Last Few Places – Trip Confirmed
GONE WITH THE WYND
SOLOMON ISLANDS EXPEDITION
13 nights – 14 days – Cost £3150 + international and local flights
(currently international flights are around £2k, internal flights should be about £300
Dates 8th – 20th jan 2025
“A place of tropical sun, aquamarine-blue sea, white-sand palm-fringed beaches and some of the friendliest people you will ever meet in your life – the Solomon Islands are the sort of South Pacific location that many of us dream of, but often know little about.” Mark Cocker
Join Viktor Wynd on a collecting expedition to this vast archipelago of over 900 islands East of Papua New Guinea and North of Australia, drink Kava, swim in waterfalls, trek in virgin rainforest, have expert nature guides show you crocodiles, extraordinary birds, reptiles, dolphins, leatherback turtles, go on night walks looking for frogs & other wildlife, snorkel (or dive) in pristine coral seas, feast on lobster.
The Solomon Islands have many unique cultures and languages and we will visit traditional villages and sacred sites – including skull caves honouring the ancestors – and learn about local customs, the Islanders are famous the world over for their extraordinary art and carvings and we will buy as much as possible (based on previous experience we may need to get some extra bags!). Accommodation will be simple, but comfortable, local lodges -and we have been promised as much lobster as we can eat (Mr.Wynd is slightly sceptical about this as his appetite for lobster is ENORMOUS). If you wish to stay on for a few days, or arrive early, to relax on a beach or go diving let us know.
(please note all expenses are in Solomons Islands Dollars, we are not currency traders and will do our best to honour this price, but in the event of major currency exchange rate fluctuations we may need to modify this – up or down – the current SBD rate is 1SBD = £0.094 )
Itinerary below)
Day 1: Arrive Honiara.
Day 2: Depart for Munda (Domestic flight – 45 min to 1.5 h flight depending on plane type). Boat transfer to Rendova Island .
Day 3: Rendova Island cultural activities
Day 4: Rendova Island: natural experiences
Day 5: Morning transfer to Tetepare Island (1 hours by boat)
Day 6: Tetepare Island; nature walks.
Day 7: Transfer to Baniata village leatherback sanctuary (1-2 hour by boat depending on weather)
Day 8: Transfer to Munda. Activities around Munda.
Day 9: Full day boat tour from Munda; Skull Island, Tank Wrecks, Mangroves, etc.
Day 10: Transfer to Gizo. Activities along the way. (normally 1 hour by boat, but with activities 3-5 hours)
Day 11: Stay at small resort/lodge near Gizo. Activities in the Gizo region.
Day 12: Flight from Gizo to Honiara (option to extend in Gizo. See description of activities below)
Day 13: Explore Honiara and Surrounds (the Honiara day can also be in the beginning of the tour.
Day 14: Depart (possibility of 2-3 days extension to include a visit to Central Province – See description of activities below).
Transport:
Munda/Gizo – Daily flights from Honiara and return. Price roughly 3,600 SBD return
Local boat transport – charter; pre-arranged locally. Depending on group size may need two boats.
Activities & Attractions:
Honiara Things to Do (half day – one day):
On the way to or from the airport:
Honiara Things to Do (surrounds 1-2 days):
(Rendova Island):
Numerous activities at Titiru; one day can be focused on Cultural activities at nearby village, another on nature experiences..
Tetepare Island:
The largest unlogged island in the Pacific with a local community ranger looking after the place. The original tribe on Tetepare mysteriously died out and no one lives permanently there anymore. The guide at the ecolodge are the best nature guides in Solomon.
Baniata:
A remote village on the south coast of Rendova Island. This is the best location to see enormous Leatherback turtles laying egg from December to January. The village itself is interesting as most inhabitant belongs to a very obscure Christian Cult which is very powerful in Western Province. Followers of the cult tend to live more traditional than other Solomon Islanders.
The Baniata visit is optional. If the weather is bad, it’s not recommended as this coastline is very exposed. Should Baniata be cancelled we will stay an extra day in either Tetepare or Munda.
Munda (In and around town):
Munda surrounds by boat (Roviana Lagoon, Rendova and Vona Vona Lagoon):
Boat transfer to Gizo:
Gizo (all activities require a boat):
.
Gizo extension:
Stay in one of the four island-based lodges/resorts. The setting and views for all of them is spectacular. Great staff as well:
For energetic individuals there are other options to spend a few extra days around Gizo: