Newly Opened Glamping Facility Near Kutaisi Combines Boat Trips and Cottages
A new glamping facility "Porto Gumati" was opened in the Rioni valley, in the village of Gumati, 7 kilometers from Kutaisi.
The tourist facility combines 10 separate wooden cottages on a half-hectare area and offers the vacationer, in addition to accommodation, boat tours, boat trips, horseback riding tours, hiking, catering services, an open terrace, a pool and a sauna.
According to Merab Gogonadze, the founder of ''Porto Gumati'', up to 600,000 GEL was invested in the project, of which 4% is a grant from the European Union.
"The competition of the European Union was announced, and the request was to set up such a facility that would continue to function even if a new wave of the pandemic started. This also gave us motivation and we made 10 cottages separated from each other on half an acre. The cottages are overhanging the hillside, Gumati powerplant area, and the river creates the effect of a lake. In addition, there is Sataplia Nature Reserve within half an hour's walk.
This space is innovative because boating and glamping together are not found anywhere in Georgia. Up to 600,000 GEL was invested in the project, 4% of which is a grant, and the rest was made by bank commitment," explains the founder of "Porto Gumati".
"Porto Gumati" started receiving vacationers on August 12, and as Merab Gogonadze says, most of them were international tourists. It should also be noted that "Porto Gumati" will be available in different seasons.
"We focus on international vacationers. The feedback is better than we expected, guests tell us that the space is better than it looks in the photos, and they are surprised to find such a space 7 km from the city.
"As for the prices, the price of accommodation in the cottage during the season is 300 GEL, boat ride 30 GEL, boat ride for 4 people 120 GEL, sauna, pool and wine tasting are included in the price," he says.
Locals have already been employed in the tourist facility. During the season, their number will reach 15 people.