How To Make the Most of the Yurt Tent Experience

Whether you’re embarking on a primitive camping adventure in the backcountry or living in glamping luxury outdoors, yurt tents are versatile shelters that suit a variety of wilderness experiences. Yurt tents have been a popular outdoor abode for centuries, offering campers a safe and comfortable retreat from the elements of nature. 

To understand the true benefits of yurt tents, it’s important to first differentiate between yurt tents and traditional yurt structures. From there, we’ll discuss why yurt tents are perfect for glamping, including their abundant space, unmatched durability, and undeniable aesthetics. But unlike other glamping tents, they’re also perfectly suited for traditional camping, thanks to their user-friendliness, weather adaptability, and affordability. Dive in for a full breakdown of the versatility of the yurt tent experience. Plus, get a list of the best accessories to use in your yurt tent. Let’s get started!

Yurt Tents vs. Traditional Yurts

While you may have seen the terms “yurt” and “yurt tent” used interchangeably, these are different outdoor shelters. So what is a yurt and what is a yurt tent? 

Yurts are a type of traditional outdoor shelter that has roots in the nomadic communities of central Asia, dating back at least 3,000 years ago. They are semi-permanent, portable structures that are a unique cross between cabins and camping tents. Yurts have a circular shape, made with a lattice wood frame and covered with animal skins. Staying in a yurt is similar to staying in a cabin, but just a little more rustic. 

Swap the wood framing for aluminum tent poles and replace the animal skins with canvas and you have a yurt tent. Traditional yurts are already portable, lightweight structures, but these simple design differences make yurt tents even lighter and even more portable. On the modern outdoor market, you’ll find that yurt tents are commonly called bell tents. Yurt tents as we know them actually evolved from the Tipi style of tent, not traditional yurt shelters. Bell tents are often referred to as yurt tents likely because their distinct circular shape resembles the circle design of traditional yurts. Unlike traditional yurts, however, yurt tents feature a central pole that provides vital structure to the tent. From there, the roof slopes to meet the side walls of the tent. 

Now that we’ve defined what a yurt tent is, and what it isn’t, we can more accurately discuss the benefits of this type of shelter for the modern outdoorsman.

Why Yurt Tents Are Perfect for Glamping

Yurt tents are a go-to glamping shelter for more reasons than one. 

First and foremost, yurt tents are extremely spacious. The central pole of this tent style creates high ceilings, which offers more headroom and space for campers to utilize in comparison to other tent styles like the dome tent. Further, the circular base of a yurt tent free of corners offers abundant floor space inside. While all campers value space, it’s especially important to glampers camping with furniture, decor, and other luxury items. 

Not every tent is suitable for furniture use. Cheap synthetic tents, for example, are prone to rips and tears if heavy furniture and gear are placed inside them. Because of the modern performance canvas found in yurt tents, they’re durable enough to handle the use of heavy furniture often seen in glamping setups. 

When you dream up a glamping campsite, you’re probably imagining a stylish shelter like a yurt tent. After all, nothing says style quite like the high ceilings and sloping roof of this tent design. While style is subjective, it’s hard to deny the aesthetic appeal of the yurt tent when putting together a luxurious glampsite. 

Yurt Glamping Tent Accessories

Another notable benefit of using a yurt tent for glamping is the luxurious yurt accessories you can adorn your shelter with. Here are a few awesome additions, and necessary basics, to use at your glampsite. 

• A circular tent footprint
• A rainfly sheet
• A yurt tent awning 
• A welcome mat
• An outdoor shoe rack
• String lights or decorative torches

• A tent stove complete with a stove jack and heat mat
• Area rugs
• Luxury camping furniture like bed frames, tables, chairs, and more
• Wall art and decor
• Floor and table plants
• Lamps, lanterns, and other indoor ighting additions 

Using Yurt Tents for Traditional Camping

If glamping isn’t quite rustic enough for your taste, a yurt tent also makes a great camping canvas tent. Here are three reasons why!

Canvas tents can be intimidating for the everyday camper. While setup can differ between tent makers, yurt tents are generally easier to set up than other large canvas tents on the market. White Duck Outdoor’s Regatta Bell Tent, for example, can be pitched by just one person. Additionally, it comes complete with a tool kit, making setup as convenient as possible. As mentioned earlier, yurt tents are also lighter weight than traditional yurts, making them that much easier to transport from campsite to campsite, or just simply carry in and out of camp. 

The ability to adapt to different weather conditions is fundamental to a great camping tent. Whether you’re setting up a long-term camping shelter in a harsh winter climate or enjoying a summer weekend in hot weather conditions, yurt tents are built to perform in all 4 seasons. The performance cotton canvas material that many modern yurt tents are made from offers breathability, ventilation, and insulation – keeping you comfortable inside no matter the weather outside. Plus, fabric treatments like water-repellant, UV-resistant, and mold and mildew-resistant coatings offer enhanced protection from the elements. 

Between the lighter materials and simpler construction, yurt tents are often more affordable than traditional yurt shelters. While they may not be the most affordable tents on the market, campers get to enjoy the same benefits of space, durability, and weather resistance that traditional yurts offer, without the hefty price tag. 

The Bottom Line

The yurt tent experience is one you won’t want to miss as a lover of the great outdoors. Yurt tents are not traditional yurts, however, and understanding their key differences is the first step in understanding the true benefits of yurt tents for a variety of outdoor adventures. Traditional yurts are semi-permanent structures featuring lattice wood framing and animal skin fabrications. Yurt tents, on the other hand, are simply another name for bell tents, a circular canvas tent that resembles the traditional yurt design. Glampers love yurt tents because of their spaciousness, durability, and stylish aesthetic. Plus, there are tons of useful accessories, like awnings and tent stoves that can take yurt tents from basic to luxurious. Every day campers love them for being easy to use, adaptable to all weather conditions, and more affordable than traditional yurts. Whether you’re building a lavish glampsite lakeside or becoming one with nature on a bare-bones camping trip, yurt tents offer a comfortable and reliable shelter for your next outdoor adventure.