“For nomads, the yurt is rich in symbolism…[It] is not just a place of residence, but a home full of life.”

– Alma Kunanbay

Life works in funny ways sometimes, doesn’t it? One day I’m doing a random search on Craigslist and stumbling across a yurt on a rural island in Canada – now, almost three months later, I find myself officially converted to the world of circular living and determined to keep sharing the yurt love even after I leave my humble dwelling in the woods in two weeks.

I can honestly say I’ve never had so much fun blogging as I have these last three months, whether it was sketching an illustrated history of yurts or working on a watercolor housewarming of my Salt Spring abode. But I recently realized I’d only be doing half my job if I didn’t finally bring this all full-circle and help you have your own taste of the yurt life. So yesterday morning I put on the kettle, kept the fresh mint tea flowing, and started rounding up all the yurts there are to stay in around the world.

And oh are there yurts, my friends. What follows is just a taste of what’s out there – there are yurts in a jungle and yurts in the desert and yurts in a vineyard; there are yurts in the Andes and yurts in the Alps (French and Italian); there are yurts that are totally off the grid and yurts with every conceivable modern convenience. There’s even a yurt in someone’s back garden in London.

In February, Airbnb declared 2014 ‘the year of the yurt’ – if yesterday’s research session proved anything, it’s that they couldn’t be more right.

The Year of the Yurt
Just so you know I’m not making it up.

One quick note before we get started: all the links I’ve gathered here are simply ones I came across on my own (i.e. as the little note in the footer of this site says, none are sponsored). I also can’t personally vouch for the properties I’ve listed here, but I’ve tried to choose companies or hosts that seem well established and easy to get in touch with, so fingers crossed the only issue you’ll have is choosing which yurt to try out first. Happy yurt living!

Yurt rentals around the world

Yurt rentals by country or region:

General directories
Australia
Canada
Caribbean, Mexico, and South America
Central Asia
Europe
Japan
Mexico
Middle East
New Zealand
United Kingdom
United States

General directories

Canopy & Stars (mainly UK and a bit of Europe)

Glamping Hub (global)

Pacific Yurts yurt vacations (mainly US and Canada)

Responsible Travel (mainly Europe)

Yurt rentals in Australia

New South Wales – Bulli, Royal National Park: A wooden yurt in the rainforest from $96/night

New South Wales – Kangaroo Valley: Wood-paneled yurt cottages from $309/night

Tasmania – Flinders Island: Yurt at the base of Strzelecki Mountain from $150/night

Victoria – Fitzroy, Melbourne: An inner city yurt from $116/night

Victoria – Myrrhee, King Valley: Traditional Yurt Alpine Retreat on a beautiful working farm from $87/night

Western Australia – Walpole: Two-storied wooden yurt in the forest from $129/night

Yurt rentals in Australia
Yurt Alpine Retreat in Myrrhee, Australia.

Yurt rentals in Canada

British Columbia – Cortes Island: Woodsy yurt retreat from $90/night

British Columbia – Penticton: Barefoot Beach Resorts offer eleven yurts (including a Fantasy Yurt complete with in-floor soaker tub!) on Skaha Lake from $114/night

New Brunswick – Fundy National Park: Yurts on the Bay of Fundy from $115/night

Nova Scotia – Cape Breton Island: Cabot Shores offers three yurts with views of St. Ann’s Bay from $95/night

Ontario – Algonquin Provincial Park: Eight yurts that offer a more traditional camping experience (as opposed to ‘glamping’) from $97/night

Ontario – Bruce Peninsula National Park: Ten modern yurts on the shore of Cyprus Lake from $120/night

Ontario – Warton: A perfect winter yurt that comes with its own forest butler service (say whaa?) from $150/night

Prince Edward Island – Souris: Two-bedroom ‘yurt in the woods’ from $150/night

Quebec – Gaspé Peninsula: CIME Adventures offer their ‘Festive Yurt’ right on the Bonaventure River from $85/night

