How many regions to visit: I advise
two or three regions on a trip of two to three weeks. Each move costs a day of flights, boats and waiting, and the real payoff comes when you settle long enough to learn the village rhythm: dawn fishing canoes, smoke from cooking fires, children calling out from the shoreline. Fewer stops also protect your budget and your patience.
Choosing by travel style: Divers should prioritize
lagoon and reef regions, where the water is warm and clear and wartime wrecks sit within easy reach. Hikers and culture seekers do better in
volcanic and highland islands, where trails are steep, humid and rewarded with views over canopy and sea. History buffs gravitate to the
Guadalcanal battlefield areas for rusted relics and memorials. If you want rest and snorkeling over …
read more 👉 How many regions to visit: I advise two or three regions on a trip of two to three weeks. Each move costs a day of flights, boats and waiting, and the real payoff comes when you settle long enough to learn the village rhythm: dawn fishing canoes, smoke from cooking fires, children calling out from the shoreline. Fewer stops also protect your budget and your patience.
Choosing by travel style: Divers should prioritize lagoon and reef regions, where the water is warm and clear and wartime wrecks sit within easy reach. Hikers and culture seekers do better in volcanic and highland islands, where trails are steep, humid and rewarded with views over canopy and sea. History buffs gravitate to the Guadalcanal battlefield areas for rusted relics and memorials. If you want rest and snorkeling over action, choose quiet outer islands with simple village stays.
What it costs: Plan on US$60 to 120 a day, or roughly SB$500 to 1,000, for independent travel. Village or basic guesthouse beds run about SB$150 to 400 (US$18 to 48), with meals of fish, rice and root vegetables at SB$50 to 150. Local boat rides can be SB$100 to 500 per person depending on distance, while chartered boats cost much more because of fuel. Domestic flights usually run US$80 to 250 per sector. Expect reef or custom fees of SB$50 to 200 per site, and guides at about SB$200 to 500 a day. Dive trips cost around US$90 to 150 for two tanks. Cash is king, so carry small notes.
Safety and custom: Solomon Islands is generally friendly, but malaria is present, so take prophylaxis advice from a travel clinic and use repellent at dusk. Medical care outside Honiara is basic, and evacuation is costly, so carry insurance that covers it. Respect customary land ownership: ask before swimming, fishing or hiking, and pay the fee to the landowner. Dress modestly in villages, with shoulders and knees covered, and avoid photographing people without permission. Many communities observe Sunday as a day of church and rest, so boats and shops may stop. Take care with reef cuts and saltwater crocodiles in estuaries and murky rivers, and swim only where locals say it is safe. Crime in Honiara, mostly theft after dark, is manageable by avoiding night walks and keeping valuables out of sight.
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Hi, I’m Johan (Netherlands 🇳🇱), the creator of TakeYourBackpack. Over the past 3 decades, I’ve backpacked through 90+ countries across six continents, gaining extensive experience with independent travel, long-term trips, and overland routes.