold beverage" - I was hoping for coffee since this the only drink I would want before sunrise, but they only had cold water and juice. "Use of Sportswear windbreaker jacket" was adversed in that email as well but jackets were never offered. They take you in a van at a spot close to the entrance of the park which you can not enter and let you watch the sunrise for 45 FREAKING MINUTES WITHOUT ANY COMMENTARY. Basically, you are just waiting feeling cold and bored. Then they take out their rusty bikes, my brakes were making a squeaky sound all the way down. Since you do not get to enter the national park, the scenery is pretty boring - nothing special, regular Hawaiian scenery. Also, when instructing about how to bike with a group, they tell you that they expect you to tip them $30. I mean, decent service providers do not have to voice this expectation. Lastly, the tour guide who was riding with us gave high fives to people amidst a pandemic. He also mostly wore his mask below his chin due to being a chain-smoker, the lady who drove did not wear her mask at all times either when being close to people. I was relieved when this was over.