** booked the trip through Cruiser Phil's but the storefront says Haleakala Bike Co,, the vans said Bike Maui),This really should have been a fantastic time all around... that said, I did the full ride down years ago, my husband has never. First part was ok. Cory was very chatty and knowledgeable. We stopped to get helmets and jackets ( although the jackets were basically useless and not lined nor kept me warm). Arrived over an hour before sunrise... Cory's part ended and the bike portion started. To not rehash the entire thing, Russ was the leader and although he went over safety rules, he really didn't seem that concerned: big distances between riders, he mixed me up with another rider, chewed me out and told me I wasn't following directions and would not listen to me tell him otherwise;; later he said he couldn't tell us apart and I was the only one not in black/gray; it was a small group of 8 and there was a huge distance between the first two riders; he started off saying that the heaviest people would be the fastest-/ I was the lightest/ smallest and he told me I needed to go faster to catch up; he and the first rider who was a big girl and originally nervous and why she was in front were literally several hundred YARDS ahead of me ( and therefore everyone else); didn't go over speed bump navigation or hand signals until the last stop ( and there were multiple stops); I needed my bike adjusted bc the seat was too low and hurt my knees and he told me it was mostly cruising anyway and ignored my request after I told him I had had 2 knee surgeries.Appeared very condescending to me after the first incident. He also said if the directions aren't followed / he feels a rider is unsafe that he will have them sit in the van and that's the end of their ride---The sad thing was that one of the riders who went down literally less than a minute from the end and was taken away by ambulance..and she was the one he confused with me the very first part and obviously didn't follow his own safety instructions...but even their safety/ 911 protocol was unacceptable-- took them a while to call 911after she went down. Didn't seem like he knew how to handle the situation. Had two of the riders direct traffic using the companies walkie talkies and the batteries died ( aren't they supposed to be fully charged every ride???...)then Russ tells me after that he is certified as a first responder as he takes a 40 hour course yearly. Very pompous and showed no critical decision making skills the entire trip ( I am a physical therapist, 35+ years)....no tip for him. I highly recommend he be fired and welcome the owner to contact me through Yelp. Anthony, the assistant (driver) was very nice and helpful but the scary thing is he said that Russ is their best tour leader :0 Beautiful ride otherwise (5/5) DO NOT BOOK WITH THIS COMPANY read more

This is an awesome organization. We did the Haleakala bike tour and this group were awesome. They were organized, professional and very accommodating. Mike our driver very informative. Great guys overall. Our bike tour guide, I can't remember his name was also great. The whole groups are as awesome, I definitely recommend doing this excursion if your visiting Maui. read more

Cruiser Phils Volcano Riders - Tours Near Me - Kahului, Hawaii

I feel compelled to give a review of Phil's as a precaution to anyone looking to book. We really enjoyed the sunrise portion of the tour- this was the highlight and pretty much the only great part. You will only end up biking for about 30 minutes and it is broken up into 2-3 parts because one of the towns has banned biking. Not the tours fault- but felt like false advertising to not explain this on their website when signing up and paying for the tour. I would have chosen to do a tour bus up and back down versus biking. The guides were very nice but the constant tip requests got tiresome. It felt like every step of the way we were stalling to kill time to fill up the 10 hour tour. This could have been a 4 hour tour but took all day. The sunrise is great, so that made it worth it. Be advised you will be sitting on a bus for 8 of the 10 hours with minimal biking. read more

The Sunrise Bike tour of Haleakala is truly one of the best moments of my life!! I love that they also offer a ride down in the van for those that don't feel confident riding down the mountain. Our friends that live on Maui recommended this company and told us it is the only one that they will use or recommend to anyone that comes to visit them. They provide everything that you may need for the bike ride and while watching the sunrise....it's cold so take advantage of the extra layers of clothing/protective gear they offer! You'd not have to use it, but if you don't take it, then you don't have the option if you need it! Seriously an A+++ company! read more

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My experience with the guided bike tour was unforgettable. The experience started with Chris driving us up to the sunrise. He talked story and gave us a historical adventure through Maui. We learned so much and appreciated how wisdom. Our guided tour guide, Dru was phenomenal. He was only interested in showing us a safe and fun day. Dru also told great stories about the ancestors and magical Haleakala. The whole crew including Dan who picked me up at 2:30 am also played a big role in the experience. read more

