A yurt is the perfect pandemic-friendly winter family getaway! So many people reached out for more information after our last yurt trip, so today I’m sharing my winter yurt packing list.
Starling Fairisle Toque | Outdoor Bird Seed | Winter Puzzle
Sweater Fleece Pullover | Indoor-Friendly Lantern | Pie Iron | Camping Kettle
Roots Sweats | Lightweight Camp Chair
Flannel Sheets | Camera | LL Bean Camp Socks | Wicked Good Slippers
So this winter yurt packing list is pure fantasy for me right now. We’re in full lockdown so provincial parks here aren’t booking yurts right now and we really aren’t going anywhere. We did do a yurt right before Christmas though, and we actually stayed in one last winter as well right at the beginning of the pandemic before everything got shut down. I’d love to be heading back to one later this winter, but we haven’t been able to book one for March of this year like we usually do because even during non-lockdown times, they’re really spreading out the bookings right now to keep everyone safely distanced. I shared our “Yurtmas” trip a few weeks ago though and people were really intrigued. If you have yurts in your area that are open for booking right now and you could use a change of scenery, definitely check them out! We love being able to walk through the quiet winter forest while no ones around and see a totally different side of nature compared to our usual summer camping trips. The yurts are also super cozy to come back to, so you really can’t beat them for a perfect winter vacation. I’ve been fine-tuning my packing list over the last few years of yurting so today I thought I’d share my recommendations if you’re going to do a yurt trip of your own!
Start Out by Packing Like You’re Camping
You’ll need a lot of the same basic things that you need for a camping trip, minus the tents and air mattresses. You can find our basic camping gear packing list here.
For this winter yurt packing list, I really just wanted to add a few things that you’ll want to bring along that are different from what you’d bring on a typical camping trip and also highlight some of the items that are help to make a winter yurt trip more enjoyable, specifically.
Clothing
Winter yurt clothing is so important to me because of the coziness of the yurt experience being such a big part of why I enjoy it so much. Some favourites for the whole family:
Roots sweat pants: Super cozy and comfortable and kind of a Canadian necessity, really.
LL Bean sweater fleece pullovers/Patagonia better sweater pullovers: We have quite a few of these in pullover and vest form and they’re pretty much the same and also just about the warmest thing you can wear.
Starling Toques: I’ve become pretty loyal to this brand because I’m always cold. These are the thickest, warmest toques I’ve found and they look cute too with their giant over-sized pom poms. Many styles are fleece-lined.
LL Bean Camp Socks: My favourite for yurt lounging.
LL Bean Wicked Good Slippers: These are just my all-the-time slippers. Definitely a good idea to bring slippers for in the yurt. Pair them with the socks and sit in front of the fire for an extra cozy yurt experience.
Bedding
One of the very best parts of yurting is snuggling in to go to sleep at night in the bunk beds. The beds have very comfortable vinyl covered mattresses and we all sleep very well when we’re there in our regular camping sleeping bags.
LL Bean Camp Sleeping Bags: We all have these and legitimately look forward to being able to use them. Just the best and stay fluffy wash after wash. The kids and I have the regular size and Chris has the extra large.
Flannel Fitted Sheets to cover the mattresses: We used to just use regular cotton sheets, but discovered on this last trip that the flannel ones stay put so much better. The yurts that we stay in have all “full” size mattresses.
Pillows: We just always bring our regular pillows, but honestly it’s kind of silly how much space four full size pillows take up. I’m definitely going to upgrade us to a set of camping pillows for all future camping endeavours to save on some packing bulk.
Fun Stuff
All the stuff that makes a winter yurt trip such a fun, memorable experience.
A Puzzle: We brought cards and a few board games last time, but a yurt trip is really the ideal time to sit down and concentrate on a fun puzzle without any distractions. I love this ski-themed one to do with kids.
Birdseed: Feeding the birds (and the squirrels who inevitably show up) is without a doubt one of our favourite winter yurt activities. If you find just the right spot and wait long enough, you can get the chickadees to come eat right out of your hand, which is pretty thrilling for anyone, young or old.
Loungy camp chair for in front of the fire: These little lightweight camping chairs are perfect for sitting out on the deck in the sun or for lounging in front of the fire. They don’t take up much room and they’re super comfortable.
Camping Kettle: An absolute necessity for making hot chocolate, tea, and hot toddies. Since the yurt has electricity, you definitely could bring an electrical kettle, but a camping kettle like this one boils water so super quickly on your camp stove and it’s just more fun to boil your water outside.
Pie Irons: Getting a good hot fire going is definitely a bit more challenging in winter weather, but it actually works out perfectly for pie irons, which seem to always be undercooked, or completely burnt when we try to make them in the summer. Winter is the perfect time for them!
Camera: For capturing the perfect bird-feeding photo!
Indoor Lantern: You may want your big propane lantern for next to the fire or out on the deck at night, but a smaller battery operated lantern is perfect for inside the yurt at bedtime. You obviously don’t want to leave the big overhead lights on all night, but it’s nice to have a little bit of a glow if someone needs to get up for a drink of water in the night.
MORE IDEAS LIKE THIS
- How to Trick Yourself into Loving Camping
- Yurt Camping: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go
- Our “Yurtmas” Trip
- 10 Easy Camp Food Ideas
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Courtenay Hartford is the author of creeklinehouse.com, a blog based on her adventures renovating a 120-year-old farmhouse in rural Ontario, Canada. On her blog, Courtenay shares interior design tips based on her own farmhouse and her work as founder and stylist of the interior photography firm Art & Spaces. She also writes about her farmhouse garden, plant-based recipes, family travel, and homekeeping best practices. Courtenay is the author of the book The Cleaning Ninja and has been featured in numerous magazines including Country Sampler Farmhouse Style, Better Homes and Gardens, Parents Magazine, Real Simple, and Our Homes.