When I arrived at Salty Dogs I immediately felt that I wanted to stay here longer. Aryf and his family are really great people who do everything they can to create a good vibe. Nias is a great place for surfing for beginners and advanced surfers. I ended up staying 2.5 weeks and will definitely come back. Thanks Aryf!

Stayed in April 2024

chill, fun & cozy hostel. A place where one could and can write a book 😉 highly recommend if you’re looking for a place to just be and relax 🌞

Stayed in April 2024

Best place to stay in Telukdalam. Owner is very helpful. Location is calm and beautiful. Great common area.

Stayed in February 2024

Salty dog is one of my favourite hostels I ever stayed in. The location is really beautiful: in a quiet bay with palm trees and the best sunset in this part of the island. There is a nice place on the water where you can have breakfast or watch the sunset. One evening we even saw lots of green bioluminescent worms in the water, it looked like cgi! You can also go snorkeling at the end of the bay. The hostel is also close to Teluk Dalam, so you can easily get food or go to the supermarket/stores/pharmacy/laundry by driving 5-10 minutes with a motorbike. You can rent a motorbike and surfboard at the hostel. The hostel is in the middle between two famous surfspots: Sorake and Rockstar, it's about a 30 minute drive to each. There are also many traditional villages in the area that you can visit to see the beautiful traditional houses, megaliths and stone jumping. The hostel is owned by a local family, who are really lovely and helpful people. Arif is always happy to help to organise anything you might need, and can tell you a lot about the local culture. Even though he is very busy, he always makes time to hang out with the guests and make sure they can enjoy their time here. He would also get breakfast for everyone in the morning, usually different kinds of local food. For the price of the room it is actually really great that breakfast is included. The beds in the dorm are small but cosy and all have a curtain for privacy, and a light and electricity plug next to the bed. There is also AC in the dorm. In the common space there is a pool table and some comfy hammocks. There is a kitchen and fridge where you can store some drinks or fruit. The hostel is very social: it's easy to make friends with other guests, and there are also often some local people around who are very friendly. Occasionally the hostel organises a pizza night (they have a pizza oven), which is a famous event in the area!

Stayed in January 2024

Amazing, very social hostel! Arif is the best host.

Stayed in September 2023

Arif, the host, is the nicest guy ever. He helps with everything you can imagine, is super friendly and funny. Just a cool guy to hang out with. The Hostel is located in a bay next to the ocean, away from the noise and business of the city. Very nice and chill atmosphere and a beautiful place to watch the sunset. There are hammocks, yoga mats, three super cute dogs, a pool table and a speaker to relax between your surf sessions or in the evening. To go for food or to the surf spots its only a short ride with the scooter. Really the dream location in paradise. Definitely a place to stay for a long time.

Stayed in October 2023

It is just simply amazing. A perfect place to have a holiday from the holiday and just be. Take the dogs on a long walk around the bay, do yoga with the view of the ocean and the palm trees, then go to surf, drink a coconut and drive to town for some yummy food and the addictive bananabread. I will always be grateful for Arif for teaching me to drive a scooter and for all the support on basically everything during my stay. And also thanks for Jasmine for pizzanights and barbecue. Hope I will be back!

Stayed in November 2023

Excellent service and very nice facilities. Would definitely recomend

Stayed in October 2023

Great place to be, Arif is an amazing, helpful, friendly and funny guy! Very nice hostel with great atmosphere!

Stayed in September 2023

they are very friendly and helped me very much for transportation etc.

Stayed in August 2023

Best place on the island by far!! Amazing atmosphere with the best host!!!

Stayed in August 2023

great vibe, friendly staff etc kitchen was good

Stayed in July 2023

super cool vibe to the place, booked one night and ended up staying for a month. Close to snorkling and only 15 min drive to epic waves. really nice owner who will help you with everything you will need during your stay.

Stayed in June 2023

I really enjoyed my stay at salty dogs, Arif and his family are very lovely. I felt at home, it’s a very chill vibe, and the location is beautiful, very quiet, and the view is amazing! Breakfasts are yummy. Arif organized the taxis from and to the airport for me. You can also rent a scooter with them wich is perfect to go around and to the surf spots (beautiful ride). The pizza night was super nice! And yummy pizzas! We went to the waterfalls and to visit the village with Arif, the volunteers and others guests and it was such an amazing experience. I left Nias and this place with my heart filled with love. I highly recommend you to stay there… hopefully I will be back !

