Guide
What is kese?
Kese (pronounced keh-seh) is the traditional scrub at the heart of a Turkish bath: once the sauna and steam have warmed you, an attendant scrubs you from head to toe with a coarse mitt that is also called a kese. In the Basic Hamam in Belek it comes after the steam room and before the foam treatment, and it is included in the €25 price.
Updated Friday, 25 September 2026
The mitt and the scrub
A kese is a mitt of coarse, rough-woven fabric. The attendant slips it over one hand and scrubs you with long, firm strokes — back, arms, legs, all over. In a traditional hamam you lie on warm marble while this happens. The purpose is exfoliation: taking away the top layer of dead skin that everyday washing leaves behind.
Why the heat comes first
The sauna and the steam room are there for a reason: warm, damp skin is much easier to scrub than cool, dry skin, which is why every Turkish bath puts the heat first and the kese second.
What it feels like
Brisk and firm. The kese is a scrub, not a massage, and first-timers are often surprised by how thorough it is. If the pressure is uncomfortable, tell the attendant.
Before your kese
- Eat only a light meal beforehand and do not drink alcohol before your session.
- With a skin condition, a recent operation or an injury, speak to your doctor first and tell the hamam before your session.
- Keep your swimwear on — it is worn throughout.
Where the kese fits in the Basic Hamam
Sauna and steam room → kese → foam treatment → a basic aromatic oil massage of about 20 minutes → time to relax. The whole visit, including the return transfer from your Belek hotel, takes about 2 to 3 hours. The order and timing inside the hamam can vary with the hamam and the day.
Book the Basic Hamam in Belek
€25 per adult, return hotel transfer included. You see the final price before you confirm, and you pay on the day.