Where to Stay for Prokletije National Park: Best Valleys, Towns & Katuns
Discover the best places to stay near Prokletije National Park, including our Grebaje Valley vs Ropojana Valley comparison and top accommodations like Etno Villages and Eko Katuns.
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One of the biggest decisions you’ll make when visiting Prokletije National Park is where to stay. While the park isn’t huge, choosing the right valley and guesthouse can completely change your experience, from the hikes on your doorstep to the atmosphere, scenery, and how much driving you’ll need to do.
Before our 5-week Montenegro road trip, we couldn’t find much information comparing the different areas, so we ended up researching each valley and town before deciding where to base ourselves. After exploring both the Grebaje Valley and Ropojana Valley, as well as the nearby towns of Gusinje, Vusajne, and Plav, it became clear that each location has its own pros and cons depending on what kind of trip you’re planning.
Another thing to be aware of is that accommodation in Prokletije is very different from elsewhere in Montenegro. Instead of large hotels, you’ll mostly find family-run guesthouses, traditional mountain huts known as katuns, and small eco-lodges where homemade dinners and mountain views are often part of the experience.
So in this guide, we’ll compare Grebaje Valley and Ropojana Valley, round up the closest towns and their amenities, explain who each is best suited to, and share our favourite hotels, guesthouses, and katuns to help you choose the perfect base for Prokletije National Park.
Top katuns in Prokletije National Park
More from Prokletije National Park
Where to Stay for Prokletije National Park
Where you choose to stay in Prokletije National Park will completely shape your experience. Some areas place you at the foot of the hiking trails, while others offer more restaurants, facilities, and accommodation choices.
Prokletije National Park sits in eastern Montenegro, and its towns and valleys sit off the main road between Podgorica (Montenegro’s capital) and Serbia, near the border with Albania and Kosovo.
The main locations used as bases to visit Prokletije National Park are:
Wherever you stay, you’ll be no more than a 30-minute drive to trailheads, natural attractions, shops, and restaurants. But your accommodation can be more than just a place to sleep – it’s part of the experience. Here’s what you can expect from each base.
1. Gusinje
Gusinje is a small town just off the P9 main road to Plav that acts as the gateway to Prokletije National Park. You drive through it to reach both the Grebaje and Ropojana Valleys.
If you want a little more convenience without being too far from the mountains, Gusinje is probably the best all-round choice. It’s located around 25 minutes’ drive from the major trailheads and natural attractions in the valleys and has a range of guesthouses, restaurants, and shops (more mini-marts than supermarkets).
It’s also a good option if you’re planning to explore several different parts of Prokletije rather than focusing on a single valley, like Lake Hrid southeast of Plav.
The downside of staying in Gusinje isn’t just the distance from the valleys, but that you won’t have views of the Prokletije mountains. Staying in accommodation with mountain views was really part of the experience for us, so we’d only recommend Gusinje to those reliant on public transport – if you have a car, drive a little further into the valley for the views and vibes.
2. Grebaje Valley
The Grebaje Valley is one of the main gateways into Prokletije National Park and one of the top choices of places to stay. It’s super convenient, located at the trailheads of popular hikes, including for the Three Peaks hike, Volušnica, Kissing Cats (Ĺ uplja Vrata), and trails into the Karanfili massif.
Accommodation is limited to a handful of family-run guesthouses and traditional katuns, making it one of the most peaceful places to stay in Montenegro. Because rooms are limited, we found prices slightly higher than in other nearby areas, but still very affordable for what you get – wooden cabins with epic views of jagged limestone cliffs with no need to even leave your hotel.
It’s pretty hard to reach the valley by bus – you’d need to get a taxi from Plav or Gusinje, so we’d recommend renting a car. The road into the Grebaje Valley is paved all the way, although the final section becomes narrow and winding as you enter the valley. But don’t worry, driving in Montenegro isn’t as daunting as it seems.
3. Ropojana Valley
Unlike most hikers, who base themselves at the trailhead in the Grebaje Valley, we stayed in the neighbouring Ropojana Valley. It’s a long U-shaped glacial valley that stretches from near Gusinje to the Albanian border. We found it the perfect base – only a 25-minute drive from the Grebaje Valley, so close enough to enjoy popular hikes, but also with direct access to its own natural attractions that set it apart.
The Ropojana Valley is also commonly used as a stop for those hiking cross-border trails from Albania, including the famous Peaks of the Balkans trail, as the 119-mile (192 km) multi-day trail passes through the valley itself.
