One of the coolest things about Hawaii is that you can essentially go from sea level to 10,000 ft. elevation in a crazy short amount of time. You could be having breakfast at the beach and then be at the top of this incredible summit high above the clouds by lunch.

One of the best ways to go about the experience is to do a bike ride at one of the most beautiful times of day: sunrise. I’ve gone ahead and detailed my 5 top Haleakala sunrise bike tours out there, with top-notch gear, great company, and an expert local guide to lead the way.

Let’s get started!

Be sure to see our reviews of Maui Sunset Dinner Cruises, Maui Luaus and Whale Watching Tours.

Best Haleakala Sunrise Bike Tours

	Haleakala Sunrise Best Self-Guided Bike Tour	Best Haleakala Downhill Self-Guided Bike Tour with Maui Sunriders	Maui Haleakala Sunrise Downhill Bike Tour with Mountain Riders Rated #1
Location:	810 Haiku Rd, Haiku, HI 96708	Maui Sunriders Bike Co, 71 Baldwin Ave Suite D3, Paia	497 Baldwin Ave, Paia, HI 96779
Start:	4:00 AM	8:45 AM	2:45 AM
Duration:	7 hours	4 to 5 hours	7 hours
Includes:	Air-conditioned vehicle, Entrance into Haleakala National Park, All Fees and Taxes, Custom Kona Mountain Bike, Bell Helmet, windbreaker Suit Top & Bottom	Mountain bike with front-suspension and disc brakes, full-face or regular helmet, wind/rain jacket, pants, bike gloves, backpack, bike lock, route map	Bottled water, snacks, local guide, use of helmet and chrome cruiser bike, receive instruction from a professional guide
	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking	Tour Information & Booking

Quick Answer: The 5 Best Rated Haleakala Sunrise Bike Tours For 2024

1. Haleakala Sunrise Best Self-Guided Bike Tour
2. Best Haleakala Downhill Self-Guided Bike Tour with Maui Sunriders
3. Maui Haleakala Sunrise Downhill Bike Tour with Mountain Riders Rated #1
4. Haleakala Sunrise Best Guided Bike Tour with Bike Maui
5. Predawn-Morning Haleakala Bike Tour 6,500 to Sea Level

Haleakala Sunrise Bike Tour Reviews

1. Haleakala Sunrise Best Self-Guided Bike Tour

If you want to take full advantage of Hawaii’s incomparable, raw beauty, look no further than the Haleakala Sunrise Best Self-Guided Bike Tour. You don’t have to worry at all about the logistics like you would going it alone – simply focus on enjoying this incredible experience.

This is a bucket list activity that I encourage anyone to partake in, especially if it’s your first time in this amazing place. Start out in the morning by meeting up with your guide, where you’ll be briefed with what to expect, fitted with a custom Kona mountain bike, Bell helmet, and a full windbreaker suit.

The weather can get quite wet and windy, depending on the season, so this was super nice to have as we hadn’t packed anything like it, ourselves. One thing to note is that you’ll head up in a comfortable bus to the top of the volcano and arrive before sunrise, so you don’t have to trek up there by bike.

Our guide was simply phenomenal and made our tour that much more special, with plenty of fun anecdotes and interesting historical commentary that I likely would never have heard, otherwise.

It’s invaluable having a local expert lead us through, especially because we got to see portions that I honestly probably would have missed if it were just my party.

This itinerary features so much more than the bike ride, though – you’ll make photo stops and some breaks to stretch and listen to different stories about the area and its history.

The sunrise was absolutely amazing – it’s something that you just have to see for yourself and I don’t want to spoil it all for you! The ride back down was quite fast but exhilarating and full of laughs, stopping in the town along the way for a delicious breakfast.

You’ll also make a historic site stop and a stop at the Visitor Center – don’t forget the famous “Fabulous 29 switchbacks!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

2. Best Haleakala Downhill Self-Guided Bike Tour with Maui Sunriders

If you’re looking for a shorter tour than the previous one, or simply don’t feel like you need guidance on the way down, this next tour is a great option.

The Best Haleakala Downhill Self-Guided Bike Tour with Maui Sunriders gives you full rein to bike the mountain how you see fit, riding the upper and lower sections at your own pace without having to stop.

You do need to be 15 years and up, but if you do have older kids with you, I highly recommend this experience just as well for the entire family, as couples or solo travelers.

If you have wanted to do a Hawaiian bike ride but didn’t bring all your equipment, that’s very understandable, considering the risk of damaged or lost luggage (not to mention the cost!). With this tour, you don’t have to worry about bringing any gear or even bike clothing with you – they have it all covered!

Start off your morning tour with a visit to the bike shop, where they’ll fit you for a bike just right for you, as well as either a full-face mountain bike helmet or a regular helmet for more experienced riders.

Your ride starts at 6500 feet on the upper switchbacks, with plenty of adrenaline and beautiful landscapes to soak in before arriving to the stunning Kula Community by mode of the van shuttle.

