Here’s how it goes:
At reception, you choose the scrub-and-foam package and pay. They give you a private changing cubicle, where you undress—you can keep your underwear or bikini bottoms on—and wrap yourself in the peştemal they provide. You lock up your things and put the key around your wrist.
Then they take you into the hot marble room. You spread your wrap over the big heated marble slab in the middle, called the göbektaşı, and lie down for about 15–20 minutes to warm up and soften your skin.
An attendant comes over and takes you to sit beside a marble basin, called a kurna. Then comes a thorough scrub with a rough mitt. Don’t be embarrassed by the dead skin rolling off; it happens to everyone. They rinse you with bowls of warm water.
Next, they use a cloth bag to cover you in a huge cloud of soap bubbles. A bit more rubbing, a wash and a final rinse, and you feel like the cleanest person on earth.
They hand you a dry towel, and you head out to stretch out on the lounge benches with a cold sparkling water or an ayran. When you’re ready, you get dressed in your cubicle and leave a cash tip of around 10–15% for the attendant on your way out.
Nobody’s inspecting your body or judging you. Go and enjoy it!
