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Traditional Hammam in Marrakech — Price, Ritual & Booking at Riad Vendôme
the steam bath of the Riad Vendôme is a traditional hammam Moroccan private. The ritual includes: eucalyptus-infused steam (15 min), beldi black soap scrub (15 min), ghassoul or rhassoul clay mask (10 min), and an orange water rinse. Total duration: 45 minutes. From £48/person. Available for coupthe and private groups.
The traditional Moroccan hammam is far more than a simple steam bath — it is an ancient purification ritual passed down from generation to generation. At Riad Vendôme, we perpetuate this ancestral tradition in a private hammam built with marble and tadelakt, equipped with a professional steam generator. Organic black soap scrub, rhassoul from the Middle Atlas body wrap, argan oil massage — each step uses 100% natural Moroccan products. From £48 per person.
What Is a Traditional Moroccan Hammam?
The word "hammam" comes from the Arabic حمّام meaning "hot bath". Present in Morocco for over a thousand years, the steam bath is as much a social institution as a beauty ritual. Traditionally, Moroccans visit the public hammam once or twice a week — it's a place of meeting, purification and relaxation that punctuates daily life. the steam bath is an integral part of Moroccan wedding preparations (the bride visits the day before the ceremony) and important rites of passage.
The traditional hammam is fundamentally different from a Finnish sauna or a Turkish bath. Where the sauna uses dry heat at 80–100°C, the Moroccan hammam produces moist steam at 40–50°C — much gentler on the skin and respiratory system. This steam, often infused with eucalyptus or orange, gently opens the pores and prepares the skin for the scrub that follows.
The 4 Steps of the steam bath Ritual at Riad Vendôme
Step 1 — The steam bath (10–15 minutes). You enter our private marble and tadelakt hammam (a traditional hand-polished lime plaster). The professional steam generator maintains an atmosphere at 40–45°C humidity. The steam, infused with eucalyptus or orange as you prefer, penetrates your pores and deeply relaxes your muscles. You feel the soothing heat enveloping your body — stress begins to melt away.
Step 2 — The scrub with black soap and kessa (15-20 minutes). This is the heart of the ritual. Our beautician applies organic black soap, a rich paste made from black olives from the Fès region, packed with vitamin E. After a few minutes, she performs the kessa glove scrub: a rough crepe mitt that, through vigorous expert strokes, removes dead skin cells in visible rolls on your skin. It is spectacular and deeply satisfying — your skin emerges incredibly smooth and soft.
Step 3 — Rhassoul clay body wrap (15–20 minutes, optional). Rhassoul (or ghassoul) is a saponiferous clay unique in the world, extracted from mines in the Moulouya Valley of the Moroccan Middle Atlas. Used since the 8th century, it's the only natural mineral to simultaneously contain silica, magnesium, iron, zinc and potassium. Applied as a full-body wrap, it purifies, remineralises and tightens the pores. After 10 minutes, a rinse with lukewarm water reveals fresh, radiant skin.
Step 4 — La relaxation and the mint tea. After the final rinse, you're wrapped in a warm towel and invited to the patio or terrace for fresh mint tea and Moroccan pastries. This rest period is essential: your body absorbs the ritual's benefits, your circulation normalises, and a sensation of profound serenity settthe in.
Private Hammam vs Public Hammam: Which to Choose? +212 600 608 608
The public hammams of Marrakech (Bab Doukkala, Mellah, Mouassine) offer an immersive cultural experience at low prices (£5–15). You share the space with locals in an authentic atmosphere but with minimal comfort: no private changing area, you must bring your own supplies, cleanliness varies, and staff may not speak English or French. The private hammam at Riad Vendôme offers the same architectural authenticity (marble, tadelakt, traditional vaults) with every modern comfort: professional steam generator, organic products provided, fresh linens, qualified bilingual beautician, and total privacy (3 to 6 guests maximum). It's the best of both worlds — particularly recommended for a first experience.
The Proven Benefits of the Traditional Hammam
the steam bath is more than a moment of pleasure — it's a recognised therapeutic treatment. The moist steam stimulates blood circulation and helps eliminate toxins through perspiration. The black soap scrub removes 3 times more dead skin cells than a standard cosmetic exfoliant, activating cell renewal and revealing fresh, radiant skin. The rhassoul, rich in minerals, remineralises the skin and tightens dilated pores. The final argan oil massage nourishes and protects the skin for several days thanks to its high concentration of vitamin E and essential fatty acids.
On a mental level, the steam bath induit a condition de deep relaxation comparable to the meditation. The gentle heat, the partial darkness, the parfums of eucalyptus and the contact humain of the scrub activent the system nerveux parasympathique and reduce significativement the cortisol (hormone of the stress). Our clients rbringent unanimement a improvement of the quality of the sommeil from the night suivant their session.
Rates of the steam bath at Riad Vendôme
| Treatment | Duration | Price / pers. |
|---|---|---|
| Hammam + scrub black soap | 30 min | 25 £ |
| Hammam + scrub + body wrap rhassoul | 45 min | 35 £ |
| Hammam + 1hr massage | 1hr30 | 45 £ |
| Pack complete (hammam + rhassoul + 1hr massage) | 2hr | 65 £ |
Open every day from 10am to 6pm, riad guests and visiteurs outdoor. Booking 24 hours in advance recommended. Voir tous our rates detailed.
Private Hammam vs Public Hammam: Which to Choose? +212 600 608 608
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a steam bath Moroccan and a sauna ?
Le hammam Moroccan utilise a wet steam to 40-50°C, a lot gentler than a Finnish sauna (dry heat to 80-100°C). the steam bath includes a rituel complete de scrub and de treatments, there where the sauna se limite to the heat. the steam bath is more adapted for peaux sensibles.
the steam bath is it mixte at Riad Vendôme ?
The Riad Vendôme hammam is private: it is reserved exclusively for you and your group (couples, friends, family). There are no shared sessions with other guests. You can come as a couple, with friends or family in complete privacy.
What do I need to bringer for a steam bath ?
At Riad Vendôme, everything is provided: towels, hammam linens, black soap, rhassoul, kessa glove, sandals. You only need to bring your swimsuit. We also provide shower products and mint tea after the session.
The hammam is it adapted for children ?
The hammam is adapted for enfants from 6 ans, with a temperature and a duration reduced. The scrub is carried out more gently. It is an belle experience culturelle to partager with family. The enfants de less than 6 years can enjoy the pool and of the jacuzzi.
How Many Guests Can Use the Hammam at the Same Time?
Our hammam private can accommodate 3 to 6 guests simultaneously. For the groups more importants (hen party, birthdays), we organise of the rotations : while certaines profitent of the hammam, others are in massage or in the jacuzzi.
Le Riad Vendôme is classified by the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism.