Marrakesh has long been on my travel “bucket list” and seeing as though I’m not heading to there anytime soon, I figured a good consolation would be to enjoy a Moroccan inspired treatment at the Miraj Hammam Spa by Caudalie Paris located on the fifth floor of Toronto’s Shangri-La Hotel. Within this expansive 9,000 sqft, otherworldly oasis, patrons can enjoy unique body and face treatments by the spa’s highly trained staff using Caudalie Paris products – known for their anti-oxidant properties.

I began my afternoon with an hour long tea service in the hotel’s heavenly smelling lobby lounge. I would like to consider myself somewhat of a high tea connoisseur and for the past couple of years has been my favourite high-tea service in the city. After noshing on delectable treats and a lavender custom tea blend from Pluck Teas I was welcomed by the spa’s warm staff and immediately escorted to the lavish change room to begin prepping for my Hammam and Gommage treatment. After dressing in a traditional sarong, I was then guided into a private Jerusalem gold marble steam room, infused with an intense amount of Eucalyptus. This Eucalyptus was used to help me detoxify, relax and help open up my respiratory passage.

My treatment commenced in the High Intensity steam chamber, set at 115 degrees, for a 15 minute detoxification. This was then followed by a 15 minute body exfoliation in the Low Intensity area with a temperature set at 105 degrees. Here I lay on a large marble slab and used my sarong as a protective layer between myself and the slab, while my informative and sweet therapist Kassie (you must request her, she is a dream) exfoliated my body from head to toe using traditional black Moroccan soap…infused with Eucalyptus and made with an olive oil base.  This black soap mixture helps in drawing out more toxins, allowing my skin to be fully prepped for maximum exfoliation and was applied with a “Kessa” mitt. The mitt is somewhat of a traditional exfoliation glove used to remove dead skin cells, leaving behind nothing but new, smooth and rejuvenated skin.  I had to fight to stay awake to ask my questions about this procedure because I was literally being rubbed into a dream-like state. Once the exfoliation was finished, my body was hosed down and I was able to see the copious amounts of dead skin cells that collected on the sarong. I highly suggest adding the Rhassoul Clay Body Masque following the exfoliation. It is a stimulating mineral rich clay that leaves your body feeling invigorated and more nourished.

If Hammam steam baths are not your thing, not to worry. Miraj Caudalie has a wide variety of body, facial, massage, hand & feet treatments and they even do St Tropez tan applications. After finishing off my treatment I chilled out in the Miraj Relaxation Lounge. Here guests can enjoy delicious Baklava and fresh grapes which is served with the spa’s exclusive Black Moroccan Chai Mint tea blend, which will have you begging the staff for some to take home. Unfortunately, this is specially imported by the head office in Vancouver and is not available for sale. My Miraj Hammam Experience was truly wonderful and will forever change the way I spa in the future!

Additional MUST-KNOWS about Miraj Hammam Spa…

• Spa guests spending $150 or more on services are granted free access to the Shangri-La’s fitness centre and pool *The pool was ranked one of the top 10 hotel pools in the world by Conde Nast.
• The relaxation lounge also includes a sun deck in which patrons can dine on lunch or sun tan during the Summer months.
• Reservations can easily be made via the spa’s online reservation system.
• Extended hours Monday-Saturday 9am to 9pm and Sunday 9am-7pm making it easy for even the busiest of clients to find time to unwind
• Valet parking available at the Shangri-La Hotel