Why Yurts Make Brilliant Sense for Glamping Businesses

Thinking of expanding or starting a glamping business? It’s worth asking: what kind of accommodation gives you the best return without draining your budget or requiring endless upkeep?

The answer, increasingly, is the humble yurt.

What used to be seen as a niche or novelty is now one of the smartest moves in the outdoor hospitality game. Yurts strike the right balance between cost-effectiveness, comfort, and wow-factor — three things that matter massively when you’re trying to attract paying guests and turn a profit.

Let’s break down exactly why yurts are ticking so many boxes for glamping businesses.

1. Value – Strong ROI for Lower Setup Costs

Setting up a glamping site can get expensive quickly. Custom cabins, luxury safari tents, or eco-pods can easily stretch into the tens of thousands per unit. Yurts from the likes of Beyond Yurt offer a more accessible way in, without sacrificing guest appeal.

While the initial cost of a yurt varies depending on size and build quality, it’s almost always cheaper than a fixed-structure build. Even when factoring in foundations, insulation, wood stoves, and furnishings, yurts generally come out on top in the value game.

More importantly, they often pay for themselves faster. Because they stand out and offer that cosy, nature-connected vibe guests crave, they command strong nightly rates. With the right design and location, you’re looking at a setup that earns back its cost in one or two peak seasons.

2. Guest Appeal – Unique Experience Without Sacrificing Comfort

A yurt feels like an adventure without the roughing-it factor. That’s a sweet spot for modern travellers: people want nature, but they also want a proper bed, some heating, and maybe even a view of the stars through a skylight.

The round shape adds a feeling of space, even if the floor area isn’t massive. Interiors can be easily styled to feel high-end or rustic, depending on your market.

Guests love:

• The novelty of staying somewhere different
• That balance of charm and comfort
• The Instagrammable factor of sleeping under a curved timber ceiling

Even better, repeat guests often become advocates. If someone has a memorable stay in a well-designed yurt, they’re likely to talk about it, post about it, and come back for more.

3. Quick Setup and Flexible Installation

One of the major wins with yurts is how quickly you can go from concept to launch. Unlike fixed structures, which can get tangled in permits and contractor delays, yurts are generally faster and easier to install. With a good plan, you can have a fully fitted yurt on your site in weeks, not months.

And they’re more adaptable, too. If you want to shift your layout or expand later on, yurts can be repositioned far more easily than permanent buildings.

4. All-Season Potential

A well-built yurt isn’t just a summer solution. With the right insulation and a decent heat source, many yurts stay warm and inviting through autumn and even winter.

This is a big plus if you want to extend your season or offer off-peak escapes. A wintery glamping trip — complete with hot chocolate, blankets, and maybe a wood fire — has its own appeal, especially if your guests are escaping cities.

Running year-round can dramatically increase your revenue without doubling your infrastructure.

5. Low Environmental Impact

Many guests are paying more attention to how and where they travel. They want to feel like their accommodation supports or at least doesn’t damage the environment they’re enjoying.

Yurts sit lightly on the land. They don’t require heavy foundations, they’re often made with natural materials, and they can be integrated into your landscape without major disruption.

For you, that also means fewer approvals, less site disturbance, and more flexibility with design.

6. Low Maintenance, High Durability

Once set up properly, yurts are surprisingly low effort to maintain. They’re designed to withstand wind, rain, and sun (with quality materials and proper anchoring), and they require far less upkeep than timber cabins or other glamping builds.

Cleaning is simple. Repairs, when needed, are usually straightforward. And there are fewer internal systems to worry about; no walls to repaint, less risk of mould, and no roofing tiles to replace.

You spend less time fixing things and more time welcoming guests.

7. Scalability and Versatility

Yurts aren’t just for sleeping. Depending on how your site is set up, they can be used as:

• Guest lounges
• Communal dining areas
• Workshop or retreat spaces
• Pop-up wellness or massage rooms

Their structure works well for a range of functions. This opens up opportunities to run events, retreats, or seasonal specials without needing to build extra infrastructure.

And when you’re ready to scale, adding a few more yurts doesn’t require a full redevelopment — just a bit of space and some forward planning.

8. Marketing Power

Yurts have a certain built-in buzz. They photograph beautifully, spark curiosity, and help set your site apart in a sea of listings. That visual and emotional appeal goes a long way in a competitive market.

The round shape, canvas walls, and timber frame give guests something to talk about and post about. And while that’s not everything, it absolutely helps when you’re trying to get attention online.

They also align well with a range of themes — rustic charm, eco retreat, boutique nature stay — without locking you into just one.

A Smart, Flexible Move

Yurts make sense for glamping businesses not just because they look good or feel unique, but because they genuinely work. They deliver real value, adapt to your site, and appeal to the kind of guests who want more than just a place to sleep.

If you’re aiming to grow, pivot, or enter the glamping space, they deserve serious consideration. You’re not just buying a structure — you’re creating an experience that pays for itself.