Maui offers many fun adventures and attractions. You certainly won’t run out of things to do. In fact, if you’re not careful, you may even struggle to find enough relaxation time in between all your exploration.
With much thought and experience, we created a very fun Maui vacation itinerary that includes all the top attractions. Use it and you’ll leave Maui with lasting memories and an appreciation for the Hawaiian culture.
Here’s a list of some of the fun things to do and see on Maui:
– Visit Haleakala for sunrise – Catching sunrise over a crater from over 10,000 feet above sea level provides an unforgettable experience.
– Enjoy the beautiful sights on and off the Road to Hana.
– Snorkeling and diving around Maui is fantastic. A half day catamaran cruise out to Molokini is a trip worth doing. Plan to take an early morning excursion for smoother water. Another favorite snorkeling spot is Honolua Bay.
– If snorkeling doesn’t suit you, then see and learn about Hawaii’s tropical fish at the Maui Ocean Center or take a submarine tour.
– Surfing
– Windsurfing on at Hookipa Beach is world renown. Even if you don’t windsurf it is fun to watch the world’s best windsurfers here.
– Hiking – The Pipiwai Trail off the Road to Hana is one of our favorite Maui hikes.
– Ziplining (See my tips for ziplining in Hawaii.)
– Fishing
– Biking – One of Maui’s most famous bike rides is the downhill ride from Haleakala. It is certainly not for everyone, though. You may want to read this article and the associated comments if you are considering this activity.
– Golf at some of the worlds top golf courses. The Plantation Course hosts an annual PGA tournament in January.
– Horseback riding – we’ve enjoyed riding in the upcountry regions of Kula and Makawao
– Kayaking – We enjoyed kayaking in Wailea.
– Stargazing – our advice is to get up to the top of Haleakala at about 5:00am and see the stars before the majestic Haleakala sunrise.
– Helicopter tour – Get a bird’s eye view of Maui and all it’s diverse landscapes. If you budget allows, consider a tour that also takes you to see the tall sea cliffs at Molokai.
– Pamper in a spa. Maui has several top rated spas. Kapalua Spa is is one of our favorite spas in all of Hawaii.
– Enjoy Hawaiian food and a Polynesian show at a Maui Luau. Two of our favorites are Old Lahaina Luau and Feast at Lele.
– Tour one of Maui’s farms or learn about all the goodness that Maui grows at a farmers market. O’o Farms offers a nice farm to table tour and if you enjoy goat cheese, check out Surfing Goat Dairy.
– Shopping in Whaler’s Village, Wailea, Makawao or Paia.
– Tour a tropical garden. See my review on Maui’s Garden of Eden.
– Maui is perhaps the best island for humpback whale watching and the ideal time is from January through mid-April. You can watch from the shoreline or consider taking an organized whale watching tour to get a little closer to the action. See this list of the best places to whale watch from the shoreline.
– Take a day trip over to the island of Lanai or to Oahu.
For more ideas see our list of over 50 great things to see and do on a Maui vacation.
Again, see our Maui vacation itinerary to help quickly create your own plan.
>> Go back to the main page of the Maui Vacation Guide
13 comments
Please recommend the best way to visit Pearl Harbor. We are staying in Maui for the week. Thanks!
Stephanie – See this link: https://govisithawaii.com/2011/04/04/a-day-trip-island-hop-to-oahu/
We will be staying in Maui but want to go tonOahu to see YhevArizona and WWll exhibits. How can we schedule this in advance?
There are tour companies who offer guided tours that include flights from Maui to Oahu and back. Alternatively, you can plan your own day trip as we describe here: https://govisithawaii.com/2011/04/04/a-day-trip-island-hop-to-oahu/
Hi! Your articles are so helpful, thank you so much! I wanted to ask if you have suggestions for Horseback riding companies you may have used in Maui?
Thanks for the feedback. We did a tour with Piiholo Ranch. It was a nice ride. Here’s our video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrWcBuRPDBw
Thank you!! I’m looking into ziplining with them I’ll inquire about the horseback riding as well. I’m planning our Maui vacation and your 7 day itinerary helped tremendously! with a few adjustments, I think it’s a really good guideline for us <3 thanks
Yes, the 7 day itinerary is completely customizable. We know there’s not a one-size-fits-all version, but with the customization, it’s as close as you can get.
Where do you recommend for horseback riding?
Most of the horseback riding is upcountry near Makawao. We’ve done horseback riding with Piholo Ranch, which was nice.
We plan to visit Hawaii next year in June. What’s the best place to visit with a teen? He loves the beach. We just want to know what other activities you can recommend. Also, we need a hotel with a kitchen and need to be close to restaurants, stores, and shopping.
You know your teen best and what their interests are. Maybe one approach would be to look at the itineraries that we link to here: https://govisithawaii.com/2008/05/15/best-7-day-hawaii-vacation-itineraries/ and then decide which island suits your family’s interests best.
Also, read our recommendations for best places in Hawaii for families: https://govisithawaii.com/2016/02/10/where-are-the-best-places-for-family-vacations-in-hawaii/
You almost need about a month’s long vacation when you visit Maui, there is just so much to do! Great list though. We personally love the road to Hana, and also think snorkeling is a must. Can’t go wrong with picking any on your list. Thanks for sharing 🙂