Malaita near Auki, Photo: Irene Scott/AusAID, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Find your Bliss in Solomon Islands
Solomon Islands, made simple: lagoons, wrecks and village life, without the worry
Solomon Islands is one of the least visited countries in the South Pacific, a scattered nation of nearly a thousand islands with the world's largest saltwater lagoon, Second World War wrecks you can snorkel over, and village cultures that still trade in shell money. Travel here takes patience, so this guide answers the questions about entry, cash, flights, boats and safety before they start.
Your trip, step by step
- Before you flyEntry rules, cash, malaria advice and the best season, answered
- LandingHoniara International Airport and your first day in the capital
- Your days in the islandsLagoons, wrecks, markets and village stays, planned around small planes and boats
- Home againDeparture tips so the last flight out is calm too
Where to go, eat and stay
- Plain answersHonest guidance on the questions first-timers actually ask about a less travelled country.
- Official sourcesEntry, health and safety facts point you to the official pages to confirm.
- No price surprisesWe explain what costs more and what costs less, so your budget holds.
- Free to useEvery guide and the trip planner are free.
Our promise
Solomon Islands rewards travellers who arrive prepared. We answer the questions about cash, domestic flights, malaria, custom etiquette and island timetables before they start, so you can relax into island time and find your Bliss.
Visiting family in Honiara, Malaita or the Western Province, or a veteran's relative tracing Guadalcanal history? This guide was written with you in mind too.
How to use this guide
Four steps from first idea to a trip that feels easy.
- Choose your islandsThe capital, the dive towns of the Western Province, the great lagoon or Malaita: start with the destinations that fit you.
- Sort the essentialsEntry rules, cash, malaria prevention and the best season, checked against official sources.
- Pick your placesUse our places to visit list for wrecks, reefs, markets, lodges and food.
- Plan your routeUse the free trip planner to shape your days around domestic flights and boat transfers.
Everything your Solomon Islands trip needs
Free tools and guides for every stage of the journey.
Destinations
Honiara, Gizo, Munda, Marovo Lagoon and Malaita, each explained in depth.
Explore destinationsPlaces to visit
More than a hundred wrecks, reefs, markets, lodges, memorials and cafés, from classics to hidden corners.
See places to visitFlights and stays
Search flights into Honiara and stays across the islands.
Plan travelPlaces finder
Restaurants, sights and stays mapped around each base.
Find placesFree trip planner
Tell us your dates and interests and build a route that fits.
Plan your trip
The classic Solomons trip
Capital, wrecks and the Western Province
Most first trips land in Honiara on Guadalcanal, spend a day or two at the war memorials, the Central Market and the wreck beaches at Bonegi, then fly west. Gizo and Munda are relaxed dive towns surrounded by reefs, wrecks and lagoon islands, and Marovo Lagoon is a vast maze of forested islands famous for its carvers and coral.
- Snorkelling the Bonegi wrecks near Honiara
- Kennedy Island and the reefs around Gizo
- Skull Island and Roviana Lagoon from Munda
- Village carvers and lodges of Marovo Lagoon
Start with the destinations
See how the capital and the islands fit together.
Solomon Islands destinationsPlan with confidence
Your route, without the worry
Domestic flights in Solomon Islands are small, infrequent and sometimes rescheduled, and boats run when the weather allows. Our free planner helps you leave buffer days, match islands to your dates and keep connections realistic.
- Buffer days around domestic flights
- Realistic boat transfers between lagoons
- Where to base yourself
Where to go in Solomon Islands
From the capital Honiara to the dive towns of Gizo and Munda, the great Marovo Lagoon and the artificial islands of Malaita.
Guadalcanal, north coast
Honiara
The capital on Guadalcanal, with a lively market, Second World War memorials and wreck snorkelling nearby.
Read the guidePhoto: StewyOz, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
Western Province, Ghizo Island
Gizo
The relaxed second town, with superb reefs, wartime wrecks, Kennedy Island and small island resorts.
Read the guidePhoto: Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Samantha J. Webb, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Western Province, New Georgia
Munda
A small town on New Georgia with an international standard airstrip, Roviana Lagoon, war relics and great diving.
Read the guidePhoto: Xplore Dive from Mooloolaba, Australia, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Western Province, around New Georgia and Vangunu
Marovo Lagoon
A vast lagoon of forested islands and coral, with village carvers, small eco lodges and outstanding diving.
Read the guidePhoto: Xplore Dive from Mooloolaba, Australia, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Malaita Province
Malaita
The most populous island, with shell money makers, artificial reef islands and strong custom culture.
Read the guidePhoto: Irene Scott/AusAID, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
A note from our founder
A note from our founder
My first time visiting Kenya, I was genuinely surprised with how fast it began feeling like home. The people are so friendly, the food is delicious and familiar, and the accommodations are modern and upscale.
During my travels throughout the continent, I commonly hear tourists share stories about being scammed or taken advantage of, which is both frustrating and disheartening.
Living in Kenya for the last 2 years, I have had the great fortune to meet a network of wonderful Kenyans who have continuously help guide my family's journey. Their shared knowledge has not only greatly enhanced our overall experience here, but it has also saved us tons of time, energy, and resources.
With BlissPoint Travel, my hope is to build a global community that is willing to share useful, uncommon knowledge so that we can all blissfully enjoy the wonders our world has to offer.
Questions we hear most
Is Solomon Islands worth visiting?
Yes, if you like diving, snorkelling, history and genuine village culture more than polished resorts. It has superb reefs, Second World War sites, and very few other tourists.
Do I need a visa for Solomon Islands?
Many nationalities receive a visitor permit on arrival, but the rules and length of stay depend on your passport. Check the Solomon Islands Immigration Division and your own government's travel advice before you book.
What currency is used?
The Solomon Islands dollar. Cards work only in some Honiara hotels and larger shops, so carry enough cash before you leave the capital, because ATMs are rare in the provinces.
What language do people speak?
English is the official language, but Solomons Pijin is the everyday common language, alongside more than sixty local languages. Learn "tagio tumas" (thank you very much).
When is the best time to go?
May to October is the drier, cooler season with calmer seas for boats and diving. November to April is hotter, wetter and carries a cyclone risk.
Is Solomon Islands safe for tourists?
Most visits are trouble free, and people are welcoming. Petty theft and some crime occur in Honiara after dark, and malaria is a real health risk. Read your government's current travel advice before you go.
Ready to find your Bliss in Solomon Islands?
Use the free trip planner to turn ideas into a route that fits your dates, flights and budget.