On arrival, we’re met and transferred to our hotel, with the rest of the day free before meeting the guide for an early evening trip briefing.
Accommodation: Hotel
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This itinerary follows the same route and liveaboard as its counterpart, just in the opposite direction, starting in Honiara and ending in Seghe — with one key difference: a domestic flight is not included as it's not needed (guests are simply transferred to the liveaboard by boat from Honiara on Day 2).
Over 9 days, we work our way from Honiara through the Russell Islands and into Marovo Lagoon aboard the Solomons Master, kayaking, snorkeling, and diving our way through some of the least-visited coastline in the South Pacific. The liveaboard handles the logistics of getting between remote islands, leaving us free to focus on time in and on the water.
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A free day in Honiara comes first, before a 5 pm transfer out to the liveaboard, Solomons Master. Once aboard, we meet the captain and crew for boat and safety briefings, settle into our cabins, and share the first dinner onboard as the boat sets course for the Russell Islands.
Meals: Breakfast and dinner
Accommodation: Liveaboard
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We wake up to the Russell Islands, a small archipelago partly covered in coconut plantations. Our first snorkel and dive outing happens right off the boat at White Beach, a WWII-era supply site where sunken pillars, trucks, and jeeps now host clear, fish-filled water. After a break, a kayak safety briefing sends us out to explore the inlet, often alongside kids paddling dugout canoes to school.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Liveaboard
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Two more days go into kayaking between the Russell Islands’ small islands and white-sand beaches. Highlights include Leru Cut, a narrow coral crevice open to both snorkelers and divers, and a hoped-for visit to Karamulon Island for a glimpse of local dance, song, and daily life. We then transit north-west toward Marovo Lagoon, passing the extinct volcano of Mary Island along the way.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Liveaboard
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Marovo Lagoon, the largest saltwater lagoon in the world, is our base for the next three days. We explore by kayak and in the water, spotting dolphins and turtles, snorkeling hard corals both inside and outside the lagoon, and visiting villages to meet skilled woodcarvers. A possible stop at Wickham Harbour brings missionary history and WWII wreck diving into the mix. On our final full day, we cruise to Seghe, closing things out with a celebration dinner onboard.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Accommodation: Liveaboard
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After breakfast and farewelling the crew, we disembark in Seghe at 9 am, with a transfer to the airport included for the onward flight to Honiara (booked separately).
Meals: Breakfast
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Included with the 12-day Honiara–Honiara itinerary
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- An experienced western kayaking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
- 12-day Solomon islands vacation on a liveaboard
- Accommodation for 11 nights:
- 1 night in a hotel in Honiara (double occupancy)
- 10 nights aboard the liveaboard (classic cabin, double occupancy)
- Transfers:
- From airport to hotel on Day 1
- From hotel to liveaboard on Day 2
- From liveaboard to the airport on Day 12
- Almost all meals, as in the itinerary
- Non-alcoholic drinks
- Linen with bathroom towels
- Snorkeling equipment
- Double and single expedition kayaks with paddles
- Life jackets
- Safety equipment
- Marine Kastom fee
- For divers, up to three dives per day, 11 litre (AL80) cylinder with air fills plus weights, weight belt and SMB
Included with the 9-day Honiara–Seghe itinerary
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- An experienced western kayaking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
- 9-day Solomon Islands vacation on a liveaboard, from Honiara to Seghe
- Accommodation for 8 nights:
- 1 night in a hotel in Honiara (double occupancy)
- 7 nights aboard the liveaboard (classic cabin, double occupancy)
- Transfers:
- From airport to hotel on Day 1
- From hotel to liveaboard by boat on Day 2
- From liveaboard to the airport in Seghe on Day 9
- Meals from dinner on Day 2 to breakfast on Day 9, excluding lunch on Day 2
- Non-alcoholic drinks
- Linen with bathroom towels
- Snorkeling equipment
- Double and single expedition kayaks with paddles
- Life jackets
- Safety equipment
- Marine Kastom fee
- For divers, up to three dives per day, 11 litre (AL80) cylinder with air fills plus weights, weight belt and SMB
Included with the 9-day Seghe–Honiara itinerary
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- An experienced western kayaking guide with extensive knowledge of the area
- 9-day Solomon Islands vacation on a liveaboard, from Seghe to Honiara
- Accommodation for 8 nights:
- 1 night in a hotel in Honiara (double occupancy)
- 7 nights aboard the liveaboard (classic cabin, double occupancy)
- Transfers:
- From airport to hotel on Day 1
- From hotel to airport on Day 2
- From liveaboard to the airport or hotel in Honiara on Day 9
- The domestic flight from Honiara to Seghe on Day 2
- Meals from breakfast on Day 2 to breakfast on Day 9, including all three meals on Day 2
- Non-alcoholic drinks
- Linen with bathroom towels
- Snorkeling equipment
- Double and single expedition kayaks with paddles
- Life jackets
- Safety equipment
- Marine Kastom fee
- For divers, up to three dives per day, 11 litre (AL80) cylinder with air fills plus weights, weight belt and SMB
Add-ons:
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- Dive gear rentals — available to arrange, leave us a note if interested
- Cabin upgrades — pricing shown at checkout
Not included:
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- International and domestic flights, except the Honiara–Seghe flight included on the Seghe–Honiara itinerary
- Airport transfers not listed above
- Meals and accommodation not listed in the itinerary
- Snorkel equipment with the 12-day itinerary
- Wi-Fi, laundry
- Anything not mentioned in the “Included” section above
- Insurance — recommended, available to add at checkout
- Guide gratuities — optional
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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.
