Best Maui (Kahului) shore excursions
The top-rated independent excursion in Maui (Kahului) is "Ma'alaea Harbor: Whale Watching Tour Aboard Power Catamaran" (4.6★ from 1,092 reviews, from $50). The biggest saving against the ship is whale watching: $177 per person less than NCL. Prices and ratings checked November 2026.
Ranked from real traveller ratings: each tour's star rating weighted by how many reviews it has, so a 4.9 with 3,000 reviews beats a 5.0 with 25. Only tours we matched to a tour type in Maui (Kahului) are included.
Top-rated independent excursions
| # | Tour | From | Rating | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ma'alaea Harbor: Whale Watching Tour Aboard Power CatamaranWhale watching | $50 | 4.6★1,092 reviews | 5/5 |
| 2 | Maui: Small-Group Road to Hāna Sightseeing TourCity / island tour | $282 | 4.7★710 reviews | 3/5 |
| 3 | South Maui: Molokini & Turtle Town Snorkeling Tour with MealSnorkel tour | $160 | 4.3★978 reviews | 5/5 |
| 4 | South Maui: Snorkel to Coral Gardens or Molokini CraterSnorkel tour | $100 | 4.3★795 reviews | 5/5 |
| 5 | Lahaina Maui: Sunset Sail aboard AlihilaniParty / sunset cruise | $127 | 4.8★371 reviews | 5/5 |
| 6 | Maui: Road to Hana Helicopter & Waterfall Tour with LandingFlightseeing | $359 | 4.8★338 reviews | 4/5 |
| 7 | Maui: Eco-Friendly Molokini & Turtle Town Tour with MealsNature / waterfall / park | $198 | 4.5★475 reviews | 3/5 |
| 8 | Maui: Turtle Town Kayak and Snorkel TourKayak / paddle | $120 | 4.7★356 reviews | 5/5 |
| 9 | Maui: Rainforest Waterfalls Guided Hike with Picnic LunchNature / waterfall / park | $187 | 4.9★282 reviews | 3/5 |
| 10 | Maui Molokini Snorkel & Performance Sail with Lunch MaalaeaCatamaran / sail & snorkel | $221 | 4.8★248 reviews | 5/5 |
Best value against the ship
| Tour type | Line | Ship | Independent | Saving for 4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whale watching | NCL | $271 | $94 | $709 |
| Party / sunset cruise | NCL | $296 | $127 | $676 |
| Catamaran / sail & snorkel | NCL | $330 | $182 | $594 |
| Food & tasting | NCL | $281 | $144 | $549 |
| Snorkel tour | NCL | $276 | $140 | $542 |
| Flightseeing | NCL | $592 | $459 | $530 |
Where the ship is cheaper
- Food & tasting on Carnival: $123 on the ship vs $144 independent.
- Beach break / beach club on Carnival: $155 on the ship vs $178 independent.
- City / island tour on Carnival: $200 on the ship vs $282 independent.
Without a tour: near the pier
- Iao Valley: ~20 min by road (7.8 km).
Snorkel boats to Molokini leave from Maalaea, about 20 minutes from Kahului Harbor.
Questions
What is the best excursion in Maui (Kahului)?
On ratings, "Ma'alaea Harbor: Whale Watching Tour Aboard Power Catamaran" leads with 4.6 stars from 1,092 reviews. On value, whale watching saves the most against the ship ($177 per person).
What is the cheapest well-rated excursion in Maui (Kahului)?
"Ma'alaea Harbor: Whale Watching Tour Aboard Power Catamaran" from $50 per person (4.6★, 1,092 reviews).
What can you do in Maui (Kahului) without booking an excursion?
Within about 20 minutes of the pier: Iao Valley (~20 min by road).
All Maui (Kahului) prices and pier guide · Carnival in Maui (Kahului) · NCL in Maui (Kahului)