Xining Chaka Salt Lake & Qinghai Lake Multi-Day Small Group Tour

Our small group of 6 people (out of 2-8) had a very comfortable business van. The wind was strong at Riyue Mountain Pass, and the prayer flags looked beautiful as they fluttered. Although the grassland wasn't fully green yet, its vastness made for great photos. We were lucky at Chaka Salt Lake; the weather was clear and windless, making for a perfect "Sky Mirror" effect. Walking barefoot in the saltwater was a bit cold but bearable. The two-day tour wasn't rushed. On the first night, we stayed in a clean hotel in Chaka Town and even saw stars. Our driver was a local and helped us avoid the peak times when tour groups gather. This season, there are fewer people and tickets are cheaper, making it feel like we had the place to ourselves. It was definitely worth it.

This was my second trip to Qinghai, and I specifically chose late April to photograph the ice lake and migratory birds. The eastern shore of Qinghai Lake had stunning blue cracks in the breaking ice, which made for incredible photos. Chaka Salt Lake was uncrowded, allowing me to capture pristine mirror-like reflections. The advantage of a small group tour was the flexibility to stop anytime, and our leader knew all the best lesser-known photo spots. The lighting at Riyue Mountain in the afternoon was soft, perfect for photographing prayer flags and sheep. The accommodations were better than expected, making it a truly excellent choice.

The blue of Qinghai Lake is incredibly beautiful, even without a filter. The wind at Chaka Salt Lake was truly biting, but the little train was still running. We put on shoe covers and walked a short distance, but the water was freezing cold on our feet. We stayed in Chaka Town for the night, and the hotel had floor heating. Our driver was very talkative and shared stories about the Tibetan and Mongolian people. One important tip: you absolutely must bring a down jacket and a windproof face mask this season. Overall, it exceeded our expectations and was great value for money, though we did go during the May Day holiday, so prices were a bit higher than usual.

In late April, you can count the visitors to Qinghai Lake on one hand. Standing by the lake and listening to the ice crack is incredibly therapeutic. A thin layer of ice on the lake reflects the distant snow-capped mountains, creating a more artistic scene than any summer influencer photo. Our small group had only 5 people, and everyone was quiet and low-key. I paid extra for a single room at the hotel, but it was well worth it; the bedding was very comfortable. The downside: the grass on Riyue Mountain wasn't green yet, and the wind was incredibly strong, so we only stayed for 20 minutes before getting back in the car. If you're looking for lush green grass, come back after June, but if you want to experience a different kind of desolate beauty, you can go now and feel it for yourself.

Departing on April 23rd, with convenient door-to-door pickup and drop-off in Xining city, it was truly hassle-free. At Riyue Mountain, we saw newborn lambs, which were absolutely adorable. Although the rapeseed flowers weren't in bloom at Qinghai Lake, the blue ice cracks when the lake opened were incredibly spectacular and more memorable than the ordinary blue of summer. The Chaka Salt Lake scenic area has new boardwalks, and renting shoe covers was very convenient. The advantage of a small group is that we could stop anytime; the driver even waited an extra half hour because he saw we enjoyed taking reflection photos. We paid for our own meals for both days, but the restaurants along the way were not expensive. Highly recommended!

The sea breeze was enjoyed, the pigeons were fed, and the Cordyceps coffee was savored; the experience was excellent. In summary: I want to go again!

I just got back from my trip and I'm still buzzing! Chaka Salt Lake is truly beautiful. The weather was great the day we went; the sky and the lake were so blue they looked unreal. It was absolutely stunning.

We recently participated this two-day tour. The tour was very different from we expected. We were combined with a Chinese couple who booked a different tour in Chinese domestic platform. The main problem was that the itineraries and schedules were different. Because of the combined list of places to cover, it was a mission impossible for the driver. For our four guests, we had to endure the long drive cramped in a small SUV. The first stop Kumbum Monastery was not in our itinerary and we visited the place the day before. We could only wait. The second stop Riyue Mountain or Yesigou was on our itinerary, but we were told that foreigners were not allowed in? We finally spent 2 hours visiting Qinghai Lake in the late afternoon and arrived at our hotel at 9:30 pm. In the next morning we visited Chaka Salt Lake. The next stop was not in our itinerary and foreigners were not allowed in (again)? The final stop Jinyintan was on our itinerary, but it was closed over an hour ago.