Road to Hana reverse tour from South Maui: Circle the mountain
Fifty one-lane bridges and the backside of Maui most visitors never see
A full-day Road to Hana tour from South Maui that circles the entire mountain in reverse, the way locals do it, so you see each waterfall, rainforest stretch and coastal view only once. The route crosses over 50 one-lane bridges and navigates 600+ turns through upcountry towns, the tropical rainforest, and down to Hana and Waiʻanapanapa State Park's black sand beach. Led by a Native Hawaiian guide whose family has lived on the Road to Hana for 150 years, the tour includes breakfast, a hot lunch at the family's 40-year-old banana bread stand, swimming at waterfalls and state parks (weather permitting), and a souvenir backpack.
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Step-by-step itinerary
- Hana1h
- Waiʻanapanapa State Park45m · entry included
- Puaʻa Kaʻa State Wayside Park45m
- Hoʻokipa Beach Parkpass by
Full Circle Reverse Road to Hana Tour
- Travel up Haleakala Highway
- Cruise through Pukalani, Kula, Keokea, Kipahulu, Ulupalakua
- Drive through Upcountry Maui
- See Maui's southern coast canyon
- View last lava flow from Mount Haleakala
- See Wailua Falls and feel mist
- Have picnic lunch at Flower Farm & Gift Shop
- Visit the town of Hana
- Visit black sand beach and swim
- See waterfalls on Road to Hana
- Swim at Puaʻa Kaʻa State Wayside Park
- See trio of waterfalls "the three bears"
- Snack at Halfway to Hana Refreshment Stand
- Travel through tropical rainforest on curvy road
- Cruise back through Haiku, Maliko, Kuau, Paia, Spreckelsville
- See Hoʻokipa Beach Park windsurfing capital
The experience
The reverse route is the key difference here. Most Road to Hana tours follow the same crowded clockwise path. This one goes the opposite direction, starting by climbing Haleakala Highway through upcountry Maui (Pukalani, Kula, Keokea) before dropping down the backside of the mountain where few tourists venture. You'll see Maui's massive southern canyon, the last lava flow from Haleakala, and the valley connecting both volcanoes. The guide shares the history and Hawaiian names of each town as you travel, grounding the landscape in the stories of the people who live there.
The Road to Hana itself (the famous 600+ turn, 50+ bridge stretch through rainforest) comes in the second half of the day. You'll stop at Wailua Falls, swim at Puaʻa Kaʻa State Wayside Park in the fresh water pond, see the trio of waterfalls locals call "the three bears," and reach Waiʻanapanapa State Park to swim at the black sand beach. A snack stop at the family's banana bread stand (operating nearly 40 years) breaks up the drive, and lunch is a hot meal served at a flower farm just outside Hana Town, where you can pick up handmade souvenirs. The return route winds through the windward towns of Haiku, Paia, and Spreckelsville, ending at Hoʻokipa Beach Park, the world-famous windsurfing capital.
The tour runs 8 to 10 hours and includes a light continental breakfast with tropical fruit bread and pineapple skewers, iced Kona coffee, bottled water, canned juices, towels for swimming, reef-safe sunscreen, mosquito repellent bracelets, and a care kit for motion sensitivity. You travel in an air-conditioned luxury vehicle with a certified local guide who speaks English. Parking fees are covered. Children from age 5 are welcome. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries, poor cardiovascular health, or during pregnancy.
What’s included
- Light continental breakfast with tropical fruit bread and pineapple skewers.
- iced Kona coffee or regular iced coffee.
- hot lunch at a flower farm outside Hana Town.
- snack stop at the family's banana bread stand.
- Hawaiian Isle bottled water and Aloha Maid canned juices.
- towels for swimming.
- reef-safe sunscreen.
- mosquito repellent bracelet.
- care kit for motion sensitivity.
- souvenir backpack.
- parking fees.
- air-conditioned luxury vehicle.
- certified local guide.
- pickup from South Maui.
Before you book
Prices and times updated 3 days ago
Operated by Hawaiian Style Tours
Is this one for you?Pickup from South Maui means you don't need a rental car or a ride to start the day. The guide collects you and handles the full circle route, leaving you free to focus on the waterfalls, the 50+ bridges, and the stories the guide shares about living on Maui. The reverse direction and the family connection to the Road to Hana itself set this apart if you want to see the backside most tours skip and eat at a stand that has been there for 40 years.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 12 years). Under 5: they can't be included in the booking.
What happens if it rains?
It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.
What makes the reverse direction different from the standard Road to Hana route?
The reverse route circles the entire mountain, so you travel the backside of Maui first (through upcountry towns and down the southern coast) before reaching the famous rainforest and bridges. This means you see each waterfall, rainforest section and coastal view only once, unlike the standard clockwise tour where many visitors see the same sights twice.
Can I swim at the waterfalls and beaches on this tour?
Yes, weather permitting. You'll swim at Puaʻa Kaʻa State Wayside Park in the fresh water pond near waterfalls, and at Waiʻanapanapa State Park's black sand beach. Towels are provided, and the guide will let you know if conditions allow swimming on the day of your tour.
What is included in the meals on this tour?
Breakfast includes a light continental spread with tropical fruit bread and pineapple skewers, plus iced Kona coffee or regular iced coffee. Lunch is a hot meal served at a flower farm just outside Hana Town. A snack stop at the family's banana bread stand (home of the original Road to Hana banana bread) is also included, along with bottled water and canned juices throughout the day.
Who runs this tour and what is their connection to the Road to Hana?
The tour is operated by a Native Hawaiian husband and wife team whose family history goes back 150 years and still lives in a small community on the Road to Hana. They own the banana bread stand where you'll stop for a snack. A family business that has been operating for nearly 40 years. The guide shares Hawaiian culture, history, and stories about living life in the islands.
How long does this tour take and what is the pickup situation?
The tour runs 8 to 10 hours and includes pickup from your South Maui location. You'll travel in an air-conditioned luxury vehicle with a certified local guide, starting with breakfast and ending back in the city after passing through the windward towns and Hoʻokipa Beach Park.
Road to Hana reverse tour from South Maui: Circle the mountain
8h–10h · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 349.99 per person
4.7649 reviewsVerified traveler reviews via our booking provider