PHOTO: 44 ༡ ENCHANTING TRAVELS BORDEAUX WINE BATH/ VINOTHERAPY Where: Bordeaux, France The Experience: Pioneered by Les Sources de Caudalie in Bordeaux, the wine capital of the world, a wine bath involves soaking in an oversized wooden barrel filled with warm water infused with grape extracts and essential oils. Due to the high levels of polyphenols and antioxidants in grape extracts, vinotherapy is believed to offer remarkable skin- smoothing and toning benefits. The visual element of experiencing this amid lush vineyards makes this wine-themed treatment indulgent and utterly luxurious. TURKISH HAMMAM EXPERIENCE Where: Istanbul, Türkiye The Experience: Dating back to the Ottoman Empire, the hammam is a ritual of cleansing and renewal. At the Ayasofya Hürrem Sultan Hammami in Istanbul, a Turkish hammam experience unfolds in a 16th-century bathhouse. Central to this experience is the göbektaşı, a heated marble slab on which participants are scrubbed to exfoliate their skin. This is followed by immersion in a luxurious foam cloud. The experience ends in a cool-down chamber, often with tea, leaving the body cleansed, circulation stimulated, and the mind reset and energized. SEVEN-STEP ICELANDIC RITUAL Where: Sky Lagoon, Reykjavik, Iceland The Experience: A modern interpretation of Iceland’s geothermal bathing traditions, the Seven Step Skjól Ritual is a step- by-step bathing circuit at Sky Lagoon, a geothermal spa set on the outskirts of Reykjavik. Each stage takes you through a variety of environments. Sink into the warm geothermal lagoon that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean; its waters are rich in silica and sulfur and known for their physiological and mental health benefits. The mix of hydrotherapy, thermotherapy, and contrast therapy is known to benefit circulation, skin, and mental health. Anakato Nubian House White foam in a hammam Hürrem Sultan Hammami, Istanbul Sky Lagoon sauna Seaweed baths at the Cliff House Hotel, Ireland 44 ༡ ENCHANTING TRAVELS
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