Many visitors to Turkey have misconceptions about Turkish baths and do not know what to expect. For this reason we will go into more detail of this enjoyable experience. You will be provided with a "Pestemal" which is a large fringed garment, normally striped or checked and made of cotton that you wrap around your body. You have to bring your bathing a bathing suit. The bather enters the sweating area or "Hararet" where there is a low marble platform called the "Gobek Tasi" which is heated.
He or she spends some time relaxing on this platform. Around this area, there are normally open cubicles with marble basins called "Kurne". After you have perspired, you can either bath yourself by sitting near the basin and filling it with hot water, then dipping the "Tas" which is a bowl, traditionally of copper or brass having grooves and ornamentation, and pouring it over yourself, or you may request the attendant to scrub you with a "Kese" which is normally a coarse mitt made of natural fibers.
This process results in deep skin cleaning and a feeling of refreshment after the bath, but note that it can take off layers of your carefully achieved suntan. Both scrubbing by the attendant, and a massage are optional features of the Turkish bath and cost extra. You may stay in the hamam as long as you like, but generally an hour is enough. Make sure that you get plenty of fluids and let yourself cool down before going outside.
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