What's a Yurt and Where Can You Stay in One?

Once found only in countries like Afghanistan, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan, Yurts have been traditionally used by the Nomadic peoples of Central Asia. The frame of a yurt is made of wood, crisscrossed in a lattice for the walls, with a door-frame for access, and a crown to hold up the roof, which is attached by poles. The wooden frame is tied together with ropes, and then draped with a felt covering made from sheep's wool, and covered with canvas when available. The putting together of a yurt is very similar to the putting together of a modern domed camping tent.

The popularity of the yurt has spread to other cultures, though they do not always mimic the originals. Generally, yurts built outside of Central Asia are built as more permanent structures and are not intended to be moved as often, so they do not hold the same purpose and significance as their predecessors. Countries like France, Mexico, Canada, and the United States have adapted the idea of the yurt for their own means, and build their yurt-like tents with more modern, technologically advanced materials, instead of the traditional poles and felt.

Across the world, yurts are now being used for everything from permanent homes to additional school rooms to lodges. These days, anyone can spend the night in a yurt, usually at a fraction of the cost of traditional hotels.

Located roughly ninety minutes from Avignon, in the Gorges de l'Ardeche national park, Canvaschic is a yurt campground, consisting of fourteen yurts, with bamboo beds. Some of the yurts have small kitchens of their own. For the ones without kitchens, there are four shared kitchen tents with refrigerators, stoves, and barbecues. There are also plenty of available activities. Canvaschic surrounds several hiking trails, leading to beaches and swimming spots on the Ardeche River. For more information, the website is available here.

Yurtworks in Cornwall, England, features two yurts on forty acres. Futons are provided for sleeping, candle-powered lanterns provide light, and fire pits and barbecues are provided for each yurt. The owner of Yurtworks, Tim Hutton, organically raises livestock and farms, and has the fresh products, such as fruits, vegetables, eggs, bacon, and sausage, for sale daily. If you would like to know more, check them out at this site.

In the United States, the TreebonesResort in Big Sur, California, provides sixteen yurts, with considerably more amenities than most. Each yurt has electricity and a private deck. The lodge serves up meals at night, and there is also an outdoor bar on site. A heated pool and hot tub are available for year-round swimming, and there are guided hikes and sea-kayaking tours arranged right at the resort. Find out more at the official website.

When heading out on vacation, you can save money and get that camping feel by spending time in a yurt. You may never want to go back to hotels again.