An honest review of Eko Katun Rosi in the Ropojana Valley, one of the best etno villages in Prokletije National Park.

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Staying in a traditional katun in Montenegro is one of the most unique experiences you can have in the country. These mountain settlements have been used by shepherding communities for generations, and today many have been transformed into simple guesthouses where travellers can experience the incredible landscapes, local food, and slower pace of life that make this region so special.

During our time exploring Prokletije National Park, we stayed at Eko Katun Rosi and found it was the perfect base for experiencing the Ropojana Valley. Set in a spectacular mountain location, surrounded by some of Montenegro’s most dramatic peaks, it was less a place to sleep at night and more one of the top experiences in the park itself.

Of course, staying in a katun is very different from booking a hotel. The facilities are simple, the location is remote, and you come here for the atmosphere, scenery, and hospitality rather than luxury. But that’s exactly what makes places like Eko Katun Rosi so memorable – waking up to mountain views, eating homemade food, and feeling completely disconnected from the outside world.

In this review, we share our honest experience staying at Eko Katun Rosi, including the location, rooms, food, facilities, what we loved, what to know before visiting, and whether it’s worth adding to your Montenegro road trip itinerary.

About Eko Katun Rosi

Eko Katun Rosi is an agritourism ethno village that combines traditional wooden accommodation, homemade food, and genuine local hospitality, all surrounded by the dramatic peaks of the Accursed Mountains.

The property has been family-owned since 1790 and has been operated by the Rosi family as a katun since 2008, managed by Man and Doni. What makes Eko Katun Rosi so special is the story behind the property. The original house belonged to the Rosi family’s many-greats-grandfather, and the idea of preserving it rather than replacing it came from a desire to honour the family’s heritage. We were told that the owner’s uncle had dreamed of protecting the old family home, but sadly passed away during the events of 9/11. The family later continued with that vision, restoring the property in a way that respected its history.

Doni, who is an architect, carefully preserved the traditional character of the building and transformed their ancestral home into a place where visitors can experience traditional Montenegrin mountain life.

You can see relics of this traditional way of life in the small museum, which features authentic clothing, household items, and pictures of the family over the years.

Where is Eko Katun Rosi?

Eko Katun Rosi is located near Vusanje, close to the entrance of the Ropojana Valley in the Gusinje municipality of northern Montenegro.

Its location makes it a convenient base for exploring some of Prokletije National Park‘s most famous sights, including Ali Pasha Springs, Grlja Waterfall, Oko Skakavice, and the trail towards Zla Kolata, Montenegro’s highest peak.

It’s located about 25 minutes’ drive from the Grebaje Valley, which has access to popular trails, including the Three Peaks hike.

From here, you’re close enough to access the main attractions but far enough away to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere that makes staying in Prokletije National Park so memorable.

Eko Katun Rosi Rooms

Eko Katun Rosi offers a range of accommodation options, including private rooms and family-style options, making it suitable for couples, families, and hikers travelling in groups. Many rooms include private bathrooms, while some options are designed with a more traditional, rustic feel.

The main highlight is the wooden chalet-style cabins. They’re spacious, comfortable, and come with private bathrooms and balconies facing the surrounding mountains. There are various sizes, from doubles to family options.

Inside the main house, there are a few dorm rooms of varying sizes, perfect for groups or budget travellers.

You can also camp at Eko Katun Rosi, in a campervan or with your tent. There are communal bathrooms and showers for this option.

Eko Katun Rosi also owns the Rosi Hotel in Gusinje, if you’re looking for a more traditional hotel-style stay close to Prokletije National Park.

Eko Katun Rosi Cabins

Eko Katun Rosi’s cabins are really what attracted us to the property. We were keen to choose a traditional katun where we could stay in a private wooden cabin. Eko Katun Rosi’s cabins have been made with love using locally sourced materials.

We’ve had a few cabin experiences like this before, such as the Toucan Ridge Ecology and Education Society in Belize, but they’ve been more glamping-style. Here, we really appreciated having our own space, private bathroom, and shower.

The room itself was really spacious, with plenty of space for us and our belongings thanks to a large wardrobe. We slept well each night. There is a radiator in the cabin, but it’s only turned on in winter – in May, we didn’t need it (although it does get cooler at night than you’d expect on the coast).