Quebec – Val des Monts: Yurt on 230 acres of the Gatineau Hills from $150/night

Saskatchewan – Emma Lake: Modern yurts with full kitchens and full bathrooms from $164/night

Saskatchewan – Prince Albert National Park: Camping site with two luxury yurts from $102/night

Vancouver Island – Black Creek: Secluded oceanfront yurt on Seaview Game Farm from $200/night

Vancouver Island – Nootka Sound: Gorgeous modern yurts at a fishing lodge on Moutcha Bay from $360/night

Yurt rentals in Bruce Peninsula National Park
Yurts in Bruce Peninsula National Park, Ontario.
Yurt rentals in Saskatchewan
Yurts on Emma Lake, Saskatchewan.
Yurt rentals on Vancouver Island
Yurts on Nootka Sound, Vancouver Island…you could stop by Salt Spring!

Yurt rentals in the Caribbean, Mexico, and South America

Argentina – Tupungato, Mendoza: Remote eco-lodge with authentic yurts in the Andes Mountains from $290/night

Chile – Torres del Paine, Magallanes: Camp of 18 all-inclusive yurts in the Patagonian wilderness (rack rates available here)

Costa Rica – Mal Pais: Beachfront JUNGLE YURT from $75/night 

Dominica – Rosalie, St. David Parish: Three yurts in a riverside retreat from $80/night

Mexico – San Ignacio: Ignacio Springs B&B comprises nine yurts and three cabins from $68/night

Uruguay – La Pedrera: Beachfront yurt cabins (paradise, anyone?) from $117/night

Yurt rentals in Costa Rica
Costa Rica’s jungle yurt!
Yurt rentals in Argentina
Yurts in Argentina.

Yurt rentals in Central Asia

Kazakhstan – Zailiskiy Alatau: Aul Resort offers 11 yurts (‘urts’) with traditional décor and 5-star amenities from $175/night for 4 people

Kyrgyzstan – Shamaldy-Say, Dzhalal-Abadskaya: Five-yurt lodge on the southern shores of Son Kul Lake from $114/night

Kyrgyzstan – Tian Shan Mountains: EcoTour has five yurt camps from €1,350/per person for 2-week tour (can stay in one camp or visit a combination of them)

Mongolia – Gobi Desert: Three Camel Lodge offers 20 deluxe gers (as yurts are known in Mongolia) with hand-painted furniture and private bathrooms

Mongolia – Khan Khentii: Jalman Meadows Ger Camp is just 3.5 hours north of Ulaanbaatar – Nomadic Journeys offers 4-night stays from $420/per person

Uzbekistan – Ayaz-Kala: Yurt camp near a complex of three ancient fortresses from $60/night per person

Uzbekistan – Navoi Region: Camel safaris, cozy gers, and jeep tours to the Aral Sea – what more could one ask for from a yurt camp?

Uzbekistan – Nurata: Yurt camp that includes a camel ride through the desert and daytrip to Aydarkul Lake from $60/night per person

Yurt camps in Kyrgyzstan
Yurt camp on the Silk Road in Kyrgyzstan. I will so get here one day.
Yurt camp in Uzbekistan
Nurata yurt camp in Uzbekistan.
Jalman Meadows, Mongolia
Jalman Meadows Ger Camp, Mongolia.

Yurt rentals in Europe

Canary Islands – Lanzarote: Several kinds of yurts (palm pod, anyone?) at a beachside eco-retreat from €115/night

Czech Republic – Chlum, Western Bohemia: Spacious, light-flooded yurt in an orchard from $71/night

France – Bellecombe-en-Bauges, Rhone-Alpes/Savoy: Large, quiet yurt in the Alps (!!!) from $85/night

Germany – Dresden: Yurt with original Mongolian furniture from $56/night

Germany – Nuremburg: Original (and beautifully decorated) Afghani yurt from $41/night

Greece – Kalamata, Messinia: One traditional Mongolian yurt and one modern yurt set in extensive gardens from $45/night

Hungary – Dobogókő, Pilisszentkereszt: Four traditional yurts in a climatic health resort 25kms from Budapest from $20/night

