But alas, what you say instead is, Thanks and get up and leave. So pay attention. Physical AND mental. After sometime, the attendant came back and slathered on the transitional black soap and left me for a few more minutes. If you have ever considered getting a hammam, but have been hesitant about the experience, read on. We went to our rooms and sent the boys over without telling them what to expect during their Moroccan hammam . What to Expect from a Moroccan Hammam | Wander with Laura Its a good idea to moisturise your skin, and always wear a high factor sunscreen if youre heading straight out. They scrubbed my heals with a pumice block but it was a no-go on and around the toes. I was a bit nervous about whether or not Id enjoy it, and whether my modesty would make the experience uncomfortable. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. I hope to one day get to Morocco, its def on my bucket list and I will keep this experience in mind as well shall I ever make it there! Make sure you add this to your list of things to do in Essaouira. This 2-hour experience only cost me Dh120*($12) and I got to keep theexfoliating glove. Thank you and happy travels! Shortly after arriving at your hammam, you will be expected to strip naked and don a tiny, baggy paper thong (see above). While we were trying to suppress our giggles, the stocky attendant came back and poured water over my head and all over my body. Finally, back into the room, I started in. The room was about 3 million degrees Fahrenheit and 4000% humidity and I felt like I may suffocate. After your fronts clean, youll be flipped over, and the wash continues. Have you found my guides useful for planning a trip or adventure? Essentially, you scrub clean and exfoliate yourself in large steam rooms among everyone else, using your bucket and water from a tap. After all, every hour counts! Do I want a scrub, massage and a bath? Well, of course, I opted for everything. They're a traditional part of Moroccan life that you should definitely try - and here's what you can expect. Our Spa attendant handed my daughter and me a couple of paper underwear and pointed to the blue floormats on the floor using hand signs and asked us to take off our clothes I had no idea what to expect in a Moroccan Hammam when I signed us up. But now that Im here, I wasnt so sure. Address: 5th Floor, 3 More London Riverside, London, SE1 2AQ, 24/7 Emergency Medical Assistance Service, Five ways to make the most of your trip to Morocco, Cheats Guide to Seville: How to make the most of your Spanish break, Holidaymakers urged to watch out for fraud scams this summer, Learn how to set up your own successful cruise blog with CruiseMiss. Its not unusual to be left entirely to your own devices for lingering periods of time, but the basic order usually involves stripping naked, having a bucket of hot water dunked on your head, heating up in the steam room and then exfoliation followed by a massage. But theres a little more to it, as I found out when I visited my first public Hamman in Essaouira, on the west coast of Morocco. Bring a spare pair of underwear as yours will be soaked. If the masseuse looks unimpressed and offers you disposable paper pants, youre in the right place. Or you can go to a public hammam and DIY for between $10-$30 USD. And you know it because when you look down at your legs and arms, you can see the exfoliated skin which looks like twisted black rolling papers adorning your limbs and trunk. Its a very surrealimage, I am not really sure where I am supposed to look! The ledge itself was hot and hot water dripped from the ceiling. It sounds really relaxing. That sounds like an interesting story. I just had a private hammam scrub and massage in Marrakech and it was AMAZING!! I did see an area where ladies were laying under running water together. Followed again by a good soap wash. After all this, I wore my robe and went back to the dimly lit relaxing room. Like the hammam rituals offered by many spas in Turkey and some in Germany, the Moroccan version involves steam and exfoliation. I was also given disposable underwear. The ritual is essentially the same in both. I Got Naked in a Moroccan Hammam Spa: Here's What It Was Like But upon glancing down, instead I was covered in gobs of skin my own skin everywhere like someone had grated fresh parmesan cheese all over my body. I really liked that they let you take it home with you too. Your email address will not be published. Aww yay! I cant decide if thats horrifying or appealing. I dont think, O est la boulangerie? (Where