Rakovic Katun in Biogradska Gora National Park – Montenegro
A microcosm of nature that is rainforest, wetlands, stone rivers, mountain peaks and glacial lakes, Biogradska Gora deserves several days of exploration. Definitely, take in the impressive Biogradska Gora Lake at the main entrance, but see the spectacular unknown spots in the park too. While you are there you can experience Montenegrin hospitality and farm to table foods at the Rakovic Katun in Biogradska Gora National Park.
The Rakovic Katun lies next to the slopes of Crna Glava (2139m). It is situated between Sisko, Ursulovacko, Pesica and Sevarina Lakes. All around the katun grow rare, endemic flora like the dwarf mountain pine and the yellow gentian. Photography of the landscapes, flora and fauna, and locals continuing to live mountain life steeped in their tradition and culture.
Katun life offers a slower pace of mountain life. The Rakovic Katun purposely avoids having running water giving it a sustained rustic experience. Nighttime lighting comes from oil lamps and candles as well as with new eco-friendly solar energy. Heating comes by a traditional wood stove which also heats water for an outdoor shower.
The Rakovic Katun in Biogradska Gora National Park offers an unforgettable experience for adventurers. The terrain is perfect for off-road adventures in a 4×4, motorcycle, mountain bike, or on foot hiking. Stay a night on a hut-to-hut adventure or stay for days and recalibrate with the quiet, isolated beauty of the national park.
FEATURES OF THE Rakovic Katun IN Biogradska Gora NATIONAL PARK
- Located inside Biogradska Gora National Park near Sisko Jezero in Lubnice Opstina near two of the most scenic roads in Montenegro (R24, BT-TT3; E65)
- The Rakovic Katun consists of five cabins:
- Biogradska Gora Bungalow sleeps up to 2 people – 2 single beds – 25 euros/night
- Sisko Jezero Cabin sleeps up to 3 people – 2 single beds + 1 sleeper sofa and with wood-burning stove – 40 euros/night
- Sevarina Jezero Cabin sleeps up to 4 people – 4 single beds and with wood-burning stove – 40 euros / night
- Zekova Glava Cabin sleeps up to 5 people – 3 single beds + 1 sleeper sofa double and with wood-burning stove – 40 euros/night
- Crna Glava Cabin sleeps up to 6 people – 5 single beds + 1 sleeper sofa and with wood-burning stove – 50 euros/night
- NOTE: Guests will need to pay an additional 2 euros per adult per day and 1 euro per child per day for park fees. These are to be paid in cash at the katun.
- Organic, traditional meals available
- Outdoor and indoor eating areas
- Located inside the national park providing access to key points
- 45-minute hike to Sisko Jezero
- 1.5-hour hike to Ursulovacko Jezero
- 2-hour hike to the Crna Glava peak
- Oil lamps and candles for nighttime lighting / solar panels installed in 2019 for limited electric supply
- Spring water nearby and in storage and clean water for showering in supply
- Parking available on location
- Ideal based for Biogradska Gora NP MTB adventures
- Multi-day bike rentals arranged for adventurers to ride in from the main office
- Situated on the Via Dinarica hiking route, ideal for hut-to-hut hiking
- Removed from society with dirt/gravel road access – the road is passable from Kurikuce with sufficient clearance (We prefer a 4×4 here while Stefan manages it in a VW Polo.)
In a word: Amazing!
We stayed in the Rakovic Katun for three nights and it was amazing! The views from the katun are even better than on the photos. The hikes around the place were beautiful. Stefan and Sonja are really kind hosts, always making sure that we had everything that we needed and even more. Getting there by car is indeed challenging but we managed it with a simple car. Tip: book the meals, they are really good and there is not really any other option to get food around there 🙂
Dramatically beautiful scenery...
Rakovic Katun was our first 3 night stay on a 14 day hut to hut mountain biking journey through Montenegro. Stephan and Sanya were kind hosts, allowing us to move to a larger cabin with wood heat when we were cold (we arrived at Biogradska Gora in very early season) and doing everything possible to ensure we had a enjoyable stay. Dramatically beautiful scenery and excellent hiking as well as mountain biking for the adventurous cyclist. We loved getting to know our hosts and spending time in the special place.
