Okay, so many people look at us as a couple and think.. aww you guys are soo cute! A little bougie (Sophie) and a little old school chivalry (Aamir), no one has ever looked at us and said “YOU look like the hardcore outdoor adventure types” Not once. And its fine. Really. We enjoy the outdoors in our own way. Aamir is a die-hard thrill seeker (aha looks can be deceiving right) but I’m not. His biggest dream in life is to jump out a plane (and I’m not going to lie, there are days when I have offered to be the one to push him 😊) Why is this relevant? You may be thinking “shut up already and get to the review” I’m getting there. The point of the back story was to let you know right up front that this activity is good for everyone who wants to experience it, even those with a minimal previous history of outdoor extreme sports.
Why ATV
It all started with a flight, as all the best stories do. This one, happened to be a return flight from Maui to LAX. Our original flight was scheduled to take off at around 3 pm and for some reason, 2 weeks before our trip we got to know the flight time had changed to 10 PM. I was in heaven and a little bit of hell. Heaven because, hello more time in MAUI!!! And hell, because the alpha planner in me now had an entire day to figure out. I looked at morning activities that weren’t too long, too boring, too expensive, or too far. Whew, man did I have a list of restrictions. So, I set about researching and looking around for options and settled on ATV riding. We looked at a few different companies that were offering ATV tours and some were super pricey (almost $400 per person to drive alone!) being that we had already planned and booked 6 days of activities, I didn’t want to spend $800.00. I dejectedly told Aamir that all the tours were expensive and he said keep looking, I’m sure will find something. Like magic, as soon as he put it in the universe, we found our tour! We looked around and eventually found Maui Mountain Activities via TripAdvisor. After reading the reviews we ended up booking our adventure with them and we were not disappointed.
Before Booking
Everyone booking this activity is required to provide the following information to the tour company
- Age
- Weight (I know I know it’s annoying)
- Previous ATV driving experience
Please note that if you want to drive the ATV you MUST have a valid Drivers License
All participants must be 16 or older and minors cannot drive and must be accompanied by an adult
Our Tour Included
- 1.5 hours of ATV riding into the Western Maui Mountains
- Basic lessons on how to operate the ATVS
- A professional tour guide
- All safety equipment
- Free Refreshments
Cost
The tour cost us USD 180.00 per person
with all taxes and fees we ended up paying USD 396.00 for both of us to drive our own ATV.
Pre-Excursion Information
We were sent a confirmation email that had a comprehensive set of instructions for us including
- Directions to the shuttle site
- Parking instructions
- A reminder of the check in time
- **make sure to wear long pants and closed toed shoes, also wear lots of sun screen
– personal note about clothing: you will get dusty. This is NOT the time or place to wear your cute white beach jeans. Or your new sneakers. Since we had booked before we left, we specifically packed one outfit for this excursion each.
We had booked the earliest time slot which was from 8:30 am to 10:30 with a check in at 8:15. The other time slot is around noon so based on your personal itinerary you can choose. Since we had a flight at night and wanted to spend the day not stressed about getting to the airport, we went with the earlier time slot.
Parking
The location has a designated gated space where we were able to park our cars. There is also a member of their staff who is there watching the cars and ensuring the overall safety. It was nice to know that we didn’t have to worry about our cars or pay for parking. They also provide a van shuttle service to the actual location where the ATVS are kept. The base camp is super cute complete with baby goats and sheep. (who doesn’t love baby goats???)
Driving the ATVS
For both of us this was a first-time experience. We were excited but also nervous and rightly so. Anyone who is operating one of these should ALWAYS wear a helmet. We told the guide right from the beginning that we did not have any previous experience. The tour company had many qualified teachers and they spent a good 20 minutes educating all of us individually on how to operate the vehicles. We really appreciated that they made sure that everyone in our group was comfortable and able to safely operate the vehicles. They made sure that everyone had their safety gear on properly and let me be the first to tell you, the helmets are not cute. They are slightly heavy but man o man did our heads feel safe.
When you turn the ignition on these babies you can tell they have some power. The ATV’s that we were driving could go up to around 35 mph. That may not look like an impressive number but when we got on the trek there were times when I felt like I was FLYING and I looked down and I was going 10 mph. (I was really proud for a second)
Pre-Cautions while driving
Both Aamir and myself thought we were seasoned drivers. And we are. Except for when it comes to driving on an unpaved dirt path or in a natural forest.
- If it is your first time experiencing an ATV ride; be extra careful. Resist the urge to speed up because honestly, both of us were surprised by how much you actually FEEL the bumps and rocks on the paths. You would think it was obvious but its not.
- When you hit a bump in the road or a rock DO NOT BRAKE, resist the urge to brake and slowly go over the offending piece of land, it’s a kneejerk reaction that most car drivers have. You can reduce your speed but hitting the brakes may cause a flip; not fun.
- Make sure you PAY attention when you are going through the basic instructions on how to use the handbrakes and keep the ignition running. Trust me, when you are stopping to enjoy the view, this is a lifesaver.
