05 from village Frashër to natural spa 'Banjat e Benjës'

This is the fifth part of a series describing my hike from Bogova to Gjirokastra. Most of the single parts can also be hiked separately when you can manage the transportation.

On this walk you will find a sufficient amount of springs so you don't have to carry a lot of water with you.
The last time I walked this way I took the main way, so this time I made it a little shorter by using some small paths.

Hike

800 metres after leaving the village Frashër walking south you will pass the Bektashi khanqah.

As on the hike to Frashër today there was plenty opportunity to gaze at the astounding vast landscape full of barren hills and mountains. Partly they are crumbling away from erosion, partly they are covered by bushes and small trees and often you will see meadows and small pieces of farmland.

I didn't miss the opportunities to taste the small prunes growing along the way and especially do taste the black Mulberries.
Near the village Ogren-Kostrec there are several trees bearing this fruit. The real ripe fruits are pitch black and very sensitive to touch. The hands will be blue-reddish afterwards but the fruits are worth this.

Near the village Gostivisht I saw again some ancient though still operational farm machines along the roadside.

After passing the northern part of the village I followed the track to the right and then a path which - after crossing a delicate looking bridge and a steep ascent - led me to some more of the stone houses so typical for this region.
After having had a rest by being invited from an inhabitant she brought me onto the right track.

Soon I was once more walking a path paved with loose stones crumbled from the hills it crossed. One time I missed a turn and had to walk back since I didn't want to walk all the distance to Banjat e Benjës on unknown ways far away from the civilisation.

So I was back on the main track once more, having a nice view to mountain range of Nemërçka and Dhëmbel which I came closer to.

The construction works in the valley of the Lengarica still were going on but now the objects had some more shape then two years ago.

After descenting to the bridge "Ura e Dashit" I had my first glimpse of the Lengarice Canyon - quite promising!

1.6 km after the bridge I took the path the right which is nearly invisible as it crosses grassland and seems rarely used. But as soon as stones and bushes took over I couldn't miss the path anymore.

Only 800 m further I reached an ancient Ottoman bridge which I assumed was there but had not seen so far. Even more interesting was the nice canyon it crossed. I took my time to stumble along it to try to make some good photographs despite it was getting late.

Continuing walking the path I had some nice possibilities to glimpse into the canyon of the Lengarica.

Finally I reached the famous bridge Ura e Kadiut and crossing it Banjat e Benjës.