A hammam is a traditional Turkish bath house in Marrakech where the locals go to cleanse the body, get a massage, for relaxation as well as for socializing. The progression of steps involved in taking a Turkish bath is quite similar to that of a sauna, but is more comparable to the ancient Greek and Roman bathing practices. We were tired from all the walking and sightseeing that we were sure we could use a massage Marrakech style to revitalize and restore our energy.
There are a number of Marrakech hammam that offer the usual services but why settle for anything less than what the best has to offer? We were given a lot of options to consider in our search for the best hammam that we did not know where to start. We managed to narrow the list down to 3 of the top bath houses to visit in the area which are:
Les Bains de Marrakech:
It is not your typical traditional hammam but I assure you that the level of service is the best! One of the nicest things about this place is that they have a duo hammam and massage service for couples that other similar establishments do not offer. Traditionally, hammams have separate bath times for the men and women which is an accepted and widely practiced Islamic custom.
The place is absolutely stunning! It is beautifully designed to reflect the excellence of authentic Moroccan architecture. We spent a couple of hours for the usual bathing rituals that included bathing, detoxifying in the steam room, scrubbing and after an exceptionally soothing massage an hour later, we were taken back to the relaxation room and was told to stay as long as we liked.
Hammam el Basha:
Popularly known as "The Pasha's Bath, El Basha is considered as one of the best, and most accessible Marrakech hammam. It's conveniently located just 10 minutes north of the Djemaa el Fna which makes it a very popular spot among travelers and the locals alike. The place is huge and the massage services are totally outstanding!
Riad El Fenn:
It is the ultimate luxury hammam experience at the comforts of your own riad. The spa at Riad El Fenn is easily the best luxury hammam in Marrakech. This is where we got our accommodations for the whole duration of our stay in Morocco with its own private hammam and massage service which is something that they take pride in.
It is a beautiful and peaceful environment with very relaxing background music and a phenomenal staff that are ready to take care of all your hammam needs. They offer a variety of skin and body treatments such as body wraps and aromatherapy as well as incredible massages with scented oils in wonderfully decorated facilities. Having a massage Marrakech never felt so good!
These are just 3 of the best hammams we have encountered during our vacation and we both agree that the experience was exceptional! We are certainly looking forward to visiting more of them to get our share of the most unforgettable massages Marrakech and hammam offer in our future travels to Morocco.
A few days ago I went to a local stationery store here in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and there, in the middle of the floor, was a blanket spread out, and someone was doing a Thai massage session for one of the people who worked in the store. They must have needed it badly!
Nobody seemed to think that there was anything unusual about this picture, and customers simply walked around the impromptu massage setup. When I mentioned that I would like a massage also, everyone in the store erupted with appreciative laughter.
Today I went to a restaurant for dinner. There were no customers inside, but an unusual scenario was happening. One of the restaurant cooks was lying face down on one of the wooden benches in the dining area, and the other cook (both female) was standing on her co-worker's thighs and was walking up and down her legs and buttocks while clinging to the curtain next to her to keep her precarious balance.
When I walked in on this scene, all the employees broke out into heart-felt laughter. I told them to go right on doing their massage, which they did. The restaurant manager was right there and did not take any issue with his employee's extracurricular activities. Imagine such a scene in an American restaurant!
I have seen similar scenes countless times in Thailand. In all my travels I have never seen any country where spontaneous massage was happening as naturally and frequently as in Thailand. Thai Massage therapists set up shop anywhere: on the beach, on the sidewalk in the middle of busy markets, on rickety wooden platforms during festivals. And there are established massage shops all over the place where you can get a one hour session for $5.
On the higher end there are lots of fabulous spas with gorgeous decors and beautiful settings. There is no valid excuse to not treat yourself to lots of bodywork in Thailand.
Massage in Thailand is often a very public and social activity. Since Thai Massage is done fully dressed, there is no need for private massage rooms. Many times people will gather around a massage session-in-progress, chat, eat and watch. Nobody thinks that there is anything strange about that.
This easy availability of massage is one of the most enjoyable aspects of visiting Thailand. Thai Massage is not considered a luxury like in the West. It is often seen as a necessity to maintain good health, and as one of the good things in life that many Thais treats themselves to on a regular basis.
Here is an interesting click the next website tip: Use your Thailand trip as a spa adventure and cultural experience. Sample many different massage places, spas, and individual therapists. Since the cost of massage is so much lower than in the western world, affordability is not an issue. Besides experiencing all the treatments, it is also a great way to get to know the Thai people, hear their life stories, and even make friends.
Therapists in Thailand are generally very happy to talk to you, and many speak some English. You can learn a lot about Thailand, its culture and way of living by paying $5.- for a one hour massage with a therapist who speaks some English.