ROPOJANA VALLEY

Ropojana Valley is a natural wonder in the Eastern corner of Montenegro just on the border with Albania. The valley, carved away by a massive glacier long ago, features towering peaks, waterfalls, a karst water spring and a beautiful seasonal glacial lake. Whether you pass through while on the Peaks of the Balkans Trail or just visit for the day, Ropojana Valley is a place you must experience while in Montenegro.

HOW TO GET TO ROPOJANA VALLEY

Ropojana Valley is easily accessible from the small town of Gusinje, Montenegro. From Gusinje take the short 4km drive to the village of Vusanje where you will begin your journey into Ropojana Valley. Here you will see a large field where you can park your car and a restaurant on your right side by Grlja Waterfall. You will see a dirt road heading into the valley. Stay left at the fork and continue straight for as long as you like. You can go as far as the Albanian border 7km away.

WHAT TO DO IN ROPOJANA VALLEY?

GRLJA WATERFALL – Grlja waterfall is one of the many natural wonders of the Accursed Mountain Range. The sheer power and force of this waterfall during the Spring and early Summer melt is awe-inspiring. The waterfall drops off a cliff about 20m into a deep canyon in the earth and later connects with water from Ali Pashin Izvor and flows into Plav Lake.

EYE OF THE GRASSHOPPER – The Eye of the Grasshopper is a karst water spring that resembles a blue eye. Known as the pearl of the Accursed Mountain Range, this fresh water spring is a natural wonder that will blow you away. The crystal blue water flows from the depths of a 70m deep hole in the earth. At all times of year the water sits just above freezing temperature. Swimming here is only for the brave. After beginning your hike into Ropojana Valley the spring will be on your right side after about 1km.

LAKE ROPOJANA – Lake Ropojana is a seasonal lake that is formed from the melting snow in the spring. The flat plateau was carved from a massive glacier long ago. The lake is present in the valley from Spring to about mid-Summer. The water fresh is a glowing blue color and serves as the perfect place for a swim. To get here you will follow the dirt road about 7km from Vusanje. At the end of the lake is the border of Albania.

TAKE A HIKE – Of course, the trek into Ropojana Valley is a favorite for travelers, but if you are looking to spend more time here, there are a number of hikes that begin from the valley. My favorites are the Peaks of the Balkans trek from Vusanje to Theth and the trek to the Great Valley of Lakes. These two hikes cross into Albania so you will need border permits. If you need a guide or permits I can arrange this for you with Balkan Mountain Adventure Company.

GO CAMPING – Camping in Ropojana Valley is one of my favorite things to do. The valley is easily accessible so a night out here takes very little effort, but still gives you the feeling of being deep in nature. My favorite place to camp is just above Lake Ropojan with the great peaks towering over you. This is a national park so you will have to pay a 3 Euro entrance fee in the summer. Contact me if you need some camping gear.

HAVE LUNCH – The stunning Ropojana Valley is the perfect place for lunch. You can stop for a nice picnic in any one of the gorgeous meadows or eat at the restaurant by Grlja Waterfall. At the restaurant you can enjoy a number of traditional Montenegrin specialties like Kacamak or Cevapi.

EXPLORE WITH ME!

If you are looking for the best experience in the Accursed Mountains, contact me at Balkan Mountain Adventure Company. Adventure is what I do. These experiences have changed my life forever. I want everyone to share the joy of the mountains with me. BLKNMTN gives you the opportunity to explore like a local and have the adventure of a lifetime. Click the link for more information and feel free to reach out with any questions!