The tenth route of a tour through Albania is a beautiful off-road tour through the Fir of Hotova National Park. Today you drive a lap through the beautiful Fir of Hotova National Park. You drive through forests with towering pine trees, over breathtaking mountains and along beautiful valleys.

Before leaving, it is useful to prepare yourself. Because you drive into the heart of the National Park, you will encounter few or no facilities along the way. Make sure you bring enough food and drinks (from the guesthouse or local shop), fill up your bike (despite the relatively short route of 85km).

...And bring a pair of dry socks, clothes and a towel. Today's route could also easily be called the "wet paw tour". Not only because you can go paddling in the thermal baths of Benja, but especially because of the possibly large number of river crossings you will make today.

The route runs clockwise: when leaving Permet, turn left onto the main road. You will briefly have a view of the famous Aoos river and the picturesque mountains that you see from your hotel. You quickly turn north, deep into the Fir of Hotova National Park. This is the moment when you slowly exchange the asphalt for a day of unpaved driving.

The road winds northwards higher and higher into the mountains, further and further away from civilization. With just a few kilometers you already have the feeling of driving in a vast nature reserve. Along the way you will only encounter a few small villages.

The village of Frashër is located in the heart of the park and is home to the Tekke of Frashër. The Tekke was built in 1781 by Sulejman Beu van Frashër and served as a place of worship and a school. The place is best known among the Albanians themselves, as the founding fathers of Albania (the brothers Abdyl, Naim and Sami Frasheri) had lessons here.

A small alternative historical attraction is an antique bulldozer along the route. It stands lonely and abandoned along the road, slowly rusting away. This miraculous machine in the apparently deserted area produces beautiful photos.

The route goes slowly south and you get closer to the Langarice river. The river is ultimately your guide to the canyon of the same name. You can park near the canyon and walk to the canyon from here. After a strenuous day of off-road driving, a bath in the Benja thermal bath can be wonderfully relaxing. If you have the chance, you feel fit enough and there has been no heavy rain, you can also explore the gorge further on foot. In some places the gorge is impressively narrow and sunlight can only reach the bottom in narrow beams. Breathtakingly beautiful.

Don't forget to drive back to Joan Guesthouse at the end of the day. Your host will undoubtedly be happy to see you again and prepare a delicious meal for you.