Ireland – Ballyglunin, Galway: Three traditional yurts in the Irish countryside from $130/night

Ireland – Castletown Geoghegan, near Mount Druid: Site of 20 yurts on a 100-acre park (with its own lake and boat house!) from $135/night

Italy – Civitella in Val di Chiana, Arezzo: Three authentic Mongolian yurts (with wifi and A/C, no less) in the Tuscan countryside from $74/night

Italy – Morgex, Aosta Valley: Hand-made yurt in the Italian Alps from $80/night

Netherlands – Dunes of Texel National Park: A variety of yurts (for which hammocks, garden chairs and picnic tables are listed as “standard equipment”) from €295/2 nights

Norway – Risor, Nissedal i Telemark: Luxury camp of seven yurts on an island in the middle of a lake from $288/night

Portugal – Lugar Varzeas, Arganil: Two yurts (with the charming names of Chestnut Tree Yurt and Apple Tree Yurt) from €75/night

Portugal – Oleiros, Castelo Branco District: Two hand-made yurts and yoga retreat in a central valley from $50/night

Portugal – Vimeiro, Alcobaça: Yurt with plunge pool and outdoor kitchen near the Costa de Prata from $74/night

Spain – Cortes de la Frontera, Andalucia: Hoopoe Yurt Hotel offers five hotels with different themes (Afghani, Mongolian, Jaipur, Safari, and Maimani) from €130/night

Spain – Lanjarón, Andalusia: Modern, eco-friendly yurt in the Sierra Nevada mountains from $71/night

Spain – Santa Maria de Olot, Catalonia: Cozy, solar-powered yurt on a VINEYARD from $78/night

Sweden – Flatön Island, Bohuslän Archipelago: Greenstones Yurts offers four luxurious yurts in a valley from €85/night

Yurt rentals in Dresden, Germany
A seriously authentic taste of yurt living in Dresden, Germany.
Yurt rentals in Greece
Yurts in Greece…otherwise known as paradise.
Yurt rentals in Netherlands
Getting cozy in Holland.
Yurt rentals in Norway
Yurts on an island in a lake in Norway? I’ll take it.
Yurt rentals in Nuremburg, Germany
The world’s most beautiful yurt can be found in Nuremburg.

Yurt rentals in Japan

Chiba Prefecture – Ohara: Reef Break Resort’s yurt sits right on the Pacific in an unbelievably beautiful location from $108/night for 2 people

Seto Inland Sea – Naoshima Island: Tsutsuji-so Lodge offers a yurt from $36/night (TripAdvisor listing)

Tochigi Prefecture – Nasu Kogen: Mongolia Village Tenger offers a large number of traditionally decorated yurts (website in Japanese)

Yurt rentals in Japan
Reef Break Resort in Chiba Prefecture – can I please go there tomorrow?

Yurt rentals in the Middle East

Israel – Golan Heights: Four luxury yurts with private courtyard and POOL from $242/night

Yurt rentals in Israel
This is what you call seeing Israel in style.

Yurt rentals in New Zealand

North Island – Ohakune: Yurt-style modern chalet from $180/night

North Island – Purangi Garden Accommodation, Hahei: Large 9-meter-wide yurt from $160/night

North Island – Raglan: Traditional yurt (with a massage yurt next door!) from $180/night

North Island – Waiheke Island, Auckland: Two yurts by the beach from $250/night

South Island – Kaikoura: Authentic yurt imported from Mongolia from $149/night

South Island – Motueka: Aniwaniwa Yurt Stay and wellness workshops from $100/night

Yurt rentals in Waiheke Island, New Zealand
Yurts on Waiheke Island – be still my New Zealand-loving heart.

