Turkey has become a top destination for wellness tourism due to its natural beauty and wellness offerings. Wellness tourism involves visiting the destinations that offer physical, psychological and spiritual well-being. The country’s landscape of mountains, beaches, and forests offers a perfect backdrop for wellness offerings.
Different types of wellness activities offered by Turkey are thermal spas, hammams, yoga retreats and wellness therapies. The country’s hot springs and mineral-rich waters are known for their therapeutic properties. It has antioxidants that have been used for thousands of years to heal various health conditions, like skin and joint problems.
If you are interested in getting the benefits of the thermal hot springs, then you can plan a trip to Turkey. You can fly via Pegasus Airlines, which is the low-cost airline of the country and flies to destinations across Europe, Asia and North Africa.
The best time to visit the country depends on the activities you are interested in and the destination. During Spring (April to June) and Autumn (September to November), there are fewer crowds, thus making them ideal times for wellness activities.
Wellness offerings in Turkey
Thermal springs and mud baths
Turkey’s hot springs and mud baths are known to provide therapeutic properties. The natural hot springs and mud baths of Sivas, Yalova and Dalyan are said to help with arthritis, skin problems and respiratory problems.
Hammams
Turkish hammams are historic bathhouses that offer a combination of massage, steam, and exfoliation, which leave you refreshed and rejuvenated. It includes a series of treatments in a heated room, which are followed by a cold plunge and relaxation.
Yoga retreats
It involves daily yoga sessions, meditations, healthy food and nature activities. The destinations like Fethiye, Cappadocia and Lycian Coast provide a perfect setting for retreats and provide mindfulness, meditation and holistic well-being.
Natural therapies
It includes various natural healing practices like aromatherapy, herbal medicine and traditional massages. These natural healing practices are incorporated into other methods for a holistic approach to health and well-being.
Top hot spring destinations
Ankara – Kizilcahamam
It is located 975 meters above sea level and 85 km from Ankara. The water contains Sodium, Magnesium, Calcium, Chlorine and Bicarbonate. The temperature of the water is around 37 – 47 °C. The water is good for drinking and bathing and offers benefits in the treatment of neuralgia, rheumatism, gynecologic and digestive disorders.
Afyon – Hudayi
It is a small treatment centre located 66 km from Afyon. The water contains Sodium, Calcium, Sulphur, Hydrocarbonate, Bromide, Fluoride, and Carbon dioxide. The temperature of the water is around 75 – 80 °C and radioactive. The water is good for drinking and bathing and offers benefits for skin, rheumatism, gynecologic and digestive problems.
Afyon – Orucoglu
It is located 14 km from Afyon, and the temperature of the water is 49 °C. The water is rich in Sodium Bicarbonate, Carbon dioxide, Sodium Chloride, Fluoride and Bromide. The water offers benefits in problems like sciatica, arthritis, neuritis, disc hernia, lumbago, neuralgia, and osteoporosis. It is also beneficial after surgical treatments and orthopaedic surgery. It benefits patients with skin problems like psoriasis, eating disorders and stomach, intestine, kidney, urinary tract, gall bladder, and gynaecological problems. Patients with muscle and nerve fatigue also benefit from this water. The composition of the water balances the iron ratio and offers rehabilitation in the treatment of hemiplegia.
Afyon – Gazligol
It is located 22 km from Afyon, and the temperature of the water is 40 – 71 °C. The water is beneficial in the treatment of cardiovascular problems, rheumatism, kidney diseases, digestive and intestinal problems, urinary tract and liver problems, metabolism disorders, orthopaedic and skin problems.
Afyon – Omer and Gecek
It is located 15 km from Afyon, and the temperature of the water is 51 – 98 °C. It offers benefits in curing skin ailments, eating problems, rheumatism, cardiovascular problems, joints and arthritis, intestinal and gall bladder problems, neuralgia and gynecologic problems.
Balikesir – Gonen
It is situated to the north of Balikesir, and the temperature of the water is 52 °C. The water contains Sodium, Sulphur, Chloride, Hydrocarbonate and Carbon dioxide. It is suitable for drinking and bathing and is beneficial in liver, rheumatic, dermatological, nervous, and urinary problems.
Bingol – Kos
It is located 20 km from Bingol, and locals and foreigners come here for relaxation and peace of mind. The facility has a hotel, guesthouses and several motels, a tea garden, restaurants, outdoor and indoor pools and a parking lot.
Bolu – Karacasu
It is located 4 km south of Bolu, and the temperature of the water is 44 °C. The water contains Sulphur, Magnesium, Calcium, and Bicarbonate. It offers benefits to the cure of neuralgia, rheumatism, liver and kidney diseases, sciatica and gynecologic problems.
Bursa – Cekirge
Here, most of the hot springs are located both in modern and historic settings. The temperature of the water is 47 – 78 °C. The water contains Sodium, Sulphur, Calcium, Bicarbonate and Magnesium. It is suitable for drinking and bathing treatments and offers benefits for post-operative problems, rheumatism, dermatological problems, gynecologic problems, and metabolism.
Bursa – Oylat
It is located 27 km south of Bursa, and the water is very warm. The spring water is heated to 10 °C and the steam bath to 40 °C. The water contains Calcium, Bicarbonate, Sulphur, Hydrogen ions and Iron. It has diuretic properties, and drinking and bathing in the water provides a relaxing and sedative effect.
Sivas – Balikli (Yilanli ) Cermik
This spa is located 17 km northeast of Kangal in the Sivas province. The temperature of the water is 36 °C. It contains Calcium, Magnesium and Bicarbonate. The most unique thing is that there are small fish in the water, which play an important role in the treatment of psoriasis. It offers benefits for skin diseases, rheumatism, arterial sclerosis and gynecologic problems.
Yalova
The hot spring is situated 11 km southwest of Yalova, and the temperature of the water is 57 – 60 °C. The water contains Sodium, Calcium and Sulphur. It is suitable for drinking and bathing, and benefits urinary and nervous problems, rheumatism, and gynecologic problems. It also helps in controlling cholesterol and lipid levels.