You won’t find hotel-style amenities like TVs, which is part of the appeal and really encouraged us to slow down, unplug, and read a book or just soak up the vibes. But you’ll still be comfortable, with toiletries in the bathroom, towels, bedding, and plenty of hot water.

Despite being built in a row, you have a surprising amount of privacy thanks to the trees Eko Katun Rosi has planted between the cabins. We never heard our neighbours.

It was also so lovely to have our own balcony, where we could sit outside with epic views and just soak up the tranquillity of the birds tweeting.

Eko Katun Rosi Camping

Eko Katun Rosi also allows tents and campers to stay on the grounds. There’s a large grassy area to pitch up for the night, and there are communal toilets and showers.

Eko Katun Rosi Restaurant

The restaurant is one of the highlights of staying at Eko Katun Rosi. The menu focuses on traditional local cuisine with a few international options, with hearty mountain dishes that are exactly what you want after a full day of hiking Montenegro’s best trails.

There was enough variety that we didn’t get bored, even eating only the vegetarian options, over the course of 5 nights. Speaking of, we were pleasantly surprised by how many vegetarian options the katun had on the menu, and you can liaise with staff about dietary requirements like vegan or gluten-free.

Breakfast is included in the rate, and was something Dan especially looked forward to each morning. The katun almost exclusively uses local and seasonal ingredients that are grown or made by themselves or in the nearby region. That meant there was no menu, but we were served a variety of foods that were available that day.

We enjoyed freshly made bread buns, eggs (scrambled, poached, fried, and omelette on various days), fruit and vegetables, alongside fresh juice, herbal tea, and traditional Turkish coffee prepared in a džezva. Probably my favourite breakfast item was the pancakes with homemade jams or chocolate, but the fried puffy pastry pockets (priganice) were also seriously good.

For dinners, we enjoyed pizzas, soup, salads, as well as a traditional feast of all sorts of local dishes, including kačamak, kajmak, kiselo mlijeko, pickled cabbage, and ajvar, served with cheeses and cornbread.

We also enjoyed sitting in the sun with a glass of homemade wine and local beer.

The staff were really great and attentive, and didn’t mind when we asked for hot water to make tea and allowed us to take wine and tea back to the room to enjoy on the porch. Big shout out to Alia and Rigon.

There are no self-catering facilities, so bear this in mind if you’re used to cooking for yourself. But we didn’t mind, because the dishes served in the restaurant were so delicious.

Bear in mind that payment is in cash, so make sure you get enough out at an ATM before you arrive.

Eko Katun Rosi Facilities

Despite its remote mountain location, Eko Katun Rosi offers many of the facilities travellers need, including free parking, free WiFi in communal areas, the restaurant, outdoor spaces, a children’s playground, and an outdoor dining area.

They also offer a laundry service, so we were able to wash our filthy hiking clothes and hang them out in the fresh air to dry.

We were also surprised how animal-friendly the site is, with the most adorable puppy dog I was absolutely obsessed with, a couple of friendly cats (one with kittens), ponies, and deer. One night, sheep were shepherded along the road by a local farmer, and another they were let into the katun to graze for half an hour to help cut down the grass.

Eko Katun Rosi Views

The views are arguably the biggest reason to stay in a katun in the mountains. Surrounded by the dramatic limestone peaks of Prokletije, the property offers the kind of scenery that feels far removed from Montenegro’s busy coastline.

The contrast between traditional wooden cabins, green meadows, and sharp, rugged peaks creates one of the most memorable settings in the region. We especially loved sitting on the porch at sunset, when the sky lit up fiery colours behind the mountains.

Eko Katun Rosi Activities

Eko Katun Rosi is ideally located for exploring the natural highlights around Vusanje and Ropojana Valley. From here, you can visit Ali Pasha Springs, see the gushing Grlja Waterfall, walk to Kusije Waterfall, and explore the Oko Skakavice spring.

It’s also a fantastic springboard for some of Prokletije National Park’s best hikes, including Zla Kolata, or simply enjoy the peaceful mountain surroundings.

We also found it perfect for visiting the Grebaje Valley and hiking the Three Peaks trail, without needing to stay there overnight.

It’s also a great place to slow down: drink coffee overlooking the mountains, chat with the hosts, enjoy a long meal, and experience the quieter side of Montenegro that makes Prokletije so special.

How much does it cost to stay in Eko Katun Rosi?

