Glamping

Glamping (glamorous camping) is an alternative accommodation style born from the fusion of traditional camping and luxury hospitality, modern a form of tourism. It combines the spirit of simplicity, immersion in nature, and exploration inherent in camping with comfort, enabling individuals to escape the stresses of urban life while experiencing a comfortable living environment. Instead of conventional tents, specially designed yurts, bungalows, tree houses or dome tents are used; these structures incorporate amenities such as bed, electricity, bathrooms, heating and aesthetic decor like elements place integrated. Glamping has become a globally growing sector due to the increasing number of individuals seeking a comfortable yet immersive nature experience.

Historical Development and Conceptual Framework

The term glamping was first used in 2005 in the United Kingdom and subsequently spread to North America over time. However, the concept’s origins date back further. In the early 1900s, British aristocrats and colonial administrators combined luxury furnishings with tented living by establishing “luxury safari camps” in Africa. This practice is considered one of the earliest examples of comfortable nature-based accommodation. In its modern form, glamping entered tourism literature alongside the rise of nature-based tourism, advancements in technological infrastructure, and the growing adoption of sustainable travel principles.

Glamping accommodations typically feature dome tents, treehouses, campervans, yurts and tiny houses, while interior spaces include beds, fireplaces, kitchen, private bathrooms and other hotel-style amenities.

How Is Glamping Done?

Individuals seeking glamping first choose locations that offer direct contact with nature while remaining accessible and safe in terms of transportation. Glamping accommodation options include:

• Dome tents (geodesic domes)
• Safari tents
• Tiny houses
• Treehouses
• Yurts
• And other structures such as campervans.

Basic services such as electricity, hot water, toilets and showers are provided, while fireplaces, mini kitchens, jacuzzi, outdoor dining areas and aesthetic interior design elements are commonly added. Some glamping operators also offer additional services such as meditation areas, yoga activities, local gastronomy experiences and nature walks. Hygiene, insulation and aesthetics are integral components of the glamping experience.

Conceptual Depth and Academic Evaluation

Prof. Dr. Stacey Dangel, Michelle LaRocca, Ph.D., and Jonathan Jaeger, M.S., hospitality researchers at Boston University, assert that glamping is not merely a luxurious version of traditional camping but also a component of experience based tourism (2020). Academics such as Assoc. Prof. Dr. Venera Adamovich, Dr. Michal Kot and Dr. Adnan ul Haque define glamping as a sustainable, eco-friendly and boutique service-oriented accommodation model.

Dr. Rasika Shahane, in her published work in India’s Atithya journal, emphasizes that glamping is not just accommodation; it also integrates nature-based gastronomy, wellness and cultural interaction dimensions. Dr. Zeynep Yamaç Erdoğan notes that glamping strengthens a destination’s identity when combined with local culinary experiences.

Experience Offered and Customer Profile

Shahane (2023) highlights that glamping offers not only overnight stays in nature but also gastronomic experiences, wellness practices and activities integrated with local cultures. Guests in these experiences seek to escape urban stress while embracing a sustainable vacation model that avoids intrusive infrastructure. Zeynep Erdoğan (2025) argues that glamping, particularly when integrated with culinary tourism, provides a model for experiencing local flavors in natural settings.

Post-Pandemic Popularity and Sustainability

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, glamping became one of the accommodation forms that met the need for social distancing. Dr. Teodora Kiryakova-Dineva, Dr. Ivanka Vasenska and Dr. Blagovesta Koyundzhiyska-Davidkova note that glamping provided hygienic, independent and isolated vacation opportunities for tourists seeking nature in the post-pandemic period. Moreover, these structures, which support rural development, have been recognized as aligned with sustainable tourism policies. The post-pandemic rediscovery of glamping sites—offering immersion in nature, distance from crowds and emphasis on personal space—has been documented. This trend supports economic development in rural areas while being viewed as part of sustainable tourism.

Operator and Supplier Perspective

Adamovich and colleagues’ (2021) research shows that glamping operators position this experience as a “luxury nature stay” and identify comfort, landscape and cleanliness as key factors in customer satisfaction. It is also noted that glamping businesses adopt eco-friendly practices such as the use of nature-friendly materials, renewable energy and waste management.

