Haleakala Bike Tours - Guided versus Self-Paced

Because there are Haleakala bike companies that offer either a guided or self-paced bike tour of Haleakala, many often wonder which is better. At Maui Sunriders, we offer self-guided Haleakala bike tours and truly think this is the best way to experience this Maui volcano bike ride, but all in all, it may depend on how structured of a Maui bike tour you prefer. Let us explain.

A typical guided Haleakala bike tour often takes a group of about 13 bikers down the Maui volcano at a time. On these guided bike tours, bikers ride at the pace of the person who’s leading the biking group. Thus, the biking group may or may not stop at scenic points along the way that the guide chooses to stop at. Individual bikers however will not be able to choose their own stops, and therefore are not able to stop and visit towns or various restaurants and shops along the way. But this kind of biking tour may be ideal for those who like a more structured experience. This is true.

However, in our experience, riding down the volcano on your own offers a much fuller biking experience. With a self-guided Haleakala bike tour, you’re in control. You have the freedom to bike at your own pace – to stop and go as you please all the way down to sea level. This self-paced bike ride allows you to go at a more relaxing pace, and it gives you the freedom to have breakfast or lunch at one of the many restaurants along the route. You can also stop to browse through some of the many shops and art galleries in small towns along the route.

Of course, the Haleakala bike ride itself is an amazing experience, but stopping at the little shops and restaurants along the way, seeing how locals live, or even just being able to stop along the road to pick a flower is what makes an amazing experience unforgettable. With a self-guided bike tour, you can really immerse yourself and be a part of the scenery without the cumbersome restrictions of a large group.

Biking at your own pace allows you to bike like you were at home cycling with family and friends. This is what we really love, and what we wanted others to have the joy of experiencing, all in this beautiful Maui setting. Offering a Haleakala bike tour that was less costly and allowed greater freedom makes the bike ride more accessible for families with children. Biking families can go at the pace of their children, not the pace of the guided tour group.

But how do you know where to stop along the way on a self-paced bike tour? Wouldn’t you miss some of the best places to stop? No, you don’t have to miss a thing with our self-paced bike tours. We drive guests up the mountain on the same route they will bike down. Along the way, our tour guides point out and explain different points of interest and various dining options at local restaurants. This narrated tour also explains the history of the area and Hawaiian culture. So, you have all the guide information you need. You’ll know exactly where all the highlights of the bike tour are and different options for eating along the way.

But what if something happens to my bike along the way? Don’t worry. You’re not left totally on your own. Our bikers’ safety is our highest priority, so we offer roadside assistance for all of our self-paced Haleakala bike tours. If you need anything along your bike ride, just call us and we will be right there.

So our self-paced Haleakala bike tours offer all the safety and guidance you need while also giving you the freedom to explore Maui’s gorgeous Upcountry on your own timetable. We really feel that this self-paced bike tour offers a more unique experience – an unforgettable way to see all that Upcountry Maui has to offer.