Homestays in Bole

The landlady's sister picked us up by car. We needed to take a shuttle bus to the Xihai Grassland station, and then drive for another 10 minutes to reach the heart of the grassland where there were many cattle and sheep. The only downside was that the landlady didn't have her own horses for guests to ride in the yurt. The landlady's sister was an excellent cook. We didn't know that reservations were required for meals. It was already past 10 pm when we arrived, and we were starving. We told the landlady's sister, and she generously brought out half a bowl of noodles—tomato and lamb noodles with three lamb trotters! My child and I finished the noodles, paying her 60 yuan. My child said the noodles were great value! Since we forgot our warm clothes in the car, it was too cold at the yurt. We borrowed the landlady's sister's vest and her daughter's sweatshirt. We were very grateful! The landlady's sister is not only beautiful, but also a superb driver, and most importantly, her food is truly delicious!

This is the guesthouse I booked when I went to Sayram Lake with my parents. The environment exceeded my expectations, and my parents were very satisfied. The location was easy to find, parking was convenient, and there were guesthouses all around. I was also quite lucky; we even caught a party event in the square next door, with thousands of people having a bonfire and dancing – it was so much fun! We booked a triple room, with each person having their own bed, and the beds were very comfortable. The owner and the receptionist were very friendly and even helped with our luggage – thumbs up! 👍 After comparing several places, I think this one was great value for money! Unfortunately, we got back too late yesterday and just video chatted with my friends, so I didn't take any pictures.

When I booked the yurt, my simple desire was to bring my 4-and-a-half-year-old to experience Kazakh culture and a different way of life. But... Surprise 1: Located at the highest point of Sai Lake, I could wake up to watch the sunrise and even see the entire lake. For adults, the view is incredible. Surprise 2: The owners are a family of three. Their son is a handsome Kazakh man who speaks Mandarin the best in the family. He handles all customer communications, making communication seamless. The family is incredibly friendly and helpful, and they'll do their best to satisfy any request, as long as they can. Surprise 3: They have a herd of cattle, and another family on the hill behind them has a herd of sheep. They also have two sheepdogs and several horses. It's a truly delightful experience for children. They can play with the dogs, talk to the lambs, ride horses, and ride horses... And they even learned to distinguish between sheep and cow dung, as it's so common and natural. Surprise 4: For dinner, we ordered lamb skewers, braised lamb chops, and pilaf. Two adults and one child couldn't finish them all; the portions were generous and the flavors were excellent. The clear mutton soup had no mutton smell at all (it's best to order it in advance, as it takes about two hours to simmer). Of course, if you're choosing a yurt, you should be prepared. Only consider choosing one if you can accept the following: 1) There's no private toilet, only a dry toilet, and no showers. 2) There's a stove inside, and you have to add the charcoal yourself at night, otherwise it won't last until the next morning. 3) The standard of cleanliness should be comparable to other yurts, not five-star hotels. Overall, if I were to stay in this area again, I would still choose this yurt.

The yurt is located at the north gate of Sailimu Lake, with a direct view of the lake. The owner will drive to the north gate to pick you up. The yurt is large, and even in the rain, it feels much safer than camping. The heating is provided by a charcoal stove. Wearing short sleeves is recommended for the initial heating, but it can get a bit chilly later in the night when the stove runs out. Ask the owner to prepare some charcoal, which you can refill if you wake up. The owner and his wife are very kind. They offer a great place to dine, giving you a unique and authentic experience. I didn't have time to take a photo of the lamb skewers after finishing them, but I did take a photo of the stir-fried lamb, which seems to be braised. The lamb was delicious, and the skins of the lambs, freshly slaughtered that morning, were still on the ground. I highly recommend staying here for the night view and sunset, and it's also convenient for waking up early to watch the sunrise and driving around the lake. The grass is full of voles, sheep, cows, horses, and other small animals.

After arriving at the north gate, the boss will drive to pick you up. It's not far. It's my first time staying in a yurt. The house is very clean and the quilt inside is very warm and windproof. When it was cold at night, the aunt took the initiative to light the stove and it was very warm. There were many sheep and cattle nearby, and I also saw sheepdogs and guard dogs. There were also people riding horses. It was very comfortable!

