# Spa and wellness

The wellness hotels in Sabaro's selection have a full spa: hammam, thalassotherapy or indoor pool, treatment rooms. In Dubai the beach resorts have very large spas, up to the 8,200 m² Talise Ottoman Spa on Palm Jumeirah; in Oman the spa goes with Muscat's beaches or the cool air of the Jebel Akhdar; in Morocco the hammam is a tradition and thalassotherapy is practised on the coast, in Agadir, Tamuda Bay or Casablanca; in Egypt, Soma Bay is the Red Sea's wellness hub. In Tunisia, wellbeing is above all about thalassotherapy, with seawater treatment centres of up to 11,000 m² on Djerba. In Turkey, the grand hotels of Istanbul have their hammams, and Six Senses Kaplankaya, near Bodrum, a 10,000 m² spa.

Source : https://sabaro-travel.com/en/themes/spa-and-wellness/

## The words of wellness

Treatment menus mix Moroccan, Turkish and French terms. These are the ones you meet everywhere.

**The hammam.** The steam bath is a ritual in Morocco. It takes place in a hot room: the steam opens the pores, then come black soap, made from olives, the scrub with a *kessa* glove, which removes dead skin, and often a wrap. The Moroccan National Tourist Office lists ghassoul, henna, black soap, rose water, herbs and green clay among hammam products. At La Mamounia, the most classic hammam combines neroli black soap, the *kessa* and ghassoul. The Steigenberger ALDAU Beach in Hurghada has an Arabic and a Turkish hammam, and a rhassoul bath for two.

**Frankincense.** Oman is the land of frankincense, *luban* in Arabic: the resin of the frankincense tree, *Boswellia sacra*, which grows in Dhofar, in the south of the country, where the harvesting and trading sites are inscribed by UNESCO as the Land of Frankincense. Omani spas make it their signature: the spa at Al Husn, in Muscat, bears its name, and the Guerlain Spa at the St. Regis Al Mouj has built its "Legend of Incense" treatment around it.

**Ghassoul, or rhassoul.** A Moroccan clay from the Atlas, used as a mask for body and hair.

**Thalassotherapy.** Treatments based on seawater and marine elements: jet pools, seaweed wraps, underwater massages. In Morocco, the National Tourist Office presents it as practised under medical supervision, for preventive and curative purposes. The seawater circuit is the heart of a centre: the Thalasso-Tonic at The Cascades in Soma Bay is a 750 m² pool holding 830 m³ of seawater, divided into zones of jets, currents and bubble baths.

**Thermal water.** Near Fez, the Moulay Yacoub spa uses naturally hot sulphurous water: baths, jet showers and a thermal pool. In Aswan, the Benben by Dhara spa has a bath fed by a hot spring.

## The large spas in figures

Size is not everything, but it shows what a spa can offer: several hammams, an indoor pool, treatment rooms for two.

| Spa | Location | Size | Of note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Talise Ottoman Spa, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray | Dubai, Palm Jumeirah | 8,200 m², 42 treatment rooms | 3 hammams, 2 indoor seawater pools, snow rooms |
| Les Thermes Marins des Cascades | Soma Bay | 7,500 m², 65 treatment rooms | 750 m² seawater pool, shared with the Kempinski Soma Bay |
| Michlifen Resort & Golf | Ifrane | 3,500 m², 8 treatment rooms | Separate hammams for women and men, 5 balneotherapy rooms |
| La Mamounia | Marrakesh | 2,500 m², 10 treatment rooms | 2 traditional hammams and 1 private, private spa for two |
| Royal Mansour Marrakech | Marrakesh | 2,500 m² on 3 levels | Private hammam in the larger riads |
| Fairmont Tazi Palace | Tangier | Over 2,500 m², 10 treatment rooms | Vitality pool (relaxation pool with jets) |
| The Spa, Mandarin Oriental Jumeira | Dubai, Jumeirah | 2,000 m², 9 treatment rooms | Hammam, vitality pool, ages 16 and over |
| Fairmont Taghazout Bay | Taghazout | 1,800 m² | Magnesium pool, open day and night to residents |
| Bvlgari Spa | Dubai, Jumeira Bay | 1,700 m², 7 treatment rooms and 1 couples' suite | 25 m indoor pool, hammam |
| Sofitel Rabat Jardin des Roses | Rabat | 1,300 m² | Indoor pool under a glass roof, open 9 am to 9 pm |
| Selman Marrakech | Marrakesh | 1,200 m², 7 treatment rooms | Chenot spa, 3, 5 or 10-day programmes |
| Sofitel Agadir Thalassa Sea & Spa | Agadir | 25 treatment rooms | Four-level seawater circuit, cryotherapy pool |
| Four Seasons Nile Plaza | Cairo | 13 treatment rooms | Indoor pool facing the Nile |
| Talise, Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab | Dubai, Umm Suqeim | 3 levels, 13 treatment rooms | 20 m indoor pool, a women-only floor |
| The Chedi Muscat | Muscat, Ghubra | 13 treatment rooms | Set apart from the resort, between water gardens and beach |
| Guerlain Spa, St. Regis Al Mouj | Muscat, Al Mouj | 11 treatment rooms | Sauna and hammam, separate lounges for men and women |
| Uru Spa, Al Nahda Resort & Spa | Barka, Batinah | 10 treatment rooms | Personal programme drawn up on arrival, Ayurvedic treatments |