Glamping in Media

Glamping appears frequently not only in academic literature but also in media and documentary content. Documentaries and videos continue to introduce this experience across different geographies. For example, the World’s Most Incredible Hotels documentary by Banijay Documentaries features glamping sites at the foot of Mount Fuji in Japan, while YouTube channels such as Glamping Show Americas and Back Forty Glamping visually present examples, accommodation types and guest reviews from around the world.

YouTube Glamping Application Examples

The YouTube platform hosts numerous practical examples of glamping, offering important data resources for both destination promotion and user experience. For instance:

• In the video titled “Glamping Bliss at Mount Fuji”, luxury dome tents at the foot of Mount Fuji in Japan are showcased, featuring heated interiors, panoramic mountain-view glass facades and private outdoor jacuzzis, demonstrating how glamping merges nature with luxury.
• In “Glamping Show Americas 2023”, a sectoral fair in the United States displays various glamping architectures (such as A-frame cabins and floating homes), mobile toilet systems, sustainable energy solutions and customer experience zones.
• In “Back Forty Glamping”, a glamping farm in Canada illustrates how guests experience nature through campfires, outdoor kitchens, nature walks and lakeside relaxation areas while enjoying hotel-level comfort.

Such content documents how glamping is implemented globally and which core service standards are adopted.

Glamping in Türkiye and the Atik Family Example

Glamping sites in Türkiye are increasing, particularly in coastal regions and forested areas. In this context, the Atik Family is one of the individual entrepreneurs who have practically implemented the glamping experience in Türkiye. In their YouTube videos, Atik Family, they showcase their own glamping camp immersed in nature:

• Pizza making in a stone oven,
• Table settings by the river,
• Interior spaces furnished with jute rugs,
• Use of wood-burning stoves,
• Lighted outdoor dining areas,

providing a glamping space that is both aesthetic and functional.

The Atik Family’s camp also reflects the “hygge” philosophy by reinforcing warmth, simplicity and peace in the interior space. These contents demonstrate growing individual interest in glamping in Türkiye and the development of creative, nature-friendly solutions in this field.

Interior Design in Glamping Sites and the Hygge Approach

Interior design in glamping structures is not merely about comfort; it aims to provide visitors with emotional tranquility, security and aesthetic pleasure. In this regard, the Scandinavian life philosophy of hygge has become a key reference point in the design of glamping spaces. The triad of “warmth, simplicity and calm” that defines the hygge concept goes beyond comfort in these temporary nature-based living environments, aiming to induce a serene spirit state and mental relaxation.

The following elements are emphasized in glamping interiors to align with this aesthetic:

• Furniture made from natural materials such as pine, walnut or rattan,
• Warm and inviting lighting provided by candles, lanterns and amber-toned LEDs,
• Textiles made from natural fibers such as wool and linen,
• Comfortable seating areas supported by layered blankets, soft cushions and cozy throws,
• Minimalist yet meaningful decorative touches featuring simple objects, green plants and natural details such as stone and earth.

Particularly dome tents and yurt-style structures, with their high ceilings and circular forms, allow for the creation of a central environmental balance through a central stove or fireplace. Open shelving systems, wood tables around which camp tea kettles, pouf chairs, jute rugs and insulated panels for heat retention are placed, are among the main elements that merge hygge philosophy with the glamping experience.

Examples of this design approach can also be observed in individual applications such as the Atik Family on YouTube. The family has creatively arranged their camp with aesthetic simplicity, using jute rugs, soft lighting and stove-supported seating areas to reflect the hygge atmosphere successful. This demonstrates that glamping can be satisfying not only physically but also emotionally and sensorially.

The hygge approach provides a minimal yet effective aesthetic infrastructure that facilitates guests’ connection with nature, while also integrating with the slow living philosophy to prioritize sustainability and mental tranquility in interior design.

Ramble Soul, (Source: YouTube)

General Evaluation

Glamping is a globally expanding tourism model emerging at the intersection of nature and luxury accommodation. Post-pandemic increases in demand, nature-aligned vacation preferences, technological infrastructure and experiences integrated with local culture have made glamping appealing to both individual travelers and investors. Today, it is regarded as a significant alternative tourism form due to its alignment with sustainable tourism policies and its responsiveness to experience-based accommodation trends.