Discovering Milas Through Its Olive Legacy on a 3-Day Route

Milas, located in Muğla, is one of the remarkable destinations for exploring olive and olive oil production in Türkiye.

The town is on the European Olive Tree Cultural Route, which aims to promote and preserve the shared cultural heritage, history, and traditions of olive cultivation across Mediterranean countries. Once an ancient town in Caria, Milas is now renowned for its olive oils and inspires gastronomy enthusiasts with its deep-rooted traditions.

With this 3-day route in Milas, you will connect with the traditions, taste the local olive oils, and meet the local artisans.

3 Points

53 km

1.3 h

Discovering Milas Through Its Olive Legacy on a 3-Day Route box

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Experience Milas in 3 days with a cultural and culinary journey through olive groves, local producers, and tastings.

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Day 1: Ata Ağaç and Kazıklı

The route starts in the Kazıklı Neighbourhood to explore the olive oil tradition of Milas from its roots. Kazıklı hosts the legendary “Ata Ağaç,” which translates to “The Ancestor Tree” in English.

It is an ancient olive tree estimated to be around 3,000 to 3,200 years old, according to scientific analysis. The tree, along with its surrounding ancient olive groves, has been included in the European Olive Tree Cultural Route as one of the oldest living olive trees in the region.

Olive oil produced from Ata Ağaç's olives has received EU geographical indication status, and the tree stands as a symbol of both natural heritage and olive oil-making tradition. In Kazıklı, you can visit this ancient tree and explore the olive oil tradition of Milas, still kept alive by the local community.

You can meet local producers and learn about traditional olive oil harvesting methods. Taking a peaceful walk through centuries-old olive groves and photographing the natural beauty of the landscape are wonderful ways to experience the Aegean spirit in Milas.

Day 2: Milas Bazaar

The Milas route continues with Milas Bazaar, where visitors can meet local producers and taste local olive oil samples. The bazaar is an authentic local market that allows you to discover the region’s rich agricultural and artisanal heritage.

It is held weekly, and you can find fresh, seasonal produce from nearby villages, including olives, olive oil, figs, herbs, cheese types, and handmade goods, directly from local producers. Milas Bazaar reflects the Aegean spirit with traditional flavours belonging to the region, regional crafts, and warm village hospitality.

You can support small-scale farmers and artisans by buying local and handmade products. Besides, wandering through a local market and meeting the producers is an unforgettable experience to understand Milas’s deep-rooted connection to the land and its enduring rural traditions.

Day 3: Gökçeler Village

On the last day, continue your journey with Gökçeler Village in Milas to explore a unique blend of nature and cultural heritage rooted in centuries-old olive oil traditions.

The village is part of a region that holds EU Geographical Indication status for its high-quality olive oil. It is particularly renowned for its proximity to ancient olive groves and the famed Memecik olive variety. You can hike scenic trails through Gökçeler Canyon and walk inside the 8000-year-old İncirliin Cave.

In the village centre, visit local farms and experience firsthand the traditional methods of olive harvesting and cold-press production. During harvest season, Gökçeler becomes a living example of rural Anatolian life, where olive oil is not just food, but a way of life passed down through generations.

After experiencing this unique spirit surrounded by deep-rooted traditions, you can spend the night at one of the boutique hotels in Gökçeler to rest and relax your mind.