Yurt rentals in the United Kingdom 

Channel Islands – Clifden, Jersey: Jersey Yurt Holidays offer three modern yurts right on St Aubin’s Bay from £80/night

Channel Islands – Jersey: Durrell Wildlife Camp has cozy yurt-like camping pods from £450/3 nights

Channel Islands – St. Ouen’s Village, Jersey: Daisy Cottage Campsite has 5-meter and 7-meter-wide yurts from £100/night

England – Bridgport, West Dorset: Wilderness yurt retreat from $105/night

England – Eastfield Farm, Lincoln: Lincoln Yurts have five themed yurts (from Balinese to Gothic to French!) on their 11-acre farm from £190.00/2 nights

England – Old Chapel Farm, Tylwch: Traditional hand-painted Mongolian yurt on an organic farm from $107/night

England – Peak District National Park: Long Valley Yurts offer six Turkmen-style yurts from $147/night

England – Priory Gardens, London: Nearest yurt in the world to the Tube (!!) from $174/night

England – Sissinghurst Road, Ashford: Bloomsburys ‘glamping’ site offers three luxurious yurts from $338/night

Isle of Wight – Norton Green: The Really Green Holiday Company (I promise I’m not making that name up) offers several sizes of yurts from £200/2 nights

Isle of Wight – Ventnor: Bank End Farm has two yurts with possibly the best names ever – Moonlight and Stardust – from £255/1-3 nights

Scotland – Fort William, West Highlands: Great Glen Yurts has a natural yurt camp at the foot of Ben Nevis from £70/night

Scotland – Stirling: The West Moss-side Centre has three Kyrgyz-inspired yurts available from £75/night (plus a full schedule of arts and crafts courses!)

Wales – Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire: Colorfully decorated yurts from $265/night

Wales – Maesteg, Brigend County: Four traditional yurts on a secluded farm valley campsite from $103/night

Wales – Powys: Two Mongolian yurts overlooking the Black Mountains and the Wye Valley from $170/night

Yurt rentals in Wales
Not your average stay in the Wye Valley.
Yurt rentals in Scotland
I need to be here right now: yurts in Stirling, Scotland.
Yurt rentals in England
A wilderness yurt retreat in West Dorset.
Yurt rentals on Jersey, Channel Islands
Jersey Yurt Holidays in the Channel Islands.

Yurt rentals in the United States

Alaska – Homer: Modern yurt situated between Kachemak Bay and the Kenai Mounatains from $204/night

Arizona – Flagstaff: Seven yurts in Coconino National Forest (just an hour from the Grand Canyon!) from $35/night

Arizona – Pearce: Secluded yurt in Coronado National Forest from $129/night

Arkansas – Hot Springs National Park: “Yurt Village” of four yurts sitting on 400 acres along Lake Catherine from $80/night

California – Malibu: Secluded yurt and Zen retreat on an organic farm from $135/night

California – Shasta Lake: Shasta Trinity Camping offers several yurts from $65/night

Colorado – Bond: Eleven yurts at an adventure resort on the Upper Colorado River from $40/night

Georgia – Pine Mountain: Modern yurt camping at its finest with a fitness center and saline swimming pool from $72/night

Hawaii – Lehua Circle, Pāhoa: Simply furnished yurt near a tropical rainforest from $65/night

Idaho – McCall: Two yurts in Payette National Forest from $100/night

Maine – Rockland: A coastal yurt by the beach and woods from $167/night

Minnesota – Grand Marais: Three yurts in the Minnesota wilderness from $105/night

Montana – Philipsburg: Small but traditional yurt on 70 acres of private forest from $373/night

Montana – Stanford: Two cozy yurts in the Southern Swan Mountains are perfect for backcountry skiing from $45/night

New Hampshire – Orange: Off-the-grid backcountry yurt near Cardigan Mountain State Forest from $110/night

New York – Adirondack: Luxury yurt on a private island (yes, please!) from $200/night

Oklahoma – Tahlequah: Raft down the Illinois River while staying in these two yurts in Elephant Rock Nature Park from $120 night/night

Oregon – Illinois Valley: Three modern yurts with full amenities overlooking the Illinois River from $205/night

Utah – Monticello: Beautifully off-the-grid and distraction-free yurt in the open country from $45/night

Virginia – Standardsville: Cair Paravel Farmstead offers a yurt B&B in the Blue Ridge Mountains from $150/night

Washington – White Salmon: Columbia Gorge scenic yurt from $80/night

Yurt rentals in Montana
Traditional yurt in Philipsburg, Montana
Yurt rentals in Virginia
Two-storied yurt living in my home state! (Virginia)
Yurt rentals in daho
It seems as though skis are not optional in Payette National Park, Idaho.
Yurt rentals in California
Modern yurt living in Malibu.

