“The red button behind you is unfortunately not for drink service,” announces the champagne blonde with a Pomeranian stuffed in her backpack. We’ve just snuggled into a sled attached to snowcat and are making our way to one of the most famous yurts in Utah – the Viking Yurt in Park City. Though we’re barrelling along at a fairly substantial clip at a seemingly precarious angle, there is no need to hit the alarm – though naturally, we would very much appreciate drink service.

Yurts in Utah

The Viking Yurt at Park City Mountain is an experience not to be missed!

Yurts in Utah

You won’t find yurts at every ski resort, but in Park City there seems to be an abundance of them. And certainly, this ski town boasts the most entertaining and luxurious of all the yurts in Utah.

Take the Viking Yurt. It sits 1800 m (6,000 ft) up Park City Mountain, the largest ski resort in the United States. We’ve just spent a fantastic day exploring the ski terrain and after a quick change, it’s back to the mountain to party like Medieval Times.

Forget skiing! Hit up these yurts in Utah

How adorable is this?

The Viking Yurt 

Truth: arriving at the Viking Yurt feels like we’ve been transported back to another era. It’s pure magic with twinkling lights festooning the yurt exterior and a million stars peeping through the velvet night sky. Inside is just as charming with a wood burning fireplace and long tables filled with hungry skiers. The Nordic regions know how to make the most of winter, and this four-hour European dining experience is majorly memorable.

glogg viking yurt

Ski shot anyone?

The party errr dinner, gets kicked into gear the way I imagine most Viking feasts go down – with Glogg! This glogg happens to be a non-alcoholic berry cider. But not for long! Our waitress recommends spiking it with Aquavit. Of course I do just that and I’m feeling oh-so merry in no time at all.

Viking yurt apres ski

Skál!

Viking Yurt Park City

Before you begin dining at the Viking yurt in Park City, a bearded red headed Viking doppelgänger named Michael will come out to introduce the menu. We began with a fantastic lobster bisque accented with long threads of saffron and chunks of salmon. Next, a paper bag is passed along the table, and we’re instructed to grab fistfuls of warm garlic bread.

There’s salad, a sorbet palate cleanser and our main is braised short rib, cooked for seven hours before being set atop a bed of Jarlsburg mashed potatoes. It’s followed by a cheese course (I tried that fragrant Gjetost and didn’t hate it!) and dessert (still swooning over their cardamon ice cream).

viking helmets

So unbelievably heavy!

At some point they break out the Viking hats and ULLR, a digestif named after the Norse god of snow. It’s hyper mentholated and tastes like Scope, but at least I’m assured I’ll have minty fresh breath after much Glogg and pungent cheese.

Reservations for the Viking Yurt must be made months in advance, as they pretty much sell out every night. Get on it!

Veuve Yurt AKA the Après Lounge at Montage Deer Valley

Yurt #2 is a bright orange tent (that just happens to be in the Veuve Cliquot signature colours!) at Deer Valley Ski Resort. Yes, my friends, there is a god and it has made a Veuve champagne yurt. This is the ultimate après spot at one of North America’s swankiest ski hills.

glamping luxury yurt

Glamping at it’s finest. Too bad you can’t stay overnight.

You’ll find the Après Lounge AKA Veuve Yurt next to the posh Montage Hotel and between the Express and Ruby chairlifts at Deer Valley Resort. Interiors are super chic – just as you’d expect after being kitted out by lifestyle brand Gorsuch. There are little wood burning fireplaces, cozy nooks, chandeliers and zebra rugs.

Veuve Cliquot yurt

You may never want to leave the Après Yurt at Deer Valley Resort

Pop in for a glass of champers or perhaps some cognac from Hennessy. At $32 US for a glass of yellow label it isn’t cheap, but you’re paying for the ambiance and let me tell you, it is #worthit. And there are gourmet nibbles, too! All the hors d’oeuvres (think caviar, charcuterie and white truffle popcorn) are designed to pair perfectly with the Champagnes featured.

apres yurt montage hotel

Every ski hill ought to have an après yurt, don’t you agree?

winter champagne lounge

It’s alright, I guess:)

The Après Lounge is open to the public every afternoon. Groups can rent it out for private functions and apparently a fair number of elopements take place here. I can see why.

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Park City Yurt

Keep these tips for visiting the yurts in Park City, Utah for future reference. Simply pin the image above to Pinterest. I hope you’ll follow me, Travels with Baggage on Pinterest while you’re at it.

Have you ever been in a yurt? What was your experience like?

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