Amangiri, Arizona and Las Vegas

rooms

There aren't 'standard' rooms at Amangiri; the vast landscape is matched by thirty-four sumptuous suites, all with a variety of views that will take your breath away. Guests will enjoy the luxury of air conditioning or under floor heating, depending on the time of year. Enter via your own private courtyard and find yourself in a luxurious hideaway complete with king size bed, living area and fireplace. Twin rain showers, a dressing room you could throw a party in and an outdoor living area with a dining table, two chairs and a sculptured light form complete the picture. White stone floors and concrete walls are designed to echo the natural stone and soft squishy throws and cushions leave you relaxing while you drink in the view.

Choose from Desert Views, Mesa Views or the Terrace Suite that offers a slightly larger desert lounge with views of mountain ridges and rock escarpments. Or if you'd prefer a private pool, the Desert Pool Suites have large pools sunk into private terraces. Mesa Pool suites have a plunge pool and daybed – lovely for lounging watching the ever-changing landscape. Or for unfettered pampering choose the Girijaala suite or the Amangiri suite with their private courtyards, day beds, built in lounge and seating area and two private bathrooms. Every detail in each room has been individually chosen to enhance the enormous setting outside.

facilities & activities

The setting and design of this resort will assail your senses and restore your mind. The sheer dramatic vistas viewed from every possible angle are breathtaking, and through clever use of light and colour the hotel seems to flow and curve around the sheer rock formations. Sitting still and watching the chameleon landscape shape and shift during the day counts as an activity here. The stunning pool is set within a sunken courtyard that wraps around the base of the rock, complete with hot tub. King sized daybeds on the lounging terrace appear to float on water, or bubble your troubles away in the heated Jacuzzi. In the winter months there is also a fire pit within an inviting nook nearby, perfect for relaxing and warming your toes.

If you need a little help relaxing head to the destination Aman Spa, a 25,000 square foot vast complex built into the rock itself, with sparkling water features and streams of light cleverly shafting through 'slot canyon' views. The spa offers an extensive range of unique treatments, channeling the ancient Navajo culture and healing traditions. The complex includes five treatment rooms, a steam room, dry sauna, cold plunge pool and floatation pavilion offering colour therapy-enhanced flotation treatments. There is also the option of outdoor terrace treatments, a fitness centre and yoga pavilion.

Once fully revived guests can opt for a spot of retail therapy at The Gallery. This bijoux boutique showcases the regions best artworks, jewellery and handicraft works from the local Navajo community. Alternatively settle in the library, set on an elevated plinth on the centre of the pavilion and lose yourself in the variety of books, magazines and board games or just gaze out of the enormous glass windows and watch the sun turn the rocks apricot at sunset, as you cradle an aperitif.

Located just a 15 minute drive to the breathtaking Lake Powell, and surrounded by legendary attractions such as the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley, Grand Staircase Escalante and numerous national parks, a few outings 'off resort' are a must. Options for the adventurous traveller include world-class hiking, biking or rock climbing. Along with providing maps and hour long taster hikes, expert in-house guides can teach desert travel alongside an introduction to history, geology and ecology of the area – leaving you feeling like a tiny speck in the region’s vast history. Peaceful, epic Zion National Park is a 90 minute drive away, (we think you’ll love to stop and view the incredible Grand Staircase on the way), or Grand Canyon is a two and half hour drive through jaw dropping scenery. For a taste of an ancient indigenous culture head to Monument Valley. This park is located within the Navajo Reservation and operated by the Navajo Nation – which lends a unique insight into the people and their culture. The valley has also been made famous by many Hollywood epics – John Wayne having 'walked his walk' there in the classic movie 'Stagecoach'. Despite this, Monument Valley is almost completely undeveloped and remains much the same today as it was a thousand years ago. You'd be forgiven for expecting a dinosaur to lumber by.

If you've a taste for westerns, go for a classic horseback southwest adventure. The trails are designed to suit all experience levels and it's a great way to feel part of the sweeping landscape (Stetsons are optional!).

Lake Powell is a must visit for some of the most incredible scenery and geological formations in the area. Lofty peaks and mesas surround the turquoise waters that lap the many hidden bays. Settle for the day in the sunshine or speed along in one of the high-speed motorboats viewing the 2,000 miles of shoreline. Or go further down river and enjoy a peaceful stretch of river cutting a ribbon through the 1,000-foot walls of Navajo Sandstone. The hotel offers private half-day excursions from Amangiri to the base of Glen Canyon Dam followed by a privately guided boat trip. Enjoy a picnic on the beach and then be driven home at your leisure.

For those with a head for heights, take an early morning hot air balloon flight to view the incredible vista below (you’ll love the champagne breakfast). Launching directly from Amangiri itself and taking around 25-45 minutes there is little excuse not to hop on board - although it is obviously weather dependent. If you don't want to ruffle your hair, the resort also offers private scenic aerial flights, all with excellent safety records and services.

dining

The Pavillion, located at the heart of the resort is open for breakfast lunch and dinner and focuses on delectable locally sourced and seasonal produce. The menu changes frequently, leaving you with the difficult choice of what to savour –  particularly tricky after your delectable prickly pear margarita or sage mojito. Tortilla chips and salsa take on a whole new taste here – so fresh and so delicious you'll order another plate. The dining room features floor to ceiling glass doors that open onto outdoor terrace overlooking the swimming pool and houses an open kitchen with wood fired oven, giving a rustic authenticity and homely feel. Make sure you reserve your place as it gets booked up quickly.

For large parties there is a private dining room and wine cellar seating up to ten people. This is also home to a walk in wine cellar offering a tantalising selection of wines built in state-of-the-art dispensers so you can fill up individual glasses with unique and artisan wines.

After dinner retire to the Desert Lounge and soak in the sunset or gawp (and you really will) at the astonishing array of stars through the softly lit windows.

family

While children are welcome, there are no specific childcare facilities at the resort. However a kid's menu is available in The Pavillion along with books and games. The swimming pool has steps and shallow waters with toys available on request.  Licensed babysitters can also be booked.

Many of the hikes are suitable for little legs, or children can enjoy the horseback rides through the desert. They'll love the huge cave in the mesa that faces the resort with its 5,000-year-old carvings of goats and a shelter where traces of ancient fires are still visible on the ceiling. Budding archaeologists can be shown fossils and striations in the rock showing the passing of time with the expert guides on the site.

All accommodation at the resort is suite based, so there is plenty of room for families. Children under 12 stay free with an adult and an extra bed is available at no extra cost for 1-11 year old's. Baby cots can also be hired for free.

location

Located in the southwest region of USA known as the four corners – where the states of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico and Arizona meet - and home to the most dramatic landscapes in the US, commercial flights from Phoenix, Los Angeles or Denver fly to Page Municipal Airport in Arizona and it's then a 25 minute drive to the resort. Alternatively fly to St George Municipal Airport, Utah – around a two and a half hour drive away. Amangiri provides complimentary round-trip airport transfers to the airports.  If you have your own transport then the drive from Scottsdale/Phoenix or Las Vegas takes around four and a half hours – through 'press your nose to the glass' scenery.  Private car transfers can be arranged with the hotel on request.