Stayed in May 2023

Nothing it was great !

Arif is an amazing host who would do anything to help you, tell you about his beautiful island and make you feel comfortable ! His hostel is situated in a really nice bay not far from town where you will find good local restaurants.

Stayed in May 2023

Great vibe, Mostly quet place, outdoors. Very welcoming family Arif takes care of guests, boys helping too. You can order pizza there on certain days. Lovely pets, guarding place. It's quite safe, even experienced earthquakes on the island, reef and waves break very far from here.

Stayed in April 2023

dogs eating my shoes :) I was warned multiple time though.

the host is amazing and willing to help with anything!!

Stayed in March 2023

This place is truly a gem🤩the hotel is located in front of a beautiful bay that offers incredible landscape and sunset! The owner Arief is such a nice guy and him and his family make sure every guest has the best possible experience, he has helped us many times to book transports for example or gave us a tour in a traditional village, and we even got to visit secret waterfall! The hostel is located between two surf spots and it is possible to rent scooters directly at the hostel. There is also a great snorkelling spot within a 10min walk We absolutely loved the vibe here and met some very nice people, one of the best hostel we have been to in 5 months of traveling !

Stayed in March 2023

Just perfect place with perfect manager. Decided to extend our stay in here because place feels like home. Arif helps you out with everything and make sure guests are feeling okay. Rooms are simple but clean and comfy. Really nice shared kitchen. Communal spaces are nice and location next to ocean. Good snorkeling spot in walking distance!

Stayed in March 2023

Absolutely enjoyed my stay. It's a simple hostel but with wonderful vibes and amazing owners! Had a really great time there! Will come back...for suuuuree!! :D

Stayed in December 2022

it's almost perfect. can't find any.

after one month in Sumatra. moving from one town to another. finally end up in salty dog hostel. I have to say. this is the best place among all in Sumatra. the owner of this hostel Arif build here as a perfect backpacker place. he buy fresh cooked local street food from the town and bring it back to his guest as the free breakfast. and everyday is different dish. every Sunday the owner and his family go to a church in the trandional village for the mass. and if u r lucky and been invited to go there with the family together. u will find out this guy Arif is almost a celebrity in this whole region. as a musician. Arif play guitar while his wife sing song in the church. and as a artist. he actually paint and designed this church all by himself. he even helped the pool people to build new house...his father is also a great guy. highly respected by other villagers. so anyway. if u really want to explore the culture and history here in nias island. this is the right place to come. except for all this.here in the hostel has shared kitchen to cook. tea and coffee and drinking water. motor bike. surfing board. palm trees and millions of coconut. beach in front. and of course. lots lots lots of salty dogs.

Stayed in November 2022

Don't know

Where should I begin.... Amazin place, nice people, the owner arif and his family, woow... Such lovely helpful people. Here you get much more what u payed, amazin pizza evenings free, Village tours, help with everything (visa extend, taxi...) Located between 2 surf spots, u can rent scooter with board rack and just go. I stayed 10 days there and I am sad to leave... A mix between hostel and homestay. Thanks for everything

Stayed in September 2022

The Nias Islands are very special. I was very lucky to spend three days with Arif, his family and everyone at the Salty Dog hostel. If you are looking to experience a vibrant culture, surfing, skating - and a great host who goes out of their way to make anyone feel welcome - look no further

Stayed in June 2022

After seeing so many other accomodation in the island, we're very happy to find and stay in this hostel. Nothing to complain.

Good and helpful host. Clean room and solid bed, soft pillow, air-con room. A shared kitchen to use with aminities, great service (motor rental, travel information, tasty breakfast), quiet location, friendly dogs and cat. In our opinion, this is the accomodation with the best value in the whole island: fair price in a comfy, Qartistic backpacker hostel. Arif (the owner) and his family are kind host who really try their best to make their guests comfortable. In his free day, Arif took us to a hidden waterfall and traditional village, even he drove us to the ferry port at night we left the island.

Stayed in January 2022