Lonely Planet™ · Thorn Tree Forum · 2020 |

# from Papua New Guinea to Solomon Islands Country forums / Pacific Islands & Papua New Guinea
jirikoo 08:24 UTC 21 May 2012 | Hi guys, I am seriously thinking to travel to Papua New Guinea, making my plans and route itinerary. After a few weeks, I am going to visit Solomon Islands, too. Would anybody be so nice and tell me what airlines serve Solomon Islands from Port Moresby? The only one I know of is Air Niugini. To reduce the cost for air travel, I would wish, as an alternative, to take a boat to get to Solomon Islands. I have read information that it is doable from Bougainville in Papua New Guinea. Could you please elaborate on this option? I love adventure, so I do not mind length of the journey... If I take the second option, I may have to apply for a visa before i depart, for at the sea port on Solomon Island's side I cannot get visa on arrival (VOA). Am i right on this one? I am of a Czech nationality... Thank you in advance, jiri |
ozziegiraffe 13:01 UTC 21 May 2012 | Air Niugini is the only airline flying from anywhere in PNG to anywhere in Solomon Islands at present. As for the sea crossing from Bougainville, it is very close to remote islands, but not a port where there is any sort of government presence. Locals cross by small boat regularly, but I am not sure of the current situation for foreigners. | 1
bec0071 01:14 UTC 22 May 2012 | This trip is definitely possible, and the locals do it all the time. However I'm pretty sure that the legality of foreigners doing it is dubious, because as Ozziegiraffe points out, there's no government presence. Have a search of these forums, I'm pretty sure it's been discussed a lot before. If cost is one of your concerns, then you might end up spending significantly more if you try to go by land and sea. You shouldn't necessarily expect to split costs either - you might end up paying for all the fuel, even if you're going in the same direction that locals are going in (and personally I have no problem doing that, since I'm a wealthy first-world traveller, and PNG and the Sols are the poorest countries in the Pacific). There are loads of Facebook groups for Papua New Guineans and Solomon Islanders - that's where I'd be going to get a local perspective on this kind of trip. | 2
svenues 09:02 UTC 22 May 2012 | I searched for the same and it looks it can become very complicated travelling as a foreigner by boat from png to solomon islands. So i dumped that plan with the boat. But i have noticed that the flight in opposite direction (solomon - png) is more than half in price than from png to solomon.... If you find more information about that boat option, so please please, i will be very interested to hear ... :D | 3
globalcitizen01 13:06 UTC 23 May 2012 | For the record Visa on Arrival in the Solomons technically does not apply if you come in from boat from Bougainville. If you are lucky you can get a far as Gizo and get a sympathetic immigration officer who gives you a visa, or you can end up in Gizo Jail, I've seen both happen when I have been in Gizo If you are gonna try the boat route have a visa in advance is my experience.... GlobalCitizen01 | 4
tilos 22:19 UTC 27 May 2012 | A fellow Thorntree traveler has discussed his rather unique boat travel from the Solomons TO PNG by boat: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1940709. I realize you are trying to do the opposite, so not sure if this helps. | 5
jirikoo 14:16 UTC 28 Jun 2012 | thank you all guys | 6
honiarahomestay 00:50 UTC 01 Jul 2012 | Hi there Jiri! Solomon Airlines now flies to and from Port Moresby now besides Air Niugini. The fares are very reasonable and cheaper than air niugini. I noted since you are a Czech citizen you will need to apply for a visa - before travelling compared to other commonweath nationals. I am happy to help you if you need assistance so please email me. It is a bit tricky getting across by boat from Bouganville and i would strongly recommend you travel by plane to mnimise the risk involved. A friend who is part Bouganville and SI had to struggle to find transport just to cross the border. She got into the border by high powered boat and travelled all teh way to Gizo then onto Honiara . This is for Islanders but with Foreigners it can be a bit tricky... cheers | 7
jirikoo 11:02 UTC 19 Jul 2012 | Thank you all guys, but i think i am gonna give it a shot. The question arises if i will be able to get a Solomon Island visa in PNG and chiefly if i should have any concerns with exit and entry stamps in my passport. | 8
jklcanada 18:09 UTC 10 Dec 2012 | Jirikoo, any updates on how this went? I'm considering doing the same (by boat, with a visa in advance). Does anyone know if it's possible? | 9