Yurts fascinate me. 

I’ve had dinner in one in Colorado years ago and have seen photos of them on Glamping websites (Glamorous Camping) but on the three week trip I took to several countries in Central Asia last June I had a chance to learn more about them.

Yurts, round tent like buildings, are home to nomads.  Made of poles and felt, they can be taken apart and made into a bundle.  They were actually invented in Central Asia and mentioned in 5th century BC by a Greek historian who described the felt dwellings pulled on carts by dozens of oxen.

Guest blogger, Kate Dernocoeur, stayed in one in Mongolia. Here’s her blog post about the experience. Kate-Yurt

The yurt pictured above is actually one in a museum, but the ones below are yurts in use.   

We saw one being assembled. You can see parts of the process below. This enterprising family entertains paying guests, showing how to set up a yurt and then they serving a lovely lunch in their farm house.  

The circle in the center of the top acts as a smoke hole. While the rest of the yurt may be replaced—the lattice walls, the poles and the felt, the crown is passed down for generations. It’s a symbol of home and family and represents and opening to the world.

Later we visited another family and got to peek inside their yurt. The daughters dressed in traditional attire for us.   

I was fascinated with seeing with how  the simple outside materials and design contrasted with an explosion of color inside the door.  I imagine that’s where you’d see the family personality expressed. 

Photographing the children at both these family’s homes was a delight.  

Here’s a link to the blog post I wrote many years ago about dinner in a Yurt in Colorado.