What happens in a Moroccan hammam?
A hammam is a bathhouse built around steam and hot water, not a pool. The routine is broadly the same everywhere in Morocco, from a small neighbourhood bathhouse to a hotel spa.
- Heat. You sit or lie in a warm, humid room for a while. This softens the skin and helps you relax.
- Black soap. Savon beldi, a soft, olive-based soap the colour of dark honey, goes on all over and is left for a few minutes.
- The scrub. A coarse glove called a kessa is rubbed firmly over the whole body. Grey rolls of dead skin come off. It’s surprising the first time, and completely normal.
- Rinse, and sometimes clay. Buckets of warm water wash everything away. Some hammams finish with ghassoul, a mineral clay from the Atlas Mountains, for the skin or hair.
- Rest. People cool down slowly afterwards, often over mint tea.
It usually takes an hour or more, depending on how long you stay in the heat.
Why have a hammam after a week of surfing?
Five days in the Atlantic leave their mark. Salt dries out the skin, layers of sunscreen build up, and a wetsuit can rub at the neck and under the arms. A hammam deals with all of that in one go, and the long, slow heat is a welcome change after water that sits around 17-20°C in winter.
It also fits the way the day works on this coast. At Magic Bay, mornings are usually the cleanest and onshore wind tends to build after midday. A late-afternoon hammam after your last session uses the hours when the surf is often past its best anyway.
One caution: wait until any fresh cuts, grazes or sunburn have healed. Cuts are easy to pick up on the rock at Cathedral Point. If you go anyway, ask for those areas to be skipped. The kessa is not gentle.
Neighbourhood or spa hammam: what’s the difference?
| Neighbourhood hammam | Spa or hotel hammam | |
|---|---|---|
| Setting | Shared public bathhouse used by local residents | Private or semi-private treatment rooms |
| Who scrubs you | You do, or an attendant for an extra charge | A therapist, as part of the treatment |
| Products | Bring your own or buy them nearby | Usually supplied |
| Men and women | Usually separate sections or separate hours | Often private sessions; some offer couples’ sessions |
| Where to find one | Most Moroccan towns and villages | Mainly Essaouira (about 1h30), Agadir (about 2h) and Marrakech (about 4h) |
| Relative cost | Lowest | Highest |
A neighbourhood hammam is the more authentic experience but takes a little confidence the first time. A spa hammam walks you through every step. Either way, agree what’s included before you start.
What is the etiquette in a hammam?
- Know the gender rules. Public hammams usually split men and women, by section or by time of day. Check before you turn up.
- Keep your underwear on. Men wear shorts or briefs. In women’s sections, going topless is common but never required.
- Never take photos. Leave your phone with your belongings.
- Share the space. Don’t take over the hot tap or the warmest spot, and keep your voice down.
- Go easy on yourself. Eat lightly beforehand. If you feel dizzy, move to a cooler room and drink some water.
- Tip the attendant. If someone scrubs you in a public hammam, a tip is customary. Ask locally what’s usual rather than guessing.
What should I bring to a hammam?
| Item | Why you need it | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|
| Flip-flops | Floors are wet, hot and slippery | Bring from home |
| Towel | For drying off and covering up afterwards | Bring your own |
| Spare underwear or swim bottoms | You’ll be wearing a wet pair | Bring from home |
| Clean clothes | Loose and comfortable for afterwards | Bring from home |
| Kessa glove | For the scrub | Souks and local shops |
| Black soap | Softens the skin before scrubbing | Souks and local shops |
| Shampoo and comb | For washing your hair at the end | Bring your own |
| Water bottle | Heat and sun on top of each other dehydrate you | Anywhere |
| Small change | For an attendant or extras in a public hammam | Bring cash |
A kessa and black soap make good souvenirs too. Our trip to the Agadir souk is a good chance to pick them up.
Is a hammam included at Tafukt Surf?
Yes, in the Surf & Yoga Week. Along with the traditional hammam, it includes 7 nights in the surf house, 5 guided surf sessions with board and wetsuit, 5 rooftop yoga sessions and slow-food family dinners cooked by Aïcha. Guests on other weeks can also have a traditional hammam.
We confirm the details for your stay directly when you book: the timing, what’s supplied, and the arrangements for men and women. Get in touch by WhatsApp or email through our contact page, and we’ll confirm availability the same day.
Planning your week
If a hammam on the last afternoon sounds like the right way to finish, look at the Surf & Yoga Week and our other surf weeks. New to the water? Start with our surf lessons. Bringing your own board? You can still rent a wetsuit or surf-skate. For days out of the water, from Moroccan cooking to Paradise Valley and the Agadir souk, see our activities.