You’ll take a bit of time to learn all about their culture and history which sits right on the western slopes of Haleakala. After passing Kula, you’ll arrive to Makawao where we learned about their paniolo lifestyle, which is quite literally Hawaiian cowboys with their rich background in ranching.

Once in the charming little town, you’ll have time to stop for a delicious traditional lunch, grab some souvenirs in one of their many unique shops, check out their art galleries, or simply walk around and explore.

As this tour is completely self-paced, you don’t have to adhere to any specific route and can be taken as you wish. Finish up the ride in downtown Paia, where you’ll return your bike and can check out North Shore, or their recommendations for food!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

3. Maui Haleakala Sunrise Downhill Bike Tour with Mountain Riders Rated #1

There’s no experience quite like waking up before the break of dawn and ascending to the legendary summit of Haleakala for a sunrise bike ride.

The Maui Haleakala Sunrise Downhill Bike Tour with Mountain Riders Rated #1 experience is an experience you have to see to believe and is ideal for all experience levels.

With professional guides there to take care of you and lead the way, you’re in great hands and can place all your focus on just enjoying this jaw-dropping landscape.

Another important factor that differentiates this tour from 99% of others is that it’s one of the few Haleakala bike trips that literally go all the way from the summit to the beach. Your tour starts off earlier than any other – at 2:45 am – to ensure that you and your party will arrive to the top of the summit before sunrise!

After all, viewing the electric red and gold enveloping these stunning landscapes is easily one of the most impressive activities one could go on here (and that’s really saying something).

Start out at the shop where you’ll get fitted with a Chrome cruiser bike and helmet, though I will note that they didn’t provide warm clothes so please pack warmer layers as it can get a bit windy at the top of the mountain.

Throughout our bike ride, the amazing staff kept us entertained with fascinating anecdotes, and plenty of historical and cultural commentary about the surrounding area and their legends.

With 29 switchbacks you have incredible bicoastal views that would be difficult to appreciate this way from any other perspective! This tour also did a great job of incorporating visits to the towns of Makawao and Kula, where I gained valuable insight into the more traditional cultures found here.

While this is definitely a bit more of a demanding ride, we all felt safe throughout the entire excursion, with all safety gear provided.

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

4. Haleakala Sunrise Best Guided Bike Tour with Bike Maui

If you’re on the hunt for a quintessential outdoor Hawaiian experience, you’re in luck with the Haleakala Sunrise Best Guided Bike Tour with Bike Maui. Experience a breathtaking tropical sunrise from the summit, then take an exhilarating bike ride down a dormant volcano.

If you don’t have any gear with you or literally no experience with mountain biking, you’re in good hands because this tour has you all covered!

Your tour will start out in the morning, though the exact time will depend on what works best for you and your party’s schedule.

Meet up with your guide and the rest of the staff at the shop, where everyone will be matched with a Kona mountain bike, helmet, gloves, as well as a Helly Hansen windbreaker suit top and bottom.

I thought that this was a really nice touch as we’d pretty much just brought “beach” clothes on vacation – not to mention the windbreaker suit was very high-quality and comfortable.

After setting off on an educational tour of Haleakala National Park while listening to interesting commentary about the history and culture of the park, we arrived at the summit viewing area, which was just magical.

You’ll get to appreciate remarkable views of the dormant crater along with phenomenal bicoastal views of Maui that are far beyond any other vantage point, while the sun starts to come overhead and cover everything in its electric gold hues.

After that beautiful moment, you’ll set off down on your guided biking adventure with a thrilling ride downhill and over the famous “fabulous 29” switchbacks. One of the highlights for me was biking through the town of Makawao, and the delicious “No Host Breakfast” at Haiku!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience

5. Predawn-Morning Haleakala Bike Tour 6,500 to Sea Level

If you’re a nature lover and want to go beyond what you’d get in a cookie-cutter bus tour, look at the Predawn-Morning Haleakala Bike Tour 6,500 to Sea Level activity!

This 5-hour experience is a bit shorter than many of the others yet definitely doesn’t lack in quality of content with expert guides there to share rich background information and lead the way safely.

I can’t think of another way that you can soak in this jaw-dropping natural beauty with adrenaline in a tour of 5 hours, giving you the rare opportunity to conquer one of the most famous landscapes in Hawaii.

Known as the “House of the Sun”, witnessing the sunrise from this perspective creates a moment that feels transformative.

You’ll start the day before the sun even rises, heading to the shop to get your Chrome cruiser bike and helmet, receive a fun and educational narrated tour through the charming towns of Makawao and Kula before heading up to Haleakala Ranch, where you’ll settle in to watch sunrise.

Having this experience was truly amazing and it’s crazy to think that there are so many people here who are gifted this moment every day of their lives. After the sun rises, we get ready for our bike riding portion which starts at 6,500 feet, and thanks to gravity, it’s a super easy ride down.

You’re literally just coasting through the famous 29 switchbacks as you are regaled with the bicoastal island views. Take a break to check out Makawao’s artsy, historical community, along with their cowboy, “Paniolo” background!

More Information & Tour Booking

100% refund for cancellations within 24 hours of tour experience