is the bakery?) Apparently you can bring your own bathing suit bottoms and wear that for the scrub (file under:Things that would have been nice to know yesterday!) You will have to bring these if you are visiting public Moroccan Hammam but if you are visiting a Hotel Spa, they will have them for you and most likely included in the charge. Finally, after we awkwardly waited in silence, stirring a bit in anticipation, hot steam condensing in boiling drops on our backs and chests, we heard the echo of womens voices coming back. Thank you so much! Next, I was rubbed down with some sweet-smelling oil and left to lie, while she started working on my daughter. A public hammam istraditionally single-sex with men and women having separate bathhouses or bathing times. So, when the attendant came in and proceeded to throw buckets of hot water over me, completely dousing my newly washed hair and the ONLY pair of underwear I had with me, I quickly realised that this was going to be a different kind of experience altogether. I booked a massage coupled with a hammam experience. The door to the changing room may well be left open so that anyone in reception gets the dubious pleasure of spying you in your birthday suit - embrace this. Remember to take with you bikini bottoms (of course, you can go without if you want to), a towel, shampoo and conditioner. We cut through the marketing B.S. Morocco didnt get the memo. Now, get out there and rule those souks! 2) You dont want your stomach growling in a quiet room with your massage therapist. Not a time to be shy! Ive always wondered what I needed to wear and what to expect and youve totally covered everything. Here I was offered tea, mint water and Moroccan sweets. There are female staff on hand to take of any valuables which you might bring with you, but always err on the side of caution. Me, my husband and two teenage daughters opted for the cheap back street trip if 20 each rather than the hotel offer of hundreds of pounds. Its a small room with a tiled floor and ledge to sit on. People would go to the souk (markets) to get their own essential bathing products and head to the hammam. But it was so memorable that Im almost glad we didnt! Success! Marrakesh was one of the most unique places I have been to! We followed her instructions and took off our clothes and wore the paper underwear that was offered (You can bring a swimsuit bottom if you like). Nervous! After all the scrubbing, I was washed off and was covered with a hydrating mask. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Then Im instructed to lie face down on the tiled floor. You can dine on some complimentary snacks, enjoy a free glass of fizz and use the free WiFi on offer. More importantly, I didnt know if Mr.Suburbia and the boy will be up for it! It just kept popping up in my head. I have been meaning to write about my experience at the Japanese spa where you are completely nude with others sharing a bath. Many women enlist a friend or family member to help them clean themselves, but you can hire a lady wholl do the honours for you. And then the massage therapist leans in and says, Okay! The door to the changing room may well be left open so that anyone in reception gets the dubious pleasure of spying you in your birthday suit embrace this. After what felt like an eternity once again, I started wondering if they sanitize these benches. In Essaouira and other cities, Moroccans visit their local Hammam at least once a week spending a good couple of hours there. Essentially, you scrub clean and exfoliate yourself in large steam rooms among everyone else, using your bucket and water from a tap. is going to help me in this situation. The first time, the lady practically laughed at us when we took our robe off and she saw our bikini. As a first-timer, Im like; Where do I go? If you make a purchase through these, I earn from the qualifying links. This particular day I had travelled via Supratours Bus from Marrakesh and been exploring Essaouira town, which meant plenty ofsun cream had been applied along with some sweat, nice!! You can always ask though. So for the scrubbing portion of the treatment they applied two masks. You may find that almost every inch of your body is cleaned this is par for the course. What about eye contact!? I do my best to reply but I cant seem to remember anything except Cest bon, cest bon. I wish I could too! All I knew was it was the same concept as a Turkish bath, which I also hadnt experienced. 