FIJI & SOLOMON AIR HAVE MADE FLIGHT CHANGES SO BEFORE

YOU BUY YOUR AIR CHECK WITH PAM IN THE OFFICE!

GUADALCANAL IS OPEN SO MHT IS RETURNING FOR THE  "CANAL’S" POSTPONED 80TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR IN 2023! GO BACK WITH JOE MUELLER FOR THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE TOUR OF GUADALCANAL AND GET “THE BLOODY CANAL” & TARAWA OFF YOUR “BUCKET LIST!”

CLICK HERE FOR FULL BROCHURE

Guadalcanal in 1942 was the little known island that allowed the U.S. to turn the tide of the Pacific War and stop the advance of Imperial Japan in WWII. MHT returns to commemorate the soldiers, sailors, and Marines who won on the ground and water for the 80th Anniversary of this decisive battle.

CLICK HERE FOR MOAA GUADALCANAL ARTICLE BY MAJ DALE ROBINSON, USMC (RET)

Guadalcanal. For the Marines of the First and Second Marine Divisions, this battle, remain as the landmark of their history, the first combatant actions for both in WWII plus the U.S. Army’s 23rd & 25th Infantry Divisions participated in the liberation of “The Canal.” This year we return to this epic struggle as part of our Pacific Battlefield Legacies for Guadalcanal’s 80th Anniversary Tour.  Fly through Fiji to Guadalcanal where we spend the next ten days, before we start we offer a pre-tour to Tarawa to commemorate this bloody campaign a precursor to costly future landings against entrenched fanatical Japanese resistance.

The unique Military Historical Tours in-depth approach includes extensive pre-departure research, utilizing a vast resource of maps and other source material, ensuring the finest possible experience. Our Tour Leaders for this program are among the most knowledgeable on this subject. In-depth, but easily understood, briefings are conducted on each battle and other historic sites. For those wanting to go into more detail, the onsite staff is always available. We will visit interesting sites unseen and unknown to the vast majority of battlefield tourists.  

Participants are invited to contribute by sharing their personal knowledge and expertise as we walk the battlefields. Ample time is allowed for personal exploration and sightseeing.

All of these things, along with the most experienced staff of Tour Leaders, Battlefield Guides, and Historians will combine to make your trip the most enjoyable, relaxing, entertaining and educational experience possible.  We welcome your phone calls, letters or e-mails to discuss this expedition with one of our Battlefield Specialists. Call us M-F 9:30AM-5:30PM or e-mail us.  We look forward to hearing from you.

Pre-Tour: Tarawa

Tour Prices:

Guadalcanal Tour Price:          $ 2,495

Based on Double Occupancy (BoDO)

Single Room Supplement:   $  750 

Tarawa Pre-Tour (BoDO)     $ 1,200

Munda Post-Tour  $  2,895

Munda Post-TourSingle Supplement  $ 375

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Tour Price Includes:

  •  All breakfasts, departure taxes, & tips are included (not hidden costs)
  • 3-Star (Pacific Island) Hotel Accommodations 
  • Air-conditioned motorcoach 
  • Trip Kit: tour ball cap, bag tags & name badge
  • MHT “FieldBook” information map packet 
  • All Admission fees to all sites, museums, and special attractions listed
  • Services of experienced MHT Tour Leaders & English-speaking local guides.

AIR NOT INCLUDED OPTIONAL DISCOUNT AIRFARE AVAILABLE: MHT can book you round trip from your home city to Guadalcanal via MHT’s Airline Partners and save you domestic baggage fees! MHT’s discount airfare is available upon request. Business Class upgrade is also available upon request.

New Georgia Campaign 1943—“Up the Slot” 15-20 Aug

Day 1: Tue 15 Aug-We depart Honiara and arrive Munda by mid-day, ready for a one half day boat tour to Rendova Island.  We will also visit the site of PT Boat base at Lumbaria.

