Booking choice: The private full day tour, from $599 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Both formats drive the same road with a local guide. The difference is control: on a private tour, the route, the pace and the timing are yours; on a shared tour, you join a plan made for everyone.
Here we compare the private full day tour with the shared small groups we list, from 8 to 22 guests.
The quick answer
Choose private if you want a later start, door-to-door pickup, your own pace, or stops past Hana such as Koki Beach and Wailua Falls, or if you travel with children or older relatives. Choose a small group if price matters most and you are happy with an early start and a set route with lunch included.
How do private and small-group tours compare?
Private costs more but gives you a later start, your own route and stops past Hana; small groups include lunch and cost far less.
| Private full day | Small group | |
|---|---|---|
| From | $599 per person | $250 to $385 |
| Group | Only yours, up to 15 | 8 to 22 guests |
| Start | Suggested 9 AM, flexible | About 5:45 to 7:30 AM |
| Pickup | Your door or cruise ship | Hotels or meeting points |
| Past Hana | Koki Beach, Wailua Falls | Usually not |
| Meals | Snacks; buy lunch | Lunch included |
| Rating | 5.0 (1,221) | 4.8 to 4.9 |
Want the day built around you? The private tour picks you up at your door.
Check dates for the private full day tourWhat does a private tour add?
Control over everything: start time, stops, pace, lunch and how far you go.
The listed itinerary includes twelve stops, from Paia and Ke'anae to Wai'anapanapa, Hana, Koki Beach, the Venus Pool and Wailua Falls. Reviewers describe guides who waited while they hiked, tailored stops to children and grandparents, and took the family photos.
When is a small group better?
When price matters most, you are a couple or solo traveler, and you like a plan made for you.
The Stardust waterfall tour at $250 and the Aloha Eco small-group tour at $259 include lunch and use Mercedes vans. The Temptation luxury tour keeps groups to 8 for $385.
Travelling as a couple on a budget? This small group includes waterfall swims and a picnic lunch.
Explore the Hana waterfalls tour with lunchIs the private tour good for seniors and people with limited mobility?
It is the better choice: you set the pace, bathroom stops are on demand, and the listing mentions wheelchair-accessible transport.
One reviewer travelled with a grandfather in a wheelchair, another with an elderly mother and aunts, and both praised the pace. Some shared tours are stricter: Temptation does not allow walkers or wheelchairs, and Polynesian is not advised for back or heart problems.
Is the private tour good for families with young children?
Yes: infant seats are available, the start is later, and you can stop whenever a child needs to.
Shared tours have their own child rules and early pickups, which can be hard with toddlers. One private-tour review describes an 11-year-old and an 18-year-old having a great day.
What about a half-day private tour?
It covers the first half of the road in 4 to 5 hours, for groups of four or more.
The half-day private trip from $279 per person suits travellers short on time or wary of a long day, and it covers about half the road. Some half-day guests said afterwards they wished they had booked the full day.
Which should you book?
Couples and solo travellers on a budget: a small group. Families, seniors, honeymooners and anyone who wants to go past Hana: private.
Still deciding? See what Road to Hana tours cost.
Ready for your own guide? Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Check dates for the private full day tourFrequently asked questions
How many people fit on a private Road to Hana tour?
The private full day tour takes up to 15 travelers in your own group; check the vehicle size when you book.
Do private Road to Hana tours include lunch?
The private full day tour includes snacks, soda and water but not meals; your guide stops where you choose to eat.
What time do Road to Hana tours start?
Shared tours pick up from about 5:45 to 7:30 AM; the private tour suggests 9 AM and can start at another time.
Ready to book
Choose your tour
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Full Day Private Road to Hana Tour
- A private guide and vehicle for your group only (up to 15 travelers)
- Door-to-door pickup anywhere on Maui, cruise passengers included
- Snacks, soda and bottled water in an air-conditioned vehicle
Road to Hana Small-Group Luxury Tour
The smallest shared group, with swim breaks and both meals
Hana Waterfalls Full-Day Tour with Lunch
- Driver-guide with live commentary in an air-conditioned Mercedes Sprinter
- Picnic lunch (ham or turkey; no special diets) and Wai'anapanapa admission
- Pickup from select resorts, or meet at Lahaina Cannery Mall or Kahului Park and Ride
