A visit to a Turkish Bath, or Hamam, is an ancient cultural ritual that is highly recommended at the very beginning of your Marmaris holiday. Not only is it deeply relaxing, but the exfoliation process prepares your skin for a longer-lasting, smoother suntan.
The Hamam Ritual Steps
The traditional Turkish bath experience follows a set sequence of cleansing and relaxation steps:
- Hot Air / Sauna: You spend 10-15 minutes in a steam room or sauna to open your pores and sweat out toxins.
- The Marble Room (Kurna): You lie down on a heated marble slab in the center of the bath. A professional bath attendant (tellak) scrubs your body with a coarse silk glove (kese) to remove dead skin.
- Foam Massage: You are covered in a cloud of olive oil soap bubbles and massaged, followed by a rinse in warm water.
- Relaxation: You are wrapped in dry towels and served traditional apple tea in a cooling lounge.