TURKISH BATH AND SPA TOUR
The arts and crafts related to Turkish Bath
Massage, Thermal baths, facials, relaxation
Oct. 15,2008 - Oct 25, 2008

If you are stressed out tired, or want to have fun with your friends at a place where time seems like have stopped, try a Turkish Bath. The Romans had grapes in one hand and wine in the other while they were enjoying their baths 2,000 years ago.When you are in Rome do like the Romans. When you are in Turkey, bath like the Turks have for centuries.

Pause here to read a fascinating History of Turkish Baths.

The process starts in the "Hot" room. The Romans called it the calderium, the Turks call it the SICAKLIK. Just sit on the marble and pour water over yourself. As you relax with the moderate heat (not as hot as sauna) and water, it seems like it is only natural to start singing. They say that any voice will sound good under the dome of the Turkish bath.

The copper bowls with a little dimple in the middle will clack on the marble once in a while. The sound will be like a percussion in a badly conducted orchestra. But soon you will be so relaxed even that sound will not bother you. When the skin is softened enough you will move to your next spot. The big marble set in the middle of the bath is called the Navel Stone. Lay on it and let your body be treated by the expert hands.

You will be scrubbed with a " kese." The dead skin will come out like tootsy rolls. Then you will be soaped and massaged. When the washing part is finished the pleasure of being in the Turkish bath is not finished yet. You will be wrapped in colourful Pestemals (Turkish Towel). While you are sitting in the cold part of the bath, the frigidarium, you will be served tea to complete the most relaxing experience in your life.

You will smell the clean smell of the olive oil soap and your skin will fell like a baby when you leave the hundreds of years old Turkish bath. If ladies want to color their hair with henna (pictured in the cup), a Turkish bath is the right place to do it

If this were a text for a riddle the question could have been, "name at least seven things that you would see people making if you were taking a Turkish Bath tour and also try to see related crafts of Turkey."

The answer would have been, "we will see marble workers making basins. We will see weavers making towels and pestemals. We will visit olive orchards and family run soap factories. We will buy henna from the Spice market where henna has been sold for 800 years and more.

Spices displayed in the Istanbul Spice Market

Tour Dates

 Oct. 15,2007  -  Nov. 25, 2008

Cost of this tour is US $ 2.500.-
See below for details.

Reserve seats on any Melitour  tour without obligation

PRE OR POST TOUR ARRANGEMENT
We can suggest itineraries for those who want to explore on their own or with a guide before or after the tour. Simply send us an e-mail with your request.

Itinerary

Day 1 - Oct 15
The tour starts with a group meeting in Istanbul in the lobby of Hotel Ayasofya at 5:00 PM. After a short group meeting visit the Blue Mosque
Dinner at a nearby resturant  Overnight at Hotel Ayasofya

Day 2 - Oct. 16
Istanbul has been a capital for three empires. The visits to The Cistern, The Church of St. Sophia and The Chora Church will reveal this unique city's glorious past. The Spice Market (MISIR CARSISI) was the end of the Silk Road where spices, essential oils and herbs of Asia were distributed to their final destination in Europe. There we will see the best of the henna, the biggest variety of oils and rose water being sold next to natural sponges, hand woven kese (used in Turkish baths for scrubbing) and herbs.
Dinner at a fish restaurant in the historic district of the old city
Overnight at Hotel Ayasofya

Day 3 - Oct. 17
Three hour Drive to Bursa.
Bursa was the capital of the Ottoman Empire before the capital was moved to Istanbul. The imperial nature of the town becomes more exciting with the crowded, lively markets where the famous Turkish Towels, keses, copper bowls and olive oil soap is being sold.
Our Hotel tonight is built on the spring of the natural hot waters. Enjoy the stupendous pools of the hotel where you will go back to the early Ottoman time while you are enjoying the curative waters of this spa.
Overnight at Gonlu Ferah Hotel which is the oldest, the most popular hotel in Bursa for its excellent Turkish baths.

The Hotel Chart

All rooms are double occupancy