00:03Welcome to Marmaris, where the Mediterranean meets the Aegean.
00:07Today I'll travel from its crystal clear waters and hidden coves up into the pine forests above
00:14to find out how the sea and the forest shape the region's identity right down to the honey on the
00:20table.
00:26We are on the Turkish Riviera in southwestern Turkiye from Marmaris travelers set off on the famous blue voyages
00:34spending several days sailing along the coast on board a traditional gulet.
00:40These wooden boats have been built along this coast for generations and they are at the heart of the blue
00:46voyage.
00:48Gulet is its hand-made. Gulet is a very strong and long life.
00:55For example, this boat is built in 1993, but still survived and still very strong and I don't know how
01:05long more it goes.
01:07Exploring this coastline by boat is as much about the journey as the destination.
01:13Every stop gives you time to switch off and slow down.
01:17Traveling by boat means life. You are with yourself and you enjoy it.
01:23You said, oh, I am living. Life is beautiful, especially on the gulet.
01:29Along this coastline, the past is never far away.
01:33Perched high above the sea, the ancient ruins of Amos overlook the same landscape that has fascinated generations.
01:40And just behind the hill, Coom Lubbock Bay is the perfect place to step off the boat and jump into
01:47the water.
01:48The sea here is calm and clear, making it one of the best snorkelling spots on this stretch of coast.
01:55Whether you are on the water for a few hours or several days, a blue voyage takes you back to
02:01nature and makes everyday life feel a long way away.
02:12After spending some time on the water and swapping blue for green, beyond Marmaris' famous base lies a vast natural
02:21landscape of forests and hills where nature and history have been intertwined for thousands of years.
02:28Stretching across more than 30,000 hectares, Marmaris National Park is home to rich wildlife and some of the region's
02:36best preserved Mediterranean forests.
02:39Lining the base, we just passed by boat. Here on the Genet Peninsula, pine forest trails lead to one of
02:46the region's most remarkable sites, Nimara Cave.
02:49This cave has been here for thousands of years. Some of the stalactites from the roof and from the ground,
02:56they are like 100,000 years old when there was no human being.
03:01We can still see the traces of the human being from Paleolithic age until the Bronze Age. People were using
03:09this cave as shelter.
03:10Nimara Cave reveals the region's ancient past while the surrounding pine forests continue to shape life in Marmaris today. Let's
03:19find out how.
03:23These forests support one of Marmaris' most distinctive traditions, pine honey production.
03:30I'm at the Marmaris Honey House, a visitor center dedicated to preserving and promoting this local speciality.
03:36It's a window into the long tradition of beekeeping in this part of Turkey and beyond.
03:42Pine honey isn't made from nectar like most honey.
03:46Here the bees collect honey juice straight from the pine trees.
03:50What's inside?
03:52It's an elder surprise.
03:53Surprise!
03:56Oh boy!
03:59Okay!
04:01From the forest to the table, the way it's made is unique and so is the way it looks and
04:07tastes.
04:07In the sense of the forest, the pine trees are more thick and thick.
04:14The taste of the tree is more sweet and thick.
04:19The taste of the tree is more sweet and more sweet.
04:22This is the apple tree.
04:23Marmaris is one of the world's pine honey capitals.
04:26Turkey produces around 92% of the global supply and most of it comes from right here in this region.
04:38Marmaris is loved for its blue waters and sailing adventures.
04:42And this journey has revealed a place where every experience is connected to the landscape,
04:48whether at sea or deep in the forest.
04:50That connection is what makes this corner of Turkey so special.
04:54Goros verus!
