A 40-square-kilometre plateau of broadleaf oak (Quercus frainetto) at 700 metres above Olympia — an oak forest unique in the Balkans, walked on quiet marked paths from the village of Foloi.
Foloi is a NATURA 2000–protected plateau of broadleaf oak (Quercus frainetto) — a deciduous oak whose trees here live for up to about 200 years.
The forest covers about 40 km² at 700 metres, just inland from Olympia, on a single broad plateau. The village of Foloi sits at its centre with a taverna; the NATURA visitor centre is at Loutsa, near Koumani. The walking is gentle and the air is noticeably cooler than the coast in August.
A May day, when the wildflowers are at their best and the air is cool.
In the village café the owner makes the Greek coffee on a small gas burner. Foloi was called Giarmena until 1928.
From the chapel of Agios Georgios on the Persaina road: about 8 km and two hours at an easy pace, under broadleaf oaks up to about 200 years old. Some 300 neckties once marked the way; many are gone, so carry a track.
Back in the village: a family taverna since 2002 with room for 150. Greens pie, goat and lamb with oregano, rooster with noodles, grilled liver.
Thirty-five minutes east. From Nemouta a dirt road of about 3 km ends at a metal bridge over the Erymanthos; a path along the bank reaches a 20-metre cascade in a few minutes. No signs.
Fifty minutes from Nemouta to Olympia for the night: Taverna Orestis or Symposio in the village. Detail on the Olympia page.
The forest is a single plateau. The village sits at its centre. Almost everything else is a side trail.
The village at the heart of the plateau, at about 640 m: the taverna Oi Kentavroi, the café, and the Babis Papatheodorou museum in the primary school, with photographs of the forest and its people from 1920 to 2007.
The forest’s other village, 3 km east of Foloi, between two gorges. Two kilometres further east, at Loutsa, the forest’s Environmental Museum opens by arrangement with the municipality; the 12 km M3 trail starts there and runs down the Erymanthos gorge to Nemouta.
Thirty-five minutes east by road, or the 12 km M3 trail down the Erymanthos gorge. From Nemouta, a 3 km dirt road to a metal bridge, then a few minutes along the bank to a 20-metre cascade.
Twenty minutes north-east: the old Divri, a village of seven quarters on the slopes of Erymanthos, with a 14th-century painted church. Detail on the Mount Erymanthos page.
Forty-five minutes south-west via Lalas: the sanctuary of Zeus, the ancient stadium and the museum. Detail on the Olympia page.
An hour and a quarter west: over 5 km of sand on the Amaliada coast, facing the sunset. Detail on the Katakolo page.
Tell us a little about the trip you want — pace, who's coming, how you'd like to spend your mornings. We'll build the days.