Day 2: Wed 16 Aug-Today we follow the path of the U.S. Forces towards the Japanese at Munda Field. Boat trip to Honavisa/Sasavele Passage where U.S. forces passed through en route to New Georgia island. Visit Sasavele to view WW II artifacts and the U.S. built road. Visit Vangana whereU.S. forces first landed on New Georgia. Travel the "Munda Trail" betweenZangana and Ilangana. (B),(L),(D)

Day 3: Thur 17 Aug-Visit WW II sites around Munda including Horshoe and Bartley Ridges, Munda Field, WW II 'Dump" with equipment and vehicles as well as a WW II museum. We finish the day at the old U.S. cemetary and see the Kindu Guns.(B), (L),(D)

Day 4: Fri 18 Aug-Boat tour to Odango Field. We visit the Raider battlefields at Barioko Harbor and Enogai Bay with their Japanese naval guns knocked out by the Raiders. We then travel via Kula Gulf and Kolombangara to Kohinggo Island to see a knocked out USMC M3A1 tank. (B),(L), (D)

Day 5: Sat 19 Aug-Boat tour to Gizo via Blacket Straitto visit "Kennedy Island". We return via Fergueson Passage site of the sinking of PT 109 which was commanded by President John F. Kennedy. We finish the day by by returning through Vona Vena Lagoon and "Skull Island". (B),(L),(D)

Day 6: Sun 20 Aug-Return flight from Munda to Guadalcanal. Depart on your afternoon departure from Guadalcanal to Fiji.  Transfer to your flight back to the USA.  Cross the International Dateline and arrive back in Los Angeles (LAX) on the same afternoon. (B)

Extended Exploration of Guadalcanal Battlefields 8-15 Aug

Day 1: Tue 8 Aug – Today we travel by boat to Tulagi to explore Haleta and Halavo where elements of the 2nd Marine Division first landed. We will also see "Beach Blue" where the 1st Raider Bn and 2nd Bn 5th Marines landed. We will then tour the battle sites on Tulagi as well as Gavutu and Tanambogo.

Day 2: Wed 9 Aug - Today we will tour Tulagi Harbor by boat seeing a PT Boat Base, a japanese destroyer and the bow portion of an LST. We will then return to Guadalcanal. (B)

Day 3: Thur 10 Aug – Today is a walking tour of the 23rd & 25th Infantry Divisions and 2nd Marine Division’s efforts in the Battle of Mount Austen.

Day 4: Fri 11 Aug - Today is a walking tour of the Galloping Horse and the Sea Horse. This battle in the hills near the Matanikau River is famously depicted in James Jone’s book The Thin Red Line & two movies. This month-long battle was in Dec ‘42—Jan ‘43. (B)

Day 5: Sat 12 Aug – Today we do a detailed study of the Battle of the Sea Horse where the 35th Infantry Regiment fought (B)

Day 6: Sun 13 Aug - Today we will cover the eastern battle sights and the "Second Battle of The Ridge" where LtCol "Chesty Puller's 1st Battalion 7th Marines fought. (B) 

Day 7: Mon 14 Aug - Recovery Day 

Day 8: Tue 15 Aug - Depart on your afternoon departure from Guadalcanal to Fiji.  Transfer to your flight back to the USA.  Cross the International Dateline and arrive back in Los Angeles (LAX) on the same afternoon. (B) Note: To effectively particiapte in the post tour you should be able to hike 1/2 mile up steep and uneven slopes.

Daily Itinerary

31 Jul Mon (Day 1) DEPARTURE
Check in at the Fiji Airways counter in the International Terminal, Los Angeles Int’l Airport no later than 8:30PM for your 11:00PM FJ #811. Meet your tour director at the departure gate.

1 Aug Tue (Day 2) ENROUTE
In-flight entertainment, friendly Fiji Airways staff and breakfast pass the time pleasantly on this non-stop flight to Nadi, Fiji Islands. Cross International Dateline lose a day.  

2 Aug Wed  (Day 3) ARRIVE GUADALCANAL
Arrive Nadi, Fiji Islands in the morning. Layover until departure on Fiji Airways (FJ5503) at 9:30AM with via Port Vila arriving at historic "Henderson Field" by 12:45PM.  We transfer to our hotel for the next week, with time to settle in and refresh. Hotel: Solomon Kitano Mendana 

