Many riads and hotels, particularly in Marrakech, have opened small spa retreats with stylish Moorish surroundings, offering a host of traditional and oriental treatments to revitalise body, mind and soul.

You can indulge yourself relaxing and de-stressing, using a combination of traditional treatments. Hammam (steam bath), gommage (body scrub), massages with perfumed essential oils and other restorative treatments are all designed to induce lasting well-being.

A Moroccan hammam

The hammam evokes all that is most sensuous about Moroccan culture. A series of leisurely hot, cold and steam baths is accompanied by scrubbing to deep cleanse the skin and then massage to fully relax the body. In all this the most wonderful fragrances are used; the skin may be rinsed with rose or orange water, organic olive oil soap is provided, and essential oils: argan, laurel, citrus, cedar wood, patchouli or sandalwood are used in the massage to induce deep relaxation.

Argan Oil

Unique to Morocco, the argan tree grows only in the countryside around Essaouira and is the source of argan oil, laboriously extracted from the nuts of its fruit by local Berber women, who have used it as a beauty product for hundreds of years. It has huge antioxidant properties, as well as antiwrinkle and anti-inflammatory action. Nutritionally it is also very beneficial, particularly on salads and mixed with honey.

Henna

For their wedding preparations, Berber women decorate their hands and feet with henna, as it said to attract baraka – good luck for their marriage. Each tribe has its own patterns, and for the best results the paste must stay on all night. Most riads can arrange for a local woman to paint henna designs. Carefully applied and looked after, it will make a wonderful souvenir of your visit to Morocco.

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