Cruiser Phils Volcano Riders - Tours Near Me - Kahului, Hawaii

Cruiser Phils Volcano Rider tours was one of our highlight tours in Maui in Mid April during out honeymoon!!! We were picked up at our hotel at 2:00am. Yes, though it was super early we honestly preferred having someone drive us than driving ourselves in zing zags in pitch dark up a volcano in the dark. The positive part was that were able to sleep a bit in the van. I'm thinking if we would of gone ourselves we would of still have to woken up early in our rental car. We would of had to leave our hotel at around 3:00am to give ourselves some buffer time incase we got lost and because it would take us an hour and a half to go up the Mount Haleakala. After they picked us up everyone in our group (My husband and I were the first ones) they took us to main headquarters for breakfast. They provided us with continental breakfast which consisted of coffee, packaged pastries, crackers and granola bars. They also asked us to complete our waivers. I highly recommend you take additional snacks if you are a picky eater or incase get hungry often. After they collected our signed waivers were each given two sets of clothing to wear once we reached the Top of Mount Haleakala. Everyone was given these items according to their size: Pair of Hand Gloves, Columbia jacket with hoodie, Columbia windbreaker Jacket with matching pant set. I honestly did not imagine it would get that cold, you will be surprised!!! We felt super lucky to be given these items!! The condition of the clothing was in clean and in good quality. We made it up to the top viewing point at 5:20ish and we arrived in perfect time as light of the sunrise was just starting to peak and the crowds of people were starting to grow. The sunrise spectacle happened at 6:00am. After the sunrise we were given some time to explore in a nearby observatory. We then went to the trailer where they had stored by bikes a few miles down as they don't allow bikes inside of the National Park. They provided us with very clear rules which might of sounded silly but it made sense for them to mention. We then were given our helmets and given the opportunity to take layers of clothing off. The bike ride down was spectacular! You will barely have to pedal and although you are going downhill it is not as steep. I had some problems with my bike and they kindly changed it for me as we were riding. If you are not comfortable biking downhill there you will be able to hop in the tour van as it will be following you. The guide always looked out for our safety and kept us together which made the ride very enjoyable. We rode at an average of 15-20 miles per hour, my husband wore his triathlon watch, he later saw we did hit 30mph a few times. The good thing is that you have control of your bike if you know to use one and the breaks are working as they should. I do recommend you know the basics of bike riding or else you may struggle. We had a stop for pictures which was really neat and cool. The bike guide suggested a few cool poses. We took some great pictures!!! After the ride we were taken to a very cool hipster town to each breakfast / lunch. We went to the place they recommended and it was very good. Do note lunch is not included. The driver and tour guide were very nice and tried to make our tour very enjoyable. On the way to the hotel our driver of Hawaiian decent asked us if we had any questions on Maui as he was born and raised in the island, he was very open to talking about his culture and we learned a lot. We booked this tour last minute at our hotel so we missed out at getting it for a discounted price online. I recommend you look into booking it online to save some money. Do note this tour does not include tip, you are encourage to tip both the driver and bike riding guide. We tipped each of them because they truly earned the tip. I am giving this tour 4 stars because the quality of the breakfast which was OK and look of the bikes were OK although they worked well. Recommendation for tour company: Maybe adding Yogurts to the breakfast items as an additional semi healthy option would be a way to improve the breakfast. Mahalo! read more

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BEST TOUR EVER!!! My husband and I were supposed to be picked up at 2 o'clock in the morning in front of our hotel but they were running a little behind but the lady called to let us know which was nice! When the shuttle got there it took us to the bike center where we checked in, they had water and hot coffee, helmets for your bike ride, and even extra clothes in case you need them. Our 2 tour guides kept it entertaining and us laughing the whole bus ride since it was dark outside for the whole ride up the mountain. They were very informative and told lots of jokes. Try to take a nap on the bus but it's hard because they are talking the whole time. When we got the top there were probably 150 people up there but the views were impeccable! We were above the clouds and on top of a volcano! We rode a little bit more down the mountain before hopping on our bikes. It was a total of 27 miles down but we hardly peddled because it was down hill. If I'm Hawaii it's a MUST DO!!! read more

