What is a Yurt ?
At Finca de Arrieta, we have eight of them in various sizes, but What is a Yurt?
A yurt (or Ger) is the traditional dwelling of the nomads in Mongolia. It is a tent-like structure, a domed home made from a wooden frame, formed by a number of joined wooden lattice walls. The roof is made from a central crown with roof poles radiating out and sitting on the top of the walls. The frame is covered with pieces of felt which is then covered by canvas (or more traditionally skins).
We have chosen Yurts mainly due to their low environmental impact. Whilst the canvas may need to be repaired and eventually replaced, the Crown will last a lifetime and in Mongolia they are often passed down from father to son.
Historical evidence suggests that yurts have been used by the nomadic people for over 2000 years. The design of the yurt is superb. The nomads needed homes that were portable, strong enough to withstand Siberian winds and insulated against the most extreme weather. The shape and lining material of the Yurt ensured that this was achieved.
Even today in the towns and cities of Central Asia people still choose to live in yurts, especialy during the winter as Yurts are so thermally efficient that they are easier to heat than a house! To adjust to our lovely warm climate here in Lanzarote we have made all our Yurts with an opening in the roof for cooling down on hot summer nights.
A Yurt may look small from the outside but they can be very spacious and easily accomodate larger families or groups. The yurts at Finca de Arrieta range from 3 metres in diamater to 83 m2. All have been constructed by skilled craftsmen on site and have been exquisitely and thoughtfully decorated and furnished.
The hand-picked Mongolian antique hard wood furniture, luxury fabrics and sky lights for star gazing make staying in our yurts, a wonderful and enlightening experience.
For full details on our yurts please follow the links below;
