Amangiri Resort
Where the states of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona meet lies a region known as the Four Corners – a region which boasts one of the most dramatic landscapes in all of the USA. Scored by deep canyons and dominated by towering plateaus, it has been home for centuries to the native Navajo and Hopi tribes, and is now also home to Amans’ second US property, following on from Amangani in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Amangiri, meaning ‘peaceful mountain’ promises to provide guests unrivalled levels of comfort as well as unprecedented access to the region’s geographic, historic and cultural marvels.
Located close to the border with Arizona in Canyon Point, Southern Utah, Amangiri is tucked into a protected valley with sweeping views over colourful, stratified rock towards the Grand Staircase – Escalante National Monument. Just a 25-minute drive from the nearest town of Page, Arizona and a 15-minute drive to the shores of Lake Powell, Amangiri is ideally placed for day trips to the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Colorado River and Bryce and Zion National Parks.
The resort’s setting is breathtaking. Amangiri is cradled by massive 200-million-year-old mesas and rock formations that present extraordinary desert vistas – dusted pink and ash at sunrise, various shades of gold throughout the day and a medley of spectacular rose hues at sunset. Located some 4,000 feet above sea level, the region’s arid conditions support unique desert vegetation. The ecosystem surrounding Amangiri encompasses a remarkable diversity of plants and animal species. The region is home to a variety of endangered species, including the California condor, and fossils dating back more than 160 million years attest to the area’s wealth of dinosaurs in the distant past.
Set on a 243-hectare (600-acre) expanse of wilderness, Amangiri is reached via a winding road that descends into the valley and leads to the resort’s central Pavilion. Designed to blend into the landscape with natural materials and textures featured, Amangiri provides an intimate setting from which to appreciate the resort’s majestic surroundings. 34 guest suites and the 2,322-square metre (25,000-square feet) Aman Spa are housed in two elegant wings which extend north and south from the Pavilion. With white stone floors and concrete walls that reflect the colours of the American Southwest, each suite has uninterrupted panoramic views of the desert and features a private entrance courtyard, a combined bedroom and living area, a sky-lit dressing room, a roomy bathroom with views from the sunken bath tub and a desert lounge with central fireplace. Pool Suites, Terrace Pool Suites and the Girijaala and Amangiri Suites also offer private pools and secluded outdoor sky terraces, ideal both for daytime relaxation and night-time star gazing.
The centrepiece of Amangiri is the Pavilion which is reached via flights of wide, gentle steps. Its desert- coloured stone and concrete is counterpointed by splashes of scarlet tenting: red is the traditional colour of celebration for the Navajo. With dramatic views of rock formations and the desert to one side, and panoramic views of the surrounding plateaus to the other, the Pavilion houses the Living Room (three spacious alcoves with fireplaces, cosy seating and incredible views), the Gallery (showcasing the region’s best art, jewellery and handicrafts), the Library and the Dining Room. Through floor-to-ceiling glass doors the Dining Room leads onto the pool terrace which overlooks the swimming pool. Set in a sunken courtyard, the pool wraps around a giant outcrop of rock and finishes with a hot tub which sits at the base of a rock wall.
The design of Amangiri is inspired by the natural elements of wind, water, earth and fire. Shafts of sunlight stream into the resort’s interiors through panoramic windows and strategically placed skylights. The sound of water is a soothing constant in the Pavilion, as in the surrounding slot canyons. The resort features more than 50 indoor and outdoor fireplaces – throughout the Pavilion and the Aman Spa, in every suite, around the pool and in outdoor entertainment areas. At night, Amangiri’s exteriors are subtly lit so as not to compromise the vast star-filled night sky as nature intended. The Desert Lounge beyond the Pavilion is an open-air living room and the ideal venue for star-gazing.
Because of its location, Amangiri guests are able to discover some of America’s most magnificent scenic locations. A comprehensive program of tours, desert activities, boating, fly-fishing, hiking, horse-riding and cultural explorations has been developed by archeologists, biologists, historians and adventure experts.
