This route is already the seventh stage of a tour through Albania. Today you travel further south from the capital Tirana towards Berat. It promises to be another adventurous route. Along the way you will have plenty of opportunities to test your driving skills in the many bends. But the necessary unpaved roads also require your attention today.

Maybe the hotel would like to make a packed lunch for you? Along the way you will not come across many restaurants for an (extensive) lunch. Or do a quick errand in Tirana at one of the supermarkets. Don't forget to refuel too. And after all these household activities you can really hit the road.

You leave east towards Dajt National Park. The winding road in this park takes you to a modest altitude of 920 meters on the Qafa Priskës mountain pass. The park is densely wooded, mainly beech and pine trees, so you do not always have an unobstructed view. But if you succeed (keep an eye on your mirrors every now and then) and the tree cover opens up, you will have a spectacular view of Tirana in the valley behind you.
After a circuit around the small lake of Shkallës, a steep descent begins towards the Erzen river (which also flows through TIrana). This river is fed by a number of lakes in the area, but also by a beautiful waterfall. If you follow the route along the river, you will automatically pass a parking lot. You can possibly park here and take the walk to the Shëngjergji Waterfall. From the parking lot it is approximately a 750 meter walk (with a height difference of 110 meters). If you take the walk, you will discover a 15-meter high waterfall, which makes a free fall into a small pool, and then finds its way via a stream towards the river.

With a nice walk in your legs, you continue the route along the Erzen river. You will come across several restaurants on this part of the route. You can choose where you want to take a break. Bio restaurant Hala was chosen for this route because of the delicious local dishes and the beautiful view of the valley from the terrace.
From the break point, the route slowly bends south, further into nature. You encounter fewer and fewer people and traffic. The buildings are decreasing and the landscape is becoming more extensive. Just a few kilometers on this winding and hilly route and you feel like you are in no man's land. Hence the shopping in Tirana...
The road winds over the mountain and after a steep descent you arrive in Labinot-Fushë. Here you can do some shopping, refuel and have a bite to eat or drink at one of the restaurants along the road. Optionally, you can also continue the route towards Elbasan. The route passes (not through) the city, but if you have the time and inclination, it is worth taking a city walk.

Elbasan is the third largest city in Albania and was mainly an industrial city. Around the 1st century AD, the Romans built the city of Mansio Scampa on the site of Elbasan. The city grew and later fell into the hands of the Ottomans. Later the city was occupied by the Austrians and Italians. Traces of these rulers can be found in the city. You can visit the castle of Elbasan or the king's mosque. You will also find a number of beautiful museums here, such as the ethnographic museum or the archaeological museum.

The second part of the route goes through a somewhat busier area. By the way, that means that you can still encounter unpaved roads. Along the way you will pass through a number of villages and follow the river drainage project from Devoll towards Kuçovë, the last sight along today's route.
The attraction is not the city itself, but the airport of the same name south of the city: Kuçovë Airbase. After a construction period of 3 years, the military airport was put into use in 1955. Various MIGs have been located here over the decades. In 2002, the airport was largely decommissioned and the remaining MIGs were “parked” together on the east side of the airport. There are plans to put the airport back into use on behalf of NATO. It is unclear whether this is actually the case. If the airport is not in use, you could cross runway 09/27 on the west side. On the east side of the runway (near the route) you can visit the MIG parking lot. Only enter the area if you are sure that it is no longer in (military) use!

From Kuçovë Airbase it is only a 30-minute drive to your final destination, Hotel Gorica in Berat. The hotel is located outside the touristy part of the city, so you can park your motorcycle safely. From the hotel you can walk to the city center in a short time and you can spend the day while enjoying a delicious drink and a good meal.