Bredhi i Hotovës National Park

Nestled in the rugged terrain of south-eastern Albania lies a hidden gem of natural beauty: Bredhi i Hotovës-Dangëlli National Park. Nowhere in Albania will you find such large areas of untouched forest as here. It is one of the largest national parks in the country, but the tourist infrastructure is almost non-existent. The town of Përmet is the ideal location where to start exploring the park. Part of the national park is the magnificent Lengarica Canyon.

The park takes its name from the village of Hotovë and the Macedonian Fir (Bredh), which is considered one of the most important Mediterranean plant relics of the country. The park is made up of hilly and mountainous terrain as well as numerous valleys, canyons, gorges, rivers and dense deciduous and coniferous forests.

Two roads can take you to the central areas of the park. The first one, which is asphalted, goes from Petran settlement to Lengarica Canyon and the Bënja Thermal Springs. From there, there is a lovely walk around the canyon (see map) and, for those seeking more excitement, a route through the gorge itself (see map).

Though unpaved, the other route is still passable for small cars. It starts in the village of Piskovë and takes you via Pagri to the Forest station (Stacioni pyjore), a small house in the middle of nowhere that is a starting point for marked trails in the surrounding woods and hills. You can either take a short hike to the ruins of the St. Christopher church (see map) or descend towards the Borocka Canyon (see map). Tents can be set up in the station’s garden if needed.

But a true hidden gem of this area is the Kamencka Canyon (Kanioni i Kamenckës). The finest spot for viewing it is from Bride’s Rock (Shkëmbi i Nuses), a breathtaking viewpoint that is only a short distance from leading from Piskovë to the forest station (stop by the pavilion built in a sharp bend). Those without vertigo can walk to the very end of the rock spur which is several tens of meters high.

From the forest station, you can continue to the village of Frashër which is the furthest place that can be reached with a small car. It is a special place for Albanians, as it was the birthplace of the Frashëri brothers, the leaders of the Albanian national awakening in the 19th century. Their birth house of Abdyl, Naim, and Sami is now a museum, in front of which stand the busts of the famous trio. A spectacular offroad drive can be done from Frashër to Bënja Thermal Springs via Gostivisht.

The Bektashi tekke of Baba Aliu, located in a place called Alipostivan, is another significant cultural landmark in the area. Perched atop a hill in the park’s northwest, this large complex of buildings provides breathtaking views of the surrounding landscape. The site was razed to the ground during communism and only rebuilt following the collapse of the regime in 1991. Alipostivan can be reached by a rather bad gravel turn-off from the Piskovë-Forest station road.

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