Maui · Hawaii, USA
Things to Do in Maui: Tours, Tickets & Island Trips
The best things to do in Maui, ranked by real traveller reviews: the Road to Hana, sunrise on Haleakala, snorkelling Molokini Crater and Turtle Town, a Lanai snorkel sail, a luau, whale watching in winter and a sunset cruise off Ka’anapali. Compare 650+ tours, tickets and island trips side by side — most with free cancellation.
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Sunset tours in Maui
Departures that are under way when the sun sets in the coming weeks — start times checked against the local sunset.
Good for families in Maui
Children can join from a young age and pay less than adults — taken from each operator’s price list.
Browse
Explore Maui by interest
Whatever brings you to Maui — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
What to see
Top attractions in Maui
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Road to Hana
Waterfall drive.
120+ toursView tours
Haleakala
Sunrise summit.
90 toursView tours
Molokini Crater
Clear-water snorkel.
160 toursView tours
Luau
Feast & fire.
110 toursView tours
Sunset Sail
Golden hour.
100 toursView tours
Whale Watching
Winter humpbacks.
70 toursView tours
Helicopter Tour
Aerial island.
50 toursView tours
Surf Lessons
Lahaina breaks.
50 toursView tours
3 days
Maui in 3 days
- 1Day 1: Road to Hana
- 2Day 2: Haleakala & Molokini
- 3Day 3: beach & luau
- 4Sunset sails
For couples
Maui for couples
- 1Sunset dinner sail
- 2Road to Hana
- 3Haleakala sunrise
- 4Beach sunset
2.5 hrs to Hana awayRoad to Hana
64 miles of waterfalls, bamboo forest and black-sand Waianapanapa beach; small-group tours with lunch or a self-drive audio guide from $15.
from $15View trips
1.5 hrs to summit awayHaleakala Sunrise
Dawn above the clouds at 10,023 feet, with the summit reservation and warm jackets handled by the tour; add the downhill bike ride.
from $122View trips
45 min by boat awayMolokini Crater
The sunken crater’s 150-foot visibility, then Turtle Town for green sea turtles; morning boats from Ma’alaea and Kihei.
from $88View trips
1 hr by boat awayLanai
Snorkel the reefs off Lanai’s coast and watch spinner dolphins on a raft or catamaran sail from Lahaina and Ma’alaea.
from $85View trips
Resorts awayLuau in Wailea or Ka’anapali
Imu-roasted kalua pork, hula and a fire-knife finale at an oceanfront resort; the top luaus sell out weeks ahead.
from $146View trips
West coast awaySunset & Whale Cruises
Golden-hour sails off Ka’anapali with dinner or an open bar; from December to April the same boats run humpback whale watching.
from $80View trips
Practical guide
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Maui visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
April–May and September–October bring great weather, calmer crowds and better value between the peak seasons.
Spring (Apr–May)
Warm, sunny and less crowded — an excellent time for snorkeling and island tours.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Hot, dry and busy with families; calm seas make it ideal for water activities.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Warm and quieter after summer — one of the best-value times to visit.
Winter (Dec–Mar)
Busy peak season with bigger surf on the north shore, and the magical humpback whale season.
Whale season
For humpback whales, visit between December and April when they fill Maui’s waters.
One day
A Molokini snorkel and a sunset sail.
Three days
Add the Road to Hana and Haleakala.
A week
Add beaches, ziplines and more snorkeling.
Beach break
Add relaxed days on the golden sands.
Adventurers
Add ziplines, ATV and surfing.
With kids
Mix snorkeling, a submarine and a luau.
Tours & transfers
Guided tours with pickup are the easiest way to do the Road to Hana, Haleakala sunrise and snorkel trips.
Car hire
A rental car gives the most freedom to explore the beaches, towns and scenic drives at your own pace.
By boat
Snorkel and sunset cruises depart from Ma’alaea and Ka’anapali on the west and south coasts.
Where to base
West Maui (Ka’anapali, Lahaina) and South Maui (Kihei, Wailea) have most resorts and beaches.
Plan the drives
The Road to Hana and Haleakala are long; a guided tour saves the demanding drive.
Getting there
Kahului Airport (OGG) is Maui’s main gateway, with flights from the US mainland and other islands.
US dollars & tipping
Hawaii uses the US dollar; cards are widely accepted, and tipping is customary for guides and crews.
Reserve Haleakala sunrise
Sunrise summit entry needs an advance reservation — guided tours handle this for you.
Book Molokini early
Popular morning snorkel trips have the calmest water and sell out — reserve ahead.
Reef-safe sunscreen
Hawaii requires reef-safe sunscreen — bring or buy mineral-based to protect the coral.
