We're taking you inside the Arasan Spa & Bathhouse in Almaty, Kazakhstan, for one of the most interesting spa experiences we've ever had! We break down the Russian banya, Finnish sauna, steam rooms, and pools, how to navigate a communal (and nude!) bathhouse, and our nearly 2-hour spa package with a body scrub, seaweed wrap, and a massage from a Kazakh lady who does not hold back.

Highlights of this episode:

• What the Arasan Bathhouse is

• Tips: finding the right entrance, how pricing works, and what to bring

• Bathhouse etiquette (yes, it's nude)

• Finnish sauna vs. Russian banya vs. steam room

• The venik ritual

• The swimming pools (bring a swim cap)

• Eastern/Turkish hammam

• Spa services: massages, peels, wraps & packages

• Our "Tales of Maghreb" package: body peel, seaweed wrap & massage

Hotels in Almaty we recommend:

• Rahat Palace - where we stayed; big atrium, pool, hot tub, sauna & steam room 

• The Ritz-Carlton, Almaty - home of the Sky Lounge, Vista, and Le Petit Chef 

• InterContinental Almaty by IHG

• Holiday Inn Almaty 

Stay connected with an e-SIM from Airalo and check out our Kazakhstan Viator Experiences for all activities we recommend and even some we wanted to do but couldn't get to.

Find a great flight deal with Thrifty Traveler Premium's flight deals. Use our promo code TSP to get $20 off your first year subscription.

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