The absolute highlight of our 3 weeks stay in the Balkan region!
Our stay at the Rakovic Katun was by far the absolute highlight of our 3 weeks stay in the Balkan region!
We came from Kotor by bus, which made it a bit more complicated to get to the Katun than by car, but Zana from Meanderbug was very helpful in finding ways to get there (as with everything else!). In the end we got picked up in Berane by a friend of the Rakovic family, who drove us to the Katun.
Initially we booked the Bungalow for four nights, but we were so amazed by the “dramatically beautiful scenery”, to quote the comment below, and our very lovely hosts Stefan, Sanja and their three kids, that we decided to stay longer.
The hikes are incredible, rewarding the bold wanderer with gorgeous mountain lakes to take an ice-cold bath in. Coming back in the evening after such long hikes, drinking homemade plum rakia with Stefan and dining with the full moon rising behind the mountain in front of you: perfect! (And you definitely should book the meals, since as mentioned below “there is not really any other option to get food around there”, plus it’s all homemade food prepared by Sanja with mostly fresh food of their own garden.)
We would come back anytime!
We would like to come back...!
We only stayed 1 night but Stefan and Sanja made a very deep impression on us. The food, the cabin, the surrounding mountains only made it better! We would like to come back with our son when he’s a little bit older! Thanks again…
Location is great
I arrived at night to the Rakovic Katun after an nighttime MTB ride within Biogradska Gora National Park, a ride that continued the next morning. Location is one feature that makes Rakovic Katun a great place to call home while in Montenegro. The hosts of this Katun are exceptionally nice people and the food they prepared was fresh, tasty, and locally sourced. Simply delicious and more than enough. This katun is nicely situated for multi-day hiking and biking exploration of this area of Montenegro.
Amazing view, beautiful nature, warm hospitality
We stayed one night with the Rakovic family in their Katun and it was wonderful. Amazing view, beautiful nature, warm hospitality – just perfect.
Beautiful view, excellent food and very friendly Sanja and Stefan as hosts!
Our one night stay in Rakovic katun was a perfect first stop on our 3 night hut-to-hut hike in Biogradska Gora. Beautiful view, excellent food and very friendly Sanja and Stefan as hosts.
Great hospitality.
Nice place with very nice people and great hospitality
Love to come back!
We, family with two children (age 8 and 11) had a wonderful, unforgettable stay here. Surroundings are amazing, hospitality and food are lovely. We would love to come back!
Would definitely come back!
Extremely helpful and sweet family. And what a view!!!! Even the food and homemade blueberry juice were fantastic. We would definitely come back!
Best place to relax after a day of hiking!
We had a really great time at this Katun. The hosts were exceptionally friendly and the food was amazing. The perfect place to stay after a day of hiking!
Great hospitality and spectacular views
We had a lovely stay. Stefan and his mother were really welcoming especially as we brought our 9 month old baby with us! They were very thoughtful with extra blankets and delicious blueberry juice. Stefan is a ranger in the park so was able to advise on the best walking routes – the view from Crna Glava peak is spectacular. The road to access the Katun is a bit bumpy but if you take it slow you should be fine! Would thoroughly recommend!
Great view !
We stopped there for a night in July on a H2H walking holiday. Friendly people and delicious vegetarian dinner. Our family of 4 slept in the katun at the back of the garden. This place seems older than the katun at the entrance which seems fresher. Stefan even heated water for our shower! Very nice place with unforgettable view. Thank you, Stefan and Sanja!
Veronique, John, Brice and Simon
Perfect stay for several day's!
We stayed one night in Rakovic during our 7 day’s trek around Biogradska Gora. We should have planned to stay more day’s. Next time! This is definitely a place to stay a few day’s. It’s location is idyllic with lots of possibilities to wander around the beautiful surroundings and to some beautiful lakes. Next day we visited Ursulovacko Jezero and Crna Glava peak on our way to Senica Katun. Very nice cozy room. Very friendly hosts and lovely dinner with great view. We loved Rakovic!
Jeffrey and Joanna