The Islands of Kiribati have had their fair share of experiencing the impacts of World War II and the reminders of what happened on these shores. After more than 70 years, travellers would be able to still see and learn of this part of history of Kiribati; in particular the Battle of Tarawa, Battle of Makin (Butaritari) and Recon battle in Abemama in the Gilbert group. The standing ruins will always be a reminder of both the brutality and futility of WWII, particularly the Battle of Tarawa, an event that will never be forgotten.

The ruins of WWII coastal defense guns, solid concrete bunkers, pillboxes, rusted tanks, amtracs, ship wrecks, and plane wrecks can still be seen today. You can also visit the assault beaches and monuments that have been erected to remember the fallen. To see these you can just take a walk or bus ride around Betio, but we recommend you do a guided battlefield tour so you don’t miss anything!

Our battlefield tour specialists will take you back in time to one of bloodiest battles ever fought during World War II. The tour will be on Betio, the scene of “Operation Galvanic” one of the most significant and bloody battles in the history of WWII. The tour requires that reef shoes are worn as you will be walking out over the reef to see the war relics and artifacts. Highlights of the tour include: Red Beach 1,2 and 3; Vickers 8” coastal guns, brought during the Russian Japanese war of 1905; Japanese bunkers and pillboxes which fortified the island of Betio in 1942; see the remains of Amtracs, American Sherman and Japanese type 95 tanks; American and Japanese memorials, the memorial to the British and New Zealand coastal watchers and the Cenotaph erected as a time capsule to Americans fallen in action; and Buddhist and Shinto shrines erected by the Japanese in memory of their war dead in the Gilbert and Marshall Islands.

On the right side we have our list of tour guide operators offering battlefield tours in Tarawa (Battle of Tarawa) and Butaritari (Battle of Makin). Attending of WWII of November 20-21st commemoration events on Tarawa and Butaritari can also be arranged by the tour guide operators.