Maui 7-Day Itinerary | Best Things To Do In Maui

Even just seeing few photos of Maui will convince anyone that this island is absolutely gorgeous. You could easily spend multiple months here exploring the beautiful scenery and adventurous activities. But if you are like most tourists, you only get to experience a short time in this majestic place. Therefore, this post will give you the best of the best for a Maui 7-day itinerary. 

Maui Hawaii has such a large range of amazing things to do. There are sights and activities to entertain, relax, or fuel some adrenaline.

A trip to Maui can easily be a relaxing vacation just soaking up the sun at the various beaches, eating out at restaurants, or maybe trying a few different water sports. Or there’s activities for nature lovers, adrenaline seekers, or whatever excites you. 

Jake and I tend to be on the more adventurous side, and like to pack our days full of activities so we can experience this beautiful place to the fullest.  But, we still know how to relax on the beach with a couple drinks, so we hope you enjoy this well-balanced Maui 7-day itinerary! 

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NOTES

You will need PERMITS and RESERVATIONS for some of these activities. So be sure that you plan ahead so that you don’t miss out. The days might need to be alternated based on when you get the permit or reservation.

We mention Haleakala National Park twice in this road trip. If you plan to visit one more National Park in this calendar year, it’s smart to get a National Parks Pass (you will save money on entry fees).

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Maui 7-Day Itinerary:

Day 1

• Get settled at your accommodation: We find the best deals on Booking, Expedia, Hotels or VRBO
• Watch a sunset at the beach with a cocktail

Day 2

• Beach day (try out water sports)
• Hawaiian Luau (Here is a list of good Luau’s around Maui)

Day 3

• Haleakala Sunrise
• Beach Day Afternoon

Day 4

• Road To Hana

Day 5

• Whale Watch & Snorkel Tour

Day 6

• Hike Waihe’e Ridge
• Check out Lahaina, HI or Kihei, HI (Depending on where you find accommodation)

Day 7

• Beach Day

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Day 1: Get Settled – Maui 7-Day Itinerary

The first day on the Maui 7-day itinerary will basically be settling into your vacation. The time change can be a bit of an adjustment for some. And this is assuming you are getting in around the afternoon. But if you are getting into Maui in the morning, you can jump right into the Day 2 activities if you’re up for it! But for most of us, our flight will get in around the afternoon to evening. 

We love to compare hotel prices on Booking, Expedia, and Hotels to find the best deals! Or if you prefer Vacation Rentals, use VRBO to find the perfect home away from home.

Use this map below to find your style of accommodation. Personally, Jake and I like Kihei, but another popular place to stay is Lahaina/Kaanapali area. You could always divide the trip up into two areas and see which part of the island you like better!

Depending on your accommodation it might take a little longer to get settled in. When Jake and I visited Maui, we stayed at a rental home so we needed to get a rental car, stock up on groceries and cocktails. So the first day was getting prepared for the fun week of activities ahead.

As soon as you are settled in, you will probably have enough time for a sunset at the beach! Either head down to a local restaurant, grab a fun cocktail and some yummy local food. Or if you bought groceries, maybe head down to the beach with a drink to enjoy the waves crashing up onto the beach. Then, head back afterward to make some dinner. 

We had some people travel from the midwest to visit us, so after their long travel day, we headed to bed pretty early so we could capitalize on fun adventures to come!

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Day 2: Beach Day In Maui – Maui 7-Day Itinerary

Day 2 on the Maui 7-day itinerary will be hitting the beach and enjoying one of the finest parts about Maui: the large array of beaches. Jake and I were staying in Kihei, so we decided to hit up Big Beach. This beach was one of our favorites in the area, but it is also known to be one of the most dangerous. And that proved itself true as my brother who was traveling with us broke his collarbone. Also, the parking attendant told us the day before someone broke their back. 

This is not meant to completely scare you off from this beach, but you should take extreme caution when traveling in and out of the water. When large waves are breaking abruptly on shore, it can be easy to get twisted up wrong in the waves. So just be extra cautious at this beach!

If you are staying near Lahaina, some popular beaches are Kaanapali Beach, Black Rock Beach and Kahekili Beach. 

And if you are trying to find a good beach between the two areas, Maalaea Beach is another great option. This is a very popular surfing spot and seems to be where a lot of locals hang out. 

Once you find the best beach for you, then either soak up the sunshine and the stunning blue water, or pick out a watersport to try! Many popular water sport activities to do while visiting Maui are boogie boarding, surfing, body surfing, skimboarding, swimming, snorkeling, etc. There are tons of great activities to do while enjoying the warm ocean water. 

If you do decide to surf, and you want to take a lesson, you will need to plan in advance. Some popular rental companies on the island are Maui Surf Lessons, Maui Wave Riders, Zach Howard Surf Private Lessons, etc. 

Hawaiian Luau

The next activity on the Maui 7-day itinerary is a Hawaiian Luau. If you want to get immersed into the Hawaiian Culture then you should definitely consider attending a Hawaiian Luau. But do note they are rather pricey and take some advanced planning. But it will provide you with a true Hawaiian experience where they share stories about their history along with famous dances and songs. 

