Yurts are portable, durable, and weather-resistant homes with roots in Central Asia, where nomadic herders, including Genghis Khan, used them for centuries. With variations like Mongolian and Turkik yurts, their design has stood the test of time.
In the 1960s, William Coperthwaite introduced yurts to the U.S., promoting them as a sustainable alternative housing solution. Today, yurts are a popular choice in resorts, Airbnbs, and holiday rentals worldwide, offering a unique, customizable experience that appeals to modern travellers and resort owners alike.
In this article, we’ll explore the different types of yurts available today, from traditional Mongolian to modern glamping yurts, and how they’ve adapted to fit the demands of the eco-tourism and hospitality industry.
Different types of Yurts available Today
1. Modern Yurts/Glamping Yurts
Modern yurts popularly known as glamping tents use advanced materials with high-end specifications and design elements while staying authentic to the yurt’s design principles.
They are often made from a combination of tensile fabric wood, and rustproof hardware, offering 10 or more years of warranty and weather resistance. Modern yurts incorporate features that make them suitable for use in diverse climates:
- windows
- doors
- and insulation
These yurts pack in all the creature comforts like air-conditioners, heaters, and ensuite luxury toilets. Today, yurts for your resort can be hyper-customised to suit your business needs.
- Customisable window and door overhangs.
- A floor plan to suit your business needs. Toilets can be inside & outside too. Check out some yurt plans and download them to get an idea of customisation.
- You can choose from a palette of 40 colours to make your yurt resort vibrant.
2. Traditional Mongolian Yurts
These yurts were well entrenched in the heritage of Mongolian nomadic herders and are classic yurt designs. Constructed using a lattice, wooden frame covered with felt or canvas, they feature a central smoke pipe that allows for ventilation and cooking. Their circular shape and sturdy construction were the guiding principles for the Modern yurts.
Traditional Mongolian yurts suited the nomadic culture and travelled with them. The great Genghis Khan lived in a yurt all his life and fought many wars too. If you choose yurts for your resort, you can proudly tell your customers. “A man in a yurt dreams of creating the world’s greatest empire”, “What will you dream of today?”
3. Chinese Yurts
Often mistaken for Mongolian yurts, Chinese yurts have their own distinctive characteristics. They are an amalgamation of various yurt styles, built using construction methods typical of Chinese furniture.
Unlike traditional Mongolian yurts, Chinese yurts lack crown supports, and their wall sections are made from soft willow wood with a unique double-curve shape. The roof poles are straight, and the covering consists of fabric layers, the outermost being a two-piece canvas cover adorned with Chinese designs.
4. Kazakh Yurts
Kazakh yurts feature a lightweight bentwood crown, with roof poles that are steam-bent at one end to meet the trellis wall. Although they don’t traditionally use crown supports, nomadic Kazakh families sometimes add a long, forked stick to provide additional stability during extreme weather. The yurts are covered in layers of felt, often intricately decorated. However, in wetter Western climates, this traditional covering may not hold up as well.
Also Read: The History and Origin of Yurts: A Mongolian Tale
Modern Glamping Yurts ROI
If you’re someone looking for a Yurt, you’ll most likely end up with a modern glamping yurt as they are more practical in today’s context.
In India, modern yurts are becoming popular among resorts, Airbnbs, homestays, and real estate developers. Yurts in Indian resorts are fetching room rents of ₹15,000-20,000 ($200-250) per night. If you do the maths, yurts ROI of 2 years makes it one of the most viable options for the hospitality business.
To understand the return on investment, you can check the real-time prices of some yurt resorts below:
- Machaan Wilderness Lodge, Nagarahole National Park (Check)
- Riverside by Ahama, Jim Corbett National Park (Check)
- Thasthu Kanha, National Park (Check)
Now that you understand about ROI & types of yurts, let’s figure out more…
Yurts’ Sizes and Prices
Yurts are designed to be round, as they help it become aerodynamic and withstand more than 280 kph wind speed. They come in sizes of:
- 20 feet (6.1 m) diameter (314 square feet (29.17 m²))
- 24 feet (7.32 m) diameter (452 square feet (41.99 m²)), and
- 32 feet (9.75 m) diameter (804 square feet (74.69 m²))
Check out pricing and also see some interesting videos and pictures.
Now for the most important information…
How do Yurts Handle the Extreme Weather Conditions?
Modern yurts are a well-engineered and sophisticated version of the traditional Mongolian yurts. They are designed to last a lifetime in extreme weather conditions. They can brave the sun, rain, snow and winds with utmost ease.
In Summers
The openable dome in the yurt is designed to let away the rising hot air from the roof. However, you will still need an air conditioner for thermal convenience. With good positioning of windows and an openable dome, yurts can be chilled pretty fast and efficiently.
In Winters
With a closed dome and windows, a yurt maintains a lot of heat inside making it very comfy during winter. Again, you will surely need heaters or SIP floorings to keep you warm and cosy in extremely cold climates
Snow and Rain
Modern yurts can handle more than 4 to 6 feet of snow. However, snow quickly slides down the slopes pretty quickly. Just google “yurts in snow” and you will find how yurts have braved the snow. They are 100% waterproof.
Last But Not Least, How Do You Maintain Yurts in Your Resort?
Maintenance of a yurt is a piece of cake!
- Pressure wash once in 30 days will keep a yurt sparkling clean.
- Most yurt walls today come with wipeable inner PVC lining. This ensures that yurts are stain-proof. This also means you do not really need to paint the yurt from the inside.
- Care of exposed wooden frames- application of natural wax oil after hand sanding keeps them sparkling clean and brand new!
Conclusion
To conclude, yurts are an amazing option for your resort for the following reasons:
- Offer a unique experience to your guests.
- Are hyper customisable to suit your needs. Ensuite toilets, glass windows, doors with digital locks, air conditioning & heating are out-of-the-box features.
- Come in different sizes and are affordable.
- Are quick to install and put your cash to work instantly.
- They last a lifetime and are easy to maintain.
World over, luxury yurts are becoming a popular choice for resorts and offer travellers a unique experience. Most importantly, its quick ROI makes it a smart investment.
Have more questions on yurts? Check out the detailed FAQs here!
