A serene encampment encircled by the raw wilderness of the Utah desert
11 November 2019 – Amangiri has drawn travellers to Utah’s starkly beautiful landscape of deep canyons and vermillion rock formations for a decade. To herald its special anniversary, the resort will soon welcome guests to Camp Sarika by Amangiri – 10 tented-pavilions with individual private plunge pools on a luxury encampment surrounded by 600 hectares of raw wilderness in the heart of the desert, close to Amangiri.
Opening in April 2020, Camp Sarika will perfectly reflect the Amangiri experience, offering its own main pavilion and restaurant, two spa suites, one main swimming pool and a Jacuzzi set in unparalleled proximity to nature. Formed for escapism, adventure, solitude and privacy, the camp is located a 30minute hike or five-minute drive from Amangiri, and while guests at the camp enjoy full access to the resort’s facilities whenever they desire, everything they need will be conveniently located at Camp Sarika.
Deriving its name from the Sanskrit word for “open space” and “sky”, Camp Sarika will be set on more than 55 hectares overlooking iconic flat-topped mesa rock formations. Surrounded by five national parks; each offering unique and diverse scenery, numerous national monuments and the Navajo Nation Reservation the camp will enable a back-to-nature, wilderness experience for guests who will enjoy the utmost comfort alongside mesmerising, otherworldly landscapes and intriguing remnants of Native American culture at every turn.
A 30-minute drive from the nearest town of Page, Camp Sarika will encourage a private and peaceful connection to its dramatic surroundings, its remote location imbuing a sense of community and exclusivity in a nod to Aman’s trademark appreciation of a destination. The camp’s 10 beautifully appointed tented pavilions will be complemented by a Selldorf Architects-designed common pavilion, housing restaurant and lounge areas, as well as two spa suites, a swimming pool and a Jacuzzi.
Claiming unobstructed views of the mesas or facing west to catch the sunset every evening, the tented pavilions will feature either one or two bedrooms, as well as a living area, dining area, a bar, a private spacious terrace with a fire pit and an individual heated plunge pool. The five one-bedroom tented pavilions will each cover 175 square metres, while the five two-bedroom tented pavilions will cover 262 square metres. Designed by Luxury Frontiers, the tented pavilions will mimic the spaciousness and clean lines of the suites at Amangiri, where natural materials reflect the light-transforming, undulating surface of the desert outside, but will evoke a luxury camp feel. The interiors will include decorative canvas walls and ceilings and wooden fittings, as opposed to Amangiri’s furnishings, which comprise blackened steel and stone.
Open throughout the day, the restaurant at the camp will be situated in the main pavilion, with both indoor and outdoor seating offering breathtaking views. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, with snacks and afternoon tea in between, the restaurant will offer a menu that will change daily, incorporating the freshest local produce, whilst also catering to vegetarians and vegans. Paying homage to the wilderness setting, the open kitchen will feature a rotisserie grill, with dishes served on cedar and slate carving boards. Reserved for residents of the camp during the day, the restaurant will also be open to resort guests for dinner (with advance booking).
Camp Sarika will allow guests to reap the benefits of connecting with nature – increased mindfulness, reduced stress levels and a clearer headspace – with every convenience and luxury at hand. Two spa suites will offer an extensive menu of spa therapies inspired by traditional Navajo wellness practices, while yoga and guided meditation will be offered al fresco, allowing guests to reground themselves within the astounding natural beauty of the Utah desert.
Serving as an idyllic escape and a springboard for exploration of the area, the camp will offer desert and mountain hiking with its own trail system, morning and afternoon Wellness experiences indoors and out, canyoneering, its own Via Ferrata route and horseback riding, as well as many other adventure activities. The camp will also enable a deeper immersion in Native American culture, with storytelling and star gazing around the fire every evening.
The intimacy exclusive to Camp Sarika, with inspired facilities and unbounded access to Utah’s vast expanses of magical scenery at its doorstep, makes the camp the ideal destination for larger groups or families desiring a private insight into the destination or a very special place for an important celebration.
A scenic 5-minute drive from Camp Sarika, Amangiri is tucked into a protected valley with sweeping views towards Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. Built around a magnificent swimming pool that embraces a dramatic stone escarpment, the resort’s Main Pavilion houses the Dining Room, the Living Room, a library, gallery, private dining room and cellar. Beyond lies the Desert Lounge, an open-air living room ideal for sundowners or star gazing. Two accommodation wings lead from the pavilion into the desert, housing 34 suites in total – many with private swimming pools and roof terraces.
A destination unto itself, the Aman Spa at Amangiri covers 2,322 square metres and provides a serene setting for relaxation and rejuvenation. Key features are the Water Pavilion, which offers hydrotherapy treatments; the Floatation Pavilion; the Watsu Pool; five walnut-lined treatment rooms and two outdoor treatment terraces with panoramic desert views. There is also a finishing salon, a yoga pavilion and a comprehensive gym.
Since its launch in 2009, Amangiri has won multiple awards for its remarkable design, intuitive service and luxurious proximity to nature. Camp Sarika will add a new dimension to this extraordinary allseason destination, providing another setting in which to embrace the pristine and astonishing beauty of the American Southwest.
