Amangiri: The Desert Hotel That Changed How I See Space

I first discovered Amangiri, a luxury desert hotel in Utah, through an image — one that made me stop scrolling mid-feed.

A narrow stone bridge stretched across a silent, reflective pool — not between walls, but between elements. On one side, the pale concrete mass of the building; on the other, a sheer sandstone cliff anchoring the edge of the space. The walkway didn’t just lead somewhere. It led the eye — toward two dark structures and the quiet, imposing face of the canyon.

Everything about the scene felt intentional: the quiet geometry, the symmetry, the contrast between surface and depth. I didn’t know where this place was. But the clarity of the lines, the stillness of the water, and the way the built form yielded to the monumental desert landscape — it stayed with me.

I hadn’t written about hotels or architecture before. But something about that image, that desert silence, made me want to start. Amangiri became the first place I ever wrote about — and the one that changed how I see design. Not as a style, but as a way of being in a place.

Located in southern Utah’s Grand Circle, Amangiri feels less like a hotel and more like a piece of landscape you’re invited into. The resort is surrounded by vast stretches of untouched terrain — raw desert, sandstone cliffs, and a silence that feels expansive rather than empty. Just beyond, iconic national parks like Zion, Bryce Canyon, and even the Grand Canyon lie within reach. But the hotel itself stays removed, wrapped in solitude.

It belongs to the Aman group, known for properties that blend quietly into their surroundings — and this one may be the most radical example. There are just 34 suites, which makes the entire resort feel particularly hushed and private — almost as if it were designed for stillness.

I later learned that three architects — Marwan Al-Sayed, Wendell Burnette, and Rick Joy — were behind the design. Their goal wasn’t to impose a vision, but to make space for nature’s presence. They worked with local materials — concrete mixed with sand and pigment — creating walls that shift color with the light. Walkways open to the sky. Canopies of stretched canvas filter sunlight into soft shadows. Water moves quietly through stone-lined channels. Wind enters and exits rooms without resistance.

It’s a kind of minimalist architecture that doesn’t reduce things — it reveals them.

The interiors are spare, grounded in earth tones and natural textures. But what stands out most is how each room frames the landscape: a floor-to-ceiling window that turns the cliffs and sky into living paintings. 

Some suites have private pools or open-air terraces — but even without them, the experience is elemental. It’s not about luxury as excess, but luxury as clarity, space, and deep quiet.

Beyond the suites, Amangiri’s expansive spa — a 25,000-square-foot sanctuary set into the desert — anchors the resort’s wellness philosophy. Looking out over the stillness of Canyon Country, the spa offers a space where the raw beauty of the land and the rituals of healing meet.

One of the most remarkable experiences here is Yoga on the Rocks. Guests take a short hike to the top of a desert formation, where earth and wind come together for a one-of-a-kind movement practice, high above the valley floor. With breathtaking views of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Amangiri’s dedicated yoga specialist guides guests through personalized sessions, using the endless horizon as a visual anchor for balance and introspection. It’s not just a wellness activity. It feels like an act of communion with the desert itself.

Outside the property, the landscape invites a slower form of adventure: horseback riding through the canyons, kayaking across the stillness of Lake Powell, or floating above the terrain in a hot air balloon at dawn. These aren’t adrenaline-driven thrills — they’re ways to move through the land without disturbing it.

You don’t need to be an architecture lover to be drawn to Amangiri. If you’ve ever felt the need for silence, for perspective, for a kind of slowness that only wide landscapes can offer — this is a place that might speak to you.

In 2020, Amangiri expanded its offerings with the introduction of Camp Sarika, a collection of ten luxurious tented pavilions nestled within the desert landscape. Each pavilion features one or two bedrooms, a private plunge pool, and a fire pit, providing guests with an immersive experience that harmonizes with the surrounding environment. Designed by Luxury Frontiers, Camp Sarika offers a unique blend of comfort and adventure, allowing guests to connect deeply with the natural beauty of southern Utah.

I still haven’t been. But Amangiri continues to shape how I think about design, and about what a hotel can be. And if you’re someone who’s drawn to the idea of architecture disappearing into nature — not just complementing the land, but surrendering to it — then this is a place worth paying attention to.

Maybe not for a checklist trip. But maybe once in your life.

Last updated: 2025.04.27