Culture, People and Places

On a Surf Solomons guided expedition we go to places where very few tourists or any outsiders go. People on our trips have the unique opportunity of receiving a genuine welcome and making real friends with the people they meet in some of the most remote communities in the Pacific.

The expeditions provide many opportunities to observe and share in a very different way of life.

Rural Solomon Islanders live an eclectic mix of traditional and more modern ways. Most are subsistence farmers and fishermen - growing their own organic food, fishing and selling what they have extra as surplus in local markets. They also grow some export crops like coconuts and cocoa - a tenuous connection to our global economy despite their remoteness from it.

In the villages there is no electricity, no roads, no telephones, no shopping centres, very little use of fuel and little presence of any kind of government. Yet these communities are well organised, provide their own services, maintain beautiful villages and have a very rich and diverse culture.

Local people have a rich knowledge of and make practical use of their environment - their forests, land, gardens, reefs and ocean. Most houses are made in the traditional way from materials such as round poles and sago palm thatch. They are beautiful, cool and comfortable. Villages range from secluded hamlets to man made ancient artificial islands in the lagoon.

Surf Solomons guides provide an in depth cultural insight as well as information about the land and sea ecology and its use by local people. Experiences include local music, dancing, food, practical crafts, markets- all in their vibrant living form and not recreated for tourists.

Tropical rainforests, rugged mountains, freshwater rivers, mangroves, and coral reefs make Solomon Islands one of the top ten most biologically diverse countries in the world. Solomons is part of the 'coral triangle' with the highest marine biodiversity on the planet and what many are now calling the 'amazon of the sea'. This environmental diversity is combined with incredible cultural diversity. On one island alone there are often 6-8 languages and distinct cultures are often only walking distance form each other.

While this beautiful environment and rich culture is fascinating for us as outsiders, local people face many challenges. The lack of services, such as very limited education and health, and the difficutly to get to urban markets means that cash incomes are very low. Solomon Islanders aspire to improve their lives. At present they have few options and often resort to selling their resources in an unsustainable way (logging etc) or migrate to urban shanty towns. Surf Solomons is working to develop alternative models of tourism that provide real benefits to local people and strengthen their culture, environment and way of life.

All land and reefs are part of customary tribal land ownership systems. We visit their land and surf on their reefs as guests of tribes and families with complex social connections. Our tours are done in a very sensitive way: respecting local beliefs, local people and the environment. We aim to pass on as much benefit as possible to locals to improve their lives in sustainable ways and are actively involving village men, women and young people.

People who come on our tours are at once inspired and sometimes challenged to reflect on their own lives by the simplicity and richness of traditional village life compared to our often complicated and resource consuming lives.

Its a unique experience and a unique opportunity to share in this world with the help of experienced guides with a long history of involvement in the local communities.

Solomon Islands is among the most biologically and culturally diverse places on earth.

The people you meet are part of what makes the Solomons so special.