Some of the most famous Hawaiian Luau’s are Grand Wailea Luau, Marriott Luau, Sheraton Luau, Andaz Luau, and Royal Lahaina Luau.

Due to covid, some Luau’s have limited their capacity and only offer it on certain days of the week.

Check out this website to book a Hawaiian Luau for your vacation. 

After the events of today, you will truly have a Hawaiian experience and remember why you jumped on a long plane ride over to this stunning island. 

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Day 3: Haleakala Sunrise – Maui 7-Day Itinerary

On Day 3 of the Maui 7-day itinerary, get ready for an early wake up to see the Haleakala Sunrise. It’s not an easy place to get to no matter where you are staying on the island, so most people need to leave their house between 2:30-3:30am in order to make it to the top in time. We suggest doing this earlier in your trip because:

A. you might still be adapted to your old time zone, so waking up early wont be as abrupt

B. permits are hard to get. So if you try to get a permit earlier in your trip and fail, you can move this day around a bit to when you get your permit. 

This 1/2 day trip involves driving all the way to the top of the world’s largest dormant volcano.  The summit most notably looks out over the massive Haleakala Crater, but there are epic views in every direction.

The Haleakala Sunrise was definitely a beautiful sight to see, but the morning we went, the clouds weren’t in our favor. So we didn’t get to see the legendary view of the sun above the clouds (like pictured below). But nonetheless, it’s extremely cool to drive from sea level to 10,000 feet. It’s like standing on top of the world! There are also a few viewpoints and hikes you can do on your way down. 

Note: It will be FREEZING on top of the mountain. It was around 30 degrees when we were there, so definitely bring tons of warm layers. We also suggest grabbing a blanket from the place you are staying. Or my personal favorite item I packed was my Get Out Gear Down Puffy Blanket! I had enough room in my carry on and I was sooooo happy to have this on top of the mountain!

You will definitely be enticed to hike deeper into the crater, but that is a full-on adventure. The hike into the crater is 11 miles one-way and people usually do it as a backpacking trip which also requires permits. We suggest saving this adventure for next time, unless you really plan ahead and are ready for it.

Once you’ve made your way down, out of Haleakala National Park for sunrise, you will probably be hungry for breakfast. We decided to stop at Freshies in Makawao and we are happy we did! They have a beautiful outdoor seating area, and a great selection of breakfast items on the menu.

Beach Day Afternoon/Nap

Today will be a good day to spend the afternoon on the beach and maybe for a good nap on the sand. Don’t forget the sunscreen though (reef-friendly of course)! We just headed down to our local beach, Kamaole 1. 

Also, if you are looking for an easy dinner tonight, since you’ll be tired from waking up early, many of the local beaches have food trucks near the parking lots. And the food truck scene in Maui is pretty delicious, offering local eats that can compete with the best restaurants around.

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Day 4: The Road To Hana – Maui 7-Day Itinerary

Day 4 on the Maui 7-day itinerary is going to be one of the best. The road to Hana was literally one of our favorite things to do while in Maui. We even did the drive twice because it was too hard to hit all the best stops in one day. Be prepared for a full-on adventure when driving the road to Hana, as there are TONS of stops and you can easily run out of time if you don’t have a plan.

Some of our personal favorite stops along the Road To Hana were Rainbow Eucalyptus Trees, Wailua Falls, Kaihalulu Red Sand Beach, Wailua Iki Falls and Pipiwai Trail. But there are tons more epic sights to see along the road. 

We also suggest downloading the Road To Hana Maui GyPSy Guide. The tour guide runs via GPS, so you don’t need service for it to work. And the tour guide will tell you all the famous stops along the route and give you a history of the island. It’s $7, but I promise it will be worth it, because you won’t have service most of this road, so it’s an unbelievable resource to make sure you don’t miss anything cool.

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Day 5: Whale & Snorkel Tour – Maui 7-Day Itinerary

Another adventurous activity you must do on the Maui 7-day itinerary is go on a snorkel and whale tour. Depending on the time of year you go, whale tours may or may not be offered. Because whales only visit Maui from December to mid-April and then head back to Alaska for the summer. But snorkeling is a fun adventure year round. Therefore, if you are visiting during December-April, we suggest doing the combo tour. But if you are visiting outside those months, you should definitely still book a snorkeling tour. 

All whale tours are offered whale-sighting guaranteed. Which means, if you don’t see any whales while out on your tour, then you can get a complimentary tour the next time. 

There are various companies on the island that can do both in one day or you can break the two activities up into two. But both are super fun and unique things to do while you tour Maui. Here are some companies we suggest that offer both Whale Tours and Snorkeling: Ultimate Whale Watch & Snorkel, Maui Magic, and Pride Of Maui.

