Located south of Heraklion at one of the most inaccessible and isolated areas of Crete, this helped the forest to preserve intact its rare beauty. Within an area of ​​30,000 acres, it is the largest 'prinodasos' (holm-oak forest) in Europe, home to various rare plants and animals. The access is via the village of Gergeri at the plateau of Nida, or through the gorge of Agios Nikolaos by way of the E4 route from the village of Zaros.