Librazhd to Maqellare on the fast track

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From Librazhd to Maqellare - on the fast track

Summary: While the road along the black Drin via Klenjes and Stebleve remains one of our favorites, a new fast-track has been under construction for quite a while, connecting Librazhd with Maqellare or Peshkopi - and vice versa of course. The road is planned to have double lanes, and once completed, it will close the last asphalt link between Tropoja in the north and Korca in the south.

For tourists and sight-seers, it will offer an excellent opportunity for circular drives connecting Northern and Southern Albania withouth the need to come back to Tirana.

Even now, before its completion, the road is good enough for regular cars, though there is one river ford (which always carries water) on gravel and possibly some difficult stretches depending on the earth work that is still necessary. For that reason we really recommend it only for a high clearance vehicle, for now.

Interestingly, the road is not the improvement of an existing road. Between Studa and Ostren (and beyond) it breaks new ground. It does so along a high plateau which offers great views to the mountains on the Albania - Macedonia border. Even now, still incomplete, it is a very interesting alternative for driving from Tirana to Diber or Peshkopi, which will not take longer than the regular route via Burrel and Bulquize. The first 10 kilometer from Librazhd are asphalt already.

Maximum altitude:	1184 meter
Minimum altitude:	258 meter
Cumulative height:	1528 meter
Cumulative length:	58 kilometer
Difficulty	easy
Time:	2 hours
Date of this record	September 2013
Download GPS info:	Librazhd to Maqellare

General location and approach: Librazhd to Peshkopi

Other Information: There is a hotel (under renovation) in Studa, and in Maqellare

Approaching Librazhd from Elbasan. A bunker for hire. The route will disappear in front of the grey mountains in the far distance

On the road from Librazhd to Maqellare, still on the asphalt. View east towards the Shebenik summits

View back, as the road is gaining height towards Studen.

Approaching Studen. Hotel Hasa being renovated, in expectation of the guests the asphalt road will bring to the national park.

The most critical point on the new road.

Sebisht village. From here, the new road follows entirely new terrain.

Eventually, the road opens to the big skies

Ahead the south end of the Korab range. From left to right are Velivar, Kërçin and Rudina peaks. Below, Diber in Macedonia.

GPS and trailmaps: The map and trailinformation is generated by , based on GPS information collected from the actual hike. Waypoints can be downloaded to a GPS device from Wikiloc. If necessary, use GPSBabel to convert GPS data to different formats. For more hike descriptions by Palmtreetreeproduction, browse this website or visit Wikiloc and search for "Palmtreeproduction". You may also find nearby trails from other authors.

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