1) Its just distracting. I donned my robe and sandals and was led to a small, steam room with dome ceilings with the other two girls from my group. I dont like feeling greasy so doing the massage first followed by the bath worked well for me! The thought behind doing the massage later however is for the oils to heal the skin after all the scrubbing. BE STILL MY BEATING HEART! What to Expect on an Organized Tour to Egypt, A Complete Guide To Visiting Kruger National Park, Croatia Road Trip Itinerary for 8 Days in Croatia, 40 Things to See & Do in Malta + Travel Guide, One Day in Kotor & The Bay of Kotor, Montenegro, Julian Alps, Soa Valley and Tolmin Gorge, 8 Days in Turkey Itinerary & Travel Guide, Best Day Hikes and Lookout Points in Torres del Paine, Best Photo Spots in Cartagena (Map Included), Best Places to Eat in Cartagena Top Restaurants and Bars, Things to See and Do in Marrakech A Complete Guide, Morocco Travel Guide Essential Tips and Things You Need to Know, Photos to Inspire You to Visit Chefchaouen, Experience Camping in the Sahara Desert in Morocco, Important Things to Know About the Souks in Marrakech. It was such a nice way to end the treatment. For more squeaky-clean stays, check out our polished boutique hotels in Marrakech. Required fields are marked *. You can enjoy an expansive view of the Medina from the 72s roof terrace, watch the beautiful sunset, or even enjoy dinner under the stars. Youll almost certainly be wondering why on earth we didnt do our research before booking this and honestly, I couldnt tell you why not. I wasnt sure what to do. I suppose he assumed the public hammam that locals go to would be too much culture shock for us. The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes. There are several Riads and Hotels in Marrakech that have Moroccan Hammams. If you are planning a trip to Marrakech and looking for an authentic experience, plan a meal, hammam, and a stay at 72 Riad Living. They let us stay on the tables for like 15 minutes while me and my husband fell in and out of the best sleep/shavasana ever. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Click here to support Becky the Traveller via Patreon, Becky the Traveller is a FREE online resource. She is scrubbing so hard I can see her boobs swinging back and forwards. She returned a few minutes later and motioned for us to undresscompletely. Your email address will not be published. So basically what Im trying to say is I totally chickened out and chose the hand-held experience of a private hammam. There should be plenty available, and if you cant see one, just ask. Visiting a Hammam in Morocco: A Must-Read Guide - Intrepid Travel The Hamman I visited was very traditional, in fact, I dont think tourist generally went there, I got lucky and had an introduction from a guy at the hostel I was staying in. This is a Morocco experience you dont want to miss. Awesome! Its a rare occurrence, but if your flights delayed, you can get FREE* lounge access with Columbus Direct's travel insurance. If you can survive a Moroccan Hammam, you can survive any hammam. A hammam is predicated on the idea of having places of extreme cleanliness where purifying the body goes hand-in-hand with purifying the soul. The sounds like a fabulous and relaxing experience!! I wish I had one nearby too! What to keep in mind when visiting a hammam in Morocco Theyre a traditional part of Moroccan life that you should definitely try and heres what you can expect. First things first avoid hotel hammams, and hit the public baths. Of course, you can pay for the cheaper DIY option, but you might find its hard work! Some have been a little different because they were in Bali or Thailand so they were extremely cheap and not as luxurious as others, with very little modesty involved. When visiting a public Moroccan Hammam Spa you usually get a bucket, a mat to lie on, some black soap, and exfoliating gloves. Thanks for sharing! I couldnt help feeling like a baby who had just been bathed. Hammam Spa Tips - Our Surreal Moroccan Massage Experience - The Planet D Our guide in Marrakech recommended a hammam that was still traditional enough to give us the authentic Moroccan experience (which meant it was affordable), but still more expensive and luxurious than what a local public hammam would be like for us Westerners. Essaouira, one of the best cities to visit in Morocco, Solo Female Traveller Marrakech Guide + TOP Tips | Morocco, https://savvyfarmgirl.wordpress.com/2016/04/16/the-moroccan-hammam/, My First Timers Guide to Great Lakeland 3Day Event, Walking the Snowdonia Slate Trail Llwybr Llechi Eryri (+ Wild Camping), DIY Campervan Conversion