There is a sacred bonding of soul and soil that happens at the Amangiri, a profound weaving of our own heartbeats and the pulse of the ancient land encircling it. Rising out of the strawberry blonde sand in the untouched southern Utah desert is a beacon for rejuvenation and respite.
The resort itself is a powerful invocation of crisp architectural lines and a concrete open concept that never lets you forget the privilege of being among the multimillion-year-old mesas. The 34 suites reflect the resort’s natural surroundings, with punctuations of art and pottery from indigenous artists at the forefront of all common spaces. The king-size bed is pointed directly at the ceiling-high glass accordion doors that frame the sandstone formations on the horizon. After taking one of the daily morning hikes or to just kick start your day of rest, indulge in twin rain showers or the soaking tub while taking in the sprawling views of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Park. To add an extra layer of indulgence, the Amangiri, Mesa, and Girijaala suites offer private pools for secluded dips.
If you need more room to spread out and want to dig deeper into the unbridled wilderness, Camp Sarika is a five-minute car ride from the main property. Designed to channel the rugged safari adventure feel, 10 spacious tented pavilions — each with its own private plunge pool — are temperature controlled and come with amenities like sun loungers and outdoor showers for an intimate experience in the wild.
The flicker of candles and symphony of chimes greet you at the threshold of the Navajo-inspired spa. The tranquil melding of the elements offers a holistic approach to the treatments, be it a Utah salt-and-clay body wrap, Aman Advanced Facial with Nourishing Gold & Algae masks, or aqua shiatsu. Entrenched in the desert landscape, find clarity in the plunge pool or heated step pool. Let the stress from your routine back home melt away in the spa’s top of the line sauna, steam room, and cold plunge. For elevated comfort while staying at Camp Sarika, take a wellness journey within the privacy of your pavilion. Personalized bodywork, soothing sound-bowl singing, or even a half day of perfectly curated healing treatments, from meditation to aqua yoga, are at your fingertips for experiences free of distractions.
Climbing among layers of time and millions of years of sandstone, Amangiri maintains a large network of Via Ferrata hikes, an Italian method of climbing that dates back to World War I. Seasoned guide and historian Kyle Davis of Adventure Partners trapezes guests through the mesas and over suspension bridges for breathtaking vantage points of the landscape and a boost of self-confidence that anyone can climb a mountain. To maintain the ribbon of Zen that’s tied around a stay at Amangiri, opt for yoga on the rocks — a short hike to the top of a rock formation in the desert for a one-of-a-kind spiritual experience high above the valley floor. Views of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument set the scene for fitness and yoga specialist, Connie Beingessner, to guide a personalized movement session focused on breathing patterns, using the visual reference of the horizon for deeper balance and interconnection.
Rising out of the strawberry blonde sand in the untouched southern Utah desert is a beacon for rejuvenation and respite.
Gazing out across the plains through floor-to-ceiling windows on one side, and a view of the rock formation encircled swimming pool on the other, the resort’s main restaurant sports an open-plan kitchen and wood-fired oven. Focused on local ingredients, particularly the meat, and taking inspiration from American Southwest cuisine, the menu tempts with crispy bison spring rolls, flaky Colorado River rainbow trout, and a raspberry Breton with a vanilla mousse so light it violates multiple laws of physics. The four-course “Spirit of the Journey” tasting menu with matched wines pays gastronomic tribute to the five indigenous tribes of the region, and the pillowy Navajo fry bread with tender bison short rib makes a valiant effigy. For a gourmand experience in the shadow of the Colorado Plateau, settle into the dinner service at Camp Sarika, where the menu changes nightly, multiple ingredients are forged by the executive chef hours earlier, and only 35 reservations are taken per service.
In a hallowed place, the Amangiri recognizes the sanctity of its surroundings and the importance of respecting the journey.
In a hallowed place, the Amangiri recognizes the sanctity of its surroundings and the importance of respecting the journey. Interwoven into the lush flourishes, there is always the theme of disconnecting and centering. Around every corner is the crescendo of running water, a rhythmic beat that grounds guests with every drop. There is an iron-clad sense of place at the Amangiri, where even the most mundane moment is a part of a greater tapestry. The stillness comes naturally and is essential to behold, even if it’s only taken sitting on the cushioned terrace, a demitasse of espresso in hand, in the 20-minute window before the sun paints color and light across the American Southwest. Under an endless sky, the raw 185-million-year-old landscape sticks to your bones, gently expanding your lungs and mind to a lightness only possible when we relinquish control to the transformative panoply of stars above.
Seasonal rates begin at $4,200/night.
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