Our Maui volcano tour offers a chance to see a unique side of Maui – Upcountry! Along the slopes of the dormant volcano Haleakalā sits a world of serene beauty, crisp mountain air, and amazing mountain to ocean views. This world is quite different than the golden beaches of Maui featured on postcards, but it’s equally beautiful and engaging.

kula-lodge-marker

Biking through Upcountry offers a chance to really experience this beautiful landscape first-hand. And the great part about our particular Maui volcano tour is that you can experience all of this beauty at your own pace, on your timetable. Because all of your biking tours are self-paced, you can stop and go as you please. Stop to pick a flower or shop at a unique boutique. You can choose where you want to stop along the bike route.

One of our favorite stops along the route is the Kula Lodge and Restaurant. Located at about 3,200 feet on the western slopes of Haleakalā, this charming lodge provides a quiet place to stop and relax, take pictures, or enjoy a nice lunch.

Kula Lodge Garden Terrace

Kula Lodge Garden Terrace

“Kula is the Undiscovered Maui, a place only the adventurous discover. You won’t find tourist traps or snorkel shops. Instead there will be birds singing from Jacaranda trees and flowers that grow to startling sizes and beauty,” notes Kula Lodge on its website.

Yes, this beautiful lodge sits amid a garden of flower farms with paths lined with protea, carnations, and tropical flora. With panoramic views from the West Maui Mountains to the Pacific Ocean, this lodge, situated on the hills of Haleakalā, is the perfect place to stop along the Maui volcano tour and snap a photo. But, why not also stop and enjoy a bite to eat as well?

The restaurant at the Kula Lodge is open 7 days a week for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. This unique restaurant features an outdoor garden terrace “cradled” among the trees overlooking the entire west side of Maui. On the garden terrace, a wood-burning pizza oven creates delicious pizza dishes. The Kula Lodge and Restaurant has its own Executive Chef that oversees all the culinary creations at this delightful restaurant. The Kula Lodge really offers spectacular views and an unforgettable setting to enjoy relax and enjoy a nice meal on your Maui volcano tour.

lunch at kula

Kula Lodge filled with paintings by local artists.

Located right in the heart of Upcountry, Kula Lodge also is a nice place to stay if you want to spend a few days in the mountains of Maui. This “romantic hideaway” has 5 rustic lodges available for overnight stays. “Imagine spending a few days in a lush garden that overlooks an endless horizon,” the Kula Lodge noted.

If you’d like to do a little shopping on your Maui volcano tour, the Kula Marketplace and the Curtis Wilson Cost Gallery, both located at the Kula Lodge, have a variety of unique island gifts available for purchase. These shops feature one-of-a-kind art by local Maui and Hawaiian artists and craftsmen as well as homemade jellies, jams, and pastries.

With its sweeping views of the lush green countryside to the ocean, the Kula Lodge and Restaurant is a hidden gem in Upcountry and definitely a must-see on your Maui volcano tour.

(First photo by Belindah via Flickr)

(Garden Terrace photo by Bill Abbott via Flickr)

(Last photo by Belindah via Flickr)