On this occasion, with Aiden and grandparents in tow, we decided to try the northern beach of Salang. We chose a more 'rustic' cottage style for 3 nights and 4 days. Our accommodation, while basic, was large and had hot water and air conditioning. Unfortunately, it was unclean when we arrived and we ended up with Ajax and cloth in hand to clean the bathroom ourselves.
While the water and beach are stunning (white sand, clear blue water, plenty of tropical fish and excellent snorkeling), Salang itself is fairly disappointing. Back off the beach, it is unkempt and polluted with rubbish. The small stream that runs alongside the beach appears to be used as the local dumping ground for all sorts of rubbish and dirty water.
The highlight of Salang is definitely the snorkeling and diving. We had some awesome dives with loads of tropical fish, excellent visibility - the perfect diving experience. Bram's parents also enjoyed the snorkeling direct from the beach. While the coral is a little dull, the fish are abundant.
My advice is if you really want to go there, spend as much time underwater as possible. Or try one of the other beaches on Tioman, which is truly a natural island paradise. It's a shame the locals and tourists do not take more care to keep it that way.