- Keep your helmet on. As elementary as it sounds, there are many possible ways for you to seriously hurt yourself if you are not keeping your helmet on. Want to enjoy the wind blowing in your hair? Rent a convertible and go for a nice safe drive on a highway, this is not the time nor the place.
The Guide
Our guide was essential to keeping us on the path and safe. He was also great because he was a true local who really knew about the location as well as the ins and outs of riding ATVs. We took periodic stops and he was always keeping us informed of our next stop and what we could expect to see. It was definitely a huge plus to have a person who really knew the area since we were genuinely off the beaten path.
The Driving Experience and Views
Once we got over our initial shock at how fast the ATVs were going, we were in HEAVEN. It was exhilarating to know that we were literally in the middle of nature and were soo close to the water. We had a few strategic stops where the panoramic views were breathtaking. The mountains that have not been developed and have been left and protected in their natural state are stunning. The feel of tree branches and leaves as we drove through the fields made us feel like adventurous explorers. Not gonna lie, we felt like the cool kids on the block.
We were given fresh passion fruit at one of our stops and the feeling of eating a delicious local fruit while looking out at the water was a throwback to simple times and a thoroughly wholesome experience.
Our Final Thoughts
By the time the excursion ended, we were dusty, a little sweaty, but we would do it again in a HEARTBEAT. Yes, there are risks associated with driving off road and being on an ATV, but if you drive safely and follow your guide, this makes for a GREAT adventure. We enjoyed being able to zoom (or so it felt like) through fields and be rewarded with stunning views. This is a great activity for anyone who wants to add a little adventure to their itinerary.
To book this excursion and get even more information feel free to check out Maui Mountain Activities.
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50 Comments
It truly looks like an amazing fun thing to do! Unfortunately we haven’t tried it when we were in Maui but now, thanks to you, I’ll add this to my bucketlist! <3
For sure! Most people spend most of their time on the actual beach (not that we blame them) but yes, next time you are in Maui this is a must do activity 🙂
This looks likes such a fun day! We thought about doing this once, but neither of us were comfortable with being the driver. I’m sure you got to see some amazing locations beyond where the roads lead.
It was funnn! We debated if both of us should drive and we are glad we ended up driving our own. Its a bucket list experience with the views makeing it worth it for sure!
Looks so fun! I would love to try this!
It was a great way to spend a morning in Maui! Highly recommend trying it out.
I would love to try out an ATV! I still haven’t gotten around to it but your post has made me want to research it more.
It is for sure worth trying out. Once things settle down and travel gets back to normal you should absolutly try it out 🙂
I once did an ATV road excursion in Bali, and while it is an awesome experience, I also agree that you need extra precaution. I can´t remember how it exactly happened, but i bumped into a ig root and I almost lost control of the ATV and fall.
Oh yeah, theses vehicles can GO. I was super clost to loosing control a few times as well and it is scary when you feel the ATV and its power getting out of control. Bali seems like another great place to ATV. Im glad you came out safe and sound 🙂
What a fun experience! I’d love to visit Maui one day – exploring on an ATV sounds awesome!
For sure, Maui in general is such a stunning place you really cant go wrong on the island. The ATV’s added an element of adventure that we are sure you will enjoy 🙂
I love a good ATV tour, and this looks fantastic. Thanks for including cost as well, sometimes it’s so hard to get those details when trying to plan and budget a triop. Super helpful.
You are so very welcome. There is nothing worse than getting excited about an activity and getting surprised by the cost. In a city like Maui where everything is more expensive than the mainland, we really wanted to make sure to give as much information as possible 🙂 We are always glad to help. Also when (finger crossed) you start to book your excursions, call the tour comp , sometimes they have deals as well.
How much fun is this!!! What a great way to see the island and gorgeous views. I’d love to have a fresh passion fruit too! It is a little nerve-wracking but what an exhilarating experience!
It is for sure nerve wracking! We wish we would have taken more time to record the sound of the ATV’s when they were on. The passion fruit was delicous! The taste of FRESH is soo different than what we normally taste when we eat out.
This is a fun activity, best way to discover hidden locations. It’s thrilling as well. I have never been to Maui nor Hawaii and would love to explore the island one day.
You abosolutely MUST visit Hawaii (we will keep our fingers and toes crossed for you 🙂 ) We felt a little Indiana Jones on the ATV’s which was a nice change from all the lazing about we did on the beach. We hope you get a chance to experience Maui first hand. We are 100% sure you will fall in love with the island as much as we have.
Looks like such a cool adventure on a gorgeous island! I’m glad to see that guide took their time with you to explain the ATVs, because they can be intimidating for a first-time rider.
Oh 100 %. When we were researching tours that was one of the main things we looked at, we were very clear when we told them we had never opperated ATVS. They tour company has PLENTY of people on hand and we all got one on one time before the excursion even started. By the time the tour ended we felt like we could comfortably drive ATV’s again. 🙂
This looks amazing. I would be like you and all over the additional “free” time straight away with a good plan to fill it in with something fun like this. My boyfriend would just end up going along with it. I’d love to go ATV-ing but haven’t done it yet. Maybe on my next trip to Hawaii, which I absolutely loved.