Choosing My Sofa + Bed Foam Mattress, Using a Jackery Solar Generator instead of a Leisure Battery for my Campervan, My Top 3 Therm-A-Rest Camping Items (Celebrating Therm-A-Rests 50th Anniversary). And we stayed there. It is a weekly (at minimum) ritual where members of the same sex get together for socializing. What to expect from day five of the Fifa Women's World Cup, with Italy facing Argentina, Germany playing Morocco and Brazil meeting Panama. The word hammam means the spreader of warmth in Arabic. A warmer waiting room with a plunge pool. Winner of Post Office's Affordable Travel Blog of the Year. There wasnt a name, it was pretty much like walking in someones house! Great post! How Much to Budget for a City Break in Marrakech, Lisbon Calling Review: Where to Stay in Lisbon, Whale sharks and fireflies: a guide to Donsol, Come prepared: wear a bikini if you dont feel comfortable stripping down but expect the attendants to move it around, Bring a spare pair of underwear for later and some clothes to change into, Dont wear contact lenses: the steam will dry them out quickly and youll have water poured over you from the head down several times. Lets make some change. So first, let's back up a bit: What is a Moroccan. Secondly this isnt the time to be shy. Like a tube, crop top and short shorts. Maybe it was a peek into my childhood. I didnt ask this question. Have a lovely time, Im sure youll enjoy it , Your email address will not be published. Liberally over your entire body, then sit down, breathe in the steam and relax. Its also naturally rich in vitamin E. It goes on super thin and looks like it is barely there. Next time it willbe nice to know what is going to happen! , Thanks for reading Erin! Obviously, if you're going to a. . How to Visit a Moroccan Hammam - First-Timers' Guide - My Five Acres Do I lie down? x. Note:This post may contain affiliate links, partnership or sponsored content. A traditional hammam is an experience that combines relaxation and detoxification in one relaxing space: the steam rooms, saunas, showersand even bathsare all part of your treatment! If it's your first visit to a hamam, entering a Turkish bath can be a daunting experience. We, however, went in woefully unprepared and spent the majority of the time trying not to audibly giggle. I'd like to receive the free email course. What do I do? Want to know where to stay in Marrakech? **This post contains affiliate links. After the cleansing part of the ritual, it was time for exfoliation and let me tell you that they do not hold back. Going back to the riad to shower is pretty much a given. If I ever go to Morocco I am totally doing this! After a quick tour (its literally two rooms), we decided to take the plunge and book ourselves in for a hammam the following afternoon. Welcome to my blog and thank you for visiting! It is now, whilst lying practically naked on a tiled floor I have that embarrassing moment. It involves extremely hot temperatures a wet stream bath followed by exfoliation and sometimes massage. They're rooted in the tradition of communal baths and some have transformed into full luxury experiences. Nevertheless, the $30US was way cheaper than the $180 it costs to get a hammam in Toronto! It is the place to relax, unwind and detoxify. Then disappears into the room next door and comes back with a bucket of lovely hot water which she throws over me. She finds that very funny. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Welcome! But if you show up empty handed, they will give you a little pair of undies that look like this. Check out these Quick dry, lightweight travel towels. Expect to pay another few hundred dirham for a . I had no idea what a hamman was about so glad to have stumbled upon this article! (Okay so full disclosure; so prior to this we had walked around all day and shared a bottle of champs at lunch too which also didnt help dehydration levels but either way, NOTED.). document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We have traveled with our kids for over 20+ years and here is our Family Travel Bucket List. The massage I got was more of a light, relaxing Sweedish massage while my husbands left him sore. Send to someone who wants to move, Lubenice Beach on the island of Cres is easil, Like most places, getting to Plitvice Lakes as ear, Ive had a word document titled Travel Locals. It has only a capital city in Yukon, which is known as Whitehorse. Both times our technician (?) First things first - avoid hotel hammams, and hit the public baths. Im Laura, a 31 year old travel addict