Do you know these magical places that deeply touch, inspire and whose spirit resonates long after the trip? The name alone evokes longing:Amangiri, known as one of the most extraordinary and spectacular hotels in the world. Introducing the five-star resort in the Utah desert as our Hotel of the Month for November 2024.
Elle Hotel of the Month November 2024: The journey to Amangiri is already so spectacular
It's only four hours from Las Vegas to Amangiri. Kilometers of copper-brown mountain landscapes form a surreal scene under the bright blue sky. Magical! However, just a small foretaste of the spectacle that awaits me when I check in: in the middle of the untouched desert in southern Utah there is an impressive resort that seems to merge with its surroundings. An exclusive hideaway with just ten spacious tent pavilions. The entrance area consists of massive, impressively high concrete elements that frame a long staircase. A modern, burgundy-colored umbrella design roof provides protection from the sun, conjuring up graphic shadow plays on the walls and floor. Architecture at its finest. In the main pavilion, light floods all corners of this huge space, which is simultaneously a restaurant, lobby and living room. The view from my pavilion is like a masterpiece: the XXL window frames the landscape behind it like an impressive painting. First I go to the pool. An Instagram icon winding around a giant rock. A dream! This is where I always wanted to be! The terrace around the main pool is built on different levels. A lunch with a view of this harmonious backdrop, with the rock structure, sky and interior reflected in the water, will be one of my next highlights.
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Elle Hotel of the Month November 2024: Why architecture fans love the Amangiri
But I only become aware of the sophistication of this extraordinary architecture when I take a walk around it. Apple trees full of crisp green Granny Smith apples are planted throughout the resort. Geometry and graphics play a crucial role. Special lighting elements cast soothing cones of light onto the bare stone walls, and in some corners a quiet waterfall trickles away and exudes a Zen atmosphere. Between the next two concrete walls I see the setting, bright orange sun on the horizon at an oblique angle. Every ten steps brings a new discovery! When I asked myself at the beginning of the trip what makes this place so special, I now understand the magic: this cinematic mountain backdrop of the Colorado Plateau, whose majestic size acts like a kind of screen on which the sunrises and sunsets, lightning, Cloud images and rainbows are projected. And you have a room in the middle of it all and are therefore part of the whole thing. This feeling is very special!
Elle Hotel of the Month November 2024: You can do all of this in Amangiri
Even though the Amangiri is a hotel that allows you to relax immediately: the resort curates personalized experiences. So in the late afternoon I get to make my own dreamcatcher. In addition to the creative collaboration, I learn a lot about dreams, beliefs and traditions from our Native American teacher and am happy to be able to experience a touch of this culture. The next morning I drive to nearby Anthelope Canyon – for me one of the top 5 most beautiful natural attractions on earth. I walk with a Navajo guide for 45 minutes through one of these spectacular gorges and am amazed. Depending on the light rays, the sandstone walls of the canyon change color from old rose to golden brick red to all shades of burgundy and feel warm and soft, full of energy! A magnificent experience!
Elle Hotel of the Month November 2024: Reaxing in the Spa
Day number two begins with a warm “Wood oven marble canyon pancake” full of desert berries and snow sugar for breakfast – how much better can a day of vacation start? The first activity is a short walk to the “Broken Arrow Cave”, an incredibly large cave that you have to experience in real life. There I was able to make a very special acquaintance – Ulrike Arnold. The German artist has had her open-air studio there since the beginning and uses meteorite dust as well as earth and sandstone that she finds locally to create the most extraordinary paintings that can be admired everywhere in Amangiri. For me, Ulrike is a piece of the soul of the desert resort. Art that couldn't fit more harmoniously with Amangiri's entire oeuvre.
Later in the day, in the remote silence of the desert landscape, I treat myself to a massage at Amangiri's unique spa. Candles and floor lanterns guide me to the most peaceful place in the resort. Just the sounds of the water throughout the solid concrete and wood designs are masterful. Peace of mind... It all starts with a “white sage incense ritual” that cleanses the negative energies and lets me completely let go.
Conclusion: This is what Amangiri is like in the USA
An architectural wonder in the middle of the desert: just ten tent pavilions small and surrounded by a gigantic natural backdrop, the five-star hotel is a resort that you will never forget. In Amangiri you love every shadow, every view from the room, the peace and quiet - and the magic of the place. The tailor-made excursions and experiences are highly recommendedAmangiri-Assembling a team on site.
Text: Pia Léonie Knoll and Meike Mai
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