Authentic Seacoast Yurts

Authentic Seacoast Yurts — branded as Yurts in the Vineyard — is a collection of ten traditional Canadian-made Mongolian yurts scattered across a private oceanside peninsula at the edge of Guysborough Harbour on Nova Scotia's Eastern Shore. The yurts sit within a working vineyard, hopyard, and apiary, so guests wake up to sea salt in the air and grapevines rolling down toward Chedabucto Bay. The property is part of the larger Authentic Seacoast estate, which also includes the historic DesBarres Manor Inn, the Distillery House, and the award-winning Authentic Seacoast Distillery & Brewhouse — meaning a stay here puts Nova Scotia's craft food-and-drink scene at your doorstep. The yurts were featured on the official novascotia.com homepage in summer 2026 as one of the province's signature Eastern Shore experiences, and they remain the only glamping option on this stretch of coast.

This is the Eastern Shore's answer to "East Coast As It's Meant To Be": off-grid-flavoured but comfortable, remote but not hard to reach. Guysborough is a 2.5-hour drive from Halifax Stanfield Airport and about 25 minutes off the Trans-Canada Highway (take Exit 37 at Monastery onto Highway 16). Check-in happens at the Seacoast Stay reception desk at 75 Ferry Lane, where staff shuttle you and your luggage to your yurt by golf cart — you leave the car behind and settle in.

The Yurts: Three Tiers, Ten Options

All ten yurts are authentic Canadian-made Mongolian-style structures with wood stoves, interior lighting, furnished interiors, private decks with chairs, picnic tables, and private Weber BBQs, plus access to shared washrooms, showers, and a kitchen supply kit. Each yurt has its own personality and French-inspired name.

Private Peninsula: Yurt #10, Château des Moules, sits alone on a private peninsula in Mussel Cove with 180-degree ocean views of Chedabucto Bay and a deluxe 7-person wood-fired hot tub. At $379 per night, it is the property's flagship hideaway for couples.

Oceanfront: Yurts #5, #6, and #7 are a pebble toss from the water. #5 (Château d'entre les Criques, $298) is a queen-bed couple's yurt with a wood-fired hot tub; #6 (Château de l'Acadie Blanc, $269) sleeps a family of four with a double and bunk beds; #7 (Château de Étang de Rat Musqué, $269) offers two twins.

Seaside & Vineyard View: Yurts #1–#4, #8, and #9 sit atop the vineyard hill or within the vines, with harbour views and sunset-facing decks. Rates run $239–$269 per night. Wood-fired hot tubs are available at #2, #3, and #4; #3 and #9 are dog-friendly; #6 and #9 have family bunk beds. Yurts #1–#4 are the only ones with on-grid power.

The Glamping Experience

Each yurt includes a private fire pit, and most come with wood-fired hot tubs filled with fresh water and heated over several hours — the classic Maritime glamping combo of hot tub, fire, and ocean breeze. A communal bonfire pit gathers guests in the evenings, and a private-use sauna is available by reservation ($30 per person per hour). Kayak, canoe, and bicycle rentals are all on site, and the peninsula's hiking trails loop through the vineyard and along the shoreline. The Distillery & Brewhouse runs tours and tastings (group tours by reservation for six or more), and the tasting bar and retail shop are open to guests and day visitors alike.

Seasonality and Practical Details

The yurts operate on a seasonal rhythm: all ten are open roughly May through mid-November, with yurts #1–#4 staying open through the winter months (mid-November to end of March, excluding the holidays), and the property fully closed for a spring break from late March to May 1. A two-night minimum applies year-round. Check-in is between 2:00 and 6:00 pm and check-out is 11:00 am.

Address: Yurts in the Vineyard, 75 Ferry Lane, Guysborough, NS B0H 1N0.
Phone: (902) 533-3904 · Email: reservations@authenticseacoast.com
Booking: Through seacoaststay.ca, with rates from $239 per night plus HST.

Getting There: From Halifax, take Highway 102 to Truro, continue on Highway 104 past New Glasgow and Antigonish, and take Exit 37 at Monastery onto Highway 16 south into Guysborough — about 2.5 hours total. The scenic Marine Drive route along the Eastern Shore takes longer but is one of Nova Scotia's most beautiful drives.

What's Nearby: The on-site distillery and brewhouse (see the Authentic Seacoast Distillery & Brewhouse page), the historic waterfront of Guysborough, and the beaches and hiking trails of the Eastern Shore. For more one-of-a-kind stays across the province, browse our unique accommodations guide.

Authentic Seacoast Yurts is best for couples, families, and small groups who want a genuine glamping experience — real yurts, wood-fired hot tubs, and a working farm-and-distillery setting — without giving up wifi or a comfortable bed. Book early for summer weekends and for Yurt #10, which sells out fastest.