Arasan Wellness & SPA — Attraction in Almaty

This is quite an experience! It's a big complex, and it took me a moment to figure out where to go – definitely head for the main spa entrance if you want access to everything, including the pool (for ladies). Just a heads-up: even if you're booking a specific spa treatment like a massage or facial, you first need to get access to the steam, sauna, and jacuzzi area, and that's an extra cost. So, you're essentially paying for two things – the general access and then the specific service you choose. Once inside (at least in the ladies' section), it's like a maze of relaxation! There are tons of rooms – different types of baths and steam rooms (Russian, Eastern), saunas, cold water buckets for the brave, showers, a swimming pool area, and cosmetology rooms. Then there's a common area for things like Moroccan baths and separate private rooms for massages. You could easily spend hours exploring all the options. There's a similar setup for men with Russian and eastern steam baths, cold buckets, and open massage and bathing areas (But no swimming pool). Now, for a word of caution – this is a nude spa. So, you're expected to be comfortable without clothing, or if you must wear something, it needs to be waterproof. If that's not your thing, then this might not be the place for you. But if you're open to it, I honestly think it's worth every penny. You get a lot for what you pay, and the whole steam, sauna, massage combo is fantastic. The ladies' side even has a restaurant for drinks and food, which is a nice touch. Just be aware that English isn't widely spoken by the staff inside. The reception might have some English speakers, so make sure they clearly understand and communicate what services you've booked. Also, they don't take reservations in advance. You just show up, and if they have availability, you're good to go. Once inside, it's a bit like picking and choosing services based on who's available at the moment. Lockers are provided as part of the entry fee, and they have slippers and towels for rent if you don't bring your own. The ambience is definitely more on the traditional side – think communal bathing with local women and men (in their respective sections) rather than a dimly lit, luxurious spa with soft music. It's more about the experience of the treatments and the communal aspect. Photography isn't allowed inside, so keep that in mind. Overall, I'd still give Arasan Wellness & SPA a 5/5 for the experience it offers and the quality of the treatments. The location is great (5/5), the service was good (4/5 – just the language barrier was a minor issue), and the ambience, while not fancy, was part of the unique...

This place has the potential to be amazing, but it's let down by lazy staff and a money-grabbing attitude. We were warmly greeted by an English-speaking receptionist who helped us choose the massage we wanted and explained the system with timing in the saunas. We chose a general massage and paid for an hour in the saunas; because we paid for both, we got a deal for unlimited time in the saunas. Great! We went to get changed, and entered the bath houses where our masseur showed us around and said he'll come and get us in 30 minutes. We tried the Russian sauna first and were immediately accosted by a man trying to hit us with dried branches. We politely said no, but he wouldn't leave us alone - he literally followed us from sauna to sauna for 30 minutes until we went for our massage, meaning we had no time alone and couldn't enjoy the spa. The massage was terrible. There was no anatomical skill involved, the man was literally hitting me and pounding me with his elbow - it was agony. When I asked him to stop because it was too painful, he just said "okay, okay" and then carried on exactly the same. As I mentioned above, we paid for a general massage and he had no idea what this was - instead, he decided to give us a "peeling massage" even after we said no, that's not what we ordered (in Russian). This involved him scrubbing our entire bodies with what felt like a dish-sponge it was so coarse. This went on for 25 minutes before he resumed beating us with his hands and elbows. At the end of the massage, we were told the peeling massage was an extra 5,000 tenge. No one mentioned this to us! It seems to be a common custom in Kazakhstan to offer something seemingly for free, then after it's been used/consumed, name the extortionate price. After all this, we went back to the sauna to try to relax but were again harassed by the man trying to whip us with birch branches. There is also no free drinking water available and you're not allowed to bring your own in - you have to go up to the bar and pay for a bottle.

Overall, this place is a huge rip-off and a scam. I absolutely would not recommend...

The place was an easy find. As soon as we entered a lady welcomed us and explained everything as we were first timers. We took 1 hour stay and which was 1800 Tenge as it was morning and weekday. And there was an offer if we book another service worth 5000tenge our stay will be made unlimited. As we also booked a massage our stay was unlimited. We took slippers 300 tenge and towel 700 tenge for rent. As we were leaving by evening flight we didn’t want to wet our own towels. They give you a bracelet which will act as your locker key and anything you access inside will be billed to that. Went to the lockers and got into the towel. Most of them were roaming naked. But we can keep our briefs. Had a 5min steam bath and I could not stay longer as my ears were burning with heat. Came out had a bath and went for the massage. Later after coming out came to know that there will be head protectors which will protect the head from the steam. It’s better to buy one if you want to enjoy the steam for a longer time. After the massage went and enjoyed the TURKISH steam, Finnish Steam, Russian steam. Swam in the pool for some time. Spent some time in the wooden tub kind of thing and came out fresh. It was good experience. One should...