One of the highlights of a stay in the Solomon Islands are the wonderful cultural interactions that can be experienced. Visiting the Solomons often feels like stepping back in time, as life today is still quite similar to how life was lived by their generations of forefathers beforehand. Solomon Islanders practise Melanesian culture where traditional beliefs and land ownership called kastom play an important role in daily life. The best way to experience this firsthand is by visiting the villages in the outer islands, where some locals still live without electricity, running water or internet.
The Solomon Islands is also known for its finely made and designed handicrafts. Beautiful traditional style carvings, baskets and jewellery can be purchased at local markets and villages throughout the Solomon Islands. This also include stone replicas of shell money that is still in use in Malaita Province.
Solomon Islanders are also incredibly musical people. The Malaitan panpipe bands are well known even internationally.
In the Solomon Islands you can find a number of archaeological monuments including ancient ceremonial shrines. For the curious adventurer there are opportunities to visit and learn about headhunting, skull shrines and other interesting tambu sites. In Munda there are half-day or full day tours available to visit Skull Island and its shrines or villages close by. On Tetepare Island kastom site visits are available together with village visits to get a deeper insight into local daily life. In Marovo Lagoon you can visit local schools, carving villages and talk to local people to hear interesting stories about their ancestors and past times. Full day cultural trips are available in Gizo as well as visits to a local town market.
For those interested in seeing a cultural festival we recommend either the Lagoon Festival in Munda or the Shell Money Festival in Langalanga Lagoon in Malaita.