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The bike ride down Mount Haleakala is an absolute MUST for thrill seekers and/or scenic enthusiasts! This was truly one of the most exciting experiences of my life. Our driver, Marvin, and bike guide, Drew, were two of the nicest, funniest and most conscientious tour guides I've ever spent time with. They truly seem to get along well. There was no phony tour guide banter or overly structured speeches. They were just two easygoing people who enjoy touring the volcano. If you are not comfortable biking downhill at 30 mph, there is also a van on the tour that you can hop in. You won't miss out on any of the scenery and you will be able to safely enjoy the views. Drew and Marvin were clear on the safety guidelines. Anybody who isn't extremely comfortable driving down steep terrain along with traffic should probably hop in the van. The tour begins with a van ride to the summit of Mount Haleakala (10,300 feet above sea level!) The views were absolutely breathtaking. The summit is above many of the clouds. It was cool to see the clouds from a Birdseye view. After you drive back down part of the volcano, you are given the option to switch to bikes for the rest of the decline. If you are in Maui, I would recommend this tour, whether you do this by bike or by van. read more

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We had a great time this morning! Drew was our guide and Julio drove the van. Unfortunately it was foggy at sunrise! Boooooo, but of course not their fault. The employees were all kind and professional. It was cold. It rained, we got wet, but our guide could see it ahead and we all put our rain gear on. Then it got Hawaii warm! So nice! The bikes are steel cruisers. Sturdy. The brakes worked well. The ride down was awesome. If you're going to do the ride I HIGHLY recommend Phil's. read more

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Although it was tough getting up at 1:00 am, it was well worth it! Watching the sunrise was incredible, and the 20+ mile bike ride down was so much fun! The bikes were in great condition and well maintained. I had a knee replacement several months ago so going downhill was a breeze, however there were a few hills, all of which I was able to bike up without any problems, except for the very last one. Was happy to see I wasn't the only one pushing my bike up that last hill! I have done the sunrise bike ride before with other tours, but this one was the best I've done. From the time we were picked up in Kaanapali until we were returned to our condo, it was laughs and good times the entire morning. I would highly recommend Cruiser Phil's! read more

Cruiser Phils Volcano Riders - At the second location after watching the sunrise. - Tours Near Me - Kahului, Hawaii

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Word of advice - if you are staying on the west side and don't want to spend 8 hours on what should be no more than a 4-hour tour, drive yourself to their shop. If we'd done that I probably would've given four stars. Ride was fun and staff was nice, just not very well organized. Island time is one thing, but when you make a trip to Maui, you don't want to spend half of a vacation day waiting around for a tour company to get their act together. Also recommend trying self-guided so you can stop along the way where and when you want to. Also, bring your own water; they don't provide any. read more

"Biking down a volcano" is not quite as cool as it sounds, but it's still well worth the trip. A check off the bucket list for my wife and I on our honeymoon. We did the sunrise, self-guided tour. You get scooped up from your hotel (Hyatt Regency Maui, for us) around 2am. My suggestion? Nap on the bus.Upon arrival at the rental facility, you'll get a quick safety training before actually getting shuttled up the mountain to catch sunrise. Don't be intimidated - the bikes are simple to operate, they're just equipped with ridiculously strong brakes. You'll then cruise up the mountain. For those doing self-guided tour, stay awake as you get familiar with the 6 turns you'll make (they're easy to remember), and the landmarks on your route. Our guide, Derek, was absolutely fantastic. Apparently, he's a teacher by day, and he did a great job keeping us engaged as we cruised up the mountain, learned our turns, and got a crashcourse on the area. He also went out of his way to capture fantastic photos of everyone and even grab us a keepsake from the peak's visitor center. After catching sunrise (and the chant, that adds to the excitement), you'll take a brief shuttle ride to the bikes. Strap on your helmet and start cruising. Due to the elevation, you barely have to pedal. It's a fun trek and only takes a couple of hours (The majority of the time is transportation). MUST stop for stick donuts on the way down. Bring some cash. They'll tell you where to go :). read more

Comfortable, fun, informative ride to the top to see the stunning beauty of sunrise above the clouds! The staff at Cruise Phil's was friendly, knowledgeable and patient. They provided jackets and gloves (which were much needed) and of course all the gear for riding down the volcano. I highly recommend them if only part of your crew wants to go on the bikes as they charge less for those that want to just cruise down in the van, unlike other tour companies in Maui. They also give you breaks to change your mind if the bike ride is too strenuous so you can hop on the van. The crew was very safety-conscious and helpful. read more

This was one of my favorite things we did during vacation. Preston was amazing. He was out bike guide and Dean was our driver. The sunrise is breathtaking and something you must see for yourself. If you go just for the sunrise, you are missing so much more by not doing the bike tour. I was appreciative that one person is behind you in the van as cars can go fairly fast. So the van serves as a block for the group and cars behind them. There was minimal pedaling. And this group definitely ensures safety first. I mean you are biking down a volcano at 10,000 ft. They have your safety in mind the entire time. Views were amazing. Preston was a great guide that was very knowledgeable regarding this history of Hawai'i. The bikes squeak but you can tell they are definitely used. (Not in a bad way but if you expect top of the line, maybe this isn't for you). The bikes for me were great, seats were bigger which I would like to think helped. If I had a free day before I was leaving I would absolutely do this again... read more

