The Foloi oak forest is in Ancient Olympia Municipality, of Elis region. It extends on mountainous Elis, on the northwest of Erymanthos mountain, on the plateu of Foloi and Pineia; the forest covers about 10,500 acres, on an altitude of 600 to 700 metres.
According to mythology, the forest took its name from the Centaur Folos, who had his home on Erymanthos mountain. The good-natured Folos helped Hercules when he was hunting the Erymanthian Boar; the hero, though, killed the Centaur after a misunderstanding. When he realised his mistake, to honour the dead Centaur, he gave his name to the forest.
Foloi Forest is a high forest, known for its ancient oaks, that depending on their age, are in many cases huge, tall trees. Other trees that thrive near the inhabited areas and the canyon are chestnuts, beech trees, plane trees, hollies, oaks, arbutus and walnut trees.
The forest is home to many species of fauna, and an important reproduction habitat of many different birds. It has been designated as an Important Bird Area of Greece by the Hellenic Ornithological Society in cooperation with Birdlife International, an international society of bird protection. Important species that use Foloi forest for reproduction, with their scientific names in parentheses, are: the Short-toed Snake Eagle (Circaetus gallicus), the Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), the Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus), the Eurasian Eagle-Owl (Bubo bubo), the Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis), the White-Backed Woodpecker (Dendrocopos leucotos) and the Rüppell's Warbler (Sylvia rueppelli). The Foloi forest has been registered in the Natura 2000 treaty and is considered an area of high ecological and historical value.
The Foloi forest is prefect for hiking and is a favourite destination for hiking societies, while also good for other activities such as mountain biking. The forest is a place of rare natural beauty that is worth a visit.