Visit Haleakala Crater, Iao Valley and Other Interesting Stops in Maui

FI Visiting Haleakala Crater, Iao Valley and Other Interesting Stops in Maui Valley Isle Excursions Tour Kealia Iao Valley

The breathtaking views and landscapes of Maui make road trips and guided tours popular activities among its visitors.  It’s a requirement in almost every itinerary and, if you ask me, so should yours!  Whether you do a self-drive tour or join a guided tour, allot at least 2 days to see nature’s stunning attractions like the famous Road to Hana, Haleakala Crater, and Iao Valley.  To experience both kinds of excursions, we did a self-drive tour for Road to Hana (I’ll post about this later on) and joined one of the guided tours of Valley Isle Excursions to visit Haleakala Crater, Iao Valley and other interesting stops in Maui.

Get ahead of the crowd and start the tour early  

We were picked up from our hotel around 7 am.  We headed to the beautiful Maui Lani Golf Course Clubhouse for the complimentary breakfast.  It gave us enough time to skip the crowd for our next stops.

Visiting Haleakala Crater, Iao Valley and Other Interesting Stops in Maui
View of the West Maui Mountains

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Stop #1:  Haleakala Summit Area and National Park

As we drove higher and higher onto the mountain, the weather worsened.  A thick fog covered the surroundings which led to minimal road visibility.  During those times, Mr. C and I were glad that we were in a guided tour because it was difficult to drive through the fog and the steep, winding roads.  You have to be very careful and it helps if you have some knowledge on the mountain roads.

It took us a while to reach the Haleakala National Park.  We were looking forward to seeing the famous Haleakala Crater but I would be lying if I said that our visit was a success because it wasn’t.  Due to the bad weather, it was impossible to see anything through the thick fog.

Our tour guide brought us next to the Haleakala Summit Area in the hopes of getting a better chance in seeing the volcanic landscape.  We had to climb a set of stairs which was more difficult than we thought.  The freezing temperature was almost unbearable, so despite being reminded by our tour guide to climb slowly, Mr. C and I ran towards the indoor viewing deck.  By the time we reached the top, we had difficulty catching our breath!  The air was so thin due to the elevation.  Sad to say, the view was still the same, but it was a great experience reaching the Haleakala Summit.  We were at 10,023 feet above sea level!

Visiting Haleakala Crater, Iao Valley and Other Interesting Stops in Maui Valley Isle Excursions TourHaleakala Summit Elevation

We also went to several lookout areas but all of them were covered by the fog.  This would have been our view though if the weather was good!  If only we had more days in Maui, we would have returned to Haleakala.

Our visit to the Haleakala Summit Area and National Park might not have gone as we hoped it would be but we were surprised and fascinated to see some icicles that had already formed.  Icicles in Maui, Hawaii!

Visiting Haleakala Crater, Iao Valley and Other Interesting Stops in Maui Valley Isle Excursions Tour Icicles Haleakala Summit Haleakala National Park

We also found several Hawaiian Silverswords, a rare and endangered plant that could only be found in certain areas like Haleakala.

Visiting Haleakala Crater, Iao Valley and Other Interesting Stops in Maui Valley Isle Excursions Tour Hawaiian Silverswords Haleakala Summit Haleakala National Park
Silverswords
Tips for Visiting Haleakala National Park

1. Check the weather
As amazing as it is in seeing icicles on a tropical island, we would still prefer to see the Haleakala crater.

2.  Bring your passport
It’s not required but you could have it stamped at the Haleakala Summit Visitor Center. 🙂

3.  Dress warmly and prepare for all kinds of weather
The temperature at the summit is at least 20 degrees colder than at sea level!

4.  Bring snacks and drinks
There aren’t any food establishments in the area.

Stop #2:  Picnic at the Lavender Cafe & Farm

Coming back from the Haleakala Summit, we stopped for a lunch picnic at the gardens of Lavender Café & Farm as part of our tour.  For dessert and snacks, we were given a box of Hawaiian Host chocolates to share.

Visiting Haleakala Crater, Iao Valley and Other Interesting Stops in Maui Picnic Lunch at the Lavender Farm Valley Isle Excursions Tour
Baked BBQ Chicken, Mixed Green Salad, Mac Salad, Dinner Roll, Curry Vegetable Noodles (Vegan)

The farm had a lovely, rustic feel.  We were surrounded by gardens filled with flowers and a forest with huge trees.  My favorite was the orchard of lemon trees.  I would have loved to explore more around this area but the rain started pouring while we were in the middle of our garden tour!

Visiting Haleakala Crater, Iao Valley and Other Interesting Stops in Maui Valley Isle Excursions Tour Lunch Picnic at the Lavender Cafe & Farm Garden
Lavender Cafe & Farm

Tip:

If you are a fan of lavender, check the Lavender Café on your way from Haleakala National Park.  They are said to serve good lavender products.

Stop #3: Iao Valley

Iao Valley is one of the highlights of our tour.  While the weather made it difficult for us to see the other stops in their full glory, it made Iao Valley more mystical.  A thin fog surrounded the lush peaks while the rain made it possible for waterfalls to flow.

Visiting Haleakala Crater, Iao Valley and Other Interesting Stops in Maui Valley Isle Excursions Tour Kealia Iao Valley

There is an easy, short hike from the parking to view the iconic Iao Needle.  Along the way, you’ll find a stream and see the valley from a better perspective. 

Visiting Haleakala Crater, Iao Valley and Other Interesting Stops in Maui Valley Isle Excursions Tour Iao Valley

The Iao Needle is famous for its unique structure.  To see it in person is an amazing experience!  It is a 1,200-foot rock distinctly set apart from the other peaks.

