Solomon Islands: Marovo Lagoon Kayak, Dive & Snorkel

For those flying in today, you will be met on arrival and transferred to the Coral Sea Resort, Honiara. You are welcome to relax at the resort or leave your luggage there if you’d like to venture into town. For those already in Honiara, but not already staying at the resort, please make your way to the Coral Sea Resort by 5pm to meet your kayak guide for the group trip briefing. At 6pm, the group will embark the liveaboard, the Solomons Master. On boarding, you’ll meet the captain and crew who will conduct boat and safety briefings. Then it’s time to relax over a delicious dinner and settle into your comfortable cabins. The boat sets course for the Russel Islands, located northwest of Guadalcanal.

Meals:  D

Wake up to the Russell Islands! After breakfast, your guide will conduct a safety briefing and gear fittingbefore the first kayak outing. This morning we may paddle around Hai Island and explore White Beach—atranquil cove with towering mangroves and sunken WWII relics. This area once served as a U.S. military supplybase, and its’ underwater history includes sunken trucks, jeeps and piers, now home to thriving marine life.Snorkellers can explore the crystal-clear shallows while divers descend into this fascinating submergedlandscape. Paddlers may spot archerfish using jets of water to knock insects from overhanging branches—aniconic local behaviour. We return to the vessel in the afternoon and prepare for an overnight cruise westwardtoward remote Mary Island.

Meals:  B,L,D

Today we explore Mary Island, an uninhabited, jungle-covered extinct volcano. Kayakers will aim to circumnavigate the island, with opportunities to land and explore the vibrant rainforest, which echoes with thecalls of hornbills and monarch flycatchers. Snorkellers and divers will be thrilled by the coral-covered slopes and walls teeming with wrasse, bumphead parrotfish, reef sharks and the occasional turtle. Mary Island’s isolation means its reefs are healthy and vibrant,offering some of the best underwater visibility in the region. In the afternoon, we continue our cruise northwest towards the legendary Marovo Lagoon.

Meals:  B,L,D

We now spend four full days exploring the expansive beauty of Marovo Lagoon — the world’s largest saltwater lagoon and a UNESCO World Heritage candidate. The lagoon surrounds the islands of Vangunu and Gatukai and is protected by a double barrier reef system. Kayakers will enjoy paddling over calm turquoise waters, weaving through islets and coral cays. The water is so clear you’ll often see sharks, rays or turtles gliding beneath your kayak. Each day presents new snorkelling opportunities, with gardens of hard and soft corals, giant clams, and hundreds of tropical fish species. Diving highlights include Mbulo Island, with its iconic coral slopes and six dive sites, ideal for lazy drift dives or macro photography. We’ll also take time to visit villages where carvers create intricate works from ebony andhardwoods, explore food markets, and meet local children eager to share their stories. Our days follow a relaxed rhythm—mornings paddling or diving, midday meals aboard the Solomons Master, followed by afternoon explorations or leisure time. This extended stay allows for a deeper connection with both the natural environment and the people who call Marovo home.

Meals:  B,L,D

We spend our final day in the lagoon visiting some of the more remote and lesser-explored islets, offering one last chance to paddle through mangroves, dive dramatic reef walls or simply enjoy a swim from a palm-fringed beach.By late afternoon, we begin our overnight return voyage eastward, bound once again for the Russell Islands.

Meals:  B,L,D

As we return through the Russell Islands, we’ll stop at one of the outer reef systems or smaller islets for a snorkel, paddle or dive. We may return to the five-metre wide crevice called the Leru Cut, or explore a new anchorage with untouched reef walls and coral bommies teeming with life. This is our opportunity to reflect on the journey while enjoying the tranquillity and beauty of the Solomon Islands one last time from the water.

Meals:  B,L,D

Today is spent cruising back toward Honiara. The open ocean crossing gives us time to rest, recharge, and enjoy afinal lunch and afternoon tea on board. In the evening, we share a celebratory dinner as the sun sets, toasting to new friendships and a week of unforgettable experiences.

Meals:  B,L,D

After breakfast, we return to port and disembark in Honiara at 9am. Depending on travel plans, a transfer will be arranged to either the airport for your departure flight or the Coral Sea Resort for those extending their time in the Solomon Islands. NB* The following itinerary should be seen as an approximate guide only. The program may change to take advantage of opportunities as they arise, to suit local conditions and according to the preferences of the group. Please note that the weather, tides and currents, along with logistical conditions, can cause alterations and delays to our itinerary. The itinerary involves some long-distance cruising, which will usually be overnight.

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