Turkish Bath vs Moroccan Hammam

Why Choosing the Right Hammam Matters

It is easy to get confused because both treatments use hot steam and warm stone benches to leave your skin feeling refreshed. However, the actual experience, the products we use, and the level of scrub are night and day. Consequently, if you pick the wrong one, you might either feel like you didn’t get a deep enough scrub, or you might find the treatment a bit too intense for your liking!

Yesterday I had a German lady staying at Jaz Makadina who tried a basic Turkish bath at her hotel spa. She paid over $75 for it and told me she felt like the therapist just washed her with soapy bubbles for 20 minutes without real exfoliation. Therefore, when she came to us for a real 90-minute Moroccan Hammam, she was shocked by how much dead skin came off. She told me: “I wish someone explained the difference to me before I wasted money at the hotel!”

As a result of stories like hers, I wrote this complete guide. As a lead spa therapist and private tour guide who has worked in Makadi Bay (30km south of Hurghada) for over a decade, I am going to explain exactly how both hammams work, how much they should actually cost, and how you can choose the best one for your holiday.

Turkish Bath vs Moroccan Hammam – Quick Comparison Table

If you are in a rush and trying to decide before booking your spa day, here is a quick overview of how the two treatments stack up against each other:

Feature	Turkish Bath (Hammam)	Moroccan Hammam
Origin	Ottoman Empire tradition	North African / Moroccan tradition
Main Goal	Relaxation, heat therapy, gentle foam massage	Deep skin exfoliation, body detox, skin renewal
Key Products	Natural olive soap foam, eucalyptus steam	Moroccan Black Soap (Savon Noir), Ghassoul clay, Argan oil
Exfoliation Level	Gentle to moderate (soft fabric glove)	Intense & deep (traditional coarse Kessa glove)
Sensation	Floating in warm soapy clouds, weightless relaxation	Energetic scrubbing, deep skin cleansing, silky finish
Best For	First-timers, sensitive skin, families, pure relaxation	Deep sun-tan prep, peeling skin, removing sunscreen buildup
Standard Duration	60 to 90 Minutes	60 to 90 Minutes
MakadiSpas Price	~$35 (90 min full package)	~$40 (90 min full package with clay mask)
Typical Hotel Price	$70 – $90+	$80 – $100+

What is a Turkish Bath Really?

The Turkish Bath (traditionally known as Hammam) developed during the Ottoman era, combining ancient Roman bath house culture with Eastern bathing rituals. Furthermore, the whole focus of a Turkish Bath relies on heat, humidity, thick soap bubbles, and deep muscular relaxation.

When you book a Turkish Bath in Makadi Bay with us, here is step-by-step what actually happens during your session:

Step 1: The Steam Room Warm-Up (15-20 minutes)

First, you start by sitting in a warm, eucalyptus-infused steam room. The moist heat opens up your pores, relaxes tight muscles from your flight, and prepares your skin for the gentle exfoliation.

Step 2: Resting on the Heated Marble Stone

Next, you enter the main bath area and lie down on a massive, heated marble slab (called the Göbek Taşı). The radiant warmth from the marble warms your core, releases back tension, and makes you feel deeply relaxed.

Step 3: Gentle Exfoliation (Kese)

Afterward, your therapist uses a woven silk or cotton cloth glove to gently rub your skin using warm water. Unlike the Moroccan version, this scrub feels smooth and soothing. As a result, it removes surface impurities without harsh friction.

Step 4: The Famous Foam Bubble Wash & Massage

This is everyone’s favorite part. First, we use a traditional pillowcase-like cloth bag, whisk it in natural olive oil soap water, and blow a massive mountain of warm, fluffy foam over your entire body. Therefore, you stay completely covered in thick clouds of white bubbles! Meanwhile, your therapist performs a soothing full-body massage through the foam, loosening tight joints and shoulders.

Step 5: Warm Water Rinse & Refreshment

Finally, your therapist pours warm water over your body from copper bowls to rinse away all the soap. Consequently, you step out feeling weightless, warm, and thoroughly relaxed.

Who is the Turkish Bath ideal for?

If it is your first time visiting an Eastern bath, if you have sensitive skin, or if you travel with children, this treatment fits you best. Moreover, if you simply want a dreamy, relaxing experience that leaves you feeling calm rather than intensely scrubbed, the Turkish Bath is your best choice.

What is a Moroccan Hammam Really?

While the Turkish Bath focuses on foam and relaxation, the Moroccan Hammam acts as a serious body treatment designed for deep skin renovation. In Morocco, locals treat the hammam as a weekly ritual to strip away dead skin, dirt, and pollution.

Here is the step-by-step process of our authentic Moroccan Hammam:

Step 1: Steam Session to Soften the Skin

Just like the Turkish version, you spend 15 minutes in a warm steam room. The steam is essential because it softens the outer layer of dead skin cells so we can easily scrub them off later.

