One of the experiences I love encouraging my guests to try in Morocco is the hammam. The hammam has been part of Moroccan life for generations.
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Traditionally, it is much more than simply a place to bathe. It is a ritual of cleansing and self-care, but also an important part of community life. Local hammams can be found in neighbourhoods throughout Morocco, where people still visit regularly as part of their normal routine.
The experience I arrange for my guests is a little different.
Think of it as traditional Moroccan hammam rituals combined with the comfort and pampering of a beautiful spa. You still experience the heat, steam, black soap and vigorous exfoliation that are at the heart of a traditional hammam, but usually in a more private and tranquil setting.
Every hammam is slightly different, but your experience will generally begin in a warm, steam-filled room designed to relax your body and soften your skin.
Your attendant will rinse your body with warm water before applying savon beldi, Morocco’s traditional black soap. Made primarily from olives and olive oil, this wonderfully simple soap helps soften the skin and prepare it for exfoliation.
After allowing the soap and steam to work their magic, comes the part everyone remembers:
The kessa.
Using a textured exfoliating mitt, your attendant will scrub your skin to remove layers of dead skin.
And yes — you may be slightly horrified and strangely fascinated by what comes off you!
Don’t worry. This is completely normal and very much part of the hammam experience. You will probably leave wondering how you were possibly carrying all of that around with you.
Depending on the hammam and treatment you have chosen, the ritual may also include a ghassoul clay treatment, hair washing, nourishing oils, masks or other traditional Moroccan beauty treatments.
You’ll then be thoroughly rinsed with warm water.
And this is where the traditional hammam begins to blend into the spa experience.
Many of the hammams I use pair the cleansing ritual with a relaxing massage, often using Morocco’s beautiful argan oil or other locally inspired products. After the energetic scrubbing of the hammam, the massage is a completely different experience — quiet, soothing and wonderfully relaxing.
By the time you are finished, your skin feels incredibly soft, your body feels relaxed, and you’ll probably understand why this ritual has endured for centuries.
If you’ve never had a hammam before, it can feel a little unfamiliar at first.
There will be water. Lots of it.
You will be scrubbed considerably more enthusiastically than you would probably ever scrub yourself.
And depending on the hammam, you may be asked to wear disposable underwear or your own bathing bottoms. Your attendant is accustomed to working with guests every day, and there is absolutely nothing unusual about any of this to them.
My best advice is simply to embrace the experience.
Don’t worry about knowing what you’re supposed to do — your attendant will guide you through each step.
If the water feels too hot, the scrubbing feels too vigorous, or you’re uncomfortable with anything at any point, simply say so. This is meant to be an enjoyable experience.
And don’t plan to rush off immediately afterwards if you can help it. Give yourself a little time to enjoy that freshly scrubbed, slightly dreamy feeling.
Have some Moroccan mint tea.
Sit for a while.
And enjoy one of Morocco’s oldest rituals — with a little spa luxury added in.
Tracey’s tip:
A hammam is especially lovely after you’ve been travelling for a few days. After medinas, road trips, desert dust and long days of exploring, there is something incredibly satisfying about emerging from a hammam feeling like you’ve been scrubbed, polished and put back together again.
It’s one of those Moroccan experiences that is difficult to fully explain until you’ve done it yourself.
And once you have, you may find yourself wondering where the hammam has been all your life.
Contact me to book a hammam experience for your trip in Morocco – you will be glad you did!
Prices in € and USD$. Subject to change without notice as exchange rate varies and local prices change.
