As the sunrise filled the Arizona sky with shades of pink and blue, we crossed the state line into Utah for the next chapter of our stateside adventure. That morning was like nearly all Arizona mornings, golden and beautiful. It was a place to fall in love with. The roads were calm and endless and Arizona’s red sandy dunes soon disappeared into our rearview, making way for the yellow, white and green hues of Utah’s canyons and rock formations. It was breathtaking. 

We made our way through Paige, a small Navajo town lined with trading posts and eateries, Lake Powell glistened below as we crossed Glen Canyon Bridge and continued west. In the distance, an unassuming sign greeted us at a hidden turn — if you weren’t looking, you would probably miss it. The tree-lined road was long and winding, bordered by ancient mesas, plateaus and dunes. We stopped at the cabin gate and rung the buzzer, ‘Hello Mr. Phelps, welcome home.’

We had arrived at our desert home away from home, Amangiri 'Peaceful Mountain'.

Set amongst the wild and mysterious wind-carved rock formations of Canyon Point, Southern Utah; Amangiri stands harmoniously against the otherworldly sand and rock of the Navajo landscape. Accessible only by private plane or a six-hour car journey from Las Vegas, ‘Peaceful Mountain’ truly is an isolated oasis of calm, a world away.

Designed by Architects Rick Joy, Marwan Al-Sayed, and Wendell Burnette, Amangiri is not only a tranquil desert sanctuary, but also a marvel of modernist design, a true work of art. The geo-metric concrete walls compliment the spectacular setting, whilst the muted colour palette, flawless attention to detail and minimalist design stay true to the understated elegance Aman always captures so well. 

On arrival, the vast entrance lounge is instantly captivating; a viewing platform looks out over the endless mountain ridges and towering mesas beyond, whilst the midday sun casts mesmerising light beams through the lined linen canopy. 

Aman’s unrivaled service is inimitable; we were immediatley greeted with a warm welcome and a refreshing ice-cold drink, the perfect remedy for the intense Utah heat. We made our way inside to begin a tour of the grounds.

A walk through the great lounge and dining room took us outside to the dramatic main pool. Wrapped around a 200-million year old rock, after one of Utah's legendary hikes in 42-degree desert heat, the calming energy of this tranquil space makes you feel 200-million times happier. The perfect place to relax, refresh and revitalise, we also fell in love with the homemade infused drinks. Vibrant flavours of strawberry, mint, ginger and lime are infused with organic coconut water to create the perfect poolside refreshment.

'This thrilling nexus of design and location has yet to be outshone by any other hotel in the USA.' 

— Conde Nast Traveller

Inside the hotel's 34 suites, floor to ceiling windows showcase uninterrupted views of the Utah landscape sweeping out towards the horizon. The design is simple, monotone and elegant, there is an absence of over decoration but an abundance of luxurious detail and state-of-the-art comforts.

Our suite's private terrace was perfectly equipped with a fire pit and day beds for romantic evenings spent roasting s’mores and enjoying a glass of red wine as the sun danced across the desert in the warm evening air. 

At night the sky became an ocean of twinkling stars, free from cloud and light pollution produced by civilization a million miles away. Most evenings we would head up barefoot and lay out on our private star-viewing platform, chatting and laughing until we drifted off for a few hours under the shimmering desert sky. They were blissful nights, truly escaping everyday life and peacefully coexisting with nature — moments that we will cherish forever.

Top Tip:

Order a plate of s'mores from room service to roast over your private terrace fire.

Once you’ve roused up an appetite, breakfast, lunch and dinner are served fireside in the great room or outside on the sprawling pool terrace. The great room is the place to be as the sun sets, casting shadows across the flaming sandstone cliffs.  

Headed up by Executive Chef Jacob Anaya, the open kitchen and wood-fired oven serve new American dishes that pay homage to traditions of the local landscape and Aman’s Asian roots using locally sourced seasonal produce. We absolutely loved the lunch menu’s rustic wood-fired pizzas topped with local ingredients from foraged mushrooms and heirloom tomatoes to barbeque pork and cilantro. At dinner, the mouthwatering range fed bison ribeye with regional Utah salt and chilli rub was the chef's recommendation, as with everything at Amangiri, it didn't disappoint.

AMANGIRI | 1 Kayenta Rd, Canyon Point, UT 84741, USA

www.aman.com

Famed for its enchanting natural beauty, breathtaking views and spectacular sprawling landscapes, the list of things to see and do in Utah is endless. Here are a few we recommend.

What Not To Miss In Utah

1.      Live life on the edge (quite literally) at Horseshoe Bend

2.      Watch the mesmerising 11am sunbeams bounce off the rock formations in Antelope Slot Canyon

3.     Get lost in one of Utah's many National Parks: Zion, Bryce Canyon or Arches

4.     Go paddle boarding across Lake Powell

5.     Relax, refresh and revitalise with an iconic Aman spa treatment at Amangiri