LOL as soon as we got the email from the airline, we had two mins of WTF and then immediately started planning how to use the time. Talk about a blessing in disguise! You should absolutly experience ATV-ing, if you dont want to drive they also have tours that do two seater ATVS. Hawaii really was magical and we are itching to get back!
This sounds like so much fun!! I’m not too big on adventure myself but going to places like this is almost a waste if we don’t push ourselves a wee bit! 😀 lol you convinced me!
The best feeling is when you need a vacation from vacation right! Everytime we travel, we tell ourselves we wont overdo it, but the fear of missing out on something kicks in and we end up pushing ourselves.
This looks like so much fun!! I absolutely love ATVing!!
It was great fun! This was our first time and we have fallen in love with ATV-ing as well. Glad you enjoyed the post
This seems like such a fun activity. I’ve never tried one.
It is a great activity and we hope one day you have a chance to experience them firsthad. 🙂
Ohhh I have never drove an ATV before but it always looks so much fun! Definitely on my list to do on future travels.
It is funnn!! They are heavy and wayy more powerful than they look but for all the dust and dirt we got on ourselves,we really enjoyed the experience! WE are glad it made it onto your future travels list! Fingers crossed we all can get back out in the world soon and start exploring again 🙂
Looks so fun! I didn’t really enjoyed my first time ATV-ing but I’d love to give it another try if I ever visit Maui!
This was our first time and there were moments when we were tired during the actual drive because they vehicles are HEAVY! But once we got used to handling these beast, it was fun. We hope you get to visit Maui and consider giving this activity a chance, but dont worry, if you dont there are soo many wonderful things to do on the island that you will still have a GREAT time. 🙂
This looks so fun!! I love doing adventurous things while traveling and I’ve never been to Hawaii but this is definitely something I would do!
We are jealous of your bravery!! We were looking into zip-lining and Sophie chickened out. Maybe next time. We hope you make it over to the islands and experience all the fun activites first hand! They have PLENTY of exciting activities for adventerous travelers 🙂
Looks like an amazing experience! I have never ridden an ATV so I would love to do that one day, especially in a place like Maui 🙂 I went horseback riding last time so maybe I can do this whenever I am able to visit there next!
It was one of our more memorable experiences, thats for sure 🙂 The tour company also has horseback riding so maybe next time we will switch it up, you can take the ATV’s and we will live out our cowboy dreams 🙂 We hope you get a chance to go back soon 🙂
I always wanted to drive an ATV but I keep kinda pushing it to the end of my bucket list as it seems so dangerous! I’ve seen a few times in comedy(!) movies how people do unintended flips and end up with broken legs or otherwise awfully traumatized and I think it subconsciously scared me from trying…
It is for sure a more risky activity, and yes, you should always be careful of your surroundings. The guide for our tour was great because we asked him the exact question about how to avoid flipping the ATV and he was very patient and guided us through the proper way to operate the vehicles. That being said, we also had an older couple in our group and they enjoyed the ride as well, they just went a little slower which was great because it kept everyone safe 🙂
This looks like WAYYY too much fun! Are you allowed a go if you don’t have a driving license? :S
It was a LOT of fun.. You can be a passenger but not a driver if you dont have a valid drivers license. They are super strict in terms of safety but it would be just as fun as a passenger as well 🙂
I’ve been dying to go to Maui, I cannot wait to be able to go, such a beautiful destination. Your post is great, I’ll definitely use it as reference to plan my trip and your pictures are gorgeous!
Maui was on hubby’s dream list for a while and it really did live up to all the hype! We are glad you found the post informative and if and when you are planning your trip if you have any specific quesitons.. let us know! We love to help in any way we can! Thank you for enjoying the pictures, they honestly still dont do justice to how beautiful the island is 🙂
I’m so glad you shared this, I have been booking a lot of Hawai’i trips for clients this year and i’m always looking for activity suggestions for them.
Oh yay! There are a LOT of great activities in Maui and we are glad we were able to give you more options. We also have a post about Luaus and we have an upcomming post about another bucket list activity : helicopter tours. Be sure to check them out as well 🙂 We hope your clients have an amazing time!
I’ve always wanted to try out an ATV and Maui looks like an awesome palce to do it. The views looks amazing, especially of the ocean.
It is a WONDERFUL experience and yes, Maui was the perfect backdrop. There were times when we would just stop and admire the views and it felt surreal. We hope you get a chance to try out ATV-ing soon 🙂
This sounds like so much fun! Though in my case my husband will not be supportive of this decision but its ok, he can run behind me while i take this adventurous trip! One day – when COVID-19 allows us – On my bucket list in Maui!
Lol, it’s an activity that is not for everyone thats for sure. Hopefully we all can get back out into the world safely and we hope you get to experience the magic of Maui soon 🙂
What a fantastic day.This is called too much fun with a new learning.Nice post,thanks for this.
It was a really fun activity! We are glad you enjoyed the post 🙂