Relax in a Moroccan Hammam

Comparing a Moroccan hammam with a traditional spa is like comparing a bowl of couscous to one of plain white rice; the former has a little more unexpected flavor and oftentimes surprises you during the experience.

Service packages in a hammam vary, of course, but a traditional 45-minute spa-like treatment plus a one-hour massage will run you about 500 dirham, or approximately 50 euros.

In a dim, private room with one entry door and one exit door leading to the unknown, you are asked to disrobe and then re-robe with a white imitation terrycloth robe. A woman enters and instructs you (in French) to once again disrobe and follow her through the exit door into an even smaller room with tiled walls and two tiled ‘beds’ on which you are instructed to lie. At this point, all insecurities and modesty must be left behind with your terrycloth robe.

Between the beds is a wall fountain where hot water gushes out, overflowing the basin below and spilling out onto the floor. Soon, the hot water is being collected in a bucket by the attending woman and then poured over you as if you are entering a hot tub shoulders first. The woman rinses you, lies you down and then covers you from head to toe with oil.

After letting you rest in the steamy, sauna-like room, the woman returns and more rinsing follows, then a head-to-toe mud masque. Although the marble beds may become quite uncomfortable at this point, it can be difficult not to relax in the calming atmosphere accompanied by the peaceful sound of flowing water. With all the noise and chaos in the Moroccan streets, a period of silence and sweating is welcome.