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21 Comments

    • Cat, there are *tons* of yurts in Spain!! Who knew, right? The ones I listed here are just a sample of others I kept coming across in the general directories I mentioned – I hope you’ll get a chance to stay in one soon!

  • I love yurts, gers, tents, different ways to sleep. Maybe I just love sleep. Some of these are just gorgeous! I’ve slept in a ger in Mongolia and a yurt in Alaska…so far, I think that’s it. Great research!

    • Yes! While looking up the yurts for this post, I kept stumbling across all kinds of fun tent options – it seems yurts are not the only canvas-walled accommodation choice around 🙂 I loved hearing you’ve slept in a Mongolian ger – that’s a huge dream of mine!

  • What an awesome list! Just through your blog, you have made me absolutely NEED to stay in a yurt soon!

    • You must, Jade! I so hope you’ll get the chance to stay in one soon – and you’ll have to report back on how it goes 🙂

  • Sooo… I have NO idea there are so many yurts around the world (or even in North Amerca!!). I find this to be such an exciting alternative for accommodations. Thanks for compiling the list and sharing it with us, Candace! I do have one question though – what are the bathrooms like?

    • I know!! I was pretty blown away by the number of yurts as well – and some of them in the most unexpected of places. Who knew there are ones to rent in Costa Rica and Dominica? And that’s a fantastic question about the bathrooms – I should probably actually make a note of that in the post! But from what I can tell, it varies quite a bit from yurt to yurt…some of the more modernized ones (especially in North America) actually have them right in the yurt itself, while other ones might have a bathroom right next door or nearby – i.e. mine is separate, but connected to the yurt via a deck 🙂

  • Oh yay! I’ve been wondering about checking out something like this and then, look! You did the research for me! Yay!

    Thanks for sharing your yurt-venture with the rest of us.

    • Ahh, I’m so glad!! I’m not sure I’ve ever had so much fun researching something before 🙂 I so hope you’ll get the chance to try out circular living soon, and I love the phrase you coined – a yurt-venture indeed!

  • We have three beautiful hand crafted yurts to rent in the heart of rural Cornwall….could you add us to your list? I have added our website address for you to look at.

  • Hello Candace,
    Thanks for this. I love yurts. I’m convinced the only way I can return to live on Saltspring is to buy property and get a yurt. Stumbled across this fantastic private yurt in New Mexico near the Ghost Ranch on the road to the white cliffs full of imported rugs and embroidery quite a few years ago. There’s also 15 Yurts as part of Fort Stevens state park in Oregon. Just wanted to say how much I love the combo of your illustrations with your insightful reflections on place, change, humanity and self. A delicious treat.

    • Hello, Gayle! I’m so sorry to just get back to you here, but thank you so much for your comment. I am right there with you on wanting to build a yurt on Salt Spring 🙂 I’m also looking at the San Juan Islands off the coast of Seattle, or perhaps other islands such as Whidbey – I love the PNW region and truly feel like it’s a perfect place for yurt living (minus the bugs that seemed to come out in droves the minute it got warm!). Thanks as well for your kind words about the stories and sketches I share here – that was wonderful to hear and I’m thrilled you enjoy them!

  • This is great! Thanks, Candace! I might have to hit up that one in the Czech Republic while there!

    • Ahh, you must! I loved discovering that yurt, but was a bit sad as well that I didn’t check it out while I was there 🙂 (By the way, a huge reply is headed your way soon, but for right now, CONGRATS on your next adventure!! I’m so excited to follow along and can’t wait to hear more about it!) xo

Comments are closed.