We didn’t do advanced planning before our trip, so all the snorkel/Whale watch combo tours were sold out. So we used Pacwhale Eco-Adventures which is a non-profit for our whale watch tour. It was fantastic! The tour guide was very knowledgeable, the staff was very friendly, and they serve drinks. Plus we were helping out a non-profit to protect the ocean through science and advocacy and to inspire environmental stewardship.

Depending on the time you book your tour, we either suggest spending your morning out at breakfast or your evening out enjoying one of Maui’s finest restaurants. If you are looking for more time to kill either in the morning or afternoon, you could either spend it at the beach or choose one of the honorable mention ideas below. 

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Day 6: Epic Hiking Adventure On Waihe’e Ridge – Maui 7-Day Itinerary

Today we are going to hike an absolutely breathtaking hike along the Waihe’e Ridge. This hike is a challenge because it’s steep and muddy. The hike is 4 miles with 1,591 feet elevation change. And to be 100% honest we thought the view from the first viewpoint was cooler than the top, but maybe that’s just us! It’s still worth the climb to the top of the ridge, but prepare for your mind to already be blown ½ way along the hike!

The lush mountains and various waterfalls flowing in the distance are ridiculously stunning. You might see a few helicopter tours fly over the area as well. 

The trail up to the top of the ridge is pretty muddy, so be careful on both your way up and way down. I had a little slip on the way down. Only walked away with a small cut, but it could be a lot worse if you rush your way down. 

Check out Lahaina or Kihei

Depending on where you are staying on the island, we suggest spending the afternoon exploring the other side of the island. There are tons of great restaurants and shops to explore in each area. As well as different stunning beaches that line the shore. So spend this time to be a true tourist in the area. If you enjoy breweries, we suggest checking out the different breweries in the area. 

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Day 7: Last Beach Day – Maui 7-Day Itinerary

Sadly your trip to Maui is coming to a close. But that doesn’t have to ruin the last day! By Day 7 of the Maui 7-day itinerary, you are probably ready to relax and enjoy the Aloha vibe of Hawaii. So we suggest having a nice beach day on the last day to soak up the rays. But also make sure not to drink too much because you have a long flight home the next day.

This is also a great time to maybe try out a water sport you didn’t get to yet. Maybe book a surf lesson for the morning or rent one out if you already know how. 

Go out to dinner:

On the last day we suggest going out to dinner and reminiscing on all the great memories you just created. Or maybe start planning the next trip, because if you are like us, we feel like there is still yet so much to explore. But the food on Maui is fantastic, so I think you should splurge and try some of the fresh fish in Maui. Such as ahi tuna, mahi mahi, or opakapaka. 

Our personal favorite stop for fresh fish in Maui was the Paia Marketplace, with locations in Paia, Kihei and Lahaina. It was fresh, affordable and delicious. Another popular restaurant that often gets recommended is Mama’s Fish House, but be prepared for a large bill at the end. 

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Honorable Mention

Obviously, there is too much to do on this island in just 7 days, so these are on our honorable mention activities that you might want to also check out if there’s time.

Iao Valley State Park

Iao Valley State Monument is famous for the Kuka‘emoku (aka the ʻIao Needle). The is a short .6 mile walk to a viewpoint of the Iao Needle. The Iao Needle is an old lava remnant covered in lush vegetation and rises 1,200 feet above the valley floor.

Black Rock Cliff Jumping

Black Rock Cliff Jumping is located in North Lahaina near the Sheraton Hotel. It was formed from an old lava flow. This was suggested to us by a local, but we didn’t have enough time. But it sounds like if you’re brave enough to climb up the cliff, it’s a super fun spot to cliff jump. And because of its growing popularity, you’ll probably spot a few other jumpers. 

Some people say you can feel the spirits of the Hawaiians here. Black rock is said to be the place where the spirits went to jump off to join their ancestors forever.

Always be cautious when cliff jumping. It’s best to swim down before jumping to make sure no new rocks have shifted. Jump at your own risk.

Nakalele BlowHole

Located on the Northeast side of Maui you can find Nakalele BlowHole. The blowhole is a hole that has formed usually in a cave along the ocean shore, and when waves comes in they blast water up through the hole, like a whale’s blowhole. It’s like water firework show.

This scenic stop can be added to the day you hike Waihe’e Ridge. It’s about 45 minutes north up a windy road from Waihe’e Ridge. The hike out to the blowhole is about 1.2 miles and 308 ft elevation. It is a rugged trail so be sure to watch your step.

Once you locate the blowhole you will probably want to get closer, but it is not advised. It’s best to keep your distance because if you get too close you can get sucked in.  

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Takeaway | Maui 7-Day Itinerary | Best Things To Do In Maui:

Maui is such a unique vibe and breathtaking place to visit. From the moment you come in flying over the extraordinary blue water you know you’re in for a treat.  There’s endless adventures around the ocean and beaches, to lush rainforests, spiny mountains, and volcanoes over 10,000 feet above sea level, this place is simply magical. We find it crazy that it is part of the United States, because it’s like nothing else on the mainland. We hope this Maui 7-day itinerary helps you plan an epic adventure of your own. 

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