Where the Grebaje Valley has access to some of Prokletije’s best hikes, the Ropojana Valley has access to natural attractions including the crystal-clear Oko Skakavice springs and waterfalls like Grlja and Kusije.
One downside is that the Ropojana Valley doesn’t have the classic jagged mountain views like the Grebaje Valley, but it’s still surrounded by beautiful panoramas of lush green mountains and the stunningly blue Grlja River.
There’s a slightly wider range of accommodation on offer than in the Grebaje Valley, and we found it to be a bit more affordable too.
4. Vusanje
The small village of Vusanje sits at the entrance to Ropojana Valley and is the starting point for several popular hikes, including the route to Zla Kolata, Montenegro’s highest peak. It’s the closest settlement to Ali Pasha Springs, Grlja Waterfall, and Oko Skakavice, making it an excellent compromise between remote mountain accommodation and basic village facilities.
In all honesty, there’s very little difference between staying in Vusanje and the Ropojana Valley. The settlement is pretty spread out, and there’s no natural centre or amenities like shops and restaurants to differentiate it from the wider valley region. When people refer to accommodation in the Ropojana Valley, it’s almost always in the Vusanje area.
5. Plav
Located on the shores of Lake Plav, Plav is the largest town near Prokletije National Park and offers the widest choice of hotels and apartments. It’s also the gateway to Lake Hrid and part of the Peaks of the Balkans route.
Although it’s around 30-40 minutes’ drive from Grebaje Valley and Ropojana Valley, it’s a good base if you’re planning to explore more widely or prefer staying somewhere with a greater range of amenities. You’ll find larger shops like an Idea market, as well as restaurants and a couple of ATMs.
You won’t get the classic ‘cabin in the mountains’ vibes, but if you can get accommodation with lake views, it almost makes up for it. You’ll find a few cabins on offer, but most of the accommodation here is more apartment and hotel style than in the valleys.
We seriously considered staying in Plav, as it’s got some beautiful chalets with lake views. We envisioned waking up in a cabin and having our morning coffee while looking out over the water. It’s also super convenient being close to the petrol station, restaurants, and supermarkets. But in the end we decided to opt for a valley as we wanted something a little more remote and closer to the mountains.
Can you stay in Prokletije National Park?
One of the really cool things about Prokletije National Park is that you can stay within its boundaries. Unlike some national parks where accommodation is only available in nearby towns, you can stay in family-run guesthouses nestled beneath the mountains. Staying inside the park means you can walk straight onto hiking trails, enjoy the mountains once the day visitors have left, and wake up surrounded by some of Montenegro’s most spectacular scenery.
Camping in Prokletije National Park
Camping is one of the best ways to experience Prokletije’s wild landscapes, but it’s important to do so responsibly.
According to the official park rules, camping is permitted in Prokletije National Park. But wild camping is illegal in Montenegro (although unofficially tolerated in remote areas).
While informal camping does happen in the mountains, you should always check local regulations, avoid protected or prohibited areas, leave no trace, and never light fires unless they’re explicitly permitted. If you’re unsure, choose an established campsite or ask your accommodation for advice.
Campsites
There are several small campsites around Gusinje, Vusanje, and Plav, ranging from simple grassy pitches to eco-camps with hot showers, shared kitchens, and mountain views. Some of the family-run katuns also allow campers to spend the night and use communal facilities.
If you have your own camper, you can park up in the main Grebaje Valley parking area. When we arrived in the morning to do the Three Peaks hike, there were several vehicles that had clearly spent the night there.
Eko Katun Rosi and Guest House Dedushi both offer campgrounds in the Ropojana Valley for tents and campers, as well as self-contained wooden cabins.
Slightly further out, Lakeside Camping in Plav has tent, caravan, and mobile home options with lake views.
Campsites usually cost around €5-10 a night for tents or if you want to park up your own camper. Static caravan sites cost around €20 a night. If you want to opt for a wooden cabin, expect to pay €30+ a night.
Mountain huts
Unlike the Alps, Prokletije doesn’t have an extensive network of staffed mountain huts connected by hiking trails. Instead, most hikers either stay in guesthouses and katuns in the valleys or use accommodation in villages along multi-day routes such as the Peaks of the Balkans Trail.
If you’re planning a longer trek, it’s worth booking accommodation in advance during the summer hiking season.
A few mountain huts we found in Prokletije National Park include the Mountain hut Branko Kotlajić in the Grebaje Valley, and there’s also a Covered Tourist Shelter near Lake Hrid.
