I went to Grebaje with my friend David, who’s from Ukraine. He had been hearing about the valley and really wanted to see it in real life, so we made a plan and drove there together. Grebaje is one of those places that looks good in photos, but when you arrive, you realize the photos don’t fully show the scale of the mountains around you.
The first thing we did was find accommodation, and we ended up staying at Etno Selo Pavićević. From the moment we arrived, the hosts were genuinely polite and welcoming. We rented a small villa and paid €60 for two people, which felt like a great deal for the location and the calm you get there.
The Surprise: A Diaspora Celebration in Grebaje
What made the day even better was that we arrived during a festival. Grebaje was full of people many had come from the diaspora, and the whole valley felt alive. There was music playing, a lot of energy, and the vibe was very local and authentic.
The music that day was mostly Bosniak, and people were dancing the traditional dances from their regions. Even if you’re not part of that culture, you can feel the pride and the joy in it. It wasn’t staged for tourists. It felt like a real community moment where everyone came together.
Dinner at Restaurant Skala: Simple Prices, Good Food
Later we went to Restaurant Skala, which had opened that same year. You could tell it was new, but in a good way the place was clean, organized, and the menu had plenty of options.
I ordered veal steak, which cost €13, and we also got a mixed salad for €6. With drinks included, the total for me and David together came to €48. For a mountain restaurant in a busy day like that, it felt fair and the food was worth it.
A Small Tip That Turned Into a Plan
While we were there, our waiter, Adis, started talking with us and mentioned something we didn’t know: that the next day there would be another big event in Vuthaj, on August 1st a festival that happens every year and has been held for 25 years in a row.
That’s the part I love about traveling in the north: the best plans don’t come from Google. They come from conversations someone mentions something casually, and suddenly you’ve got a new destination for the next day.