A glamping project with 4 to 8 units: investment, lead times and financing
Most professional projects that reach us start with 4 to 8 units and the same question: what is the total investment? This guide answers with the figures we control — the structures — and says plainly what sits outside them.
Updated September 16, 2026 · House on Wheels
The investment in the structures
One equipped unit — structure, deck, winter pack and bathroom — delivered and assembled in mainland Portugal, and the set of 4, 6 and 8 identical units. The configurator calculates every other country:
Ex-VAT (23% in Portugal). Starting prices from the calculation engine, the same as the configurator; the firm quote is confirmed within 48 hours. We always quote per unit and for the set.
Delivery can be phased: starting with four and growing to eight is a normal path.
What sits outside — and weighs
The land: purchase or lease.
Permits and design: architect, engineering, municipal fees.
Infrastructure: access, water, electricity, sewage (septic or mains) and the networks between units.
Platforms or foundations, beyond the deck.
Furniture, linen and decoration — the experience you sell.
Common areas: reception, breakfast, laundry, a pool if there is one.
Marketing and sales channels: website, booking platforms and their commissions.
Working capital for the first months.
In many projects these items add up to a significant share of the total investment. We have no honest way to estimate them for you — they depend on the land and the concept — but your architect and your local authority do.
How to think about the return, without invented numbers
We do not publish occupancy rates or nightly prices: they vary with the place, the season and the offer. But the arithmetic is simple and worth doing with your own figures:
Average nightly rate × nights sold per year = revenue per unit.
Revenue − operating costs (cleaning, energy, platforms, maintenance) = margin per unit.
Investment per unit (equipped structure + your share of infrastructure and the rest) ÷ annual margin = years to pay back.
Lead times: from decision to first booking
Stage
Lead time
Who
Permits
Weeks to months, depending on the country and the site
Local authority
Design and application
A few weeks, depending on the practice
Architect
Production, transport and assembly
8 to 12 weeks from the deposit
Us
Registration and opening
Depends on the country's tourism regime
You
Production and permitting can run in parallel.
Deposit, payment and financing
A 30–50% deposit starts production; the balance is due on delivery.
For business customers, financing over 48 to 60 months.
Phased delivery: order four units now and the rest once the first ones are producing.
Which model for a site
Model
Interior
Role on the site
Sirius 7m — geodesic dome
38.5 m²
The flagship: best value, most versatile, ideal as several identical units
Virgo-S — safari tent
20.3 m²
The top suite, with a view and a bathtub: the unit that justifies the highest nightly rate
Libra-S — hexagonal tent
30.3 m²
The wow factor, glass walls: the site's cover photo
Ara — tunnel dome
44.4 m²
The largest volume: a studio, or the common area — reception, lounge, restaurant
Pisces — A-frame cabin
16.9 m²
Compact and economical: entry level or spare room
A typical site mixes several identical units (Sirius) for scale, one or two top units (Virgo-S or Libra-S) for the photo and the price, and an Ara as the common area.
No. We provide the technical documentation for the structures — data sheets, plans, snow and wind load compliance — for your architect. The application and the process with the authority are theirs.
Is there a volume discount?
We quote per unit and for the set, and give you both figures. We prefer that transparency to a percentage printed on a website.
How long until opening?
Count in months, not weeks: permitting sets the pace, and production (8 to 12 weeks) can run alongside it.
Can I see installed units?
Yes. We have three units installed in Braga, northern Portugal. Get in touch with the land and the number of units in mind, and we set up the right conversation.