## Choosing by type of trip

**A seaside cure.** For a week of treatments, Sabaro recommends a hotel built around its thalasso. On the Red Sea, Soma Bay brings together The Cascades, in the middle of the golf course, and the Kempinski, on a 400 m beach, which share the same centre: golf in the morning, seawater in the afternoon. In Hurghada, the Pure Spa at the Steigenberger ALDAU Beach has its thalassotherapy pool. In Morocco, the Sofitel Agadir Thalassa was built around its institute, and the Riu Tikida Beach, for guests aged 16 and over, has its seawater circuit. On the Mediterranean, the Sofitel Tamuda Bay offers hammam rituals and a heated indoor pool.

**A spa after a day of sightseeing.** In the cities, the spa is where you recover after walking. In Cairo, the Fairmont Nile City has a private hammam and a hydrotherapy circuit, and the Four Seasons Nile Plaza an indoor pool. In Marrakesh, Fez or Tangier, palaces and riads have their hammam: La Mamounia, the Royal Mansour, Les Jardins de la Koutoubia with its Shiseido spa a short walk from Jemaa el-Fna, Palais Faraj and Riad Fès in the Fez medina, Palais Zahia in the Tangier medina. In Luxor, Al Moudira has a domed hammam and therapists from Kerala.

**A big resort spa, in Dubai.** In Dubai the spa is part of the beach resort, and several rank among the largest in the region. On [Palm Jumeirah](/en/dubai/palm-jumeirah/), the Talise Ottoman Spa at [Jumeirah Zabeel Saray](/en/hotels/jumeirah-zabeel-saray/), which the hotel describes as the largest in the Middle East, is laid out like a small neighbourhood: a large Turkish hammam in marble and mosaic, saunas, steam rooms and snow rooms for cooling off between two heats. Across the crescent, [One&Only The Palm](/en/hotels/one-and-only-the-palm/) has the only Guerlain spa in the Emirates, with a hammam called Désert d'Orient and a suite for two. In [Jumeirah](/en/dubai/jumeirah/), the [Mandarin Oriental Jumeira](/en/hotels/mandarin-oriental-jumeira/), the [Bvlgari Resort](/en/hotels/bvlgari-resort-dubai/), the [Four Seasons](/en/hotels/four-seasons-jumeirah-beach/), with ten treatment rooms and an indoor lap pool, and the [Jumeirah Marsa Al Arab](/en/hotels/jumeirah-marsa-al-arab/), its windows facing the Burj Al Arab, each have a full spa. Near the [Marina](/en/dubai/dubai-marina/), every treatment room at [Banyan Tree Dubai](/en/hotels/banyan-tree-dubai/) has its own jacuzzi, and the spa at [Address Beach Resort](/en/hotels/address-beach-resort/), on the 75th floor, is the highest in Dubai according to the hotel. In town, [The Lana](/en/hotels/the-lana-dubai/), in Business Bay, has a five-room Dior spa. In the desert, the [Al Maha](/en/hotels/al-maha/) spa has its infinity pool, hammam and cold plunge pool. The season runs from October to April; the very hot summer is spent mostly indoors. Two city hotels are closed for works, the Armani Hotel and the Park Hyatt, with reopening announced for early 2027.

