O

ur preference for quirky little independent hotels goes right out the window when the chain we’re talking about is one of Aman's caliber — which, if we’re honest, can only mean Aman itself. It’s hard to think of a less predictable setting than southern Utah for their outpost, Amangiri, but the otherworldly landscape is inspiring indeed, and serves as the ideal canvas for what is by any reasonable standard an architecturally distinguished property.

Some designers might try to temper the hard edges of the Southwestern desert with plush, ornate interiors. These villas go the other way, with concrete walls and rough timber furnishings which strain the usual limits of minimalism. Of course, given Aman's dedication to luxurious living, the visual impression is only half the story — while the visual contrasts may be sharp, the tactile sensation is as plush as it gets. (And for an experience that’s somewhat closer to nature, they’ve added Camp Sarika, a set of ten tented pavilions a five-minute drive from Amangiri proper, each one equipped with its own private plunge pool, and sharing a restaurant, a swimming pool, and a spa.)

The result is as soothing as minimalism was always supposed to be, and somehow manages to make this alien landscape feel inviting — and that’s before you even take account of the spa, the swimming pool, the yoga pavilion and the open-kitchen Dining Room. It may literally be half a world away from Aman’s Pacific-rim beginnings, but it’s proof that with the right execution there’s no limit to how far the Aman concept can travel.

How to get there:
Amangiri is located 25 minutes (by car) from the Page Airport in Page, Arizona. Amangiri provides complimentary transfers between the resort and Page Airport. Alternatively, car transfers are available between the resort and St George, Utah, Flagstaff and Phoenix, Arizona and Las Vegas, Nevada. Private air charters can be arranged for a variety of budgets and arrival times.