Solomon Islands Tours & Holidays
At this stage we don't have any organised trips to the Solomon Islands.
That said, Intrepid can create tailor-made tours to many destinations, including the Solomon Islands. Our fully customised trips still offer the same small group experiences with local leaders, but made just the way you want it. Simply fill out your details on our Tailor-Made page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch.
Or why not visit Fiji, Vanuatu, the Cook Islands or Samoa?
Our Solomon Islands trips
Let's create an exclusive trip for your group.
Explore Tailor-Made tripsSolomon Islands at a glance
CAPITAL CITY
Honiara
POPULATION
725,767
CURRENCY
Solomon Islands Dollar (SBD)
LANGUAGE
English is the official language and spoken widely. There are 63 distinct languages across the islands, with Pijin or Pidgin English used by most locals.
TIME ZONE
(UTC/GMT + 11) Honiara
CALLING CODE
+677
ELECTRICITY
Type I (Australian/New Zealand) 220-240 V
Learn more about Solomon Islands
Food and drink
Solomon Islanders traditionally rely on the coastal areas as the main source of food, reeling in reef fish, seasonally caught crabs and varieties of shellfish. These practices continue around the islands today. Coconuts, cassava, yams, taro roots and tropical fruits such as pineapples, bananas and papaya are all grown locally. You’ll find plenty of fresh produce in the markets. A typical dish consists of cooked fish served with taro ‘pudding’ and a side of fresh fruit and vegetables. Travelling in Honiara, you’ll find more western influenced cuisines with American and European style of restaurants on offer around town.
Shopping
While you can purchase the necessities in Honiara, you won’t find chain stores or many large shopping centres in the Solomon Islands. Instead, you can walk through markets selling Melanesian handicrafts and souvenirs, where you can pick out brightly coloured clothing for your beach adventures and take your pick from locally grown fresh fruit and vegetables sprawled in every direction. Central Market has the largest number of stallholders selling souvenirs in the capital of Honiara. Here, you will find small carved replicas of humans, birds and fish representing animal motifs from different tribes. When purchasing at the markets, bargaining is not traditionally part of Melanesian culture in the Solomon Islands.
Culture and customs
Wantok translates to ‘one talk’ and is used to describe the strong ties of kinship that unite the communities of the Solomon Islands. Kastom is a Pijin word describing the traditional ways of doing things in harmony with Wantok, central to village life and the way society is organized. Ninety-five per cent of Solomon Islanders are Melanesian with the rest of the population being Polynesian, Chinese and of European descent. There are distinctive cultural differences between tribes throughout the archipelago, interwoven with kinship beliefs and clan ties. The national coat of arms displays symbols represented across the regions: an image of a Melanesian dancing shield (Central District), turtle (West District) and Sanford Eagle (Malaita District) framed by a crocodile and shark holding up a crown. Being a Commonwealth country, the Solomon Islands has a constitutional monarchy, that gained independence as a republic in 1978. Influenced by a colonial past, ninety per cent of Solomon Islanders identify to Christianity, with the faith celebrated at Sunday mass involving a lively church choir that combines traditional styles of dance with new age harmonies.
Geography and environment
The Solomon Islands span 900 Miles (1448 Kilometers) as part of a volcanic arc extending from Papua New Guinea to Vanuatu. Located in the Pacific Ocean, northeast of Australia, the small group of islands consists of mountainous terrain, dense rainforests, mangroves and coral coastlines. Six main islands make up the inhabited areas with nearly 900 smaller islands dotted throughout the archipelago. The country’s bustling capital, Honiara, is situated on the main island of Guadalcanal where you can find WWII relics scattered in the surrounds outside the city. While Honiara is the main entry point – Seghe, Mundra and Gizo are the gateways to explore further afield. The highest mountain sits at 7644 feet (2330 meters) above sea level on Guadalcanal. Rare orchids grow in the forests and 69 endemic bird species call the Solomon Islands home. The region remains largely untouched and undeveloped with some parts recently declared as marine protected areas for the breeding grounds of critically endangered marine species, such as hawksbill turtles and giant clams.
Festivals and events in Solomon Islands
Wagosia Festival
Held every year in June on the island of Aorigi (Santa Catalina). Stories of ancestors are brought to life through chanting, re-enactments of spear fighting and tribal ceremonies in celebration of yam harvesting season.
Shell Money Festival
The currency of ‘shell money’ is still recognized for traditional exchanges on some of the islands. Celebrated over three days, the event is held in August at Langalanga Lagoon, Malaita Province.
Easter in the Solomons
Having a population that largely identifies with Christianity, celebrations around Easter are big with a dedicated public holiday and most families going to mass. The church choirs of the Solomon Islands have received international attention for their mix of traditional instruments, dance and upbeat harmonies.
Solomon Islands travel FAQs
Visas are the responsibility of the individual traveller. Entry requirements can change at any time, so it's important that you check for the latest information. Please visit the relevant consular website of the country or countries you’re visiting for detailed and up-to-date visa information specific to your nationality. Check the Essential Trip Information section of the itinerary for more information.
Bargaining or tipping in restaurants and shops is not traditionally part of Melanesian culture in the Solomon Islands but if you receive good service you can consider a 10 per cent tip.
The Solomon Islands has several phone networks and good internet service available. Phone cards can be purchased throughout major centres and most hotels provide Wi-Fi. Check with your phone provider to find out if they offer mobile roaming in the Solomon Islands.
Local networks such as Telekom and Vodafone offer phone service in most areas. Global roaming with other networks may not work in the Solomon Islands. Check with your network provider.
It's likely that you’ll encounter different types of toilets while travelling in the Solomon Islands. Western-style flushable toilets are commonly found in high-end resorts, hotels and restaurants, while squat toilets are common in rural areas and homes. Be prepared by carrying your own supply of toilet paper and soap, as these aren't always provided.
Drinking tap water in the Solomon Islands isn’t recommended. For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying small bottles of water and refill a reusable water bottle or canteen wherever you can. Check with your hotel and guide as to whether drinking water dispensers are available during your trip.
Credit cards are widely accepted at hotels and restaurants in the capital of Honiara and major towns.
You can find ANZ and Bank South Pacific (BSP) ATMS in Honiara, Munda, Auki and Gizo
Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of their trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.
For more information on insurance, please go to: Travel Insurance
For a current list of public holidays in the Solomon Islands go to:
https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/oceania/solomon-islands/public-holidays/
Discretion is advised when visiting the Solomon Islands. Homosexuality is technically illegal (although this is rarely enforced) in many South Pacific countries. Excessive public displays of affection – both heterosexual and of any sexuality are frowned upon in most South Pacific societies.
For more detailed and up-to-date advice, we recommend visiting Equaldex or Smartraveller before you travel.
Intrepid takes the health and safety of its travellers seriously and takes every measure to ensure that trips are safe, fun and enjoyable for everyone. We recommend that all travellers check with their government or national travel advisory organisation for the latest information before departure:
From Australia?
Go to: Smart Traveller
From Canada?
Go to: Canada Travel Information
From the UK?
Go to: UK Foreign Travel Advice
From New Zealand?
Go to: Safe Travel
From the US?
Go to: US Department of State
The World Health Organisation also provides useful health information.