riverside oasis farm

You can stay overnight in a yurt surrounded by alpacas in Ontario

With nine alpacas and two yurts, a small hobby farm in Niagara is ready to welcome those looking for a unique country escape.

Riverside Oasis Farmin Niagara recently installed two yurts for glamping stays. Yurts have been becomepopular glamping options.

About two years ago Michael and Assyl Carlton gave up corporate jobs and bought the hobby farm nearDunnville, Ontario. They started out with the idea to have a working farm that welcomed visitors but later decided to add yurts.

riverside oasis farm

There are five goats, nine alpacas, 10 chickens, a couple of cats and dogs on Riverside Oasis Farm.

Assyl is from Kazakhstan and yurts are part of thenomadic culture in central Asia.

“只有在一些特别之处round room or a room with no corners," said Assyl.

The yurts come with a queen bed, camping stove, barbecue and firepit. There is also a solar panel for lighting and charging your devices. The farm provides drinking water and wood — guests only need to bring food. Be prepared to rough it a bit — the toilets are outside and there are no showers right now.

The yurts will be available to rent year-round – even in the winter.

"With a woodburning stove it gets really warm inside," said Michael.

riverside oasis farm

A woodburning stove keeps yurts warm in the winter.

Right now the farm also has several animals, which guests can meet. There are five goats, nine alpacas, 10 chickens, a couple of cats and dogs.

If people are interested they can spend time feeding the animals or learning about farming.

"Do as much or as little as you want," said Michael. "Come and muck out the stalls if you would like to or just sit out on the yurt deck and enjoy your drink."

There are plenty of things to do in the area as well. There arewineries nearby in Niagara, hiking areas such asBalls Falls Conservation Areaand local shops and breweries.

Now, the farm is expanding. They raised honey last year and are growing vegetables and raising cattle for meat.

riverside oasis farm

Michael and Assyl Carlton own Riverside Oasis Farm.

"We are looking at having a fully sustainable farm," said Michael. "We are trying to keep a full life-cycle farm."

Although they didn't have farming experience before this began, so far they have found a lot of support from the farming community, and they have been learning as they go.

"The community is really nice," said Assyl.

The yurts are $200 a night and must bereserved in advance.

Photos by

Riverside Oasis Farm


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversationLoadcomments

Latest in Travel

Someone train-hopped from Toronto all the way to the East Coast and got it all on video

Toronto Pearson Airport just ranked embarrassingly low in customer satisfaction

Porter Airlines just launched direct flights from Toronto to Canada's garden city

This week-long river cruise sails through idyllic landscapes and starry skies in Ontario

This conservation area in Ontario has an underground maze of caves you can explore

This Ontario trail will take you down an abandoned railway bed to a panoramic lookout

Finlayson Point Provincial Park is one of Ontario's most picturesque nature escapes

Clarksburg is an adorable village in Ontario that's famous for its art scene