Top 5 Solomon Islands Full-Day Tours: A Detailed Look

So, thinking about seeing the Solomon Islands but only got one day to really experience what they offer? I get that! Sometimes our travel schedules are a little tight, but you still want to see and do everything. So, there are a number of really cool full-day tour choices. It’s almost as if these tours are specifically for people just like you! Very often, people feel sort of overwhelmed, though, trying to figure out which one gives you the most bang for your buck. Well, no sweat, because, in some respects, this review should help. We’ll take a look at five pretty awesome full-day tours that will help you make the very most of a single day exploring this gorgeous group of islands. It’s a little bit like grabbing a bunch of different experiences all at once. That seems pretty good, right?

1. Honiara City & WWII History Tour

The first stop on our list? Well, arguably, it’s a look at the Honiara City & WWII History Tour. This excursion usually tends to be for all you history buffs out there, but is also pretty great for anyone who wants to learn a little bit about this area, its people and why its important to our shared World history. Actually, what’s cool is how this experience puts together some of the more well-known sites in Honiara with the fairly impactful history that played out during the Second World War. Usually, tours begin by seeing the Solomon Islands National Museum. Anyway, it’s a very good intro to the culture here. You will see various local artifacts and a fair amount of information about how the islands grew to become what they are now. Another notable site you visit tends to be the American Memorial Garden. We get to honor the Americans who served in the war. Is that important? Definitely.

The thing that a lot of people end up talking about, though, often comes down to some of the World War II historical spots. You know, the battlefields. There’s one battlefield at Bloody Ridge (or Edson’s Ridge, or Raiders Ridge – depends on who you talk to) that gets you that iconic viewpoint of the landscape below. Guides are, more or less, prepared to talk about everything that happened during the fight between US forces and Japanese soldiers in the fall of 1942. Then, for instance, there’s also the Vilu War Museum. Basically, it’s full of old airplanes and wartime stuff. Like, you get up close and personal with history; these airplanes seem nearly frozen in time, a vivid reminder of past events. All told, tours run approximately six hours, often including all transport, entry fees to the war museum, plus usually bottled water to keep you happy along the way. So, make certain that you check the fine print and small tour details. It sounds nice, doesn’t it?

Read our full review: Honiara City & WWII History Tour Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Honiara WWII Tour)

2. Guadalcanal Full-Day Tour

Okay, for anyone wanting a more detailed, arguably very focused examination into those pivotal WWII happenings? Is that like you? Then Guadalcanal Island itself very easily justifies a whole day’s exploration. As a matter of fact, just traveling from Honiara and around this island offers a unique perspective of the landscape outside the city. On this trip, visitors find a little of everything. You might find yourself checking out more museums dedicated to the war efforts. Then again, many spots you might stop at served as major strategic points at that time. Then again, as I was saying, you see the jungle landscape. It is that which seems to have really played a large role during those struggles back in the day. It really makes the story of the island come alive. This area in particular played a huge part in that WWII story, so to speak.

A popular site would be Red Beach. Basically, it was a landing spot for the American forces, a rather chilling reminder of warfare. Another rather interesting area you may find yourself at includes Betikama Museum. Right, Betikama Museum may just show you more historical stuff regarding World War II along with different island artifacts too! Many of the guides usually provide an intimate history here. Clearly, you walk the battlefields, seemingly touching base with important world history. Don’t just assume, by the way, this experience ends at purely wartime remembrance! Many full-day itineraries make sure to visit some of the lovely Guadalcanal waterfalls that offer great views to cool down during breaks. Like the prior tour, all these tours tend to last from six to eight hours, generally including transport from your lodging and most admission fees to sites and locales. What is nice here, that you can’t be certain of always on other tours, is to also consider packed lunches added as an option to keep the energy levels high all day. Very often this can be critical under hot island conditions! This is usually pretty amazing.

