When thinking about a Tibetan experience, there is nothing quite like visiting or staying with a Tibetan nomad family in a yak-hair tent, sleeping on pelts of animals skin and drinking yourself full with Tibetan yak butter tea. Even if you don't speak the language, you cannot help but relish the experience of living the nomadic life for a few days, heading sheep and yak, and laughing with the happy Tibetan children. Here on the Tibetan plains of the high plateau life is hard yet secure, limited yet joyous. People don't miss what they don't know to miss. It's simple existence with a pleasant flavor, something many westerners dream about. No bills, no telephones (well maybe cell phones, now), no house payments, no neighbors, no pollution, no alarm clock, no vehicles (ok, maybe a motorcycle, these days), no traffic jams, and no worries about the stock market! Of course, I could go in the other direction and list all the great facets of western convenience, but in the end we all live and we all die, the days pass, we cannot stop them. At least it's nice to know that somewhere on the planet, people take life one day at a time and still enjoy the uncomplicated blessings of their simple life. For a foreigner to have the opportunity to see this life in action, it is a life-changing experience. One of the best areas for traditional nomads is in the Qinghai Tibetan region.

Contact your private Tibetan guide for an opportunity to spend a few days or a few weeks with a nomad family in Tibet. They can make all the arrangements for you, provide transportation and safety. Having a private guide with you during your stay with nomads makes the visit all the better. They can translate! They can arrange for your needs. If you get sick, they can get you to the closest clinic of hospital. Remember to take a good, stocked first aide kit, and when you leave, consider leaving it for the family. No kind deed goes unnoticed in Tibet!

“The whole life of the nomads is organized so as to make the most of the scanty aids to living which nature provides.

At night they sleep on skins spread upon the ground and, slipping out of the sleeves, use their sheepskin cloaks as bedclothes. Before they get up in the morning, they blow up the still live embers of their fire with a bellows and the first thing they do is make tea.”
more

TIBETAN CONNECTIONS

"Camping with Tibetans on the grasslands of Amdo can give you an up close look at nomadic Tibetan life that is quickly disappearing.
You can help milk the yaks in the morning and then lead them up the mountains to graze (under the watchful eye of a local nomad of course). You can learn how meals are cooked over a yak dung fire and explore the vast grasslands by doing day hikes in the area. Most importantly, you can experience Tibetan hospitality which is second to none. The regions where nomadic camping is arranged are authentic Tibetan areas. They are not "special camps" that are set up for tourists like the one's found in some places in Mongolia. Living conditions are difficult with very few modern conveniences. Even without these things, your time will be a lot of fun and one that you will remember for a lifetime. Living among Tibetan nomads is something that few foreigners are able to experience." more

Here's the way they would explain their hostel:
Lete Youth Hostel is a new hostel in Xining, operating since April 2007. This hostel is centrally located in the downtown area of Xining with many local and western restaurants close by. Our aim is to provide a warm and cozy place for backpackers and travelers. Our hostel is on the 16th floor and has a wonderful view of the city and scenery surrounding.

We try our best to give you a “home away from home” with several public kitchens and sitting areas with large TV’s with DVD players, and a Playstation 2. The rooms are clean, with many conveniences such as your own laundry facilities. We have a great variety of rooms; from spacious doubles with a fantastic view to inexpensive dorm rooms and small apartments with a kitchenette. We even offer a small climbing wall! Throughout the hostel are large sitting areas with comfortable seating, refreshments available and very friendly, helpful staff.

Have a cup of coffee or an import beer at Tibetan Grounds Cafe. The cafe also serves great Western Breakfast. Try booking through one of the hostel websites.