**Oman, between garden, sea and mountain.** Oman offers two ways to look after yourself. The first is the retreat: at Barka, about 55 km from Muscat airport, [Al Nahda Resort & Spa](/en/hotels/al-nahda-resort-spa/) has 109 suites and villas set in 12 hectares of mango trees; on arrival, a wellness consultant draws up a programme of treatments, yoga and fitness with each guest. The second combines the spa with a tour. In [Muscat](/en/oman/muscat/), the [Chedi](/en/hotels/the-chedi-muscat/) is the calmest address; the [Mandarin Oriental](/en/hotels/mandarin-oriental-muscat/) has a mosaic hammam and a couple's suite with its own hammam; the [St. Regis Al Mouj](/en/hotels/st-regis-al-mouj-muscat/) its Guerlain spa. Then you head up to the [Jebel Akhdar](/en/oman/jebel-akhdar/), at around 2,000 m, where average highs stay between 15 and 20 °C from December to March: the [Anantara](/en/hotels/anantara-al-jabal-al-akhdar/) has five treatment rooms, two of them for couples, an aromatic sauna and a hammam; [Alila Jabal Akhdar](/en/hotels/alila-jabal-akhdar/) a heated outdoor infinity pool and morning yoga; the simpler [Sahab](/en/hotels/sahab-resort-spa/) a small spa. Near Al Hamra, at 1,400 m, the Falak Spa at [The View](/en/hotels/the-view-al-hamra/) offers Ayurvedic treatments facing the valley.

**A retreat in nature.** Outside the cities, the spa goes with walking or yoga: Kasbah Tamadot and Kasbah Bab Ourika in the High Atlas, Michlifen at 1,650 m in Ifrane, the Eden Boutique Hotel in the Dadès valley, Dar al Hossoun in its botanical garden in Taroudant, Paradis Plage, north of Taghazout, with three yoga classes a day. The [Mountains](/en/themes/mountains/) page presents these regions, and the trip idea [Surf, yoga and spa in Taghazout, 7 days](/en/ideas/morocco-surf-yoga-taghazout-7-days/) makes a full stay of it.

## Before booking a treatment

**Minimum age.** Many spas set one: 16 at the Mandarin Oriental Marrakech, the Robinson Club Soma Bay, the Mandarin Oriental Jumeira and Bab Al Shams, in the Dubai desert, 18 at the Fairmont Royal Palm and the Fairmont Nile City, for residents and visitors alike. In Oman, the spa at the Mandarin Oriental in Muscat and the Falak Spa at The View are open from age 16. Families should check this before choosing a hotel for its spa; the [Family holidays](/en/themes/family/) page presents hotels that welcome children.

**Opening hours.** They are given in local time. The ALDAU's Pure Spa opens 9 am to 9 pm, the Oberoi spa at Sahl Hasheesh 9 am to 8 pm, the Fairmont Nile City from 6.30 am.

**Outside visitors.** Some spas welcome guests from other hotels, such as La Mamounia, subject to availability, the Fairmont Taghazout Bay from 10 am to 9 pm, or the Sofitel Tamuda Bay; others, like the Oberoi spa at Sahl Hasheesh, are for residents only. Sabaro recommends booking treatments in advance.

For a treatment for two, the [Honeymoons](/en/themes/honeymoon/) page lists the couples' suites.

## Tunisia: thalassotherapy by the Mediterranean

In Tunisia, wellbeing is above all about thalassotherapy, treatments based on seawater, seaweed and marine mud. Eight hotels selected by Sabaro have a thalassotherapy centre; the guide [Golf and thalassotherapy in Tunisia](/en/guides/golf-thalasso-tunisie/) compares them.

**The large centres.** On [Djerba](/en/tunisia/djerba/), the [Hasdrubal Prestige](/en/hotels/hasdrubal-prestige-djerba/) has an 11,000 m² centre, with 13 private treatment suites and seawater and thermal-water pools. In Yasmine [Hammamet](/en/tunisia/hammamet-cap-bon/), the [Hasdrubal Thalassa & Spa](/en/hotels/hasdrubal-thalassa-yasmine-hammamet/) has 5,500 m², 25 treatment rooms and three seawater pools. In Gammarth, near [Carthage](/en/tunisia/carthage-sidi-bou-said/), [The Residence Tunis](/en/hotels/the-residence-tunis/) has 18 treatment rooms and an indoor seawater pool heated to 30°C all year round. In [Tabarka](/en/tunisia/tabarka/), the centre at [La Cigale](/en/hotels/la-cigale-tabarka/) covers 2,300 m².

**Thalassotherapy with a beach.** Four beach resorts also have their own centre: the [Mövenpick](/en/hotels/movenpick-sousse/) in [Sousse](/en/tunisia/sousse/), the [Iberostar Selection Royal El Mansour](/en/hotels/iberostar-selection-royal-el-mansour/) in [Mahdia](/en/tunisia/mahdia-el-jem/), and the [Iberostar Selection Eolia](/en/hotels/iberostar-selection-eolia-djerba/) and [Radisson Blu Palace](/en/hotels/radisson-blu-palace-djerba/) on Djerba.

