Top 10 Things to Do in the Solomon Islands
The Solomon Islands have a way of staying secret even as the rest of the Pacific opens up. On my visits I have been spoiled by empty reefs, warm villages, and water colors that still feel like a trick of the light. If you are planning your first trip, here are the ten experiences I would not want you to miss, in roughly the order I would go after them.
1. Dive the WWII Wrecks
Beneath the calm blue lies one of the richest collections of intact World War II wrecks on the planet. Around Gizo, Munda, and the Russell Islands, ships and aircraft sit in clear, shallow water, covered in coral and teeming with life. Even as a cautious diver I found these sites emotional and spectacular. This is the single best reason to come to the Solomons.
2. Paddle the Marovo Lagoon
Marovo Lagoon in the Western Province is one of the largest saltwater lagoons in the world, and it is sheer paradise. The water is impossibly clear, the beaches curve through coconut groves, and the villages along the edges welcome travelers with a warmth I have rarely felt elsewhere. Take a boat or a kayak and give yourself days here, not hours.
3. Base Yourself in Gizo
Gizo is the friendliest little town in the Solomons. It has a proper market, a handful of great guesthouses, and an easygoing vibe that makes it the perfect base for diving and day trips. I spent a happy week here and never once felt rushed. It is the logistical heart of the diving world in the country.
4. Pay Your Respects at the WWII Sites
History hangs heavy here. The Guadalcanal coast holds bloody battlefields, memorials, and wreck-strewn waters, and a guided tour of places like Bloody Ridge and Henderson Field brings the staggering scale of the war home in a way no book can. It is sobering but essential, and the guides tell the story with deep care. I left feeling I finally understood what those waters had seen.
5. Visit the Honiara Central Market
The country’s biggest market on the capital’s waterfront is a riot of color, smell, and sound. Vendors pile up tropical fruit, vegetables, and woven crafts, and the atmosphere is friendly rather than pushy. It is the easiest place to feel the pulse of ordinary Solomon Island life, and a great spot to pick up a few keepsakes.
6. Explore the East Rennell Area
Tetepare and the East Rennell rainforest cover some of the last untouched forest in the Pacific. Rennell Island is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and I still remember the thrill of walking beneath those towering, silent trees, listening to birds call through the canopy. It is an adventure to reach, but the reward is unforgettable.
7. Snorkel the Russell Islands
If you are not a certified diver, the Russell Islands still deliver. The shallow reefs here burst with hard and soft coral, turtles, and clouds of reef fish, all visible from the surface with a mask and fins. I spent hours floating over gardens most people only see in documentaries. It is the easiest way to fall in love with the reef.
8. Island Hop the Western Province
The classic lap around Gizo, Munda, and the smaller islands in between is the heart of any Solomon trip. Boat hopping between them over flat, turquoise water, hopping off for a swim or a village visit, is the travel experience the brochures are always trying to sell. Here it is real. Give yourself a slow week and just drift.
9. Slow Down in a Village Homestay
The Solomon Islands are at their best when you stop being a passenger. Homestays in the outer islands put you face to face with families who live off the reef and the garden, and who treat visitors like honored guests. A night in a village teaches you more about this country than any itinerary could. I still think about those dinners most weeks.
10. Take a Sunset Cruise of the Lagoon
End a day the way I ended many of mine, drifting across a flat lagoon as the sun drops orange behind the islands. There is no music, no crowds, just the slap of water against the hull and a sky doing things that defy description. It is the perfect quiet finish to a country that rewards slowing down.
The Solomon Islands are not the easiest place to reach, and they do not hand you polished comfort on a plate. What they offer instead is genuine. Empty reefs, open hearts, and memories that stubbornly refuse to fade. Give them time, and they will give you far more than ten things in return.
That is the list. Every one of these experiences left its mark on me, and not one of them asks for much more than time and an open heart. The beauty of the Solomon Islands is that a list like this only scratches the surface, every lagoon, every village, every reef seems to hide its own secret. The best thing you can do is use these ten as a starting point, then let the islands lead you further. That is how the memories really get made.
