The Solomon Islands may not come straight to mind when considering a cultural and tropical escape. However, with its abundance of pristine reefs and untouched beaches, village communities thriving in traditional ways of living, jungles strewn with wartime relics and a sense of relaxation everywhere you travel, this rarely visited destination may well be one of the South Pacific’s best kept secrets. Meet the villagers of Titiru as you join in on a community day, explore a local historian’s ‘museum’ of artefacts dating back to World War II, swim and snorkel off the paradisiacal Hopei and Tetepare islands and learn of the head-hunting traditions of times past at Skull Island. Spend time relaxing and absorbing the local cultures of the Solomon’s island communities as you discover a place that’s offering so much for the curious traveller. Highlights
Trek through the lush jungles and discover the rich underwater ecosystem and pristine reefs of the Solomon Islands with guided visits to Tetepare and Hopei islands.
Join locals in participating at a bung, or community day. You’ll attend a church service and sit down for a feast, learning about traditional customs and the local way of life in Titiru village.
Learn the history of what’s known as Kennedy Island – once a secondary wartime base for US President John F Kennedy and now a far-flung paradise of rainforests and colourful reefs.
Meet Barnie Paulsen – a local man who has spent years collecting memorabilia in the jungle, and visit his backyard 'museum' full of wartime relics and him full of stories to tell.
Get the rare opportunity to visit a site of skull trophies at Lola Island, or what’s more commonly called Skull Island, detailing the head-hunting histories of the Solomon Island’s tribal culture.
