The ferries offer a unique way to explore this stunning 992-island archipelago with services connecting the capital, Honiara, with Munda, Gizo and the Marovo Lagoon in the Western Province, Malaita and Choiseul with many ports of call along the way.
Each destination offers something different, from vibrant markets and bustling ports to tucked away villages which seldom see international visitors, providing an off-the-beaten-path experience custom-made for cultural explorers.
The Pelican Shipping Company offers several routes connecting Honiara with the main tourist areas of Marau Sound, Munda and Gizo with prices starting as little as SBD300.00 (approx.NZD62.00) for a ticket to Marau Sound, the stop-off point for Tavanipupu Island Resort, famed for its hosting of the then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2012.
For those travellers looking to experience a very different Solomon Islands experience, Malaita Province, the home of the destination’s famous Panpipers and where shell money is still in use as currency, is a great port of call.
Regular fast ferries operating daily services between Honiara and the provincial capital, Auki, include the Auki Express and the Pelican Shipping Company’s Pelican 1 and Pelican 2.
For those with more time on their hands and looking to go even further afield, the Pelican Shipping Company offers fares from Honiara to Taro, the provincial capital of far-flung Choiseul Province on the north-western fringe of the archipelago.
Priced from SBD1100 (approx.NZD204.00) the journey takes some 40 hours with stops along the way including the remote villages of Papara, Sasamunga, and Voza. Passengers can reserve onboard accommodation but do need to provide their own meals for the journey.
Affordable, immersive and authentic, travelling the Solomon Islands by ferry opens up a world of discovery far beyond the usual flight path.