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.
01:12every stop gives you time to switch off and slow down.
01:17Travelling 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.
01:32Purged high above the sea, the ancient ruins of Amos overlook the same landscape that has fascinated generations.
01:40And just behind the hill, Cum Lubbeck 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 snorkeling 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,
02:23where 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
02:35and some of the region's best preserved Mediterranean forests.
02:39Lining the base, we just passed by boat.
02:42Here on the Genet Peninsula, pine forest trails lead to one of the region's most remarkable sights, Nimara Cave.
02:49This cave has been here for thousands of years.
02:53Some of the stalactites from the roof and from the ground, they are like 100,000 years old, when there
03:00was no human being.
03:01We can still see the traces of the human being from Paleolithic age until the Bronze Age.
03:08People were using this cave as shelter.
03:11Nimara Cave reveals the region's ancient past, while the surrounding pine forests continue to shape life in Marmaris today.
03:19Let's find 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.
03:37It's a window into the long tradition of beekeeping in this part of Turkiye and beyond.
03:42Pine honey isn't made from nectar like most honey. Here 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.
04:23Marmaris is one of the world's pine honey capitals. Turkiye produces around 92% of the global supply and most
04:31of it comes from right here in this region.
04:38Marmaris is loved for its blue waters and sailing adventures and this journey has revealed a place where every experience
04:46is connected to the landscape, whether at sea or deep in the forest.
04:50That connection is what makes this corner of Turkiye so special.
04:54Goro Shuruz!
