48 Hours of Tropical Solitude: Solomon Islands Escape
From War Relics to Coral Gardens in Honiara and Beyond
Trip Overview
This tight Solomon Islands weekend packs World War II wrecks wrapped in coral, markets where betel nut dyes fingers scarlet, and beaches where your footprints may be the only ones. Day one dives straight into Honiara's raw war history and sunset harbour views, while day two fires you across to white-sand atolls reached by wooden motorboat. The rhythm pairs urban exploration with reef snorkelling, closing each night over fresh tuna grilled on coconut husks. Solomon Islands pays back travellers who land curious about its tangled past and hungry for reef-to-table eating.
Pace
Moderate
Daily Budget
$120-180 per day
Best Seasons
May to October during dry season
Ideal For
History enthusiasts, Snorkelers, Couples, Adventure travelers, World War II buffs
Day-by-Day Itinerary
A complete plan for every day of your trip
1
Honiara's War Echoes and Harbor Nights
Honiara, Guadalcanal Island
Begin among rusted tanks and finish with harbour sunsets, squeezing lime-soaked kokoda between war relics
Morning
Guadalcanal American Memorial and WWII Museum
Stroll between marble walls that name the fallen while Pacific wind whistles through ironwood trees. Inside the museum's tight corridors, rusted dog tags, sake bottles, and photos of grinning Marines beside coconut palms crowd the shelves. Outside, Japanese howitzers sprawl in the grass like dozing beasts.
Lunch
Island Breeze Restaurant
Afternoon
Bonegi Beach snorkeling at Japanese shipwrecks
Slide into warm turquoise water where the Hirokawa Maru's bow lifts like a coral-armoured cathedral. Yellow-striped fusiliers flash through portholes while you hear only your breathing and the crunch of parrotfish chewing coral. The ship's deck lies shallow enough for first-timers.
Tell your lunch spot to ring driver Joseph, he charges standard rate and knows the entry track
Evening
Harbor sunset at Point Cruz Yacht Club
Ask for grilled mahi-mahi while you watch fishing boats glide home with the evening haul, red and green nav lights winking against violet sky
Where to Stay Tonight
Point Cruz waterfront (King Solomon Hotel)
Five-minute walk to yacht club, handy for day two's boat departure, rooms look over Iron Bottom Sound where WWII ships still lie
See all Solomon Islands accommodation options →Pack reef shoes for Bonegi, the beach shelves fast and sea urchins grip submerged tank tracks
Day 1 Budget: $150
2
Sand Spit Paradise: Savo Island Day Trip
Savo Island
Putt across glass-smooth straits to an active volcano island where dolphins sprint your bow and hot springs simmer beside white sand
Morning
Early boat to Savo Island
Climb aboard a weather-beaten banana boat at 7am when Honiara's market women are just stacking pyramids of papaya. The 45-minute hop often brings spinner dolphins vaulting through your spray, their grey backs shining like wet stones in morning light. The volcano rises ahead, its flanks cloaked in coconut groves.
Your hotel arranges this - boat leaves from Yacht Club beach at 7 sharp
Lunch
Village lunch at Tanamo Beach
Afternoon
Savo's dolphin pod and mud pools
After lunch, village kids lead you through ankle-deep tide pools where electric-blue starfish grip black volcanic rock. Mud pools hiss and bubble, sulphur tang mixing with salt air. Wade into waist-deep water where dolphins sometimes circle back, their clicks ringing underwater like metallic rain.
Evening
Return to Honiara for final sunset
Final dinner at Breakwater Cafe, order the smoked tuna salad while fruit bats swoop between palms against an orange sky
Where to Stay Tonight
Same as night one (King Solomon Hotel)
Next to early airport taxi stand, allows 5am departure without hassle
See all Solomon Islands accommodation options →Carry small bills for village kids selling polished cowrie shells, they make tidy souvenirs and fund local schools
Day 2 Budget: $130
Practical Information
Everything you need to know before you go
Getting Around
Honiara's core is walkable. But taxis or hotel shuttles serve WWII sites ($5-10 per ride). Boats to Savo Island leave from Point Cruz, your hotel phones the captain direct. No buses run. Yet shared minibuses ply the main road for $1 between town and beaches.
Book Ahead
Reserve your Savo Island boat one day ahead through your hotel. King Solomon Hotel packs out during cruise ship calls, book early. Bring cash. Most eateries and boat crews spurn cards.
Packing Essentials
Reef-safe sunscreen, light long sleeves for sun cover, snorkel mask if you like your own, waterproof bag for boat runs, and cash in small notes.
Total Budget
$280-330 for the weekend excluding flights
Customize Your Trip
Adapt this itinerary to your travel style
Budget Version
Crash at Pacific Casino Hotel dorms ($30/night), eat at Central Market stalls ($5 meals), ride with local fishermen to Bonegi ($15 not $25), and flag passing trucks to dodge taxi fares.
Luxury Upgrade
Level up to Heritage Park Hotel's ocean suites, hire a private speedboat to Savo ($80), book a private WWII historian guide ($60), and eat at Kokonut Café for sunset degustation starring reef lobster and island-grown vanilla.
Family-Friendly
Swap Bonegi snorkelling for sheltered Lumatapopoho Beach near town, reserve a larger covered boat for the Savo hop, bring water shoes for volcanic rock, and ask restaurants to dial down the curry for spice-shy kids.
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