How many towns to visit: Three towns is the sensible number for most backpackers, four at most. Transport takes up whole days, so each extra town costs roughly a day of waiting around a wharf or airstrip. Three lets you stay long enough to learn a market, find the best fried fish stall and be recognized by the guesthouse cook, which is where the trip really pays off.
Which kind of town for which traveler: Choose the
capital for logistics: banks, supermarkets, SIM cards, dive operators and the widest guesthouse range. Choose
provincial centers if you want a slower pace, with market mornings thick with smoke and fresh produce, and evenings with kids swimming off the jetty. Choose
small island settlements if diving, village stays or quiet are the priority, accepting basic rooms, bucket showers …
read more 👉 How many towns to visit: Three towns is the sensible number for most backpackers, four at most. Transport takes up whole days, so each extra town costs roughly a day of waiting around a wharf or airstrip. Three lets you stay long enough to learn a market, find the best fried fish stall and be recognized by the guesthouse cook, which is where the trip really pays off.
Which kind of town for which traveler: Choose the capital for logistics: banks, supermarkets, SIM cards, dive operators and the widest guesthouse range. Choose provincial centers if you want a slower pace, with market mornings thick with smoke and fresh produce, and evenings with kids swimming off the jetty. Choose small island settlements if diving, village stays or quiet are the priority, accepting basic rooms, bucket showers and generator power. A mix of one hub and two quieter places suits most people.
What it costs: Solomon Islands is expensive for the region. Budget about US$50 to 90 a day (roughly SBD 420 to 760) if you use guesthouses and eat at markets. Guesthouse rooms run around US$30 to 70 a night, a market meal US$3 to 6, and a restaurant dinner in Honiara US$12 to 20. Per visit, expect domestic flights around US$80 to 200 one way, fast boats US$15 to 40, local minibuses under US$1 to 3 and guided village or reef visits US$15 to 50. Custom fees for reefs, WWII sites or village land are normally SBD 50 to 200 (about US$6 to 24), paid in cash to the owners.
Safety and cultural considerations: Daytime walking in town is generally relaxed, but avoid walking alone after dark, especially in Honiara, and keep phones and cash out of sight. Land and reefs are customary property, so ask permission and agree a fee before swimming, snorkeling or photographing. Dress modestly: shoulders and knees covered in town, and women in village settings should swim in a t-shirt and shorts or sarong. Sundays are for church, with shops shut and noisy activity frowned on. Malaria is present, so carry prophylaxis and repellent. Crocodiles live in some rivers and estuaries, so check locally before swimming. Carry plenty of small notes, as change is scarce and the nearest ATM may be a boat ride away.
A gift of a bag of rice or sugar for a host family goes down well and costs about US$5 to 10, and the reward is often a shared meal of fish, sweet potato and coconut cream.
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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.