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We recently completed the sunrise tour. The day started with a 2am pickup at the hotel by our guide, so if you choose this option, either do it at the beginning of your trip, before you acclimate to HI time, or at the end of your trip, as a way to force yourself back to mainland time. The first leg takes you to the Cruiser Phil office in an industrial section of Kahului, where you complete varies waivers and acknowledgements. Two guides are assigned to the tour: one who leads the bike group, and a van driver who follows behind and helps manage traffic flow down the mountain. Jay (our bike guide) and Jessie (van driver) were both personable and focused on providing a safe experience. Once the paperwork is completed, they hook up the bike trailer to the van, and you begin the long, slow ride up the mountain. At nearly 10,000 feet, it will be cold and windy, so dress appropriately. All riders are furnished with jackets, gloves and rain suits, but long pants and sweatshirt are highly recommended. Sunrise, when it finally happened, was spectacular. A Hawaiian ranger with the National Park Service offers a traditional chant that was very moving. Following the sunrise ceremony, it's back in the van for the drive down to the staging area. The tours used to start at the park's visitor center, but after an accident a few years ago, the Park Service kicked the tour operators out, so for us, the bike tour began at around the 6500 foot level. The bikes are a customized beach cruiser equipped with drum brakes. They are tough, ugly, and heavy. Like any beach cruiser, these are not particularly easy to peddle, but aside from a couple short stretches, peddling isn't really necessary. The ride itself was a lot of fun. The top stretch is steep and winding. As you descend the mountain, you pass through a number of farms, wooded areas and mountain towns. The scenery is spectacular, and gives you a whole different perspective on Maui. Our ride ended in the seaside town of Paiai. The tour includes breakfast and a chance to explore Paiai. Then it back to the office to drop off the trailer, say goodbye to your bike guide, and make the trip back to your hotel. Overall, it was a great experience. The only downside is all of the time you have to spend in the van. They do offer day tours if you don't want to wake up early, but if you have never experienced the Haleakala sunrise ceremony, this is a great way to do it. read more

Cruiser Phils Volcano Riders - Quick break on the ride down Haleakala. - Tours Near Me - Kahului, Hawaii

Had a good time doing this tour for the following reasons. First the view from the crater is mind blowing. When you get up there and see the stars and how the clouds mold with the rocks. Just cool. Secondly the tour down is pretty good as well. Top part is best when you have the space to lean into the curves and really feel the adrenalin pumping. Third the crew was good. They were intent on sharing information with us, and really worked to set a good mood. And not in a sort of overbearing "we have to manner". But because they seemed to enjoy it. Some remarks which should not be seen as detrimental but for informations sake. These are clearly outside the tours control. The top of the crater is potentially very cold and wet. We started out dry with wind which was fine. You could see the colour change on the clouds. Unfortunately the clouds rolled in and it got really chilly. It also made us miss the actual sunrise. Still got some good pictures when it cleared a bit. The crew is very safety conscious I think. Meaning you will drive at the pace of the slowest/least confident bicycle. So you might get stuck wishing for a bit more speed sometimes. But again safety and fun for all first. You will spend most of the tour just cruising down. I hardly peddled the whole trip. And for last: Tour is a bit pricy. But you get pickup, good gear to wear and paid entrance to the park. So it adds up. I personally would have liked the tour to be longer. Don't get me wrong the view and curves were fun. Just seemed so short. read more

Cruiser Phils Volcano Riders - Easy rider. Stopped for photos and an nice view over the neck of Maui - Tours Near Me - Kahului, Hawaii

