travel-europe

When looking to go on Turkey holidays no one should go without a visit to a Hamam – an authentic Turkish bath. They can be found throughout Turkey (there are around 100 in Istanbul alone) so you should be relatively near one as long as you are staying in a relatively built-up area.  The Hamam is different from a typical British interpretation of a bath – a Turkish bath is more closely related to a sauna than a normal ‘water bath’.

The bathing process consists of several stages – first of all, bathers relax in a ‘warm room’, similar to a sauna, which helps facilitate breathing and open the pores via a continual flow of hot air. Next, bathers move to the Hararet – the main room where the majority of the cleansing process occurs.  This intricately designed room consists of several basins running along the walls, surrounding a gigantic slab of marble in the middle of the room. The stone is heated by a fire below – bathers then lie on this stone and await a truly amazing experience.

The masseuses cover you in a thick layer of soapy bubbles before scrubbing you down using camel hair gloves to remove your dead skin cells and all the dirt that has built up on your skin over the last few weeks. The soothing lighting effects from the ceiling domes merely add to the relaxing experience. After a full body massage, the lather is then rinsed off using cool water from the taps around the outside of the room. Ideally you should look to spend at least an hour in the baths to fully appreciate the whole experience.

Prices are very reasonable considering the quality of the service and make the perfect ending to your holiday in Turkey. A completely new experience for most of us, and one that certainly shouldn't be missed.