10 Experiences That Show Why Maui Is the Dream Trip Everyone Talks About
Maui is one of those places that feels like a dream—where every direction you look is postcard-worthy, and there’s no shortage of ways to spend your time.
Think palm trees swaying, tiki torches flickering along the sand, lush flowers framing every view, and whales breaching just offshore.
You can spend your days just lounging on the beach—and honestly, no one would blame you. But when you’re ready for something different, Maui offers a whole range of fun, adventurous, and culturally rich experiences that full advantage of the island’s stunning landscapes and vibrant traditions.
These are the 10 must-do experiences that make a trip to Maui unforgettable.
10 Beautiful, Scenic, and Adventurous Things You Can’t Miss on Maui
1. Bike Down the Haleakala Volcano
Haleakala is the massive volcano that covers more than half of the island of Maui. While many people visit Haleakala National Park for the rim views at sunrise and sunset, you can actually bike down the volcano outside the park!
To do this adventurous activity, you need to book a tour that leaves from the city of Paia. We love and recommend this self-guided bike ride down Haleakala. The outfitters equip you with all the needed gear and mountain bikes, drives you up the volcano, and then drops you off at the biking launch point.
What I particularly love about this tour is that it’s a self-guided tour, meaning you get dropped off at the starting point and then are free to go at your own speed back down the volcano, stopping at your leisure when you want to admire the view or take pictures.
The first half of the ride is primarily a series of switchbacks and great vistas. Then you’ll start biking through forests and fields, passing through a couple of cute little Hawaiian towns on your way down the mountain.
My extended family has done this activity many times, as different groups of people have visited Hawaii, and it’s always been a favorite experience. Check out my detailed guide about what it’s like to bike down Haleakala.
Check rates and availability for biking down Haleakala here
2. Watch the Sunset Ceremony at Black Rock
Black Rock is a rocky outcropping jutting into the water at the north end of Kaanapali Beach on the northwest coast of Maui.
Right before sunset, a conch blows to announce the arrival of a Hawaiian warrior, who runs from the nearby Sheraton Resort up to Black Rock with a torch, lighting tiki torches along the way. At the tip of Black Rock, he throws the torch and a lei into the water and then dives in headfirst.
This ceremony is intended to honor the last chief of Maui, Kahekili, who proved his spiritual strength by jumping from the Pu’u Keka’a (now called Black Rock) into the ocean.
This is a free “show” and you can watch from the beach or the beachwalk. It’s a fun experience and cool way to transition to your evening activities.
3. Get Incredible Views on a Helicopter ride
Okay, a helicopter tour over Maui is obviously a big ticket item and there’s no getting around the fact that this is a pricey experience.
But dang is this a cool experience!
You get 180 degree unobstructed views over the islands (you will see parts of Maui and Molokai – a neighboring island), which are just jaw-dropping from the air.
The crew is friendly and the pilot is engaging – sharing interesting tidbits and fun facts as you fly around. Expensive? Yes. Worth it? HECK YES.
Check prices and availability for this helicopter ride here
4. Go Snorkeling in the Ocean
Snorkeling in the ocean to admire the beautiful tropical fish of Hawaii is one of the quintessential things to do in Maui. And while you can certainly snorkel right off shore, its extra fun and exciting to do a catamaran snorkeling cruise.
Sail from Kaanapali Beach on a comfortable and relaxing catamaran, enjoying the sea views and the tropical breeze. You’ll stop at a few different spots (the exact location depends on the sea conditions) for some excellent snorkeling, where you can see colorful tropical fish, sea turtles, and possibly even dolphins or whales.
Breakfast and lunch is provided on board and the crew is incredibly pleasant and exceptionally attentive to your needs, making this a relaxing, idyllic day on the water. The fact that you’ll likely see dolphins and whales (depending on the season) makes this cruise almost a two-for-one deal!
Check rates and availability for snorkeling here
5. Zipline Between Mountains
The Flyin’ Hawaiian ziplining course on Maui has one of the best zips that I have ever experienced and is a fun adventure near Kaanapali! This course is found in the west Maui mountains, where you’ll experience 8 different zips that take you across 9 mountain ridges and 11 valleys.
After a safety lesson and a practice zip, you start on the real course, zipping between mountain ridges, sailing high and fast above the canyon floor below you. You are often flying along up to 450 feet in the air as the valley between mountain ridges drops off underneath you, reaching speeds up to 60 mph.
