Mauna Kea astronomical tour from Kona
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Description
- Observe one of the darkest and most pristine skies on planet Earth through a Dobsonian telescope
- Watch the sun come alive in true color with vibrant solar flares and sunspots
- Admire galaxies, nebula, star clusters, planets, the moon and much more
The adventure starts with setting up a state-of-the-art solar telescope for your viewing pleasure, your specially trained guide will let you safely watch the sun come alive in true color with vibrant solar flares, sunspots, prominences and any other current activity weather permitting.
Next, you’ll travel across Saddle Road between Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, two of the tallest and most massive volcanoes on Earth. Your National Park Service-trained guide will discuss the volcanology, geology, and history of these monstrous wonders, as well as providing in-depth narration on the various lava flows and flora and fauna that you’ll be passing by.
After this, your guide will take you to one of the best spots on Mauna Kea for nighttime stargazing. You’ll observe deep-sky and planetary objects through a large aperture Dobsonian telescope under one of the darkest and most pristine skies on planet Earth! The Dobsonian telescopes are a true purist’s experience to view the night sky, their fast focal ratio enables you to see sprawling wide-field views of objects. Depending on what is visible in the current sky and weather permitting, you’ll observe galaxies, nebula, star clusters, planets, double star systems, the moon, and much more!
Lastly, warm up with 100% Kona coffee, hot chocolate, and a delicious dessert from a local artisan baker before returning to your resort.
Location Map
Highlights
- Guided tour
- Hotel pickup/drop-off
- Entrance fees
- Warm jackets
- Picnic-style dinner
Exclusions
Terms & Conditions for This Tour
These are the key terms that apply to tour bookings. They form part of your contract with 1860 Travels — see the full Terms & Conditions for the complete text.
Pricing, Inclusions & Exclusions
- Prices are per person unless stated otherwise, and may change at any time until your booking confirmation is issued.
- The Inclusions and Exclusions listed on this page are specific to this tour — anything not listed under Inclusions is excluded from the price.
- Prices exclude local taxes, charges, gratuities, food and beverages, and transfers unless expressly stated otherwise. Gratuities are entirely at your discretion.
- Children under 16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult. Student and senior (60+) pricing requires valid ID at the time of booking and on the day of travel.
- Group tariffs may be available for parties of 10 or more — contact us for a quote.
Amendments & Cancellations
- Amendments to this booking can be made by contacting us at least 96 hours before the departure date.
- Cancellation notice must be received at least 1 week before departure, otherwise a 100% cancellation charge applies.
- Theatre tickets, dining products, and overnight tours cannot be amended or cancelled unless otherwise stated at the time of booking.
- For health or pandemic-related cancellations, options may include a travel credit voucher, rebooking on flexible dates, or a full refund, subject to the specific product's conditions.
- If you miss a coach tour through no fault of 1860 Travels, no refund will be issued; a discounted rebooking rate may be offered as a gesture of goodwill.
Refunds & Compensation
- If a venue cannot be visited during the tour due to unforeseen circumstances, a partial refund of the admission value may be issued at our discretion.
- No refund is given for non-operational air conditioning or washroom facilities on an assigned vehicle.
- Refund requests cannot be accepted more than 30 days after the tour's completion.
- Approved refunds are processed within 15–20 working days via the original payment method.
- Third-party tours where 1860 Travels acts as an agent are non-refundable and subject to the supplier's own terms.
Payment
- Full payment is required at the time of booking unless otherwise specified.
- We accept Visa and MasterCard and charge no service fee, though your card issuer may apply its own charges.
- Customer payments are held in a dedicated client money trust account until your booking is completed or cancelled.
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