Solomon Islands

Solomon Islands -The Solomon Islands Archipelago is scattered from the southwestern Pacific, east of Papua New Guinea. The group comprises most from the Solomon Islands (those during the northwest are part of Papua New Guinea), the Ontong Java Islands, Rennell Island and also the Santa Cruz Islands, which lie further towards the east. The capital Honiara is situated on Guadalcanal Island, which also has the greatest mountain, Mount Makarakombu, at 2447m (8028ft).

The Solomon Islands are a remote and unspoilt travel destination, using a slowly developing tourist industry. The superb marine life in the surrounding waters creates the islands a diver's paradise. Guadalcanal, Malaita, Choiseul, New Georgia, San Cristobal and Santa Isabel are the primary islands.

Honiara, the capital on Guadalcanal, has a museum, botanical gardens and Chinatown. Villages and scenic drives are within easy reach. Well-known tours include the Second World War battlefields and many carving villages on the islands of Rennell and Bellona. Miniature daggers, spears and clubs are incredibly popular.

Local recipes include tapioca pudding and taro roots with taro leaves. The restaurants have a tendency to serve both Asian and European food.

The Solomons remains an undiscovered gem for adventure travellers, divers and those seeking an authentic Melanesian experience. Flee the dusty streets of Honiara following a quick bite to take and possibly a wander from your museum, and hit the water. Inside the Western Province, coral islands encircle large lagoons, volcanoes bubble away underwater, locals practise magic and summon sharks. This is a famous dive destination, thanks towards the wealth of coral reefs inside the Central Province area, like the Nggela Islands. Fascinating underwater topography and hundreds of sunken WWII wrecks await your perusal around Ghizo Island. It is a wonderful spot for snorkellers, too, and anglers will discover the waters full of opportunities for sport and game fishing.

Some of the islands are large, with mountain interiors and fast-flowing rivers, although others are little atolls in stunning lagoons. The archipelago is the South Pacific's third largest and most of its individuals live a subsistence way of life that has barely changed for centuries.

It's hard to think that until the 1930s these friendly, easy-going islanders have been regarded to become between the world's most violent and damaging people. Head-hunting, cannibalism and skull worship were central issues of traditional culture, and sacred skull shrines remain as macabre and interesting reminders in the old days.

Unfortunately, far more recently the Solomons produced a harmful reputation following the period of ethnic conflict in 1999 and 2000. Inside the ensuing years Guadalcanal and - to a lesser extent – Malaita Province experienced a major breakdown in law and order. The deployment of the regional program mission quickly re-established law and order, and it's now perfectly safe to travel anywhere from the Solomons except for rural Guadalcanal…and even there you are able to get around should you have a aid or officer to lead the way.