Layer for Haleakala
The summit is freezing at dawn — bring warm layers even in summer.
Respect the aina
Treat the land and ocean with care: don’t touch turtles or coral, and follow local guidance.
Molokini snorkel trips
Calm morning cruises sell out — book ahead.
Haleakala sunrise
Limited summit reservations and tours fill up — reserve early.
Road to Hana tours
Popular guided drives have limited seats — book ahead.
Luaus
Top luaus sell out, especially in peak season — reserve early.
Whale watching
Winter cruises are in high demand — book ahead.
Peak season
Christmas, spring break and summer are very busy — plan early.
Molokini snorkel
Around $90–160 for a morning crater snorkel cruise.
Road to Hana tour
About $130–220 for a full-day guided tour.
Haleakala sunrise
Roughly $120–200 for a sunrise tour with breakfast.
Luau
Around $100–180 for a dinner-and-show luau.
Sunset cruise
About $80–150 for a dinner or cocktail sail.
How to save
Choose group tours and combine snorkeling with a sunset sail.
When to visit
Maui through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
Spring (Apr–May)
Apr–May
- Best for
- Warm, calmer, value.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Great all-round.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Jun–Aug
- Best for
- Calm seas, beaches.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Busy & hot.
Autumn (Sep–Oct)
Sep–Oct
- Best for
- Quiet, warm, value.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Best-value months.
Winter (Dec–Mar)
Dec–Mar
- Best for
- Whales, big surf.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Peak; book ahead.
People also ask
Maui travel FAQ
What are the top 10 things to do in Maui?
Snorkelling Molokini Crater and Turtle Town, the Road to Hana, the Haleakala sunrise, a luau, a Lanai snorkel and dolphin sail, whale watching from December to April, a sunset cruise off Ka’anapali, the Haleakala downhill bike ride, Ka’anapali and Wailea beaches, and ziplining or the Atlantis submarine. The first three are what every visitor should book.
How many days do you need in Maui?
Five days minimum: Molokini, the Road to Hana and the Haleakala sunrise each take most of a day, and you will want two beach days between them. A week adds Lanai and the upcountry. Book the three big tours for your first days so weather has time to give you a second chance.
What can you do in Maui for free?
Shore snorkelling at Black Rock and Ulua Beach, the Kapalua Coastal Trail, the sunset cliff-dive ceremony at Ka’anapali, whale spotting from Papawai Point in winter, the Pipiwai Trail and bamboo forest in Haleakala’s Kipahulu district (park entry fee only), Big Beach at Makena, and driving the Road to Hana in your own car.
What are the best day trips from Maui?
On Maui itself: the Road to Hana, Haleakala National Park and a Molokini snorkel boat. Off-island: a Lanai snorkel and dolphin sail from Lahaina (from $85, about an hour each way) and a fly-and-drive day to Oahu for Pearl Harbor. Lanai is the only other island you can reach by boat in a day.
What is there to do in Maui at night?
A luau with a fire-knife show, a sunset dinner sail, stargazing from Haleakala’s summit (some tours stay for the stars), Friday town parties in Lahaina, Wailuku and Makawao, the Old Lahaina and Feast at Lele shows, and live music at the Ka’anapali beachfront bars. Maui is quiet after 10 pm; the night sky is the main event.
What can you do in Maui in winter?
Winter (December to April) is humpback whale season: whale-watching cruises from Lahaina and Ma’alaea see dozens of breaching whales, and you can spot them from the shore. Big-wave surfing at Pe’ahi (Jaws) and Ho’okipa, cooler Haleakala sunrises and the rainy but lush Road to Hana round out the season. Book well ahead: it is also peak season.
What are the best things to do in Maui with kids?
A Molokini and Turtle Town snorkel (calm morning boats with flotation gear), the Maui Ocean Center aquarium, the Atlantis submarine off Lahaina, a luau with hula lessons, the Ka’anapali beach path, the Sugar Cane Train, ziplining for ages 8 and up, and whale watching in winter. The Road to Hana is long for small children; pick a half-day version.
When is the best time to visit Maui?
April to May and September to October: warm, dry and noticeably cheaper than the peaks, with calm seas for snorkelling. December to March brings the whales but also the crowds and the highest prices; summer is hot, busy with families and best for beaches. Hana’s waterfalls run fullest after winter rain.
Is Maui worth visiting?
Yes — no other Hawaiian island combines a 10,000-foot volcano sunrise, one of the world’s great coastal drives and a snorkel crater in one trip, with humpback whales thrown in for half the year. It is expensive, so book the three signature tours early and spend the remaining days on the free beaches.
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