*** We are heartbroken about the recent devastation caused by the wild fires. Over the years we have spent many hours in Lahaina, the memories will always hold a special place in our hearts. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Maui. Please support if you can. ***
As you can imagine, there is no shortage of possible activities to do on Maui. If you are only going to visit Maui once there are definitely some must do activities and must see attractions. Here is our recommended 7 day Maui itinerary. It’s jam packed with adventure, good eats and hopefully, a little bit of relaxation.
*** Check out our latest post with all the the info about what it’s like to travel to Maui during these COVID times***
Day 1 – Arrival Day
Rejoice, the day that you have been waiting for has finally arrived. Shortly, you will be enjoying sunny Maui and hopefully a Mai Tai or two! Once you have landed, arrived at your destination and check out your home of the next few days, explore the area. And if you are lucky enough to be there before sunset, make sure you have a great spot to catch a glimpse of it.
Pro tip: If you know that you will arrive in time for dinner, make a reservation somewhere close to your accommodations. Starting your vacation waiting in line for dinner after a long day of travel doesn’t sound like much fun to us!
Day 2 – Haleakala Sunrise
If you are coming from somewhere east, you will be jet lagged and up before the crack of dawn. So, take advantage of it and head on up to Haleakala to watch the sun rise. To do so, you need to be up really early.
If you are planning on driving up yourself, make sure to book this at least 2 months in advance. Check out our Haleakala section of our Maui Travel tips to get you will need. If you are looking to book a tour, make sure to do so 4 to 6 weeks in advance to ensure that you aren’t disappointed.
If you are looking for something to do on your way back from Haleakala, we recommend checking out the Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm. The 13.5-acre farm resides at an elevation of roughly 4000 ft. and is home to approximately 55,000 lavender plants and 45 different varieties of lavender.
Another option is to visit the Hali’imaile Distilling Company for a tour of their distillery. We highly recommend you give their PAU Maui Vodka a try. You will definitely want to bring a bottle home with you. While we were there Safeway did seem to have excellent prices on their spirits.
For dinner, check out Japengo in the Hyatt in Ka’anapali. Their menu is mostly Asian cuisine infused with island flavors. Or, if you are staying in the Wailea area, treat yourself to a meal at Lineage. It’s the newest restaurant by Chef Sheldon who starred on Top Chef’s seasons 10 and 14.
Day 3 – Molokini Snorkel Tour
There are plenty of great spots to snorkel and scuba dive around Maui, and we suggest Molokini because it offers a whole lot of fun in one trip. For those of you that do not know what Molokini is, it’s a crescent-shaped, partially submerged volcanic crater. And, it houses a lush reef with excellent visibility.
Obviously, the only way to get there is by boat. There are plenty of tour options to get you there. Since we are morning people and like to avoid crowds, our favorite is the Sunrise Deluxe Snorkel with Kai Kanani. It’s an early start, but you are back on land by 10 am.
As you cruise the waters off the coast of Maui, keep your eyes open you might be lucky enough to see dolphins or whales.
If you are on a budget but still want to snorkel, you’re in luck. There are plenty of free spots to do so. Here’s a list of some of the most popular:
- Honolua Bay
- Kapalua Bay
- Turtle Town/Maluaka Beach
- Black Rock/Kaanapali Beach
In the evening, book a Luau. It’s a must! Our recommendation is the Old Lahaina Luau, but many other options. Many of the major resorts on the island have their own luaus. All great in their own way. So, you really can’t go wrong.
Day 4 – Beach Activities
Before you get your head to the beach, check out the Gazebo for breakfast. When you arrive, there will most likely be a lineup, but don’t be discouraged and stay the course. Give their macadamia nut, white chocolate pancakes with some coconut syrup a try. You won’t regret it!
After breakfast, go for a drive north since there are a few spots worth checking out.
First, check out the blowhole. It’s actually named the Nakalele Blowhole. You can see it from the road side, but definitely worth the hike down. If you decide to do so, be safe.
Then, hop back in the car and keep driving a few minutes further. You will reach the Olivine pools. They are sizable tide pools on lava rocks at the edge of the ocean. Be sure to have cash with you since you will encounter several local vendors selling their products, like dried ginger, mango, and coconut.
On calm beautiful days, you will find some people hiking down and swimming in these pools. Unfortunately, the day we decided to go it was very windy and unsafe to even get close. So, we had to settle for these photos from afar.
There are plenty of great things to see and experience on Maui, but it’s important to take some time to enjoy the beach and ocean. Whether it is a walk on the beach, a surfing lesson or just relaxing with a good book, Maui can accommodate it all.
Later in the day, when you are ready to get out of the sun, head to Lahaina and check out Front Street. Everything that you can want can be found there. With plenty of shops, restaurants and bars, it’s a great place to visit any time.
If you are looking for a great place for dinner, check out Honu. There, you will be able to eat a great meal while catching an unobstructed sunset.
Day 5 – Road to Hana
Warning, this will be an all day thing. We are talking between 8 and 12 hours, depending on the number of stops you make. It is 52 miles from Kahului to Hana with 54 bridges (46 are one lane) and 620 curves. Non-stop, it takes about 2 ½ hours one way but you will want to stop to see waterfalls and beaches and maybe even stop for a hike.
The Road to Hana is a great way to see just how diverse Maui’s landscape can be. And, make sure to leave early to try to avoid as much traffic as possible. Click here to read our full post with key planning information.
After a full day of driving you will probably be looking to relax and unwind. For dinner, we definitely recommend Monkeypod. There are two locations on Maui, one in Ka’anapali and one in Wailea. Click here to read our full Monkeypod review.
Day 6 – Waihee Ridge Trail Hike
This is by far our favorite hike on Maui. It is not an easy hike and the conditions can be challenging, but the views make it worth it. Approximately 5 miles round trip, this hike also involves climbing uphill for about 1,500 feet. Read our our full post on the Waihee Ridge Trail Hike.
If you don’t feel comfortable venturing on your own, Hike Maui offers many guided hike options. We did a hike with them to Twin Falls years ago and it was a great experience.
If you are looking for some coffee or food before you head out, stop by the Wailuku Coffee Company in Wailuku. It’s a great little spot with good coffee and food options.
After your hike, you will surely be hungry so we recommend checking out the Maui Brewing Company. They have 2 locations: one in Kahala and one in Kihei. Not only do they have great beer, they have fantastic food. If you make it to their Kihei location, consider taking a brewery tour.
For the rest of the day, relax. Sit by the pool or head to the beach. Perhaps, catch your last sunset on the island. This is probably when the fact that you need to return to reality is starting to set in.
Day 7 – Departure Day
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. Take advantage of every minute that you have left in paradise before having to head to the airport.
If you are looking for some good food options for the plane, there is a Whole Foods near the airport. Often, we stop in to stock up on snacks. Or better yet, if you are staying on the West side of the Island, stop in at Leoda’s and they will pack some sandwiches for you for the flight. It sure beats eating airplane food and, you can grab a pie for the road too!
Also, if your flight is later in the day and you are looking for something to do, check out Bounty Music the Ukulele store. They have ukuleles everywhere along with all kinds of rare instruments.
And, since you will probably want to grab some food before heading to the Airport, we recommend lunch at the Flatbread Company in Paia for the worlds best salad. Plus, the flatbreads are pretty good too. It’s only a few minutes drive from the airport.
Finally, if you are reading this because you are planning your first trip to Maui, make sure to check out our other Maui post:
What are your favorite Maui activities? Comment below!
Products we used during our trip
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Mini Eggs Buttercream