**Spas and hammams.** [La Badira](/en/hotels/la-badira/) in Hammamet and [The Residence Douz](/en/hotels/the-residence-douz/), at the gateway to the Sahara, have a Clarins spa; the [Four Seasons](/en/hotels/four-seasons-tunis/) in Gammarth an 11-room spa; [The Mora Sahara Tozeur](/en/hotels/the-mora-sahara-tozeur/) a hammam and separate areas for men and women. In the medina of [Tunis](/en/tunisia/tunis/), the [Palais Bayram](/en/hotels/palais-bayram/) has a traditional domed hammam, and [Dar El Jeld](/en/hotels/dar-el-jeld/) its own hammam. In Nefta, [Dar HI Life](/en/hotels/dar-hi-life-nefta/) offers a sulphurous geothermal hot-water bath and yoga retreats.

## Turkey: large Aegean spas and Istanbul hammams

**The large spas.** Near [Bodrum](/en/turkey/bodrum/), [Six Senses Kaplankaya](/en/hotels/six-senses-kaplankaya/) is a resort devoted to wellness, with a 10,000 m² spa, an indoor pool and hammams; the [Mandarin Oriental, Bodrum](/en/hotels/mandarin-oriental-bodrum/) has a 2,700 m² spa. In Istanbul, on the [Bosphorus](/en/turkey/istanbul-bosphorus/), the spa of the [Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus](/en/hotels/mandarin-oriental-bosphorus/) covers 3,500 m², with three hammams and an indoor pool, and that of the [Four Seasons at the Bosphorus](/en/hotels/four-seasons-bosphorus/) 2,100 m², with hammams in Marmara marble; on the Golden Horn, the Well+ spa at [Aliée Istanbul](/en/hotels/aliee-istanbul/) covers 4,000 m².

**The hammam at the hotel.** In the [old city](/en/turkey/istanbul-historic-peninsula/), every room at [Hagia Sofia Mansions](/en/hotels/hagia-sofia-mansions/) has a Turkish bath, and [AJWA Sultanahmet](/en/hotels/ajwa-sultanahmet/) a spa with hammam and heated indoor pool. In Karaköy, [The Bank Hotel](/en/hotels/bank-hotel-istanbul/) has a white marble hammam; in Beşiktaş, the [Shangri-La](/en/hotels/shangri-la-bosphorus/) a hammam with İznik tiles. In [Cappadocia](/en/turkey/cappadocia/), the [Exedra](/en/hotels/exedra-hotel-cappadocia/) has a 350 m² spa with hammam, and the [Avantgarde Refined Caves](/en/hotels/avantgarde-refined-cappadocia/) a 600 m² spa. In [Antalya](/en/turkey/antalya-kaleici/), the [Akra](/en/hotels/akra-antalya/) has a TheLifeCo spa and a heated indoor pool.

## Frequently asked questions

### Where can I find thalassotherapy?

In Egypt, in Soma Bay (The Cascades and the Kempinski, which share a 7,500 m² centre) and Hurghada (Steigenberger ALDAU Beach). In Morocco, in Agadir (Sofitel Agadir Thalassa, Riu Tikida Beach).

### A spa in Cairo?

The Fairmont Nile City has an 18+ spa with a private hammam and a hydrotherapy circuit; the Four Seasons Nile Plaza a 13-room spa with an indoor pool.

### And in Luxor?

Al Moudira, on the West Bank, has a domed hammam, a sauna and a steam room; the Hilton Luxor and the Jolie Ville also have spas.

### Where can I go for a wellness stay in Oman?

To Al Nahda Resort & Spa, at Barka, for a treatment programme drawn up on site with a consultant. To combine the spa with a tour: the Chedi or the Mandarin Oriental in Muscat, then the Anantara or the Alila on the Jebel Akhdar, at around 2,000 m.

### What is the largest spa in Dubai?

The Talise Ottoman Spa at Jumeirah Zabeel Saray, on Palm Jumeirah: 8,200 m² on two levels, 42 treatment rooms and three hammams. The hotel describes it as the largest in the Middle East.

### What happens in a hammam?

In a hot room, the steam prepares the skin; then come black soap, the *kessa* glove scrub, and often a ghassoul wrap and a massage.

### Where can you do thalassotherapy in Tunisia?

On Djerba, at the Hasdrubal Prestige, whose centre covers 11,000 m²; in Yasmine Hammamet, at the Hasdrubal Thalassa & Spa, 5,500 m²; near Tunis, at The Residence Tunis, whose seawater pool is heated to 30°C all year round.

### Where can you have a wellness break in Turkey?

Near Bodrum, at Six Senses Kaplankaya, whose spa covers 10,000 m²; in Istanbul, at the Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus, 3,500 m² and three hammams, or at Aliée Istanbul, 4,000 m².