Free time during the day before an evening transfer to the liveaboard. After meeting the captain and crew and completing safety briefings, we enjoy dinner on board and set sail toward the Russell Islands.
Meals: Dinner
Accommodation: Liveaboard
Most of the South Pacific’s reef coastline has already been mapped, dived, and turned into a resort brochure. The Solomon Islands haven’t. Out here, dugout canoes still serve as everyday transport for locals paddling between villages, WWII wrecks sit largely undisturbed in reef-clear water, and entire lagoons remain far less developed than most of the region’s better-known dive destinations. We explore this stretch of the Pacific from a purpose-built liveaboard, launching kayaks straight off the back deck each morning to glide over reef flats and slip into coves no land-based resort could reach, then switching to snorkel or scuba gear whenever the water gets too good to paddle past. What the boat can’t reach, the kayaks usually can.
Included with the 12-day Honiara–Honiara itinerary
Included with the 9-day Honiara–Seghe itinerary
Included with the 9-day Seghe–Honiara itinerary
Add-ons:
Not included:
The best thing about this Solomon islands vacation is that it rewards steady effort rather than peak performance, though it isn’t a fully passive experience either.
Sea kayaking here means gliding over shallow reefs, ducking into hidden coves, and paddling alongside locals still using dugout canoes as everyday transport.
The waters here hold some of the widest marine biodiversity in the Pacific, with baleen, sperm, and beaked whales passing through alongside spinner, pantropical spotted, and Risso’s dolphins. Green, leatherback, and hawksbill turtles glide over reefs and WWII wrecks in plain view of snorkelers and divers, and dive sites regularly bring encounters with grey reef, whitetip, and blacktip reef sharks, with the occasional silvertip or hammerhead further out. On land, keep an eye out for the mighty Solomon eagle, far-ranging frigatebirds, and the small, colorful yellow-bibbed lory, plus the green-blooded skink, a small lizard whose toxic, bright green blood makes it one of the archipelago’s stranger residents.
Clothing:
Footwear:
Water & day gear:
Snorkeling & diving:
Health & first aid:
Sun & personal protection:
Essentials & electronics:
Optional extras:
Got everything you need? Grab your gear through Active Junky and earn cash back on top outdoor brands — plus a $10 bonus on your first $25+ purchase. Shop now at Active Junky!
Coverage thins out fast once you’re off Honiara, so it’s worth setting expectations early.
Reception in the Russell Islands, Marovo Lagoon, and other remote stops is minimal to nonexistent, so plan on being properly offline for most of the trip.
Group sizes and pricing
Solomon Islands vacation can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements
If your group has participants under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
All three itineraries begin the same way: arriving into Honiara International Airport (HIR), located about 12 km (7.5 mi) east of the city. Solomon Airlines connects Honiara to Brisbane, Auckland, Nadi, and Port Vila, with Qantas, Fiji Airways, and Air Niugini also servicing the route from Brisbane, Nadi, and Port Moresby respectively.
Day 1, all itineraries
On arrival, guests are met at the airport and transferred to the group hotel, Coral Sea Resort & Casino, for the first night. This transfer is included on all three itineraries.
Day 2, by itinerary
Getting home
We highly recommend that you cover all your bases with insurance. To make your booking and traveling experience as carefree as possible, you’ll be offered to simply insure your trip with Redpoint at checkout.
Redpoint—the official 57hours insurance partner—tailors protection packages for adventure travel, offering a comprehensive travel program, even in remote locations! Trip cancellation, natural disasters, pandemic coverage, medical evacuation, primary medical expenses—regardless of the travel interruption that may happen, Redpoint will have you covered.
Deposits
Secure your spot with a 30% deposit upon booking! The remaining 70% of the trip price must be paid 90 days prior to departure at the latest. If booking within 90 days of departure, the full amount is required at the time of booking.
Cancellations
Booking fees are non-refundable after a 48-hour grace period. During checkout, however, you can choose one of 57hours’ flexibility options—Basic, Flexible, or Super Flexible. Depending on which one you choose, a different cancellation policy will apply to your booking.
Basic
Flexible
Super Flexible
Is it possible to give 6 stars? There is no possible way to pick out one single highlight of this trip, as there were so many, every day. Of course the location is amazing, but the experience of seeing it all from sea level, with our brilliant guides made it all the more astounding.