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The sunrise tour was well worth the 1:45am pickup time. We arrived on Maui the day before and chose to do the sunrise tour on our first full day on Maui. They actually advise against this due to frequent delays in flights, but we risked it. Our friends recommended this group and suggested the first morning since we wouldn't have adjusted to the time change. Definitely a smart move! We had no trouble waking up since it was 7:45 our time. The views atop Haleakala are amazing and watching the sunrise from 10,000 feet up is truly a once in a lifetime experience. On a good day (ours was) the sky is crystal clear and you can easily pick out constellations. It is cold that high up so bring layers. Cruiser Phil's provided rain gear and a fleece lined jacket, but I also wore what I brought. You can always remove layers and put them in the van on the way down. Biking down was just as cool. It was a little terrifying for me with the hairpin and s-turns, but an awesome experience. You're in a motorcycle helmet and you control your speed although they do try and keep everyone together. You stop in a little town for a late breakfast and their recommendation - Cafe Mambo - has an awesome breakfast burrito! The sunrise tour was well worth waking up so early and biking down is the best way to experience the Haleakala tour. Definitely recommend this group (and Drew who was our guide!) read more

Had a great time this morning on our van trip to the summit of Haleakala and bike ride down! Cory, Drew, and Dave were excellent guides. They kept the group safe, taught us a bit about the volcano and surrounding fauna, and made the trip especially rewarding. This turned out to be Dave's first time as a ride guide. He did a great job and made it very enjoyable. This is an experience everyone should have. No particular bike skills are required. read more

Preston and Trevor were the best. There were some other groups out during our ride that seemed really unsafe. Preston and Trevor kept everything in order and safe. Preston is also a walking encyclopedia. Great tour all the at around! read more

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We did the sunrise and bike tour. The early wake time is definitely worth it. The stars, Milky Way Galaxy, shooting stars and satellites where awesome. The sunrise was spectacular. The chanting at the sunrise gave us a sense of spirituality and meaning (the guide was a sleep on the van). The cruisers looked old but they worked great. The cruise was fun. They stopped us to take photos and adjust the order. The scenery is beautiful. I only gave them two stars because the guides put an emphasis on giving them a gratuity. They said they shoot for 15-20% per rider and mentioned it about 4-6 times throughout the ride. It took away from the enjoyment of the activity. The ride is about $20 more expensive than others, but the group is 12 people and they focus more on safety, which we appreciated. However, it was $500 for three people and potentially $600 including the desired tip. It wasn't just the guides. All the safety materials and release statements mention tips as well. So much for focusing on great service and being thankful if you get a tip. read more

Great tour with Preston and Trevor! One of the best vacation tours I have booked. Preston and Trevor provided much more than a bike ride. They provided tons of information about the crater, ecosystem, and Hawaii! Would definitely recommend Phil's for a safe ride with tons of info. Did I mention the ride was great? Tons of fun. read more

Cruiser Phils Volcano Riders - Tours Near Me - Kahului, Hawaii

They picked us up at 1:45 AM from our hotel, which was far earlier than necessary. After picking up a few more people, they took us to their "office" which was a shack in an industrial park to sign paperwork. I still don't understand why we couldn't sign it in the car. Breakfast was a granola bar and coffee. They drove us to the top of the volcano, arrived at about 4:45 AM then waited 90 minutes for the sunrise. Again, why get their far earlier than necessary? Before we started the bike tour down, we got a stern lecture from the guy with the ponytail (Jay, I believe). He spent a good half hour telling us all the reasons he would take our bike away from us. I cannot even tell you ridiculous rules he was ready to jump down your throat for. Follow slightly too close to the person in front of you? He'll take your bike away. Lift one hand off a handlebar? Goodbye bike. Try to take a picture while on the bike? You'll be riding back home in the van. After the insanely long lecture, we finally got our bikes. For the price of the tour, about $120-$150 per person, I was expecting a quality mountain bike. Instead, we are given beach cruisers that have seen far better days. These bikes had no gears, and the brakes were completely shot. At one point our group stopped at an overlook, and I squeezed my brakes as hard as I could. My bike flew past the group before eventually stopping a couple hundred feet down the mountain. Guess who yelled at me: ponytail guy. During the trip down, it rain was lightly falling on and off. Not a big deal for any of us. But 2/3rds through the trip, Jay randomly decided to call the trip because of dangerous conditions. Reading the other reviews here, it sounds like this is a pretty common occurrence, and he is looking for any excuse to end the trip early and go home (since he gets paid either way). We were all a bit disappointed to stop, especially considering the steep price. "Lunch" consisted of them stopping at a small town, and telling us we can go find a restaurant on our own to eat and then meet back up. At the end, Jay had the audacity to tell us that an appropriate tip is 20% of the price, or about $30 per person. Overall: Jay is an awful tour guide. It's a shame, because it's a beautiful volcano & ride. The other tour guide, who followed in the van, was very friendly and pleasant. Judging from his attitude, he was not a big fan of Jay either. If the other gentleman was the guide instead I would probably be giving this review 4 or 5 stars. When it came time to tip, we gave him, and only him, a tip. Not worth the high price at all. read more