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- Kayaking: previous paddling experience is required. Outings typically run 2 to 4 hours and compare in effort to brisk walking or cycling
- Swimming and snorkeling: all participants should feel confident and comfortable in the water, since kayak outings are usually paired with snorkeling
- Diving: open to all levels, though some sites suit experienced divers only. A PADI Advanced Open Water certification and dive insurance are required
- General condition: building up cardio fitness beforehand, through cycling, swimming, or gym classes, is recommended, especially if you haven’t paddled recently
- Humidity runs high year-round and outings happen in full tropical sun, so heat tolerance matters as much as raw fitness
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Sea kayaking here means gliding over shallow reefs, ducking into hidden coves, and paddling alongside locals still using dugout canoes as everyday transport.
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- Double and single plastic sea kayaks are used for stability and ease of paddling; single kayaks are available on request, subject to the guide’s approval
- Groups are capped at 12 paddlers plus a dedicated kayak guide
- A safety briefing and gear familiarization happens before the first outing
- The liveaboard repositions between sites, so kayaking always launches from calmer, wind-protected water
- Expect a paddling outing most mornings and another in the afternoon, mixed in with snorkeling, diving, or village visits
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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.
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Clothing:
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- One to two long-sleeve lightweight synthetic shirts
- Two to three T-shirts
- Lycra sun top for snorkeling
- One pair of lightweight full-length trousers and a long-sleeve shirt for evenings
- Two pairs of shorts and swimwear
- Sarong for beach and boat use
Footwear:
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- Reef shoes for paddling or sturdy sandals that secure firmly
- Running shoes and socks for island walks
Water & day gear:
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- Double-walled drink bottle, 750 ml or larger
- Small dry bag for sunscreen, glasses, and electronics
- Compact fold-up day pack for hikes and shore excursions
Snorkeling & diving:
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- Snorkeling gear is available to hire, or bring your own for best fit
- Scuba dive gear is available on board, or bring personal equipment if preferred
Health & first aid:
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- Band-aid strips for minor cuts and blisters
- Insect repellent containing DEET
- Mild anti-nausea medication if you are prone to seasickness
- Antiseptic soap or liquid hand wash.
- Betadine or equivalent for scratches
- Electrolyte tablets to stay hydrated
- Antihistamine for allergic reactions
- Talcum powder to help prevent saltwater rash
Sun & personal protection:
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- Wide-brimmed hat for sun exposure
- Lightweight scarf, ideally silk or similar fabric
- Sunglasses with a retaining cord
- Lightweight rain jacket or spray jacket
Essentials & electronics:
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- Toiletries
- Headlamp or small torch with batteries
- Phone and device chargers
Optional extras:
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- Cycling gloves to help prevent blisters while kayaking
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Coverage thins out fast once you’re off Honiara, so it’s worth setting expectations early.
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- Guests wanting phone or data service should buy an eSIM before departure, or a local SIM in Honiara from Our Telekom or BMobile
- Each provider’s network covers roughly 25 to 30% of time spent aboard the liveaboard
- Starlink internet is available onboard for US$90 per person for the whole trip, payable only once aboard and subject to signal strength
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.
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Group sizes and pricing
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- For this Solomon Islands vacation, the usual client-to-guide ratio is 8:1.
- It takes a minimum of 8 people for this tour to operate. The maximum group size is set at 14 participants.
Solomon Islands vacation can be arranged for larger groups. Contact us to make arrangements.
Min. age requirements
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- If you are older than 18, you’re good to go.
- Minors younger than 18 may be permitted to join the Solomon Islands vacation on a case-by-case basis, but must be in the presence of a parent or legal guardian.
If your group has participants under the age of 18, contact us prior to booking to make arrangements.
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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
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- Honiara to Honiara and Honiara to Seghe: a free day in Honiara before a 5 pm transfer to the liveaboard, Solomons Master. This transfer is included
- Seghe to Honiara: an included domestic flight from Honiara to Seghe, where the kayak guide meets the group before transferring everyone to the liveaboard
Getting home
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- Honiara to Honiara: disembarkation happens back in Honiara on Day 12, with transfers arranged to the airport or hotel
- Seghe to Honiara: disembarkation happens in Honiara on Day 9, with transfers arranged to the airport or hotel
- Honiara to Seghe: disembarkation happens in Seghe on Day 9, with an included transfer to Seghe Airport (EGM). The onward flight back to Honiara is not included and should be booked separately with Solomon Airlin
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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.
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