Step 2: Application of Moroccan Black Soap (Savon Noir)

Next, your therapist coats your entire body with Savon Noir—a thick, dark paste made from saponified olive oil and crushed black olives rich in Vitamin E. You sit with this natural soap on your skin inside the warm steam for about 5 to 10 minutes. Because of its natural enzymes, the soap breaks down oils and dead skin cells effectively.

Step 3: The Aggressive Kessa Glove Scrub

After we rinse off the black soap with warm water, the real work begins. Using a genuine, textured Moroccan Kessa glove, your therapist scrubs your body using firm, long strokes. You will literally see rolls of grey dead skin balling up and rolling off your body. It can be surprising to watch, but it feels incredibly satisfying!

Step 4: Purifying Ghassoul Clay Mask

Once we remove all dead skin, we apply a rich mask of natural Moroccan Ghassoul (Atlas mountain clay) mixed with rosewater over your body and face. As a result, this mineral clay absorbs lingering toxins, tightens pores, and nourishes fresh skin cells.

Step 5: Argan Oil Rinse & Hydration

Finally, after rinsing off the clay, your therapist completes your session with a light application of 100% pure Moroccan Argan oil. Thus, your new skin absorbs this liquid gold instantly.

Who is the Moroccan Hammam ideal for?

The Moroccan Hammam is the ultimate treatment if you want your skin to feel smooth like a baby’s. In addition, it works especially well on Day 2 of your holiday in Makadi Bay, as it prepares your skin for an even, long-lasting tan by removing old, flaky skin cells.

Which One Should YOU Choose in Makadi Bay?

Still unsure which hammam experience to pick? Let us match your vacation goals to the right treatment.

Choose Turkish Bath if…

• It is your very first hammam experience and you want something gentle and comforting.

• You have sensitive skin, eczema, or low tolerance for strong friction.

• You are visiting with kids or older family members who want a fun, bubble-filled relaxation session.

• You just landed in Egypt and want to melt away jetlag and stress without an aggressive scrub.

(We pick up daily from all hotels in Makadi Bay at flexible times, transfer is included and free).

Choose Moroccan Hammam if…

• You want a serious, deep skin clean and love the feeling of a strong body scrub.

• You have been on the beach for a couple of days and notice dry skin or sunscreen buildup that soap alone cannot remove.

• You want your sun tan to last much longer (exfoliating before heavy sun exposure creates an even, golden glow).

• You want to get rid of peeling skin after spending too much time in the Red Sea sun.

(We pick up daily from all hotels in Makadi Bay at flexible times, transfer is included and free).

Can’t Decide? Take Our Combo 90 min (Our #1 Best Seller!)

Why choose when you can enjoy the best of both worlds? Our VIP 90-Minute Royal Combo Hammam combines the deep black soap exfoliation and Ghassoul clay mask of the Moroccan Hammam with the giant foam bubble wash and relaxing marble massage of the Turkish Bath.

Therefore, you get the deep clean of Morocco and the luxurious cloud relaxation of Turkey in one single, uninterrupted session!

 Check Hammam Prices in Makadi Bay – Free Pickup

Insider Tips from a Local Spa Therapist

Having worked as a lead therapist in Makadi Bay for 12 years, here are four important rules I tell all my private guests before they book:

1. Don’t shave or wax 24 hours before a Moroccan Hammam: The black soap and coarse Kessa glove can sting freshly shaved legs or skin. Therefore, shave at least a day before your appointment!

2. Don’t apply heavy sunscreen right before your session: Sunscreen leaves a greasy waterproof barrier on your skin that makes exfoliation less effective. Always come to the spa with clean skin.

3. Drink plenty of water after your treatment: You will lose fluids in the steam room. Although we serve fresh Egyptian herbal tea after every treatment, make sure to hydrate throughout the day.

4. Book on Day 2 of your holiday, not when you are sunburnt! The best time for a hammam is right at the start of your trip. Never get a Moroccan scrub if your skin is red or burnt from the sun because it will hurt! However, if you do get sunburnt, ask us for our soothing Aloe Vera cooling treatment instead.

Ready to Experience the Ultimate Hammam in Makadi Bay?

Don’t pay double prices at your hotel reception for a short, rushed spa session. At Makadi Spas , we give you an authentic, full-length 90-minute bath treatment with genuine products, professional certified therapists, and complete relaxation.

Furthermore, we make your spa day completely hassle-free. We pick you up directly at your resort entrance in Makadi Bay, Soma Bay, or Hurghada in a clean, private air-conditioned vehicle, bring you to our luxury bath house, and drop you back at your hotel feeling brand new.

Reserve Your Hammam Session – Free Hotel Pickup