The sunrise at the summit was great...being able to coast down the road was fun too...however our overall experience with the staff at Cruiser Phil's was terrible...... We were on our honeymoon in beautiful Maui to celebrate and relax during our time off from work after our wedding...what we got was sarcastic/opinionated "locals" (who originated in the Midwest) who resented us being on "their" island for some reason...apparently tourism is important to the economy of Hawaii these days but our guides could care less about "people from away". If you want to take a nap on the way up the mountain forget that too...the bus driver will talk your ear off about nonsense. All in all we had a great time in Hawaii and enjoyed seeing the sunrise. We do not recommend this tour because of the disrespectful staff and unaccomidating personalities... read more

Amazing experience! Preston our tour guide was excellent. And Rico was great too! Thanks guys! Mahalo Delaware gang read more

My wife and I did this tour during our honeymoon in early April and we both loved it! Marcus, our driver, picked us up at 2:30am from our hotel in Wailea and took us back to headquarters (about 30min) to join the other riders. They had coffee and granola bars waiting for us while we were being fitted for windbreaker pants and jackets. We were making great time on our drive to Haleakala, and I thought we started way too early! However, our trailer got stuck as we pulled into the unloading zone just outside the national park. It was about a 45-minute to an hour delay, but Marcus and our tour guide, Preston, were very calm and proactive to fix our problem. We made it to the top just in time to see the sunrise! So, it may seem like an early wake up time, but it's just to ensure you will make it to the top, even if you encounter a problem like we did that day. It was also evident that Cruiser Phil's made safety their number one priority. They have a strict protocol on the bike tour, but it did not deter from the fun of riding. They bikes did seem old, but they were heavy, which was great for maneuvering (coasting) down the volcano with ease. Our tour guide, Preston, was very informative and enthusiastic. We both enjoyed hearing Preston talk about the history of Hawaii, the national park of Haleakala, the endangered species throughout the island and various other topics. It was a great addition to the tour to listen to Preston's information. He was very nice and positive, and let us take our time. We met Phil when we got back from the tour and he apologized for the trailer inconvenience we had in the morning. He was very nice and we thought that was a kind gesture. Overall, this was a great experience! The early wake up time to bike ride down the volcano was well worth it! You get to experience the true natural side of Hawaii. The views and smells were amazing. Dress warmly because it was in the 30's at the summit (10,020ft elevation) when we went in April. The van follows close behind during the ride, so you can always take off garments when you stop. We will definitely do this again! read more

We went on the Haleakala sunrise tour on 3/31/10. We were able to book 2 days in advance but barely (the daytime tour was already booked). I didn't have online access by then but they were still willing to give me the online price ($130) by booking on the phone. Our tour guide, Jay, picked us up by van at 3 AM at our hotel in Kanaapali. We were first taken the the Cruiser Phil main office. In the middle of the night, the location looks really suspicious -- down a poorly lit dirt road behind an industrial complex. The staff were all really nice. After a quick breakfast of pre-packaged Danishes and coffee (I passed on the coffee to minimize the bladder load), and after signing the necessary waivers, we got back into the van with the bikes and equipment hitched to the back. The ride up the mountain took about 1 hr 15 min. I was worried about getting motion sickness on the road up, but the road wasn't that bad. Just before we entered the park, the the staff unhitched the trailer with the bikes. Apparently, the park no longer allows people to ride down from the very top (which is actually a blessing). At the top of the mountain, it's COLD and WINDY. Cruiser Phil's provided everyone with a winter jacket, gloves, wind parka, and wind pants. I brought my own gear so I didn't bother using theirs. A warm ski jacket and ski cap REALLY helps on the top of the mountain. Of note, there is a visitor center with large windows overlooking the crater and from where you can also seen the sunrise. People must have been tipped off about this because the moment they opened the center (about 6 AM), people rushed in and were able to get a nice WARM view of the sunrise. About 15 minutes after sunrise, we got back into the van and road back down to the trailer at about 6500 ft elevation. It was still cold (not as bad as the summit) and VERY WINDY. Apparently we booked our trip on one of the most windy days on the island. Our guide, Jay, started us down the road. We were lined up in single file, about 20 feet between each rider (women first, men in the back, then arranged by height). The driver/van trailed behind the last bike to help keep the road clear. Riding in the wind was actually quite difficult - at times, it felt like I was going to get blown off my bike (not a great feeling when falling off the road means a long tumble down a steep slope). I definitely recommend people check the weather forecast a few days before and NOT go if the conditions are windy and/or rainy. Nonetheless, we made it down safely due to the very capable guidance of our tour guide. We stopped riding temporarily in the town of Mawakao and the van took us through (to keep from irritating the locals). Then, we got back on our bikes and road to the town of Paia. There, the bike ride officially ended. We had an hour to shop and eat a quick brunch/lunch, then took the van back to Cruiser Phil's HQ. We got back at hour hotel around 11:40. I definitely recommend a full guided tour (including the tour guide riding in front and the van accompanying the bikers) for this ride. It's safer (helps keep cars clear of the bikers) and also gives the option for someone to ride down the mountain in the van if they're not up to the ride. Not every bike company gives this option. Fortunately, Cruiser Phil's does. Overall, I give them 4 stars because the staff were really friendly and capable and got us safely down the mountain without any problems. However, I wish they could get some more updated bikes. The bike is basically a beach bruiser with handle bar grip brakes. My brakes felt a bit weak and the chain rattled a bit (though you don't peddle much during this ride). Nonetheless, the equipment worked and we were able to enjoy our bike trip. read more

