A HAVEN IN THE DESERT

Amidst the starkly beautiful desert scenery of Utah’s canyon country and home for centuries to the native Navajo and Hopi tribes, 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 cuisine at Amangiri reflects the resort’s relaxed nature. Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the Dining Room’s focal point is to open kitchen with its wood-fired oven. This traditional cooking technique imparts a unique flavour and rustic authenticity to Amangiri’s cuisine, which emphasizes locally-sourced, seasonal produce. Dishes are served directly from the oven and some are finished at the table, while guests are invited to interact and even learn from the chefs. Situated within the Dining Room are the Private Dining Room and the Cellar. The private dining room seats 10 and its large wooden doors can be closed for privacy or open to the kitchen. The open-to-browse wine room has state-of-the-art climate control, space for 900 bottles and the technology to serve even the finest vintages by the glass.

Amangiri’s Aman Spa is a destination unto itself, providing a serene setting for relaxation and rejuvenation. A vast complex of stone, water features and streams of light, it offers a number of unique treatment venues. The Water Pavilion offers hydrotherapy treatments, while the Floatation Pavilion offers colour therapy-enhanced floatation treatment. The Aman Spa also provides both indoor and outdoor pools and treatment rooms, and generous spaces for exercise, yoga and Amanresort’s unique Pilates assessment.

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.

GETTING TO AMANGIRI

Amangiri is a 25-minute drive from Page Municipal Airport, Arizona, served by Great Lakes Airways’ direct flights from Denver and Phoenix. The airport has full service facilities for charter and private aircraft. By road, the resort is a 4-hour drive from Phoenix, 5 hours from Las Vegas and 6 hours from Salt Lake City.

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Amanresorts was founded by Adrian Zecha who envisioned a collection of intimate retreats in beautiful surrounds with the unassuming, warm hospitality of a gracious private residence. The first resort, Amanpuri (place of peace) in Phuket, Thailand, introduced the concept, and since then, Amanresorts has grown to encompass 23 resorts located in Bhutan, Cambodia, China, France, French Polynesia, Indonesia, India, Laos, Montenegro, Morocco, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the Turks & Caicos Islands and the USA.

For more information, please contact:

Anjali Nihalchand

Tel:  (852) 2868 5005

Fax: (852) 2868 5007

E-mail: anihalchand@amanresorts.com

Web site: www.amanresorts.com

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