Maui

Best 3 Maui shore excursions
1. Haleakala Crater experiences
You reach its rim by road.

See the immense crater
It's deeper than the world's tallest building (Dubai's Burj Khalifa) is high. And it measures 11 kilometers (7 miles) at its widest dimension.

Watch the sunrise
From a crater's rim, observe the sun mystically rising from the Pacific Ocean's horizon.

Bike down the crater
Some organized tours drive you up to the rim. After enjoying the sunrise, you are provided with a bike and helmet for coasting down the road for over 40 kilometers (25 miles).

TIPS
Bring a jacket or sweater - Haleakala Crater is slightly over 3,000 meters (10,000 feet) in altitude. And be sure to check the weather forecast ahead of time. Clouds can fog the view.

2. Whale watching
Thousands of humpback whales migrate from Alaska to waters near Maui in December for warmer temperatures and to breed. Your viewing opportunity ends when they return in April to the rich Alaska feeding grounds. Most of the whale-watching boats sail out of Lahaina.

3. Hana Highway
It is one of America's most scenic drives. The 100 kilometer or 60-mile-long Hana Highway (really a narrow, sharp-curved two-lane road) runs high up on sea cliffs along Maui's rugged southeast shoreline.

More Maui tips & insights
Other interesting shore excursions
They include:

• Heli-seeing
  See Maui's splendors by helicopter
• Iao Needle
  Rock pinnacle soars 365M (1200 feet) above the ground
• Luau
  Most are held at big hotel-resorts
• Maui Ocean Center
  Aquarium focuses on Hawaiian sealife
• Wai'anapanapa State Park
  Hike fabulous shoreline trail

Best beach and resort areas
Maui's celebrated resorts, golf courses, and white-sand beaches (Kaanapali is the finest) are on its western coast. The other side of the island is mostly cliffy and craggy.

Where cruise ships dock
Most cruise ships call on Kahulai rather than Lahaina even though the latter is closer to most tourism destinations. Reason: The ships can dock in Kahulai, but must tender in Lahaina.