This was awesome. First our guide Tomas and his back up Marvin emphasized safety and fun. The entertained us throughout the van ride and prepped us well before the dissent. Our group of 11 had a range in age from 13 to 62 and all completed the journey without incident. Certainly the highlight of our first Hawaiian vacation. read more

Must have reservations. Tom was great. We did the guided tour. So easy with no worries of traffic or directions. Such a beautiful, fun, exciting ride. We have done it before, Cruiser Phil's was great. Pick up at our hotel allowed for napping on the way home. Great time! read more

My husband and i did the sunrise tour and bike down the volcano and it was one of our favorite activities of the trip. You have to be up pretty early (2am) for pickup from your hotel so we did this the first day we got there since we were on east coast time, which was a great idea since it didn't feel so early to us. The sunrise was amazing, definitely cold so be sure to bring a sweatshirt, sweatpants and lots of layers. The bike ride was all downhill and i barely had to pedal. The beginning is quite windy though so make sure you're comfortable riding a bike for that part. We went through some beautiful areas and were at the bottom by around 9am. We ended in a small town and grabbed some breakfast for our bus picked us back up and drove us back to our hotel. The tour guides were awesome and friendly. Would definitely recommend! read more

This was the first tour we did on Maui, and we got up at about 1:45am that day to get picked up at the hotel to be taken to the bike shop where we got all our equipment and got briefed on safety. It wasn't a quick ride there and we got to rest or sleep some more. After we left the shop, where we had some coffee and hot chocolate, we headed on up Haleakala. That was not a quick drive and you could get more sleeping time in if you wanted, but the guide, Pete, grew up in the area and had so many interesting stories to tell us. He was so enthusiastic, knowledgeable and fun. He definitely added to the entire experience. We actually didn't get the best view of the sunrise, it was very cloudy. Not the typical picturesque experience you always hear about but it was still beautiful nonetheless, and the weather can't be controlled. We embraced it for what it was. It's Hawaii! We then bussed back down out of the National Park where we got our bikes and headed on down the fastest biking trip I've ever taken and may ever take again! LOL. It was insane!! And such a workout I was exhausted at the end. The most beautiful views and smells as we made our way down. Definitely got a lot of picture opportunities. We even biked through a rain storm at one point and then within minutes it was scorching hot LOL. We got down the mountain and finished with breakfast that we bought at a local restaurant in Pa'ia all before 10am. We had time to walk around town too. And then had time to rest and enjoy the whole rest of the day. Getting up so early was a lot but it was worth it for an incredibly unique experience. read more

Cruiser Phils Volcano Riders - Tours Near Me - Kahului, Hawaii

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My husband and I did the sunrise bike ride on our honeymoon and loved it!! Okay, it wasn't easy to get up at 2am for the 2:50 pickup, but worth it in the end (plus you're back at the hotel by 11am for a cocktail and plenty of beach time!). The gents running it that day (Drew and Thomas) were great- very friendly, knowledgeable and attentive. As for the sunrise, they give you layers but I definitively underestimated the cold (and I'm from MN!) wear more than capris, a long sleeve tee and a hoodie. There is a wait before sunrise and it's super windy. The bike ride down was great! They were thorough with the rules which I appreciated and based on people in my group not even looking both ways before crossing the road, much needed. Just take it easy and have fun! I had no issues with the bikes- they are going downhill not up is they have to be clunky-durr! We got to stop for donuts in a little town and also stop in another. A very good day that I recommend highly to all. Once you've done the sunrise one time then totally fine to do the day tour- you don't have to get up so early lol! read more

