Narat Grasslands

Narat lies on the northern slopes above the Ili valley, where enough moisture reaches the Tian Shan to grow grass thickly and to fringe the meadows with dark Schrenk's spruce on the shaded slopes, so the landscape alternates green pasture and conifer rather than the dry steppe common further east. Kazakh herders move flocks up here for the summer and live in yurts on the high meadows, and horse riding across the grassland is the standard visitor activity. Flowers cover the ground from June, changing through the season, and boardwalks and a shuttle road climb to the upper viewpoints.

What you actually see

• The flower meadows - alpine grassland in bloom through the summer.
• The spruce fringes - dark conifer on the shaded slopes above.
• The Kazakh camps - herder yurts and flocks on the high pastures.
• The horse riding - trips across the grassland with local guides.

When to go

June to September; flowers peak in June and July, and the herders come down in autumn. Winter is deep snow with the meadows closed. Rain and cloud are frequent even in summer.

Honest expectations

Entry plus shuttle is expensive, and the site is organised for tour groups with fixed routes. Horse riding is sold hard and prices should be agreed beforehand. Weather can shut the views for days.

Nearby

Bayinbuluke lies south over the mountains; Yining is west.