If you can stand the dry toilets in the countryside, come here! I actually lived in the summer pasture of Kazakh herdsmen! The experience is super great! Sunset, starry sky, sunrise, herds of cattle and sheep, enthusiastic puppies. There are so many kinds of sheep calls. Marmots running all over the hillside in the early morning. Before going up the mountain, I washed up at the Dianjiangtai parking lot. I also brought some tap water in a bottle and some wet wipes, so I could clean myself. I just washed it briefly at night. The yurt had a stove, it was not cold, and I also boiled hot water. The landlord gave me small peaches and apricots, sweet! The key is to see the sheep herding up close and ride a horse, happy and happy! There is electricity available at night.

We booked the guest rooms, which are actually a “盲盒” concept where you get whichever room is available upon check-in. Luckily, we were upgraded to wooden cabins with two rooms each. Since I booked 3 rooms, they arranged 2 wooden cabins for us. Each cabin came with two independent bedrooms with attached bathrooms, plus a shared living room. We absolutely loved it because we could gather and spend time together in the living room. We even had steamboat there one evening, which made the stay feel extra cozy, lovely, and convenient. There was also a huge open area in front of the cabins, but unfortunately the wind during our stay was too strong for us to sit outside. In the evening, sheep were grazing right outside our unit. On good weather days, you can even see Sayram Lake and the snow mountains directly from the cabin, which was really beautiful. The cabins are spread across a large area, so you do need to walk to your unit, but the pathways are properly paved and easy to walk on. Our cabin was about 200m from the car park. Special shoutout to the staff, Hemu and Dan Ni Er, who were extremely helpful. They used their small transport buggy to help move our luggage during check-in and check-out. Since we were travelling with elderly family members who had difficulty walking, they also kindly gave them rides to and from the cabin, which we truly appreciated. Highly recommended for those looking for a different and more memorable experience compared to a normal hotel stay.

We made a last-minute decision to stay in a yurt. Our car took us to a place beyond the reach of navigation, with snow-capped mountains on one side, a pine forest to our left, and Sayram Lake behind us. My friends were thrilled, and we'll likely never forget a night like that. While the conditions were a bit rustic, without flush toilets or showering facilities, that was part of its charm – its raw, natural state. The owners, a Kazakh family, were incredibly genuine and kind-hearted. The lamb skewers were absolutely delicious and incredibly fresh, and the braised lamb stew was equally delightful. Our whole group was utterly delighted, as we witnessed both stunning starry skies and breathtaking 'fiery cloud' sunsets. The next morning, we rode Akhal-Teke horses deep into the pine forest. There was no need to join the crowds at popular spots like 'Songshutou' (Pine Tree Head); it was simply breathtaking, making us cheer with joy, with vibrant yellow wildflowers everywhere. The trip couldn't have been more perfect, and I'm so grateful to have experienced the pastoral life of the nomads. After leaving through the East Gate for lunch, we spotted two young couples who had come for lunch based on our Dazhong Dianping review from the previous day. We enthusiastically gave them further recommendations. They were truly lucky to run into us enthusiastic middle-agers, haha! Thank heavens!

The hotel is located in the commercial street of Saihu Scenic Area. It is a bustling area. It is very convenient for dining and shopping (the prices around the scenic area are too high and the price is very poor), not far from Saihu Scenic Area. Hotel facilities are relatively new, facilities are relatively complete, the overall service is not bad, but there is no elevator, even the second floor room, it will be a bit difficult for families with large luggage.

Staying in a yurt at Sayram Lake is an absolute treat! Not only do you get to witness the stunning golden sunrise over the mountains, but you also get to savor incredibly authentic Kazakh cuisine. The owner's hand-grabbed lamb, milk tea, and roasted meat are all phenomenal – so fresh and delicious. Enjoying a warm, home-style meal after watching the sunrise just fills you with so much joy! 🥩 The yurt's location is fantastic; step right out to breathtaking lake and snow-capped mountain views. After dinner, a stroll along the lake, with the breeze blowing, is pure bliss! The accommodation is also very clean and comfortable, and the service is incredibly thoughtful. Highly recommend!