The views are incredible, with lush vegetation, steep mountain slopes, and sparkling ocean vistas on every side. The longest zip is 3600 feet long and is thrilling, exhilarating and gorgeous!
Check prices and book your ziplining course here
6. Drive the Road to Hana
Driving the road to Hana is probably THE most popular activity on Maui. This drive through the tropical forest is known to be absolutely stunning, with beautiful foliage and viewpoints as you drive along.
There are bamboo forests, waterfalls you can stop off to see, gorgeous ocean viewpoints, and little markets on the side of the road.
This is a fantastic thing to do near Kaanapali, and indeed, on Maui in general.
And if you don’t want to do the crazy adventures (like ziplining or biking a volcano) but still want to see some epically pretty places, this is a particularly great option.
Note: The road to Hana is extremely winding, so if you’re prone to carsickness, I would absolutely recommend taking some anti-nausea medication before you embark.
When you arrive in Hana, one gorgeous spot to visit is the Waianapanapa State Park, with its rugged views and some stunning black sand beaches. As of 2021, you need to make a reservation to visit Waianapanapa. You can make reservations here.
It’s highly recommended to stay one or two nights in Hana, since it takes 3 hours to get there from the Kaanapali area , not including any stops you take. You’ll want some time to really explore the area in Hana!
Check out a list of the best stops to make and everything to know about the Road to Hana here.
7. Attend a Luau
Experiencing a luau is a must when visiting Hawaii. When you arrive at a luau, you are warmly welcomed with a flower lei and an opportunity to get drinks. Then the traditional whole roast pig (kalua pig) is paraded through the crowd, and the buffet opens to guests.
A luau buffet dinner is a tantalizing spread of traditional Polynesian dishes, which includes kalua roast pig, huli huli chicken, oven roasted mahi, fried rice, a variety of salads, grilled vegetables, fresh fruits, and taro rolls (taro rolls are unique in that they’re purple!), plus other dishes and desserts.
Then the entertainment starts! Immerse yourself in Polynesian culture as you watch the incredible dancing routines. Sometimes the men perform, doing dances like the haka or the ever popular fire knife dance.
Sometimes the women dance, swaying to graceful hulas or executing impressive hip-shaking dances from Tahiti. The drums are rhythmic and the atmosphere is just fun! While there are many luaus on Maui, our favorite is the Drums of the Pacific at the Hyatt Regency in Kaanapali.
8. Get Adventurous on an ATV Tour
For a combination of adventure + high speeds + rugged roads + scenic views, an ATV tour around Maui is a great way to have fun in a beautiful area.
You’ll have the opportunity to go into the more mountainous areas and see unique spots and stunning views. Definitely wear clothes you don’t mind getting dirty, as you’ll get either muddy or dusty (depending on when the last rainfall was!)
This was a really fun and rugged activity on Kaanapali and I really enjoyed it!
Check rates and availability for ATV tours here
9. Learn How to Surf
Surfing is a quintessential island activity, so if you’ve never tried it before, now’s your chance! Surfboards and longboards are available to rent at many locations up and down the beaches in Maui. If you know how to surf and just need a rental, swing by any of these beach shops to pick up what you need.
However, if you are a newbie to surfing and want some instruction, a surf class is the way to go!
These surfing classes have a very small instructor-to-student ratio (usually 4 students per instructor). You start with a quick lesson on land and then get into the water. The instructor is there to help you learn the techniques and get you up on the waves.
Our group really liked the surfing class – it was really fun and really gave you a solid foundation, and people were actually surfing by the end!
Check prices and book your surfing lesson here
10. Watch the Sunset
Finally, to wrap up this list, we’re shouting out the phenomenal sunsets on Maui. Sure, maybe it seems like a sunset is pretty basic, but the way the sun gets huge as it makes contact with the water is *chefs kiss*.
It’s one of the most beautiful experiences in Hawaii, so make sure that you’re on a west-facing beach for sunset at least once during your stay.
Sunset is always between 6pm-7:15pm.
The Wrap Up
A Hawaiian vacation is a bucket list experience for many people—and honestly, just writing about all these amazing things to do has me itching to go back.
Maui’s laid-back vibe, paired with its tiki torches, adventurous spirit, and cultural traditions, makes it a place where you can both unwind and have an incredible amount of fun.
