Bole Homestays

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 boudoir by Sailimu Lake. The location is great. The homestay is in a pastoral village on the hillside of Sailimu Lake. If you drive by yourself, you can drive directly to the side of the homestay. Although the boudoir is simple, it is very clean. The beds are also very thick. The advantage of living by the lake is that you can follow the hillside behind the hotel early in the morning, and enjoy the early morning with the cattle and sheep. The owner of the homestay is the shepherd in the village. There are a few beautiful, powerful, like to stick to people, and extremely responsible for the work. When they are not working, they can be happy to walk their dogs. If the cow next to them has some abnormal movement, the dog will enter the working state in seconds, and rush to ”discipline” the dishonest cow like an arrow.

It was my first time staying in a yurt, and it was a novel experience. The dormitory-style bed was advertised as a six-person room, but it was big enough for ten people. The children were very happy, doing somersaults and rolling around on it. It was cold at night, but there was a stove inside, which made it more comfortable. In the morning, there was a service where cattle and horses would ”wake them up.” The owner's Kazakh potatoes were delicious, but the mutton soup was a bit too fatty; I only drank half of it. Overall, it was a pretty good experience.

At night, you can watch the stars and the moon, listen to the howling of wolves and cows. It's nice to live in a big kang, which can sleep 18 people. The experience is really satisfying. The boss is a young man who is very enthusiastic. He must be helpful when he just started his business.

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.

I was traveling with my parents, and I specifically asked for a quiet room. However, we were placed next to a room where people played mahjong all night, and my elderly parents barely got any sleep. I thought the room was 40 square meters, but it turned out to be 40 square meters spread across two floors (a duplex), and the owner told me it was 'usable area,' not 'room area.' This is the first time I've ever heard of a hotel listing 'usable area' – I'm speechless! On the positive side, the staff's attitude was quite good, and the hotel is very close to the scenic area with lots of snacks nearby. We checked out a bit late after exploring, and they even extended our checkout time for free, which was nice. It's also very close to Sayram Lake, making it super convenient for watching the sunrise.

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.

Accommodation around Sayram Lake is very expensive, including hostel beds. Hongze Guesthouse's beds are relatively affordable for the area. Perhaps due to high rents and costs, the guesthouse owner essentially bought or rented a shop with a ceiling height of four or five meters, then divided it into two floors, each filled with cubicles. To maximize space, each cubicle is very small, with nothing but a bed, and no common area. The low ceiling and dark gray decor created a slightly oppressive atmosphere. WiFi was available, but the signal in my room was very weak, almost unusable, which was very inconvenient; the signal was much better in the bathroom. However, I didn't mind any of this. The owner also did many good things; he was very polite, proactive in his service, provided disposable toiletries, the water was hot, and the bathroom was clean. What I found particularly unpleasant was that the blankets didn't seem to be changed after each guest; the blanket I slept on had a used smell. I'm not sure, and if I'm wrong, I apologize to the owner. But if what I said is true, I hope the boss absolutely will not do this. It's self-destructive. There's not much a cubicle can offer guests; the only thing they can do well is ensure a good night's sleep. But if they don't even wash or change the blankets to save trouble, it will definitely cause resentment. I still hope the boss will correct their shortcomings and do better.

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!