Honiara, on the island of Guadalcanal, is the gateway for anyone in the Solomon Islands hoping to see Bhutan. Honiara International Airport (HIR), a short drive east of the city, handles the flights that link the Solomons to Australia, and from there the route continues across Asia to Paro. It is a long journey, but a well-planned one can be broken into comfortable stages. This guide focuses on departures from Honiara and accompanies our full Solomon Islands guide.
Honiara International and the Hop to Australia
The first step for nearly every Solomon Islander heading to Asia is a flight to Australia. Our Solomon Islands guide describes this opening leg as typically operated by Solomon Airlines or partners such as Qantas, landing in Brisbane or Sydney.
Since flights out of Honiara are less frequent than those from large hubs, this first sector usually dictates the rest of the plan. Fix it first, then build the long-haul connections around it, and check current schedules for every leg before you commit.
On the day, give yourself time for the drive east from the city centre to the airport, and keep your Bhutan visa approval and tour confirmation with you in the cabin.
From Brisbane or Sydney to the Himalaya
In Australia, you connect to a long-haul flight towards one of the key transit points for Bhutan. Our guide names three:
- Bangkok, often a convenient gateway from eastern Australia.
- Delhi, useful if you want to spend time in India.
- Kathmandu, which allows you to combine Nepal with Bhutan.
From these cities, Drukair (Royal Bhutan Airlines) and Bhutan Airlines fly to Paro. They are the only airlines permitted to land in Bhutan. Our guide stresses that seats on these flights fill quickly in peak festival periods, so secure your Bhutanese sector early through your tour operator.
You will also need to meet Australian transit requirements, and those of your Asian gateway if you plan to leave the airport. Check them well ahead of departure.
One Way to Get from Guadalcanal to Paro
Here is a sample journey, intended as an example rather than a guarantee.
On day one, a traveller flies from Honiara to Brisbane and stays overnight. On day two, they board a long-haul flight towards Bangkok, arriving that evening and resting at an airport hotel. On day three, a morning Drukair flight brings them into Paro, where their guide meets them.
This kind of staged approach turns a very long trip into three manageable days. It also gives you a buffer if the Australian connection or the weather at Paro causes a delay. Our guide recommends monitoring the monsoon season for possible disruptions and booking well ahead.
Five Hours Behind: Bhutan Time Compared with Honiara
The Solomon Islands keep UTC+11 all year, with no daylight saving. Bhutan Standard Time is UTC+6, also fixed. So Bhutan is five hours behind Honiara. If you call home at 7pm in Thimphu, it will be midnight on Guadalcanal.
Travelling westwards, you gain those hours, which many people find easier on the body than flying east. Even so, the long flights will tire you, so keep your first afternoon in Paro light.
Tropical Shores, Himalayan Seasons
Honiara is hot and humid throughout the year, with a wetter period roughly from November to April. Bhutan's climate changes much more with the seasons. Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) attract the most travellers, thanks to clear skies and festivals. June to August is the monsoon, with heavy rain. December to February is cold but often bright, especially high up.
For Solomon Islanders, the change in temperature is the main thing to prepare for. Bring proper warm layers, gloves and a hat, even for spring or autumn. Paro Tshechu takes place in spring and Thimphu Tshechu in autumn, though their dates follow the lunar calendar and move each year.
Paperwork for Solomon Islands Passport Holders
Citizens of the Solomon Islands need a Bhutan visa, applied for online in advance. Our country guide explains that your licensed Bhutanese tour operator submits the application, after which the visa approval is processed and the visa itself is issued on arrival in Bhutan.
Two other requirements apply to almost every visitor. First comes the Sustainable Development Fee, which stands at USD 100 per adult per night for most international visitors at present; check the latest rates with the Department of Tourism before booking. Second, travel insurance that covers your whole stay in the country.
Remember Australia's transit rules too, and those of Thailand, India or Nepal if you plan to break your journey there.
Suggested Trip Lengths from the Solomons
With so much travel involved, a longer stay usually makes sense.
- Seven nights: Paro, Thimphu and Punakha, with Taktsang Monastery.
- Ten nights: add Phobjikha and Trongsa.
- Fourteen nights: central Bhutan plus a festival or short trek.
Because the approach into Paro is visual-only, weather can delay flights; keep a spare day before your return journey.
Do all routes from Honiara go via Australia?
In practice, our guide describes Brisbane or Sydney as the usual first stop. Check current schedules for alternatives.
Is it worth stopping in Bangkok?
Often, yes. It breaks the journey and gives a buffer before the flight into Paro.
What should I know about money?
Bhutan's currency is the ngultrum, which trades level with the Indian rupee. ATMs are concentrated in towns, so bring some cash with you.
Continue with Our Solomon Islands Guide
For the full picture on visas, costs and itineraries, read How to Travel to Bhutan from Solomon Islands. Then let us know your dates, and we will help design your Bhutan programme around flights from Honiara.
