What's the Difference Between Turkish and Moroccan Bath?

The Turkish and Moroccan bathes are the 2 most popular hammam types across the middle eastern cultures.Taking a traditional bath is a key part of Middle Eastern culture, a relaxing and soothing experience which can also be very sociable when it takes place in a beautiful old bath house decorated with marble.

Dated from acient times, these bathing traditions have evolved into a cleansing and refreshing regime that have many years of history behind them. When you take part in the traditional bath ritual, you’re enjoying the same routine that people have followed in a way that’s gone unchanged for many years.

If you’re unsure what the difference is, here’s a brief explanation of the different types of bath available.

Moroccan Bath

The Hammam bath is a public bath that has a very special place in Moroccan culture. It’s a place to deeply cleanse your body using steam and exfoliating beauty techniques that have been used by Moroccans for centuries.

A typical Hammam visit involves a soak in hot water, then a mud or clay treatment, then an application of black soap penetrate your skin. The soap is then washed off and the skin is vigorously exfoliated. Finish with a cool shower to close the pores and often a full body massage to send you home completely relaxed.

Turkish Bath

The Turkish bath is based on water rather than on steam. A visit to a Turkish bath typically includes the experience of lying on a heated stone slab while a therapist applies a treatment such as an exfoliation or oil massage.

Like the Moroccan bath, you’ll find a Turkish bath leaves you feeling relaxed and fully cleansed, with a real glow to your skin. It’s a very enjoyable process and great fun to do in a group with friends.

Although both bath experiences are excellent for relaxation and cleansing the skin, the key difference is that the Moroccan bath lets you try the famous black soap which many people find so deeply cleansing.

If you prefer to avoid a steam treatment, then the Turkish bath experience is still deeply cleansing and may be especially beneficial for relaxation because of the direct heat used on the body.

The Turkish bath incorporates many massage techniques which will help relieve stress and muscle tension by increasing blood circulation.