Deemed one of the hottest spa trends for 2010, this ancient ritual of cleansing is rising in popularity within the modern spa world.
The ages-old ritual of the hammam has been a fixture on the spa circuit in places like the Middle East (it’s also influenced by ancient Roman and Turkish traditions), and is now emerging across North America—from Winnipeg to Manhattan to Miami—even aboard cruise ship spas.
Before SpaFinder circles the globe to show you its picks for some of the top hammams worldwide, here’s a quick tutorial on all-things hammam.
A little hammam history
The hammam (spelled hamam in Turkey), from the Arabic word meaning “heat,” is a public bath. Hammams served as a central gathering place (social spa-going was a trend even back then!), where people could relax, practice personal hygiene, and simply hang out. This time-honored tradition has been graced with modern spa touches, such as exfoliating skin or hydrotherapy treatments. Hammam experiences vary; for example, Moroccans start with a black soap scrub followed by an exfoliation, mud application and rinse, while the Turks begin with an exfoliation and wind down with a soapy bath and rinse.
Hammam step-by-step
A typical hammam consists of a three-pronged process, beginning in the sıcaklık or hararet, the “hot room,” followed by a warm, intermediate room, and concluding in the soğukluk, or cool room. A therapist or attendant aids in the cleansing and purification treatment, using a rough mitt to exfoliate, wash you with soap, and many times, administers a massage.
Convention meets contemporary
Usually, a hammam treatment is gender-separated, with separate quarters or time slots for men and women, but some contemporary hammams cater to couples and solo spa-goers alike. This multicircuit bathing experience, set within stunning architecture of marble interiors and ornate detailing, is truly a special spa experience—it’s really no surprise it’s a hot trend!
Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas
Hôtel Les Ottomans – Istanbul, Turkey
Kasbah Tamadot – Asni, Morocco
La Mamounia Marrakech – Marrakech, Morocco
Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas – Las Vegas, Nevada
Mardan Palace Hotel, Antalya
Porto Elounda Deluxe Resort – Crete, Greece
Swissôtel the Bosphorus - Istanbul, Turkey
Silversea Cruises, the Silver Spirit
Swissôtel the Bosphorus Istanbul – Istanbul, Turkey
The Residence & Spa of the One&Only Royal Mirage, Dubai – Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Trump SoHo New York – New York, New York
From SpaFinder