My girlfriend and I enjoyed every bit of this tour. It was tough waking up early and getting picked up from the hotel at 2 a.m. But it was well worth it. The sunrise at the crater was priceless and then the bike ride down the hill was just icing on the cake. The bikes are not brand new but there is no pedaling needed and the breaks worked. LoL. We felt safe the whole time thanks to Jesse the driver following us with the truck. ( I forgot the guides name but he was also great). read more

Cruiser Phils Volcano Riders - This picture was taken on a pit stop down the hill. - Tours Near Me - Kahului, Hawaii

RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN FROM THIS COMPANY. First the bathroom at their facility was one of the worse I've ever seen . Broken toilet , broken door and it smelled like it had never been cleaned. It got worse from there . The actual bike tour guide Tim was arrogate , rude and nasty . It ranks with one of my worse experiences ever . He was pushing my 13 year old daughter to go faster . We were never told there was some sort of minimum speed. EXTREMELY dangerous behavior! Seriously I would book with any other tour besides Phil's . read more

Did the sunrise Volcano with a guided tour down on the bikes. Was the highlight of the trip, bus diver was awesome (I forgot his name ) he took fun photos for us. The guide Pete was great. They provided everything for the tour, helmets (go pro mounts), gloves, rain jackets and pants, backpacks and sweater vests for under the jackets. I recommend the guided bike tour as they have a follow van that blocks for cars and you are able to ride freely without worry or looking over your shoulder. Also great for any members that don't want to ride but stay together as you can sit in the van that follows the bikers. I would definitely do this nice easy ride again with cruiser Phil's! We had a 1:45 am pick up and finished the ride down back into Paia around 945-10am. read more

Very fun bike ride and they are very careful about safety and explain everything. Lots of great info along the way. read more

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"Bestest,Funnest,Mostest" Day trip pick-up is at 6am,Mo bettah if you don't like sleep deprivation(sunrise pickup is at 2am,ouch). 6500' to sea level elevation drop in 24 paved road miles on 50lb "mountain cruiser" bicycles. Perfect banked turns,regulated traffic passes,no need to look back or be scared of riding on road you just "follow the Leader". If you can follow simple instructions and are not overwhelmed with thrill rides anyone can do it.If no can there is always a bail out van with great scenery you can ride in. Book it! You'll be glad you did. read more

This bike ride is amazing. Must see the sunrise on top of mount Haleakala!! Preston is a great guide and the crew was friendly and caring too and I would definitely recommend to go with this company :) read more

Cruiser Phils Volcano Riders - Sunrise at Haleakala, impossible to do this view justice but I tried - Tours Near Me - Kahului, Hawaii

Beautiful ride of the Mountain. Word to the wise, it is a Very WINDING road on the way up and can make you a bit nauseous if you're not prepared, especially in the dark and that early in the morning. The sunrise is beautiful, but also remember that they don't take you to the summit. The summit is up another 100 ft and it does make a bit of a difference. The ride down was very easy since it was all downhill. The guides were very safety oriented, and knowledgeable about the area. I had hoped to be able to stop a little more often and enjoy some of the scenic stops along the way, but it's more of a cruising ride as opposed to a viewing ride. Look to a self-paced bike ride down to enjoy a bit more as you go down. Definite points to this group for safety and route knowledge though for a 26-mile ride down the mountain and through the local towns. Be advised, that some of the cities are not very friendly to bike visitors. read more

My gf went with them last year she was so amazed by the experience that for me it was no brainer who to call to see the sun raise. They provided us with warm clothing, the staff were polite, punctual and knowledgeable. We had fun listening stories and enjoying the scenery. Will recommend to anyone read more

This my second review that I have written on yelp since 2012, so my experiences with most companies are very positive. However, My wife and I never actually had a chance to take the tour. They gladly took our money. But then on the day of the ride, they left our resort without us, even though we talked to the driver twice and he knew we were minutes away from meeting him. He just left us there. We called back a third time (all 3 calls were within 15 minute window) but went straight to voicemail. From reading other reviews on here, it seems like maybe that was best as it sounds like the guides are rude and who needs that on vacation. I'm sure the ride is amazing, just go with a different company - one that values customers over cash. read more