I spent four nights living with Tibetan nomads as part of the Qinghai Lake Eco-tour this May, along with nine companions. We were accommodated in specially prepared two-person tents that kept us warm despite the chilly weather -- this time of year the wind is biting and we woke up to frost on the ground every morning. The traditional Tibetan style of life in this area is semi-nomadic; the Tibetan nomads rotate between four different settlements corresponding to each season, moving their yak and sheep herds between them as the weather changes. My group was able to participate in many of the daily spring activities of our hosts. The bulk of morning tasks (e.g., milking the yaks, letting the sheep out to pasture) occur before 10 AM. In the evening, the main chore is to herd the yaks and sheep back into their pens from pasture. This leaves a good portion of the day open for supplemental or self-directed activities; my group spent much of this time drinking milk tea with our hosts in the warmth of their small square home, helping them prepare meals, and having discussions in the large communal tent we ate in. For the truly intrepid of heart, gathering yak manure is another simple but helpful activity for your hosts that can be completed at any time while the yaks are out to pasture. The manure is used as fuel in the winter. Our guide during our time was a Qinghai local who spoke excellent English and was knowledgeable about the cultural, historical, and ecological issues of the region. He had ready answers for all our questions about the nomadic lifestyle we were taking part in. On the flip side, we also got to enjoy the challenge of communicating with other locals whose English and Mandarin were not as fluent. Easily some of my favorite memories from the experience were cracking jokes in broken Mandarin with our cook and helping our host milk yaks with only non-verbal communication. My group also spent half a day at the Chaka Salt Flats, a little more than an hour away from our where our hosts live. The flats are touristy but also picturesque and geologically interesting. Our hosts put us in contact with drivers who drove us to and from. The last thing I will say, which cannot be overstated enough, is that the Qinghai Lake area is stunningly beautiful and like few other places you will ever see. The lake was bright blue and imposingly large from our tents, about a half hour walk away. Watching the sun set behind the mountains that surrounded us on all sides was mesmerizing and made me forget about the cold. Star constellations are also sharp at night, and the Milky Way can be made out when the sky is clear. The Qinghai Lake Eco-Tour was an immensely rewarding exploration of the lives of the local Tibetan nomads and the natural beauty of the area.