A Four Seasons spa tour of Egypt

After a rewarding but intense week soaking in Egypt's 5,000 years, I was in need of some serious down time and a very different kind of immersion. Some Four Seasons spa experiences seemed just what I needed!
First, to Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh, a desert palace on the Red Sea, where I opted for the Cleopatra Treatment. Soon I was submerged in the milky warm waters of the big-enough-for-two, terrazzo-tiled bath, to which honey and the essential oil of rosemary had been added to soothe and soften my skin. Basking in the glow of flickering candles and the fragrance of fresh rose petals, I dreamily contemplated the pleasures of living like a queen.
Entering Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence, I was struck by its tranquil, unhurried feel, such a counterpoint to the city outside. The calm was reinforced as my Papyrus Wrap began. Following an ancient Egyptian purifying ritual, I was lightly covered from top to toe in a pleasurably warm, aromatic balm of mint and honey, then wrapped in papyrus. Body thus cosily cocooned, my mind drifted while I was given first a facial, then a head massage. After rinsing in soft water fragrant with lemon slices and rose petals, my therapist began a full-body massage. I floated away into reverie, the exotic essence of lotus capping all that had come before.


Across the Nile, Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza is a lively city hotel yet surprisingly resort-like, especially the fifth level, where spa and fitness merge with a rooftop terrace of heated pools and private cabanas. I had booked a Pharaonic massage – perfect after my return, laden with the bounty of a morning's excursion to the bazaar. My therapist dipped an aromatic poultice filled with fresh chamomile and mint into warm essential oils, then firmly applied it to my overworked muscles. Soon I was ready for my Swedish massage. Afterwards, I lazed on a soft cotton daybed and gazed out to the Nile.
For my next Egyptian voyage, I'm looking forward to visiting the two-storey spa in Four Seasons Hotel Alexandria at San Stefano, which has recently opened. I've learned that the treatments there have been inspired by the Mediterranean and there are both sunlit and candlelit treatment rooms. Can a spa inspire an entire journey? In my case -- most definitely!
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