Photos courtesy Amangiri Incomparable A trip to Amangiri is an adventure of its own I t’s rare in life that you come across something truly unique, something you almost don’t know how to describe, because you’ve never seen anything like it. That’s the takeaway — in a very good way — from our trip to Amangiri, the ultra-exclusive luxury resort just north of the Arizona-Utah border. Set in a visually stunning 900-acre property secluded from nearby Highway 89 and Lake Powell, Amangiri is perhaps the most unique resort in the country. BY TOM EVANS AND ANDREA TYLER EVANS FROM THE ROAD 38 | FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE

Entering the property, you take a winding road from the highway through about two miles of desert in the upper Colorado River plateau, a setting full of sandstone canyons and mesas. What may initially seem stark upon first view starts to explode with color and contrast, creating a natural environment that one would have never imagined could host a luxury resort, yet does so perfectly. The main resort itself, along with its less than three dozen guest suites, 25,000-square-foot spa and indoor lounges for dining, is designed to blend in and emphasize the incredible topography, with minimalist architecture that literally builds the resort into the rocks. From above — we’ll get to this more in a minute — it’s almost hard to pick out the structure from the surrounding landscape. Yet somehow, the elegance of a five-star resort comes through, with comfortable nooks and crannies where you can sit and relax, take in the views, have a cocktail and enjoy a warm fire. The swimming pool adjacent to the lounge — heated to 87 degrees year-round — is particularly large and welcoming for such a small number of rooms. The accommodations are an experience of their own. Our Desert Suite was designed to spotlight the views of the surrounding sandstone mesas, including an outdoor patio with daybeds separated by a firepit. The interior featured a central concrete structure that houses a desk, king-sized bed and couch, allowing guests to move around the remainder of the space. Amenities such as the TV and minibar are hidden in cleverly designed cabinets, and the spacious bathroom offered dual overhead showers and a bathtub for two. Amangiri boasts a broad range of lodging options, from king suites like the one we stayed in, to one- and two-bedroom options with their own private pools and amenities. A newer portion of the property called Camp Sarika offers 10 additional luxury suites, all built under canopies designed to spotlight views and give a sense of blending in with the desert. This place is a bucket-list property. As of press time, the all-inclusive rates start at around $3,000 per night. But what you get is, once again, genuinely unique. FRONTDOORS MAGAZINE | 39