Best Bike tours in Maui

The island's varied geography, climate and beautiful scenery invite you to explore the island by various means of transport. Helicopter, jeep, kayak, bicycle, the options are many, as are the things to see and do on Maui.

In this article I'll tell you about a bike tour of Haleakala, one of the must-visit areas of Maui and one of the most emblematic places in the archipelago.

The most original option

Maui Haleakala Volcano Self-Guided Bike Tour

A guided sunrise bicycle tour of the Haleakala region

You'll tour Haleakala, one of the best places in all of Hawaii, on a comfortable bicycle. You can watch a magnificent sunrise from the top of a volcano and then descend to Paia Bay to enjoy the ocean.

From £197 at Hellotickets

Recommended if... you like cycling and are in good physical condition. On this tour you will cycle over 42 km from Haleakala National Park at over 3000 metres above sea level and then ride down to the ocean at Paia Bay, where you will have time to swim at the beach.

As you watch the sunrise over the crater of the volcano you will hear the locals singing to welcome the sun and you will have time to ride around the crater before you start your return journey.

The volcano that gives Haleakala National Park its name has been dormant for over 500 years and is one of Maui's main attractions, with its breathtaking scenery of cliffs, waterfalls and bamboo forests. This tour includes entrance to the park from where you can see one of the most beautiful sunrises in the world. The protection of the site requires prior booking by the park itself, so it is highly recommended to go with an organised tour, since if you go on your own you will have to ask for authorisation well in advance.

Once the first rays of sunlight begin to appear on the horizon, the spectacle is served, as the colours of nature blend into the slopes of the volcano, dotted with unique flora and fauna. I assure you it will be worth the early start.

After contemplating one of the must-see sights on your trip to Maui, the sunrise over the volcano, a fascinating tour of Haleakala National Park awaits you that will be hard to forget.

Flowering jacaranda trees, microclimates, views and magical air.

You'll be descending and making stops throughout the tour, such as at the Kula gift shop in the park itself, or in the historic town of Makawao, located on the side of the volcano, where you can visit some art shops and restaurants.

All this while the local guide explains every detail of the tour and gives you plenty of time to take the best pictures. The groups of no more than 12 people on this tour allow you to make the descent comfortably.

The Haleakala bike tour requires a medium level of fitness, so it is suitable for people with good bike handling skills, but as it is a relatively easy descent it is not too strenuous.

However, this activity is restricted to children under the age of 12 and also to those who are under 5 feet tall. So if you are travelling as a family with children outside this range, I recommend that you consider other options for Maui with kids.

If your children are within the age and height allowance and you decide to take them with you on the ride while you take in the amazing views, I recommend that you bring them prepared with a warm jacket. It can get really cold at dawn at the top of the volcano's crater. Even more so if you are travelling to Maui in winter.

Also, the tour includes snacks and water but considering the 8 hour duration, it is advisable to bring something to eat or try to find a restaurant at one of the stops where you can recharge your batteries.

The best thing about this tour is that it includes transfers to and from the hotel. So if you end up tired, don't worry, once the bike tour is over, you and your family will be taken back to the hotel where you can rest and recover from the ride.

There are a variety of tours available for biking around Maui. Considering that the geography and nature of the island invite you to cycle around it, I recommend that you take a leisurely look at the different options available because there is a wide range on offer.

There are providers who offer bike routes which, for a slightly higher price, also include lunch. But if what you fancy is a pedalo ride and combine it with other activities such as snorkelling or hiking, there are other options that may interest you more. Let's take a look at the most outstanding ones:

Haleakala National Park bike tour with lunch

This 7-hour tour with a descent and ascent of up to 25% is best suited for people who are used to cycling. You'll be treated to spectacular views all along the way and will see unique sites such as Kula, Keokea and Ulupalakua. For around 350 euros, lunch, fresh fruit and isotonic drinks are included, as well as transfers, so you don't have to worry about a thing!

South Maui Bike Tour with snorkelling

Maui has a lot of activities to offer and you might like to take advantage of a trip to do other types of sports. For this reason, I recommend that you check out the self-guided tours that include an electric bike tour and stops at the various beaches in the south. There, for around 70 euros, you can go snorkelling or relax in the sun and enjoy the panoramic views of the beautiful Hawaiian beaches, such as Kamaole or Wailea.

