Big Island Sights

Mauna Kea Summit Adventures

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Mauna Kea Summit Adventures Review

As the first company to specialize in tours to the mountain and the only company to offer only Mauna Kea tours, Mauna Kea Summit Adventures loves to focus on stars. Cushy vans with panoramic windows transport you first to the visitors center at 9,200 feet where you'll eat dinner and acclimatize for an hour. A hooded arctic-style parka and ski gloves keep you warm for the 4WD sunset trip to the 14,000-foot summit. Stargazing through a powerful Celestron telescope happens mid-mountain with the help of knowledgeable guides. Tour, dinner, and (westside) pickups cost $200 per person.

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    Mauna Kea Summit Adventures Review

    Mauna Kea itself was beautiful and the sky was incredible, I've never seen anything like it. I highly recommend making it up there, but please either rent a 4WD vehicle and take the FREE escorted trip with the Visitor Center volunteers, or find another tour company.

    I do not recommend Mauna Kea Summit Adventures b/c:
    -inexperienced or unknowledgable guides (we got zero information on mauna kea, the history, culture of Hawaii, etc. - what it says on the website)
    -the guide Gordon spent the entire time talking about why their tour is better than other tours, b/c of their vans
    -the van in my opinion is the least important thing, there haven't been any safety issues with other companies or driving yourself, he admitted people rarely had issues
    - too expensive for what you get (you don't even get a bottle of water, what they tell you to drink to curb altitude sickness)
    -stargazing occurs at 9,000 feet (same as the Visitor Center) so you might as well do that there for free
    -getting to the actual summit is not included and actually frowned upon by them, even though it's only a 20 minute walk from the drop point

    by lriley322, 5/25/10

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