living in Liverpool. Sometimes they give you disposable ones along with some rubber sandals. I felt more cleansed than after a Turkish Bath. Check out my other website 'Peak District Walks' for loads of hiking inspiration, routes + tipspeakdistrictwalks.net, Arriving at the Moroccan Hamman Essaouira, Beckys Tips for your First Moroccan Hamman, *Becky the Traveller participates in the Amazon Services Associates Programme, as well as other affiliateprogrammes. Im talking boobs, butts, belly buttons everything! The first one was. The rest of the time you are in a plush robe. And go for it! Plan ahead depending on what kind of spa you are going to. *Please note free lounge access is available if your flight is delayed for two hours or more. I think thats obvious. Perfect! One thing that I totally didnt expect were the feelings that surfaced as I was being washed. You could be forgiven for assuming that the person exfoliating you has never seen a face they like less than yours when you experience the vigour with which they scrub you, but this isnt the case. Sounds like a fun experience! They even shampoo and condition your hair! If you have ever considered getting a hammam, but have been hesitant about the experience, read on to discover exactly what to expect from a hammam in Morocco. Visitors move through these rooms where temperature changes stimulate blood flow and encourage the body to sweat out impurities. Let me know when you go because I would love to go back! Don't go in unprepared! They might chicken out. As a fair skinned redhead I was positive that my body would be bright pink with scratch marks, but not so! , Omg I love this so much, I want to go back! I may make a small commission from these links at no extra cost to you. One woman had me stand up. I recently had a Moroccan Bath and message in Jordan. As I first walked in, I was checked in and ushered into a nice waiting room. These purifying sessions were done entirely naked and allowed men and women to really be themselves. She is doing some serious scrubbing, it feels like layers of skin are coming off and all she keeps saying whoa, not just once but over and over again. Deciding to stick to our underwear, we trooped into the next room imagine a more glamorous, tiled version of a sauna where we waited apprehensively for what was to come next. by Jane Mountain on May 8, 2018 How to Visit a Moroccan Hammam - First-Timers' Guide Even if you're not usually a spa person, visiting a Moroccan hammam is an essential part of any Moroccan holiday. Completely normal. There were marble benches lining the edges of the room and a water trough with two nozzles in one corner. One of the mos, #tbt to these tuxedo wearing cuties #penguins #bou, head hike - fully worth the slippery rocks, s, The stunning Blyde River Canyon on the Panorama Ro, First African safari experience Already thi, Day trip to the south western most point of Africa, Chasing waterfalls and sunsets on the Panorama Rou. What To Expect When Visiting a Turkish Bath or Hamam? - Istanbul Insider This post covers the types of hammams and what to expect at a Moroccan Hammam. Ill have to remember the Japanese spa if I ever visit. Sounds like such an interesting experience but Im far too self conscious to do it myself. You know those signs outside the steam rooms that say Dont exceed 10 minutes? I could have drank 75 of them. Here, I was asked to choose which oil I would like for the massage from a few bottles of various types of oils. After that they fell off me and I proceeded naked! Oh wow!! It is a weekly (at minimum) ritual where members of the same sex get together for socializing. Finally they came back and there were two women for the three of us. For my first experience, I was led to a changing room and given a robe and a locker to store my clothes and purse. This was my experience visiting Heritage Spa in Marrakesh. Over all it was a great experience which I would recommendbut with a friend or family. Press the question mark key to get the keyboard shortcuts for changing dates. Yes I totally agree, I think its their country so you just go with it! This is so awesome that you wrote about this! The scrubber lady came back in and dumbed buckets of cooler water on me. Fifa Women's World Cup day five preview: Italy v Argentina - BBC I have my very small travel towel, its about the size of a tea towel. Now, being typical Brits, were definitely on the prudeish side and without even a flimsy paper knicker in sight, we immediately realised our error. 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