My Expert Guide to the Perfect Moroccan Hammam Experience

This is a “must” in Morocco. It’s sheer bliss, inexpensive compared to any spa experience in the US and an utterly amazing sensual delight.

First, what is a hammam?

“For every tourist coming to Morocco, visiting a traditional Moroccan hammam and experiencing the wide range of benefits is undoubtedly on their bucket list.

Moroccan hammams take their inspiration from the first original bathhouses created by the Roman empire more than 2000 years ago, built to increase public hygiene…Rome’s thumbprint in modern Morocco is most noticeable in the Moroccan hammam.”

Morocco World News

The Traditional Moroccan hammam

Moroccan men and women will bathe in a traditional hammam once a week, either alone or with their friends and family, to cleanse themselves, talk about life and socialize.

Traditionally, Moroccan hammams are located near mosques to facilitate the purification of body and soul before prayers rituals. Most hammams consist of three or four long rooms. These baths, however, don’t have pools like Turkish baths. Instead, bathers participate in the rituals in these large, tiled steam rooms. Each room has a different temperature. Often they have vaulted, dome ceilings.

Spa Experience, Moroccan Style

That’s the public, weekly version. However. I was fortunate to visit the “spa” version of the hammam experience.

Les Bains du Lotus in Marrakech. After booking my reservation, we confirmed a time for the driver to pick me up from my hotel and escort me to the hammam. Good move. I would never have found it on my own. Before visiting a traditional Moroccan hammam, you might be curious as to what it is exactly?

What are the steps of the hammam experience?

What are the benefits of the hammam and what products does are used during the bathing process?

This is the hammam I visited in Marrakech.

Unlike a traditional hammam, someone assists you with all steps of the process in a spa-hammam. You can supplement your bath with spa treatments such as massages, mud baths, oils, and numerous other amenities to pamper yourself. When you’re done, sip on a glass of Moroccan mint tea in an inviting Moroccan salon.

Entry to a local, every-day hammam costs around MAD 10 to 20 ($1 – 2). Professional or spa-hammams can be much more expensive.  Lotus offered three levels of service. I chose the middle offering which cost MAD 850 or about $78 ( tip not included) and included a round-trip taxi and almost three hours of spa and massage services.

Sidenote: I ended up taking an unexpected swim, fully clothed with travel purse still on my shoulder and cell phone at the bottom of the pool. Wet anyway, I dove down to retrieve it. Happy to testify that the iPhone14 Pro is waterproof!

Hammam products and rituals

Once you are inside the hammam, you will undress in the changing room. Women wear only a disposable paper thong. Rubber sandals are supplied. My personal effects were stored my own locked cabinet and I was given it’s key on a wristlet.

First step

I was led to a room fitted with two parallel marble benches lining the walls and fitted with hand-held shower-like sprayers. I was washed gently from head to toes with Moroccan black soap made from Argan oil husks, then coated with a rich concoction of almond, olive, lemon and eucalyptus and left to rest for about 20 minutes in a steam filled room. This prepares the skin for the exfoliation process to come. It works like magic.

Second step

After rinsing, I was led to a second room. Here, the attendant used a “kees”, a soft glove that is similar to soft sandpaper and washed me again, from head to toe. The process is delightful, refreshing and removes a horrifying amount of dead skin.

Third step

After the deep exfoliating process and a thorough rinse, my hair was washed and scalp massaged with a clay mask called ghassoul. Another clay mask is slathered all over the body, face, and hair for deep cleansing and wash. The product is 100% clay and rose water, suitable for any skin type.

After 20 minutes of added nourishment, I was gently rinsed, dried, given a thick, soft terry cloth robe and led to the massage section of the hammam.

But first, a detoxifying facial and a refreshing glass of lemon, cucumber, herbal and mint infused water along with a small snack of ripe dates and almonds.

Then, an hour of relaxing massage using fragrant, soothing oils by one of the best massage therapists I have ever experienced. With a ten minute period at the end to relax, absorb and appreciate.

And then…

Body and soul purified, I enjoyed a cup of hot mint tea in the central court of the spa for another 15 or 20 minutes. Understandably I had lost touch with time by this point.

Relaxed, Refreshed, Exfoliated and Nourished Inside and Out

I saw benefits for days. My skin glowed, my hair was shiny and supple and I slept better than i had in weeks.

If you have the opportunity, don’t hesitate. Your hotel concierge or tour guide can recommend a local hammam and make the arrangements. In Marrakech, I enthusiastically recommend The Lotus. Lily, the Manager, is an ex-pat from Australia and a wonderful hostess.

Address: 54 Derb Zemrane, Marrakesh 40000, Morocco

Hours: 

Open ⋅ Closes 8PM

Phone: +212 663-161239