Gretchen Stuppy Carlson
We’ve hiked in many countries around the world, and this is hands down one of our favorite hikes. Starting from the small town of Skala in Prokletike National Park, the Volusnica Loop Hike ascends through the forest before opening up above tree level for an incredible loop that travels along a ridge.
This 7 mile loop trail has some steep sections and exposure, but the views are 100% worth it. The trail skirts along the edge of Albania and you will have views down several valleys in both Monenegro and Albania through the Accursed Mountains. Below we’ll share all the details you need to complete this incredible hike.
Looking for more about visiting Montenegro? Check out:
- Our Guide to Durmitor National Park
- 1 Week Itinerary to Montenegro
- Hiking Bobotuv Kuk
- How to Raft the River Tara
Quick Trail Stats
Distance: 7.3 miles Elevation Gain: 3200 feet Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult
The trail starts right in the Grebaje Valley and ascends up a well established trail. The entire trail is generally well marked and easy to follow. The path through the forest has some elevation gain, but since the trail uses switchbacks this section is not challenging and goes pretty quickly.
The trail opens up right into the valley to start the loop section of the trail. We chose to hike counter clockwise, but both directions are similar in terms of the terrain. From the start of the loop, you can see most of the ridge you will hike.
No matter which direction you do the hike, you will have a steep ascent to each of the peaks. These sections are challenging but truly spectacular.
You can see a complete step by step description of the hike by scrolling to the bottom of this post.
Map of the Volusnica Loop Hike
Things to Know about Hiking the Volusnica Loop Hike
How to Get to the Trailhead
The trailhead is located in Grebaje Valley (also spelled Grbaja and Grebaja) in the town of Skala. This is a fun little mountain adventure town with a few hotels and restuarants. You can stay in Skala or the town of Gusinje, which is 20-minutes away (we recommend Skala). You will need to pay the entrance fee to enter the town and do the hike (it was 3 EUR per person per day or you can check current fees here: Prokletije National Park Pricelist.
When to Hike the Volusnica Loop
The best months to hike here are July, August and September. We were here in early July and found no snow or ice anywhere on the hike, so it may be possible to hike in the end of June depending on the year.
Crossing the Border
This trail run along the border of Albania and Monenegro for a portion and you will actually cross the border into Albania. If you plan to hike into Albania and return the same day, you don’t need a permit. If you plan to stay overnight in Albania, you will need a permit.
Where to Stay in the Grebaje Valley
There are several places to stay in Skala and they were actively building a few more options during our visit in 2024. You can search for places at booking.com. We stayed at the Bungalows Prokletije. This was a great budget option for a family. We got 2 bungalows and they were simple and clean.
Want help planning the perfect trip in Montenegro - let us help! Whether you want just a few tips or want us to plan your entire itinerary - learn more about our travel services.
Details of the Volusnica Hike
We did this hike as a family of 5 after spending a few days in Durmitor National Park. We drove from Durmitor the day before the hike and spent the night enjoying the walk along the Grebaje Valley and staying in the Bungalows Prokletije. The trail starts right in the small town.
The trail immediately leads you through a dense forest, and the steepness of the initial climb will get you warmed up. The trail here is not challenging, just steep with some stichbacks. There are no views in the forest section, but we enjoyed the forest walk.
After the climb through the forest, you break through the treeline and have views of the meadows and ridgeline in front of you. There is some water here. We chose to hike in a counterclockwise direction and followed the trail to the right. While the trails are somewhat well marked, there are many smaller sheep and animal trails, so it’s helpful to check your direction several times to get on the right trail.
The trail continues ascending somewhat steeply until you reach the start of the ridgeline. From here you have a steep climb to the first summit of Popadija. This is a steep climb and the hardest part of the hike. The good news is that every few steps the view improves and you will be able to see down into Albania.
After reaching the first summit, the trail follows the ridge across to Talijanka Summit and Volušnica Peak (1,879 meters above sea level) This peak has the bet views and the Karanfil Mountains stretch out before you in jagged, majestic peaks, with the Grbaja Valley far below.
From here, the trail descends the ridgeline with several other viewpoints before meeting back up at the start of the loop and you will retrace your steps back through the forest.
Looking for more amazing hikes in Europe? Check out:
- The 7 Lakes Hike Slovenia: How to Plan a Trip to the Slovenian Mountain Huts
- How to Hike the Epic Archduke Trail Mallorca as a Loop via Valdemossa
- Complete Guide to the Tre Cime Hike and the Option for the Paternkofel Via Ferrata
Follow us on Pinterest for more ideas.
