Livadhja — Navaricë

You leave Livadhja from its center, following the valley floor past the ruins of an old mill and beneath the wide canopy of ancient plane trees, the river keeping you company as the path winds gently onward. At a crossing, you leave the valley and ascend the hillside, passing a small roadside church before climbing up to the higher neighbourhood of Llazat — from here, the views open dramatically, taking in the distant profile of Luca peak (1,883 m), the glittering line of the sea, and the folds of the mountains on the far side.

Continuing past Kalcat, you descend away from the village road and traverse the mountainside at a measured pace, ascending to a ridge before dropping right toward open meadows and fields. The trail then climbs again through Memoraq along the asphalt before the path above it leads you to one of the stage's great rewards — the hermit church of St. George, a hidden gem built directly into the face of a rock cliff, its caves and stone walls absorbed into the mountain as if they grew there.

From here you descend through meadows as Navaricë comes into view: a noticeably larger, livelier village spread across the mountainside, full of houses and the sound of running water. You cross the river and walk past the first house of the village — Navaricë, locally known as fshati i burimit, the spring village, earns its name by furnishing all of Saranda with water from its abundant springs. From the trail, a short detour leads into the village center, where restaurants and accommodation await. You will return to this same spot tomorrow to continue onward.