"The
Valley Isle"
Maui, one of the prettiest islands in the world, is also known
as the "Valley Isle". This 48 mile long paradise is the perfect
blend of astonishing tropical landscapes, rugged mountains and
valleys, and a warm Polynesian culture.
Maui offers you a sublime mix of “Old Hawaii” and “Vacation
Paradise”, and has everything you'd expect from Hawaii,
including lovely beaches, warm tropical waters, a fascinating
history, high mountains, lush green valleys, cascading
waterfalls, and sugarcane fields stretching to the horizon.
The World's Largest Dormant Volcano
Maui's most prominent feature is easily Mount Haleakala, the
massive "House of the Sun. It’s a sleeping volcano that is over
10,000 feet high, with a base big enough to cover Manhattan!
Suffice to say, the views from the top are incredible.
You can partake in the numerous activities that are focused
around Haleakala, including a variety of bicycle tours that
travel the gentle, curving slopes of the mountain. Bike tours
range from 10-38 miles, and (best of all) are almost all
downhill! Imagine 38 miles of downhill coasting, taking in some
of the most astonishing views available. You can join an
escorted bike tour, or just head down the mountain at your own
pace.
Also very popular are the sunrise tours, where you watch the sun
rise from the crater (10,000 feet up!) To call it awe-inspiring
is an understatement – the incredible site has literally brought
tears to many eyes. And for a change of pace, you can even tour
the volcano on a horse if that’s your wish.
The Best Snorkeling
Maui offers you a variety of outstanding water sports, including
some of the best snorkeling and scuba diving on earth. Right off
Maui’s shore lays the tiny Island of Molokini, which is actually
an ancient crescent-shaped volcano crater, and home to some of
the most colorful and diverse species of underwater life you
will ever see. People the world over come here to snorkel, as no
finer location exists.
Also prominent is the sister island of Lanai, whose shores offer
you a chance to snorkel where the dolphins and whales roam. Or,
if you don’t want to get wet, you can view these graceful
creatures from the boat on one of the many dolphin and whale
watching tours.
Plenty of Other Activities
Lahaina is Maui’s center
for culture and tourism. It is filled with countless
entertainment venues and at the same time, it's still an active
port for sea-based industries (and, of course, ocean vacation
activities, like dinner cruises, jet skiing, whale watching, and
more.)
Maui is also home to the world-famous “Road to Hana”, which
features over 600 turns and 56 one-lane bridges on its
stunningly picturesque 50-something miles. In fact, many people
think there’s no better way to spend a day lazily touring this
famous trek, culminating in a visit to laid back
Hana Town.
As the final cherry on top, don’t miss taking a romantic sunset
dinner cruise, a unique combination of sailing into the sunset
and fine dining. Maui offers several wonderful dinner cruises
aboard luxurious, smooth-sailing yachts, all operating out of
the port of Lahaina.
Tour the island
In addition to everything else, you can choose from several
different land tours that allow you to traverse the island,
hitting all the highlights in day-long adventures that immerse
you in all the best Maui has to offer. If you want to see
everything at once, take a helicopter tour out of Kahului
Airport.
In Lahaina, Hana, and other “Old Hawaii” locales, you can still
feel the flair of the old days. Historical buildings, parks,
museums, an abundance of art galleries, restaurants, cafés, and
small shops are sure to make your visit a memorable one.
