Solomon Islands travel guide: what to do, where to dive and how to plan

Scene of the Battle of Guadalcanal in 1942, the Solomon Islands archipelago keeps its wrecks beneath remarkably clear water. Between Marovo Lagoon, the artificial islands of Malaita and the reefs of the Western Province, it offers a Melanesian Pacific still far removed from mass tourism.

Why visit the Solomon Islands?

The Solomon Islands are a Melanesian nation of nearly a thousand islands, east of Papua New Guinea and north-east of Australia. They mainly draw divers, for Second World War wrecks and the reefs of the Western Province, and travellers curious about cultures where custom, or kastom, still shapes village life.

What to discover in the Solomon Islands?

Guadalcanal and Honiara

Honiara, on the north coast of Guadalcanal, is the country's gateway and its only real city. The 1942-1943 battlefields lie all around: Henderson Field and Bloody Ridge to the east, the open-air Vilu museum less than an hour's drive to the west. Two or three days are enough, ideally with a local guide, as unexploded ordnance still lingers in some bush areas. Avoid walking alone in Honiara after dark.

Diving in Iron Bottom Sound

The strait separating Guadalcanal from the Florida Islands owes its nickname, Iron Bottom Sound, to the dozens of ships sunk during the campaign. From Bonegi beach, about fifteen kilometres west of Honiara, two Japanese transports lie in shallow water and can even be explored with a snorkel. Deeper wrecks require advanced certification and a local dive centre. The best period generally runs from May to October, during the drier season.

The Western Province: Munda and Gizo

About an hour's flight from Honiara, Munda and Gizo are the two bases of the Western Province. Munda opens up Roviana Lagoon and its sacred islets, while Gizo, a small port town, is the starting point for reefs and sites linked to John F. Kennedy's PT-109 patrol boat, sunk in 1943. Allow four to six nights to dive aircraft wrecks and coral walls and visit a few fishing villages.

Marovo Lagoon

Between the islands of New Georgia and Vangunu, Marovo is often described as one of the largest saltwater lagoons in the world, enclosed by a double barrier reef. It is reached by a domestic flight to Seghe, then by boat to family-run eco-lodges. Three to four nights allow time to paddle a dugout canoe, dive the passages and visit villages renowned for their woodcarving.

Malaita, Rennell and regional connections

Malaita, the most populous island, is roughly half a day by ferry from Honiara and is known for the artificial islands of Langa Langa Lagoon and the making of shell money. Further south, East Rennell, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, holds a vast lake, but getting there takes a week and plenty of flexibility. To continue to another Melanesian country, Vanuatu and Fiji are linked to Honiara by regular flights.

Cities to visit in Îles Salomon

Featured destinations appear first.
Coming soon.

Not to miss in the Solomon Islands

Seven sites that tell the archipelago's story, between memories of the Pacific War and Melanesian cultures.

Bonegi beach

Two Japanese transports sunk in 1942 lie a few metres from shore, explorable by snorkelling or diving straight from the beach.

Vilu museum

An open-air museum west of Honiara, where the wreckage of American and Japanese aircraft is displayed in the middle of a tropical garden.

Skull Island

A small islet in Roviana Lagoon holding a shrine of chiefs' and warriors' skulls, reached by boat from Munda with a guide.

Kennedy Island

A tiny islet near Gizo where John F. Kennedy and his crew took refuge after losing their PT-109 patrol boat in 1943.

Lake Tegano

A vast lake on Rennell Island, at the heart of the East Rennell World Heritage Site, known for its limestone islets and birdlife.

Skyline Ridge memorial

An American memorial overlooking Honiara, whose panels trace the Guadalcanal campaign, with a clear view over Iron Bottom Sound.

Honiara Central Market

A lively waterfront market trading fruit, fish, betel nut and crafts, ideal for taking the pulse of the capital.

Frequently asked questions

Where can you dive wrecks in the Solomon Islands?
The main sites are around Honiara, with the Japanese transports at Bonegi and the wrecks of Iron Bottom Sound, and in the Western Province, at Munda and Gizo, where aircraft and ships from the 1943 campaign lie. Local dive centres run trips and courses.
What is the kastom fee charged in villages?
In the Solomon Islands, the vast majority of land belongs to clans under customary law. To visit a beach, waterfall, wreck or sacred site, landowners often ask for a small access fee. Check with your accommodation and pay it with good grace.
Is Honiara safe for travellers?
The capital has seen riots, notably in November 2021, and petty crime is a reality. Avoid walking alone at night, leave nothing visible in vehicles and follow local news before departure. The Western Province is generally calmer.
How do you get to Marovo Lagoon from Honiara?
Solomon Airlines links Honiara with Seghe, in New Georgia, on a short domestic flight, after which lagoon lodges collect guests by boat. Slower sea connections also exist. As flights are infrequent and sometimes rescheduled, arrange the transfer with your lodge.
Which flights connect Brisbane and Honiara?
Brisbane is the main gateway, with direct flights to Honiara, notably on Solomon Airlines, taking just over three hours. From Europe, expect a first stopover in Asia or the Middle East, then a second in Australia.
Can you visit East Rennell, the UNESCO site?
Yes, but it is an expedition: infrequent domestic flights to Rennell, then track and boat to Lake Tegano, with very basic village accommodation. The site is on the List of World Heritage in Danger, mainly due to logging.
What can you see of the Battle of Guadalcanal in one day?
Head east early for Henderson Field and Bloody Ridge, then climb to the American memorial on Skyline Ridge above Honiara. In the afternoon, drive west to the Vilu museum and finish with a snorkel over the Bonegi wrecks. A driver-guide makes the day much smoother.
Is Malaita shell money still in use?
Yes, in a customary context: these strings of small shell discs, made notably in Langa Langa Lagoon, are still used for bride price and compensation between clans. In shops, you pay in Solomon Islands dollars. Workshops can be visited from Auki.

Plan your trip to Îles Salomon

Day-by-day itinerary, budget, bookings and packing in a single app.
Aperçu de l'application PlanTripNow