Read our full review: Guadalcanal Full-Day Tour Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Guadalcanal Island Tour)

3. Bonegi Beach Snorkeling & WWII Wrecks

Okay, and now we’re talking about a tour that blends natural splendor with a history lesson! You know, perfect for folks who love playing in water or want something super memorable to share online with all of your friends back home. The main destination here tends to be Bonegi Beach. It gets good reviews because it gives you easy access to not one, but actually TWO, WWII shipwrecks lying very close to the coast. As a matter of fact, these wrecks create pretty cool artificial reefs and, frankly, just teem with lots of marine life. It’s usually awesome for snorkeling, is that cool? Then again, you can sometimes find that you can just wade straight off the beach! Seriously! Very shallow depths usually get great visibility; the average snorkeler or diver really shouldn’t find this area intimidating to get their feet wet here at Bonegi. Snorkeling really is an amazing experience. It’s something to behold.

Typically, any of these Bonegi Beach tours end up taking approximately five to six hours! Included in this timeframe: travel time both ways from Honiara; snorkeling at the wrecks themselves plus occasionally included lunch right on one of Guadalcanal’s most idyllic beaches. Now, like most destinations that support snorkeling in the islands, don’t just assume that gear (masks and snorkels especially!) get issued automatically here, or that they’re even of quality. Instead, be certain to BYO snorkeling kit. In some respects, it means ensuring the mask and snorkel you’ll be using seals nicely across the bridge of the nose. Still, some spots provide wetsuit shoes (fins often remain optional due foot comfort, though typically offered) for a small rental. It usually depends. The sea’s warm year-round out that way, though; many end up snorkeling barefoot anyway with little to no issue from that kind of approach. But for some of us, that bottom coverage just seems important, is that you? You’ll know! That being said, these beaches seem perfect for some beach photos.

Read our full review: Bonegi Beach Snorkeling & WWII Wrecks Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Bonegi Snorkeling Tours)

4. Malaita Island Day Trip

Want to, maybe, discover some of the diversity within Solomon Islands? Well, perhaps consider taking a day excursion out to Malaita! You see, even though this place lives only a short plane ride from Honiara, you might almost see a difference! Typically, that’s the experience for those that choose it. People from Malaita tend to maintain different cultural roots or different day to day approaches in many regards. Sometimes this trip means going by chartered speedboat or smaller airlines which is only around an hour in the air. Then again, it depends on final departure/ destination points, but usually most tours seem interested in offering some insight into life. Often, guides love sharing how inhabitants live right now compared against local traditions from prior years plus showing traditional crafts or different methods of farming on display which remain popular across a larger population out in those regions rather than near the capital itself at Honiara!

Trips there are, in a way, super flexible depending entirely on the kind of encounter which travelers are seeking that particular trip! Sometimes visits might also have opportunities available so shoppers grab souvenirs, like beautiful shell necklaces or carved sculptures that seem distinctly Malaitan made. Very often, this kind of personal day there starts beginning bright before dawn (especially needed going via some charters available commercially traveling at only slower cruising speeds), arriving roughly midmorning. By early afternoon? Very often you begin preparing for journeys back from destinations near Auki to give travelers chances, maybe even allowing sunset peering during returns home after those memorable journeys!

Read our full review: Malaita Island Day Trip Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Malaita Island Adventure)

5. Village Stay Experience

For something even richer culturally? Usually, it can involve setting plans so, too, can a day trip which offers that chance staying or going with some residents sharing intimate island living for that day! As a matter of fact, those setups tend involving coordinating closely usually! And in advance alongside chief communities locally, ensuring they approve visits from tourist travelers. First things first, expect getting exposed regarding everything during those journeys; beginning by experiencing traditional approaches cooking, going around places together with farmers that teach knowledge of diverse cultivations throughout forests. Typically, you might come up across customary fishermen illustrating different skillsets regarding ways people gather their harvests daily throughout open coasts nearby during early morning light times or at darkfalls instead (since this relies completely in weather patterns plus some ocean’s tides!). Arguably, those types arrangements generally are truly tailored based upon whom individuals select working carefully which usually should mean these journeys remains truly special unique and remarkable, often as one time events while vacationing too!

Activities offered within this type arrangements change too including dancing or traditional crafts training during specific instances or locations or regions, arguably offering great moments learning different histories which may include insight regarding diverse belief structure used throughout life on villages since older history days began years ago . This very chance going village area lets traveler engage profoundly interacting genuinely by many locals, witnessing daily normal schedules they commonly deal through. So, doing village excursion it enables gaining insights intimately, grasping those ways of life. Read our full review: Village Stay Experience Full Review and Details See Prices, Availability & Reserve Now (Book Village Stay)