Looking for a Unique Getaway?

Make Yurt Beautiful Your Destination

Yurt Beautiful | County of Northern Lights, AB

Enjoy delicious home-cooked meals, a peaceful fire, a stroll through a meditation garden and a shower under the stars. Then, sleep in a traditional Mongolian yurt, built using centuries-old techniques.

Drive just 15 km north of Grimshaw and experience a night or two in this unique Peace Region bed and breakfast. Meet hosts Sharon and Brian Bruce.

Inspired by the beauty all around them, they realized they had something special.

“So many people drive hours for a getaway, and here we have this perfect piece of nature, a wall of green all around us,” said Brian. “We don’t need to go anywhere.”

After learning about yurts from a friend, the Bruces dove into their own research, eventually settling on a handcrafted, traditional Mongolian yurt.

Their yurt’s construction features camel hide, horse hair and sheep wool—all for functional purposes. The yurt utilizes wood components for the “huns” (roof supports) and the “bagaans” (supports for the “toono,” the centre piece that houses the roof supports). The front door features ornate, detailed designs painted by tribal Mongolian women.

“When we had our open house, one lady said it felt like a big hug,” said Sharon.

From the quality of the bed linens to the impressive menu Sharon has developed, it’s clear the Bruces didn’t cut any corners.

“We want people to have the most comfortable, enjoyable experience they can,” said Brian.

Yurt Beautiful costs $150 per night and includes breakfast for two. It’s a set menu they are happy to customize for dietary allergies or intolerances.

“Our breakfast pizza is quite popular, we also make a bacon potato frittata, sausage and cranberry quiche and berry and cream cheese French toast,” said Brian.

A lunch menu, children’s menu and—new this year—a family menu are all available at an additional cost. They even offer a special, one hour four-course meal, and all of it is prepared onsite.

The Bruces like to offer recommendations for things to do and see based on each customer’s interests. With great fishing lakes and hiking trails only a short distance away, a stay at Yurt Beautiful is perfect for anyone who loves the outdoors.

Although, some stay to enjoy the yurt and the amenities provided.

The Bruces have a converted grain bin to relax in where guests can enjoy a fire. There’s also a reflection/meditation garden with a small water feature.

“We recently had a guest who said it was so peaceful that he just relaxed and caught up on sleep. For him, it was the perfect reset,” said Brian.

And, guests have fallen in love with the outdoor shower.

“A lot of people are blown away when they can look up at the stars while they have a shower or watch the trees above sway in the breeze,” said Brian. “We’ve had a lot of positive comments on it.”

The duo does their utmost to accommodate their guests, and Yurt Beautiful has been the backdrop for various celebrations, including birthdays, engagement parties and wedding nights.

So, if you have a special request, don’t be afraid to ask.

To book your stay, visit yurtbeautiful.ca or call Sharon and Brian directly at 780-819-9779.

By Siobhan Kennedy | Photography submitted