Yurts have a long history of providing efficient shelter to nomadic tribes that roamed the steppes of Central Asia. They’re the round, circular tents people mostly associate with Mongolia. However, the word ‘yurt’ isn’t Mongolian. It’s derived from several Turkic languages spoken by nomadic people in Central Asia. Mongolians call these tents ‘ger,’ which also means ‘home.’
It’s popular among those tribes because yurts are portable, durable, and sturdy. They’re easy to put up and simple to take down. Yurts are also easy to transport. Their yaks and horses could carry them on their backs with no problem. So, yes, yurts are essential equipment for nomads; they’ve been using them for thousands of years.
Yurts have been an important part of Mongolia’s culture that, until now, they’re still used by the people. It’s estimated that 90% of Mongolia’s rural population still prefer living in yurts.
The Yurt Travels to the West
The yurt was introduced to America during the 60s and since then, it has steadily gained in popularity, especially during the 70s when the hippie homesteaders adopted them. Yurts, after all, are perfect for nomadic life. Besides, they’re relatively cheap and easy to build.
However, the North American version is an updated version of the ‘ger’ of Central Asia. Traditional yurts were round, portable tents covered with felted wool made from stretched hides of goat, sheep, and yak skins. Western yurts, on the other hand, are made from modern materials like architectural fabrics and high-strength steel cables.
They may have retained the traditional circular design, but they added a few tweaks to accommodate a few basic luxuries. The most modern yurt now available has windows, skylight, gutters, and other amenities.
Glamping and the Yurt
Modern yurts are more luxurious and more durable; they’re designed to last for ten years or more. They can be found in ski resorts, state parks, nature resorts, festivals, and campgrounds. Yurts also have become one of the top choices for people who go glamping (a portmanteau of glamor and camping).
The glamping industry’s popularity has been on the rise even before the pandemic. In 2019, the global glamping market was already a billion-dollar industry. By 2025, the industry is estimated to reach USD$5 billion. Now that many traditional travel plans have been canceled due to the pandemic, many vacationers are looking at accommodations that are self-catered as well as outdoor vacations.
Glamping is for people who want to experience camping without having to sacrifice luxuries like heating or air conditioning, running water, a real bed, electricity, and others. It’s camping’s classier offshoot. Glamping sites have also become popular, with some even feature restaurants and swimming pools.
The benefits of these vacations are obvious: no shared lobby and there’ll be fewer strangers to bump into.
Yurt’s Popularity Among Glampers
Yurts are a popular choice for glampers because of their size and design. It’s not exactly a tent, and it’s not a cabin or a cottage, either. You don’t have to set up a camp. Yurts are for people who are not exactly looking for a ‘roughing-it-up’ type of vacation but at the same time would like to experience a change of environment from the usual luxuries that they take for granted at home.
You’d have a choice of setting up a campfire outside your yurt to roast marshmallows if you want, and you can still have access to a modern toilet nearby. A yurt is also small enough to motivate you to go outside, but it’s just the right size to get cozy on a cold day. Remember, yurts have been used in Central Asia where temperatures can go from -40°C to 40°C. Yurts can also accommodate up to six people, perfect for a group of friends or a whole family.
Some yurts are more luxuriously appointed, complete with electricity, modern appliances, and temperature control. There are also the fancy yurts decorated to evoke that traditional Mongolian ‘ger’ effect, with lavish rugs, furniture, colorful fabrics, and décor.
The Best Time to Stay in a Yurt
Camping in a yurt is something you can do in any season. Winter sports enthusiasts can avail themselves of yurts in winter resorts, where they’re fixed accommodations. Yurts in these locations are outfitted for winter protection and are often located perfectly for ski activities like cross-country skiing, snowboarding, or snowshoeing.
Summer is also a great time for staying in a yurt. You can have your own choice of yurts in state parks, ranging from rustic to luxurious. State parks, however, might not operate their yurts year-round, so you’d have to check first. But you can also make arrangements with some landowners to let you use a piece of their property to set up your yurt if you own one. Some even operate a kind of Airbnb, but with yurts.
Why Staying in a Yurt is Popular
The popularity of yurt joined with the growing popularity of glamping. And when the pandemic happened, glamping on a yurt seemed to be the perfect alternative to traditional vacations.
If you own a yurt, or if it’s a rental, it’s easy enough to set up. Assembling a yurt wouldn’t take hours. Yurts are relatively quick to set up. There are even models that you could assemble in less than an hour. Sure, there are tents that you could assemble quicker, but they’re not on the yurt’s level in terms of quality and comfort. The extra minutes you’d spend assembling a yurt are totally worth it.
You’ll have better protection from the elements in a yurt than in a tent. Whether it’s rain or snow, a yurt gives superior protection from the elements. You can hear the rain’s pitter-patter, but you won’t have to worry about being drenched.
The inside of a yurt is nice and comfy so that you can leave it refreshed and raring to go on your adventure. When it’s cold, you can have a wood stove inside to provide warmth, which makes a yurt even homier and inviting.
Staying in a yurt surrounded by amazing vistas is far cheaper than if you stay in a luxury hotel. For nature lovers, this is an excellent option, especially since yurts are most often available in scenic spots and near hiking trails. If you’re interested in the outdoors but you don’t have a ton of camping gear like tents, sleeping bags, and other equipment, renting a yurt is an optimal choice.
Conclusion
Since modern yurts were introduced in North America in the 60s, they had grown in popularity over the years, especially during the 70s, when alternative lifestyles were popularized by the hippie movement. They became even more popular when the concept of glamping caught fire, where yurts became one of the top choices for glampers.
Yurts are portable, easy to set up, sturdy, and can be used year-round. These characteristics made yurts popular among outdoorsy people. Yurts are also eminently customizable—you can build a basic yurt or a lavish yurt with all the bells and whistles.
The pandemic forced many in the hospitality industry to take notice of yurts. Many of them provide vacationers with the option of staying in yurts, while others have started to operate a sort of Airbnb with yurts.
