Solomon Islands Travel Guide: What to Know Before You Go

The Solomon Islands is the Pacific destination that almost nobody talks about, and that is exactly why I fell for it. While everyone else flocks to Fiji and Vanuatu, this scattered chain of islands east of Papua New Guinea stays quiet, rugged, and gloriously undeveloped. My first trip there took a lot of planning because information was thin on the ground. Let me hand you everything I wish someone had told me before I went.

Getting There and Around

There is no shortcut to reaching the Solomons. International flights are limited, with the main gateway being Brisbane in Australia, and a handful of services from Fiji, Vanuatu, and Papua New Guinea. Honiara, the capital on Guadalcanal, is where almost everyone lands. Once you are in the country, domestic flying is the practical way to move between islands because distances are huge and boats are slow and weather dependent.

Solomon Airlines runs a network of small planes connecting the bigger islands, and it is worth booking early in the dry season. The alternative is the inter-island shipping that follows the old trading routes, which is cheap but slow and runs on a loose schedule. For most travelers, a mix of one or two domestic flights and a boat trip or two gives the best balance of reach and adventure. I found the flights easy enough, but I always left a full day of slack around them because the weather out there does what it likes.

The Diving Is World Class

If there is one reason to make the effort to come here, it is the diving. The Solomons sit on the edge of the Coral Triangle, and the reefs around places like Gizo, Munda, and the Russell Islands are among the healthiest I have seen anywhere. There are wrecks from World War II still lying in clear, shallow water, untouched sites covered in soft coral, and fish life that is frankly overwhelming. Even a modest open water diver will feel like they have stepped into a nature documentary.

The diving is less organized than in other Pacific countries, but in a good way. Small operators work from the handful of dive lodges, groups stay tiny, and sites are rarely crowded. For divers who want pristine reefs without a dozen other boats, this is one of the best places on earth. I had more than one afternoon where my dive boat and I had a whole reef to ourselves.

Island Hopping at Its Rawest

The Solomon Islands reward patience. There are no resorts on every reef, no beachfront cocktail culture, and no sense of rushing. Instead you get villages that welcome travelers warmly, lagoons that stretch for miles of impossibly blue water, and islands where the way of life has not changed much in generations. The Western Province, around Gizo and the Marovo Lagoon, is the most visited and the best place to start. Munda offers a quieter base, and the sheer wall dives and remote villages around it are unforgettable.

Boat transport between islands is charming but real. You ride in the open hulls of outboard skiffs, spray in your face, with bags wrapped in plastic to keep them dry. It is not luxury, but it is honest travel, and the views of forested peaks and palm beaches make every hour on the water worth it. I learned to pack everything in dry bags on day one and never looked back.

Sorting Out Costs and Cash

The Solomon Islands are not cheap, mostly because almost everything is imported and distances are large. Accommodation ranges from simple guesthouses to remote eco-lodges, and prices sit above what you would pay for similar places on mainland Asia. The official currency is the Solomon Islands dollar, and cash is essential because cards are accepted only in a small number of places, mainly in Honiara. ATMs exist but can run dry, and on outer islands cash is the only option. Come with a plan to carry enough money for several days at a time, and keep plenty of small notes for the customary fees that are part of life here.

Cultural Notes Everyone Should Respect

The people of the Solomons are famously generous and friendly, but this is a deeply traditional society. Dress modestly away from resort beaches, ask permission before photographing people or villages, and accept that a small gift or a genuine conversation goes a long way. Land and reef ownership is taken seriously, so if you want to dive or visit a particular spot, expect to pay a customary fee to the local landowner. These fees are small, legitimate, and an important part of the local economy.

Do not wander alone into the interior of any island. The towns are generally safe, but the bush and some outer areas have their own dynamics, and you should travel with people who know the place. Common sense goes a long way, and so does respect for the unhurried rhythm of village life.

What to Pack and When to Go

Pack light, expect humidity, and bring reef-safe sunscreen, a good hat, and insect repellent that actually works. Malaria exists here, so check with a travel clinic about medication before you go. The dry season from about April to October brings the calmest seas and the best diving visibility, which makes it the favored time for most visitors.

The Solomon Islands are not for everyone. There is no glitzy nightlife, no all-inclusive comfort, and the pace is slow. But if you want one of the last genuinely wild parts of the Pacific, a place where the reefs are alive and the welcome is real, I cannot recommend it highly enough. Just give it time, respect the people, and let the islands set the rhythm.