The Complete 7-Day Maui Itinerary: Hiking, Beaches, Waterfalls and more!
Maui is the second largest Hawaiian Island and known as the “Valley Isle.” Whether you are looking for hiking, waterfalls, or beaches – Maui has it all. This one week itinerary is perfect for those looking to experience a bit of everything Maui has to offer.
Day 1: Hiking in West Maui
Iao Valley
Start your day off at the stunning, emerald green Iao Valley State Park. Located in West Maui, this park provides incredible views with relatively short and easy trails making it a great place to warm up and start your day. Check out the Iao Needle and then head down to the stream for a unique vantage point.
Makamakoale Stream / 13 Streams Crossing
This hike can also be found in West Maui and as the name suggests, it involves numerous stream crossings each way. Personally, I found this hike to be a bit challenging with the slippery stream crossings and sometimes precarious ledges. The trail also disappears at times, so it’s a bit of an adventure to find out which way to go. However, if you’re looking for a waterfall view that’s not overcrowded, then this is a great option. You’ll find this trail much less trafficked than the waterfall hikes on the Road to Hana.
Luau
If it’s your first time in Hawaii, I highly recommend checking out a Luau which is a Hawaiian feast featuring music and cultural performance. I do want to note that from our experience, the vegetarian food options were not great so I wouldn’t go with high exceptions for the food if you have similar dietary restrictions. However, it was still a fun experience watching the performances and learning about Hawaiian culture.
Day 2: Snorkeling and a Sunset Sail
Maui is an amazing place for many different types of water activities . In the morning consider snorkeling over coral reefs, scuba diving, or surfing. As a beginner with snorkeling I enjoyed taking lessons with My Splash Snorkeling at Wailea Beach. There are also longer snorkeling excursions to Molokai Crater.
In the evening, consider a Sunset Sail from Lahaina. I highly recommend this as it was one of my favorite activities during our time in Maui. We booked our tour through Sail Maui. Enjoy an open bar, food, and amazing views of the sunset over the ocean. If you are in Maui during December – May, also considering booking a Whale Watching tour.
Day 3: Hiking + Beach Day
Waihee Ridge is a must do hike in Maui. It’s not an easy hike as it does have a steep incline, however the views of Iao Valley and the ocean are absolutely worth the climb. It’s about a 4 mile roundtrip hike that takes an average of 2.5 hours to complete. Make sure to check weather conditions before going on this hike as it can get rather muddy and difficult to climb if it rains. Also, this is a popular hike and the parking lot gets full quickly so we recommend getting there very early in the morning or later in the afternoon when people are completing their hike. However, if you hike in the afternoon the climb will be challenging with the added heat so early morning is ideal.
In the afternoon, consider relaxing on one of the many beautiful beaches in Maui such as Big Beach or Baldwin Beach.
Day 4: Haleakala National Park
One of the absolute must sees in Maui is Haleakala National Park for sunset or sunrise. Check out my Complete Guide to Haleakala National Park here.
Day 5-6: Road to Hana
The highlight of our Maui trip was definitely the Road to Hana. It’s over 60 miles of winding roads, beautiful waterfalls, and scenic viewpoints.
There are so many sites on the Road to Hana and beyond, that I highly recommend staying a night in Hana if possible. It will also be easier to fit in the Pipiwai Trail and Waimoku Falls hike if you can make into a 2-day trip as that hike is located 12 miles past the town of Hana and takes about 2 hours to complete. If you do plan to stay in Hana, make sure to book your accommodations far in advance as availability is limited.
These stops were a few of our favorites:
- Bamboo Forest
- Rainbow Eucalyptus Trees
- Garden of Eden
- Ke’anae Peninsula
- Wai’anapanapa State Park
- Wailua Falls
- Pipiwai Trail and Waimoku Falls
- Red Sand Beach
- Upper Waikani Falls
Download the GyPSy or Shaka Guide app for a self guided audio tour and to learn some additional history about the island. You also likely won’t have cell service during your drive so having an audio tour will help with navigating to each stop.
Day 7: Explore West Maui + Beach Day
After coming back from the Road to Hana, make sure to take some time to explore West Maui as well. You can relax by your favorite beach or walk on scenic trails like the Honalua Bay Access Trail and Kapalua Coastal Trail. You can also stop by the Nakalale Blow Hole which is a natural geyser where seawater is trapped in an underwater lava tube. However make sure to follow safety signs and be aware of the tides that can sweep across the rocks.
Where to Eat
- Ululani’s Shave Ice – Multiple Locations
- Tight Tacos – Kahului
- Maui Brewing Company – Kihei or Lahaina
- Paia Coffee Bar – Paia
- Lava Tacos – Hana
Do you want to see a full Road to Hana Itinerary? Let me know in the comments below!
See more of my Maui adventures on my Instagram
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