SAL Salis Ningaloo Reef

This is a truly exceptional place. One could repeat all the superlatives; i would simply say it is unique. Deluxe camping an extraordinary location, all to yourselves, with access to the beach, sea, snorking, walking and views for miles around. What makes the place that bit better is the perfect balance of informality with exceptional food and service. you could not ask for more. Yes it is expensive, but remember where you are, that you will want for nothing, spend nothing more and not sacrifice any comforts. Thanks to all the team for making our stay so special

We recently stayed at Sal Salis on Ningaloo Reef and it was an amazing experience. The staff were so lovely. Special mention to Lawrence, Leith, Jess(Jeff)🤣 and Erin. Food was delicious, tents were terrific. Comfy bed which was made up every day. The beaches are spectacular and the snorkelling tours really good. Loved our swim with the whalesharks but agree it’s quite strenuous and full on. But the guys and girls on the boat were very helpful and assisted us really well. Love, love, loved it!

I have just returned from three nights at Sal Salis. The resort was well organised - the transfer arrangements and dietary requests were requested and met in full. The food was absolutely delicious and the company of the guests was very pleasant. As another reviewer mentioned the tent and path lighting are all LED low voltage and not so bright. And there is no airconditioning as the resort takes its eco responsibilities seriously. Mobile phone charging is available via two USB ports in the room; there are no 240V sockets in the tent. The reef was in good condition - neither broken nor bleached. This reflects the fairly remote location and the relatively few visitors compared to the Maldives for example. I saw plenty of fish, a ray and turtles on the reef I went on the hotel organised Yardie Creek Gorge walk, the Oyster Bay snorkel and the Oyster Bay canoe trip & snorkel. I also went on the Exmouth Diving Centre whale shark trip. What I would say is that the canoe and whale shark trips are physically demanding and a decent level of fitness, ie stamina, swimming ability and water confidence are required. The canoe trip is a 700m paddle out and back to the reef’s edge and requires clambering out and then back in to the floating canoe. The whale shark viewing takes place in the open ocean (beyond the reef) with a current, sea swell and wind - it is a thoroughly rewarding & memorable experience but it is not a spectator activity, it is a sporting activity requiring considerable physical effort. Help is at hand from the guides for all activities and noodles are available for the whale shark swim. Despite the assistance there were not many over 60’s in the resort / participating in the water based activities. I would have no hesitation recommending a stay at Sal Salis and suggest three or four nights as an ideal length of stay, longer could be a bit boring.

We loved our three night Sal Salis experience. I would call it upmarket glamping with gourmet meals. The staff were attentive to help us enjoy this amazing spot, Ningaloo. The tent was extremely comfortable and a great way to experience the outdoors in a king-sized triple sheeted bed. We especially loved meeting the other guests at meal times.

There is so much to love about Sal Salis. You arrive over the sand dunes by golf buggy. Each tent is nestled in the dunes, so you really feel close to nature. The camp itself is in a beautiful and secluded part of the coastline with the Ningaloo Reef just metres from the shore, so you can walk out, put on your snorkelling kit and drift across the reef with ease. Sunsets over the ocean are magnificent, the staff could not be more helpful and the catering, including access to the extensive bar, is outstanding. We also loved meeting our fellow guests. There is so much to love about this place that I am not surprised it has so many very positive reviews. But it is just missing something. At this price, the place should be super-luxurious, but compared to many similar-priced camps that we have stayed in on safari in Africa, it falls short. Our hole-in-the-floor en-suite loo, for instance, smelled dreadfully throughout our visit and wafted waves of odour across us as we slept. A number of guests at supper reserved their spots on the dinner table which meant that the latecomers sometimes had to separate for supper …. In a luxury hotel? Really? The tent was incredibly noisy in the wind - we were there as the April ‘23 cyclone came ashore 500km to the northeast, and we barely slept. There’s a lovely hammock in front of each tent, facing northwest towards the coast, but it has no sunshade over it, so it’s effectively useless. And other than the communal seating area, which also has limited shade, there is nowhere to sit other than in our tent. Don’t get me wrong. We ENJOYED staying here, but we didn’t LOVE it, and with a few small changes this place could be truly special. Instead, we came away thinking that we had overpaid for something that we expected to be far better than it was.

Great stay at Sal Salis back in May. The tent was incredibly comfortable, staff attentive and food and wine of a very high standard. Proximity to the beach was amazing and peace and quiet greatly appreciated. We were contacted just before our stay to organise pick up and dietary requirements etc. and everything ran perfectly. This is not a cheap place to stay obviously, but if you can do it then do!

The Ningaloo reef is excellent and well worth visiting. Sal Salis tented accomodation is well sited for reef visits and the food is excellent.However a note of caution for older guests with the lighting in the tents with solar power is inadquate at night as is the lighting on the pathways. The tent is a real falls risk for older guests and therfore I would not recomendet it as accomodation for this group. I nearly fell a couple of times trying to get in and out of the tent. I am sure that it is technically possible to improve the nighttime lighting. It should be high priority for the management

We recently spent 5 wonderful days at Sal Salis. The tent was clean and the bed was very comfortable - we loved lying in bed listening to the ocean at night. The meals were delicious & different every night - each course was paired with a different wine. Watching the sunset each night with canapés and drinks was a highlight as was our last night when the staff set up the dinner tables under the stars. We loved the morning sunrise hikes to nearby gorges and the kayaking and snorkelling to nearby beaches - it was great having the staff with us to point out & explain different fish & coral. The staff were all amazing and very dedicated to all the guests. We would rate this as good as any 5 star hotel we have stayed at!

Our stay at the Sal Salis was absolutely perfect. We've both been lucky to have some pretty spectacular holidays - including a number of luxury safari stays - but Sal Salis is a whole new level of magic. The place feels incredibly natural. We knew it was remote and near the reef, which was one of the key draw cards for us, but they make excellent use of the stunning location. We thoroughly enjoyed the daily activities, thoughtfully programmed and guided by Hailey who generously shared her vast knowledge of the region and its wildlife (even on her birthday!) With no phone reception and being effectively in the middle of nowhere, we were expecting some things to be a bit rough or needing to "go with the flow". We absolutely went with the flow - but the service was impeccable and delightful at every turn. Beautifully serviced rooms and magnificent food - we were constantly asking ourselves: "how did they do that??" A particular highlight for us was the communal evening dining: it feels a little strange at first, but we met some wonderful people and were eager to swap numbers at the end of the trip! The entire operation under manager Nick's tremendous leadership has such a relaxed elegance that we felt transformatively rejuvenated from day one. The whole team went out of their way to make our stay truly memorable. Special thanks to Ben, Hannah, Hailey, Ben and Leo, and everyone else whose name I've forgotten! The crew feel like they're all great mates, and it was a privilege to spend time with them on our holiday. Thank you!!