Grebaje Valley vs Ropojana Valley
When we were researching where to stay in Prokletije National Park, we fell into accommodation heaven and spent hours comparing locations and guesthouses.
Rather than large resorts or chain hotels, most places to stay in Prokletije are:
Many families still live on the land, cook using recipes passed down through generations, and welcome guests as though they’re visiting friends rather than checking into a hotel.
Whichever valley you choose, you’ll wake up surrounded by mountain views, enjoy hearty homemade meals after a day of hiking, and feel completely immersed in nature. Grebaje and Ropojana each offer a slightly different experience, and choosing the right base depends on what you want to see, hike, and experience during your time in Prokletije.
If you’re trying to decide between Grebaje Valley and Ropojana Valley, the good news is that there’s no wrong choice. They’re only around 20 minutes’ drive apart, so it’s easy to visit both, but each has its own personality.
| Grebaje Valley | Ropojana Valley | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for: | The Three Peaks Trail, Volušnica, the Kissing Cats (Šuplja Vrata), dramatic mountain scenery, and photographers. | Zla Kolata, Ali Pasha Springs, Grlja Waterfall, Oko Skakavice, the Peaks of the Balkans, and a slower-paced visit. |
| Views: | The iconic Karanfili massif dominates the valley, with sheer limestone cliffs rising directly above the katuns. | A broader, greener valley characterised by crystal-clear springs, rushing rivers, waterfalls, and flower-filled meadows. |
| Hikes: | Three Peaks Trail, Volušnica, Vezirova Brada, and Karanfil Ljuljaševića. | Zla Kolata, Kuije Waterfall, Oko Skakavice, and the Peaks of the Balkans. |
| Vibe: | Feels more geared towards hikers, particularly those tackling full-day mountain routes. | Better suited to visitors wanting a mix of hiking, sightseeing, scenic drives, and shorter walks. |
| Accommodation: | Slightly less accommodation clustered together around the valley floor. | Slightly more accommodation spread out around Vusanje. |
So, which valley should you choose?
Choose Grebaje Valley if your main reason for visiting Prokletije is hiking the Three Peaks Trail, climbing Volušnica, or waking up beneath the dramatic limestone walls of the Karanfili massif.
Choose Ropojana Valley if you’re planning to summit Zla Kolata, love waterfalls and karst springs, or prefer a quieter base with a wider variety of natural attractions nearby.
Top katuns in the Grebaje Valley
One of our biggest recommendations is to spend at least one night in a katun. These traditional summer shepherd settlements offer homemade food, incredible hospitality, and a chance to experience a side of Montenegro that has changed very little over the years.
Most accommodations consist of wooden chalet-style cabins with electricity, private bathrooms, and hot water showers. They range from basic to modern, with some providing heating and air conditioning, while others may provide only blankets. Some come with kitchenettes, while in others you’re pretty much restricted to eating in the on-site restaurant or going out to nearby towns.
Here are our top picks in the Grebaje Valley.
1. WildBeauty Grebaje
WildBeauty Grebaje is a traditional EkoKatun and one of the best places to stay in the Grebaje Valley. It’s located right at the foot of the Prokletije Mountains within easy walking distance of the Three Peaks and Volušnica trailhead and the Ĺ uplja Vrata and Karanfil trailhead.
Accommodation consists of traditional A-frame wooden cabins with that traditional chalet vibe. It provides a sun terrace, garden, bar, free WiFi, a washing machine, and a fully equipped kitchen. There’s also an on-site restaurant serving traditional Montenegrin dishes and local wine, perfect for dinner after a day of hiking in the mountains.
2. Katun Maja Karanfil
Katun Maja Karanfil is known for its cosy wooden bungalows and is one of the most popular guesthouses in the Grebaje Valley. They have a range of different sizes, from family rooms to a budget single with private bathrooms, balconies, and garden or mountain views.
On-site, you’ll find a sun terrace, garden, and traditional restaurant serving hearty homemade food and vegetarian, vegan, and halal options. Free WiFi is included, and there’s also a communal lounge, kids’ club, and outdoor play area.
Its unbeatable location right beside the main hiking trails makes it a favourite among hikers tackling the Three Peaks Trail and Volušnica.
3. Bungalows Prokletije Tuzović
For a peaceful, family-run stay in the heart of the Grebaje Valley, Bungalows Prokletije Tuzović offers simple wooden cabins surrounded by meadows and mountains. It’s an excellent base for exploring on foot, with easy access to the area’s main hiking routes and plenty of opportunities to simply sit back and admire the scenery.