3 Aug Thur (Day 4) GUADALCANAL
After a late breakfast, we head out for our battlefield briefing and orientation of the eastern battle sites from a vantage point atop Mount Austen.  Sites pointed out will be "Red Beach," the site of the landing; Henderson Field, the amphibious force objective; Edson's Ridge, the Tenaru River (Alligator Creek); Lunga Point, and other pertinent sites.  We continue on for a tour of the "Gifu" area of Mount Austen, one of the best preserved battlefields on the island.  We walk the battlefield, seeing the foxholes and remnants of the battle, visit the Japanese War Memorial, as well as a Solomon Island village.  We continue our tour with a visit to the east and west banks of the Matanikau River, scene of some of the bloodiest fighting of the battle.  Later we will tour the U.S. Memorial on Skyline Ridge for another panoramic view of the island and the western battle sites from this vantage point.  Sites pointed out will be Tulagi, Gavutu -Tanambogo, and the Florida Islands.  Also, we will orient on Savo Island, "Iron Bottom Sound": as well as key terrain features ashore. We will see Point Cruz, the Matanikau River, Cape Esperance, and other key sites that played significant roles in this landmark battle. (B/Breakfast)

4 Aug Fri - (Day 5) GUADALCANAL
This morning we will depart to pick-up the Tarawa Post-Tour arrivals and travel east to Tetere, site of a Japanese bivouac and current home to a massive Amtrac “Boneyard” left behind at the end of the war. We visit Red Beach, site of the    initial landing of the 1st Marine Division and explore the area around Henderson Field, see Pagoda Hill, the plane revetments & control tower, and Gen Vandergrift's command post. Crossing the Lunga River we will see “Fighter Two”, the strip where the planes for the "Yamamoto Mission" took off. We will view the site of Carney Airfield & the Army logistics base as we return west. (B)

5 Aug Sat – (Day 6) GUADALCANAL
Today we spend time on Bloody Ridge, known from a previous battle as Edson’s Ridge, where the Japanese were halted in their attempts to reach Henderson Field, in one of the pivotal battles of the Pacific War.  It is here that we will see the Machinegun Positions used by “Manila John” Basilone to stem the Japanese attacks. From here we view “Fighter One,” the field from which the Cactus Air Force and famous aviators like Joe Foss, Bob Galer, Jeff DeBlanc, John Smith, Marion Carl, and others flew. (B)

6 Aug Sun - (Day 7) GUADALCANAL
Following breakfast we will explore battle sites around the Ilu, Tenaru and Lunga Rivers.  Stops will include Pvt Al Schmid’s machine gun position along “Alligator Creek” (Ilu River), which he continued to defend even after being blinded by a Japanese grenade.  It is here that we will see the Machinegun Positions used by “Manila John” Basilone to stem the Japanese attacks. After lunch we  drive west to Cape Esperance to visit the site of the Japanese evacuation of the island.  From Honiara west, the battle was prosecuted by the 2nd Marine Division and the 25th Infantry Division of the US Army.  We will view these battlefields, as well as the opportunity to visit the Vila War Museum to view relics from the battles, including an F4F Wildcat and an SBD Dauntless dive-bomber.  Along the coast are the remains of Japanese freighters, which were beached after coming under attack by U.S. aircraft. From here we view “Fighter One”, the field from which the Cactus Air Force and famous aviators like Joe Foss, Bob Galer, Jeff DeBlanc, John Smith, Marion Carl, and others flew.  Return to Hotel for Farewell Dinner. (B/Dinner) 

7 Aug Mon (Day 8) GUADALCANAL
Today we commemorate the 79th Anniversary of the Battle as we visit the American War Memorial, site of the wreath laying and remarks by the all the participating countries.  Further individual ceremonies will be conducted such as wreath laying at the Solomon Island Coast Watchers Statue. One highlight is the wreath laying for Signalman First Class Douglas Munro, USCG who was the only coast guard recipient of the Medal of Honor for his heroic efforts in evacuating a battalion of Marines trapped near Point Cruz. Lunch to follow after the ceremony.  The remainder of the day is at leisure. (B)

8 Aug Tue - (Day 9) GUADALCANAL DEPARTURE
Leisurely morning check-out before our afternoon departure by air from Guadalcanal to Fiji.  Transfer to your flight back to the USA.  Cross the International Dateline and arrive back in Los Angeles (LAX) on the same afternoon (B & D provided on plane) or…Remain on Guadalcanal for further exploration or experience diving Iron Bottom Sound wrecks see website for itinerary!

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Guadalcanal 81st Anniversary "Turning the Tide" (31 Jul - 8 Aug 2023)

  • Product Code: 2308-PAC-GUAD
  • Availability: In Stock
  • $2,495.00


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