West Maui Bike Tour with Hiking

Take a walk on a unique trail through Kapalua, then snorkel or swim at the beautiful West Maui beaches with the incredible Hawaiian wildlife and finish the tour by hiking over the island's unique lava tongue, Dragon's Teeth. All this is possible on a 6 hour tour that will leave you with no shortage of things to see on the West Coast of Maui. With your electric bike and snorkelling gear and for a price starting at around 70 euros, you'll reach the most hidden corners of the island.

If you plan to do a bike tour in Maui you can book it online in any of the companies specialized in selling tours, experiences and tour packages. In Hellotickets you have the most complete option and in a very simple way you can book the Haleakala sunrise bike tour.

Simply select the day you want to do the tour, the adults who are going to participate, click on book and then you will see the detailed program with the pick up place, the stops and everything you will see on your trip to Haleakala Park.

An important advantage of booking online is that you can be sure that the tour you choose will be available on the date you select. If, on the other hand, you wait until you arrive on Maui to buy your tours, you probably won't be able to find a place because the current trend is to book well in advance.

Another great advantage of booking online is the ease of payment. You can pay by credit or debit card and have more flexibility to manage the budget available for your trip.

By booking online the different activities and tours to do in Maui, you will be able to evaluate the companies providing the services and help other travellers like you to make the best decisions.

The amount of time you will need to spend on your Maui bike tour will depend a lot on the places included in the itinerary.

For example, for a full tour of Haleakala, including a visit to the volcano crater and Paia Bay, you'll need at least eight hours because it's a demanding tour.

However, you can find more basic tours suitable for beginners where the time is considerably less, around 2-3 hours.

If you are not only into cycling, but also into other sports, you can do other sporting activities such as kayaking tours on Maui or snorkelling tours. In all these activities you will have the advice of specialised guides.

The price of a bike tour will depend on the length of the tour and the places you visit during the tour. It will also depend on the services provided along the way, for example, whether lunch or other meals are included.

To give you a rough idea of prices, a full 8-hour tour of Haleakala National Park, including crater entrance, water and snacks, costs around 225 euros per person.

Another great way to see Haleakala Crater is from the air on one of Maui's helicopter tours.

The island of Maui has many places worth visiting, some well known and others that are real hidden gems that only locals know about.

If this is your first visit to Maui, you'll want to see as many of the sights as possible and to do so you'll need a local guide who knows the island.

One of the biggest advantages of taking a guided bike tour of Maui is the experience of the guide who will be with you and will be able to tell you details about the attractions you will be visiting.

Opting for a guided tour also gives you another advantage, safety along the way. The local guides will take you on the safest routes, which you will not be familiar with if it is your first visit to the island.

Also, in case of bad weather or rain they will guide you along the less dangerous paths. Keep in mind that if it rains there are many alternative rainy day activities on Maui.

Feel free to reschedule your bike tour if the weather is bad (check with your guide about the possibility of reserving another day) and do some other tours that are recommended for rainy weather.

If you have already decided on the best time to visit Maui and booked a Maui bike tour, keep the following tips in mind: - Before you start the tour, test the bike and make sure everything is in perfect working order.

• Wear appropriate clothing and bear in mind that at the top of the crater you will be at an altitude of over 3000 metres and temperatures are lower, so take some warm clothes with you.
• Wear shoes suitable for cycling.
• Always wear a helmet, the companies provide helmets with the bikes. If you don't get one, ask for one.
• Remember to wear sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat.
• Even if you are given water on the tour, bring your own because the routes are long and you need to stay hydrated.
• Respect your guide's instructions and obey the traffic signs.
• Always stay with your group.

Whether you have five days to explore Maui or a whole week on the island, the adventure has just begun and, after taking one of the best Maui bike tours, you still have time to enjoy many other activities.

If you like to explore nature on foot and see it first hand, don't miss this post on The best hiking tours in Maui. However, once you've cycled around part of the island, you might feel more like driving a jeep on a tour of Maui.

But you can also explore the crystal clear waters with the best boat rides and take in the incredible views from Maui's amazing waterfalls.

There are endless activities awaiting you in this unique paradise. The hard part is choosing...