Eko Katun Rosi offers excellent value for money, especially considering its spectacular location in the heart of the Prokletije mountains. Prices vary depending on the season, cabin type, and occupancy.

Generally, you can expect to pay about €40-50 a night for a cabin with private bathroom, balcony, and breakfast included.

For similar etno-village-style accommodation across the country, you can generally expect rates to start from around €65-€80 per night for a bungalow. We were shocked at what good value Eko Katun Rosi is.

Camping is around €10 a night.

For the latest prices and availability, we’d recommend booking as far in advance as possible if you’re travelling during the summer hiking season, as accommodation around Vusanje is limited.

Who is Eko Katun Rosi for?

Eko Katun Rosi is perfect for travellers who value experiences over luxury. If you’d rather wake up to mountain views than a swimming pool, eat homemade food instead of an international buffet, and stay somewhere with a story rather than a chain hotel, you’ll love it.

Thanks to its location, it’s also particularly well suited to:

How to get to Eko Katun Rosi

The nearest airport is Podgorica Airport (TGD). Renting a car is the most convenient option if you’re planning to explore Prokletije National Park.

Driving is by far the easiest way to get to Eko Katun Rosi. From Podgorica, allow around 3 hours to cover the ~75 miles (122 km), while Gusinje is only around 15 minutes away. The roads are fully paved all the way to the property and are suitable for standard cars, with free on-site parking available for guests, so you don’t need to worry about the driving in Montenegro being too difficult.

There are no buses to Eko Katun Rosi itself. Instead, take a bus to Gusinje (or Plav) from Podgorica, then arrange a taxi for the final few miles to Vusanje. Get in touch with Eko Katun Rosi themselves if you need help with transfers.

Why are places like Eko Katun Rosi so important?

For us, finding somewhere like Eko Katun Rosi is exactly what makes travelling special. Rather than staying in an anonymous hotel, you’re directly supporting a local family who have invested in preserving both their heritage and a traditional way of life.

The buildings reflect the region’s mountain architecture, the food is prepared using recipes passed down through generations, and your stay directly benefits the local community (combating tourism leakage).

As tourism grows in Montenegro, it’s easy for destinations to lose the character that made people want to visit in the first place. Family-run katuns like this prove that tourism doesn’t have to replace tradition – it can help preserve it.

One of the things we kept talking about during our stay was how much Prokletije is going to change over the next decade. The hiking season is gradually getting longer, with snow lingering for less time than it once did (thanks to global warming), meaning some trails are now accessible from around May through to November, depending on conditions.

Combined with Montenegro’s rapidly growing popularity – and their bid to join the EU – it feels inevitable that more and more people will discover this underrated corner of the country.

At the moment, though, the valleys still feel wonderfully untouched. Only a few hundred people live in villages like Vusanje and Grebaje year-round, many of them from older generations who have spent their lives farming, shepherding, and preserving local traditions.

Sadly, like many rural mountain communities across Europe, many younger people are leaving in search of work and opportunities in larger towns and cities. That makes locally owned tourism businesses even more important. By creating sustainable jobs and showcasing traditional food, architecture, and hospitality, places like Eko Katun Rosi give families a reason to stay, invest in their communities, and pass their knowledge on to the next generation.

As tourism grows, we hope these communities are the ones who benefit. It’s easy to imagine outside investors recognising the potential and building accommodation that prioritises profit over character, just as we’ve seen happen in many other European mountain destinations.

This isn’t a collaboration, sponsored stay, or paid recommendation. It’s a plea from us. We left feeling incredibly passionate about sharing places like this, and hope that if Prokletije does become Montenegro’s next big destination – and we think it will – travellers will continue choosing locally owned businesses that help preserve the character, culture, and communities that make these mountains so special.

Book your stay at Eko Katun Rosi

If you’re looking for an authentic mountain stay near Prokletije National Park, we highly recommend Eko Katun Rosi.

Check out Rosi Hotel in Gusinje if you’re looking for a more traditional hotel-style stay.

Read next:

Visiting Prokletije National Park: Montenegro’s Accursed Alps

10 Best Hikes in Prokletije National Park From Easy to Expert

Where to Stay for Prokletije National Park: Best Valleys, Towns & Katuns

Grebaje Valley Travel Guide & Best Things to Do

Ropojana Valley Travel Guide & Best Things to Do

A Complete Guide to Hiking the Three Peaks Trail