Visiting Haleakala Crater, Iao Valley and Other Interesting Stops in Maui Valley Isle Excursions Tour Iao Valley Stairs Iao Needle-7
Iao Needle

Stop #4: Kepaniwai Heritage Gardens

Close to Iao Valley is the Kepaniwai Heritage Gardens.  It’s a collection of gardens honoring Maui’s cultural roots.  The Heritage Gardens include China, Japan, Korea, Philippines, and Portugal.  Every garden has been customized to reflect each culture.

Visiting Haleakala Crater, Iao Valley and Other Interesting Stops in Maui Valley Isle Excursions Tour Kepaniwai Heritage Gardens
Kepaniwai Heritage Gardens

Stop #5: Kealia National Wildlife Refuge

Although we are not fans of birds or birdwatching, it was quite interesting to see unique and rare birds.  These birds are endangered species and we were told that you could only find them here.

Visiting Haleakala Crater, Iao Valley and Other Interesting Stops in Maui Valley Isle Excursions Tour Kealia National Wildlife Refuge (2)

Visiting Haleakala Crater, Iao Valley and Other Interesting Stops in Maui Valley Isle Excursions Tour Kealia National Wildlife Refuge
Kealia National Wildlife Refuge
Tip:

Bring a pair of binoculars to get a better view of the birds.

Self-drive tour vs joining a guided tour

Mr. C and I enjoy self-drive tours.  Well, that was until we experienced the luxury of this whole-day guided tour around Maui with Valley Isle Excursions.  For a day trip of 10-11 hours of driving and exploring, a self-drive tour could get really exhausting.  If you have the budget and you want convenience, comfort and safety, I highly suggest joining a guided tour like ours.

From hotel pick-up to return, we were taken care of by the tour and our guide, Junior.  Aside from the complimentary breakfast, lunch picnic and box of chocolates, we had unlimited cold drinks! All we needed to do was to enjoy every minute of it!  Unlike our self-drive tours where we have to focus on the road, with the guided tour, we were able to rest and appreciate the views.

Visiting Haleakala Crater, Iao Valley and Other Interesting Stops in Maui Valley Isle Excursions Tour Iao Valley-24

Thanks to Junior, we enjoyed hearing his entertaining stories of a local’s life in Maui!  It added a personal touch to the tour.  It’s him singing in the video, by the way. 😉

The custom cruiser of Valley Isle Excursions also made a huge difference to our experience.  It has elevated seats and large leg space.  We didn’t mind sitting for several hours because it was THAT comfortable.  We also had a full view of the scenery from its giant windows so it didn’t matter where we sat.

Prices:

Adult – $165.99
Child – $145.99
Senior – $155.99

For more details on Valley Isle Excursions, click here.

Tip: 

Get $10 off by booking online in their official website. You get the same services and everything, but you save $10 per person! 🙂

Disclaimer: This post is written in partnership with Valley Isle Excursions. As always, all opinions on Business Traveler’s Wife are my own.

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Haleakala Crater, Iao Valley and Other Interesting Stops in Maui | Haleakala Crater, Iao Valley and Other Interesting Stops in Maui |  Haleakala Crater, Iao Valley and Other Interesting Stops in Maui

The breathtaking views and landscapes of Maui make road trips and guided tours popular activities among its visitors.

Haleakala Crater, Iao Valley and Other Interesting Stops in Maui | Haleakala Crater, Iao Valley and Other Interesting Stops in Maui |  Haleakala Crater, Iao Valley and Other Interesting Stops in Maui

Looking for more activities in Maui?  Check my posts on our kayak AND snorkel tour experience in Olowalu Turtle Garden, whale watching, and the evening we spent in a traditional luau! 🙂

8 Replies to “Visit Haleakala Crater, Iao Valley and Other Interesting Stops in Maui”

  1. Maui looks so lush and different to what I expected. It’s weird to see icicles at the summit but then you guys were pretty high! I also agree that it’s best to move early when touring natural landscapes like Haleakala.

  2. I’d love to visit Hawaii one day, and this post makes me even more excited to go! I can’t believe how cold it was at the top, and how high up you were too! I’m really longing for sunshine, so thank you for this!

  3. Ooh I’ve been to Hawaii before but not Maui. I’d love to visit that island and do some exploring! It’s a shame you couldn’t see the volcanic landscape because of that heavy fog, but it still looks like an incredible visit!

  4. wow I can’t believe I missed Iao Valley while I was in Maui! It look so wonderful! I did went to Haleakala Crater, so sorry you couldn’t see the views from there because of the weather! I didn’t go there for a sunrise as everyone recommended as I was afraid I won’t be able to see anything but I went there in the middle of the day and it was stunning! Maui is such a wonderful place I hope I can go back one day!

  5. I love visiting volcanos – I’ve visited in Italy, Costa Rica and Nicaragua. I think the stunning mountain ranges that form around them can be so breathtaking and they are certainly a mystical concept. I love how you’ve compared self drive to guided. I am the opposite – I really enjoy a guided tour and from your experience I think I’d love this one too!

  6. Sorry to hear about the fog covering most of the look out areas that view though if you could see is wow that place looks like mars from the lookout. I would love to go to Maui it looks like such a beautiful place to visit and I would definitely do a road trip while there and not an organised tour, then I could take my time exploring especially places like Iao Needle & Kepaniwai Heritage Gardens

  7. Thanks for taking me to Hawaii! Now that Scoot has flights from Singapore to Hawaii, I might consider going this year and use your blog as a reference. I like outdoors and trekking so this is really handy. 🙂

  8. Am planning to visit Hawaii in the summer and am so glad I found your blog. I wasn’t aware of most of these place and thanks alot for sharing this post. I would love to read more blogs on Hawaii 🙂

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