Each cabin has a private bathroom, kitchenette, balcony, and dining area. If you’d like to eat out, there are restaurant options on either side of the property. It also has an on-site garden and terrace, as well as free WiFi is available in public areas.
Top katuns in the Ropojana Valley
With slightly more choice, here are our top picks of katuns in the Ropojana Valley.
1. Eko Katun Rosi
Eko Katun Rosi is where we chose to stay in the Ropojana Valley and we loved it. It’s a traditional agritourism Ethno guesthouse, meaning the focus is on preserving local traditions. This is especially prevalent in its excellent on-site restaurant that serves traditional meals and homemade wine using family recipes and seasonal ingredients.
The accommodation consists of wooden bungalows of varying sizes with private bathrooms, as well as dorm-style rooms in the main house. It also hosts campers with campervans and tents, with communal toilet and shower facilities. Waking up to the sound of the birds tweeting and sitting on our balcony looking at the mountains was pure bliss.
Eko Katun Rosi is known for its warm hospitality and all the staff were super friendly. There’s also an outdoor play area and free WiFi in the communal areas.
The property has a spectacular setting beneath the lush mountains of Prokletije National Park and is an ideal base for visiting nearby sites like Ali Pasha Springs, Grlja Waterfall, and Oko Skakavice, while the Grebaje Valley and its hiking trails are only a 25-minute drive away.
We’d recommend staying in the Ropojana Valley for Eko Katun Rosi alone.
2. Eko Katun Prokletije
Just opposite Eko Katun Rosi, you’ll find Eko Katun Prokletije, which offers a series of wooden chalets surrounded by dramatic peaks. Each cabin is basic but comfortable, with a private bathroom.
The traditional restaurant serves everything from local dishes to Mediterranean-style pizza, with halal, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. On-site, there’s also a sun terrace, garden, children’s playground, and free WiFi.
3. Mountain View Resort
Mountain View Resort offers a more comfortable, modern alternative to traditional cabins while still keeping you close to the mountains. Set in northern Vusanje, it has A-frame cabins with mountain views, each with private bathrooms, balconies, and air conditioning.
On-site, there’s an international restaurant serving Italian, Mediterranean, pizza, seafood, and international cuisines, as well as a garden, a terrace, and facilities such as free parking and WiFi.
It’s a good choice for travellers who want to explore Prokletije National Park during the day but return to more hotel-style comforts in the evening without staying in one of the towns. It’s also set along the stunning Grlja River and right by Ali Pasha Springs, which is very scenic.
Honorable mentions
During our research, we also came across several other affordable, well-reviewed places to stay around Prokletije that we also heavily considered:
Staying in Albania
If you’re exploring the wider Prokletije (Accursed Mountains) region, you don’t have to limit yourself to Montenegro. The mountain range stretches across the border into Albania and Kosovo, and staying on the Albanian side offers a completely different perspective of the same dramatic landscape.
The biggest advantage of staying in Albania is that accommodation is often even more affordable, while villages like Theth and Valbona have become increasingly popular bases for hikers. You’ll find family-run guesthouses, traditional restaurants, and welcoming local hosts, with many properties offering homemade meals made from ingredients produced in the surrounding valleys.
Prokletije National Park Accommodation final thoughts
Choosing where to stay in Prokletije National Park is less about finding the best accommodation and more about choosing the experience you want. We’d highly recommend opting for an Eko Katun in one of the valleys with wooden cabin accommodation and mountain views. It’s not just a place to sleep at night but a huge part of the experience.
Location-wise, where you stay depends on the kind of trip you’re planning. The Grebaje Valley is the best choice for hikers tackling the Three Peaks Trail and Volušnica, while the Ropojana Valley offers a quieter, more remote atmosphere close to Grlja Waterfall and Oko Skakavice. If you prefer having supermarkets, restaurants, and more accommodation options nearby, or are locked into using public buses, Gusinje and Plav make excellent bases.
As Prokletije National Park becomes more popular, we hope it keeps this authentic character. The locally owned katuns and guesthouses are a huge part of what makes this region feel authentic, so staying locally isn’t just convenient, but it helps support the communities that make the mountains so special, too.
Read next:
Visiting Prokletije National Park: Montenegro’s Accursed Alps
10 Best Hikes in Prokletije National Park From Easy to Expert
Grebaje Valley Travel Guide & Best Things to Do
Ropojana Valley Travel Guide & Best Things to Do
