Page 120 - The Book For Men Fall/Winter 2023

AMANGIRI HAS GRACED THESE PAGES BEFORE — BUT IT RETURNS Camp Sarika was added to Amangiri in 2020 and enjoys its own main build-
for good reason. For, whilst we’ve since travelled to other resorts in the Aman family — places where the levels of service and enjoyment are virtually unparalleled — few are as inescapably desirable or feature scenery and architecture as inimitable as Amangiri. It is something exceedingly special, a truly unique retreat that could only exist in Utah, sitting pretty on six-hundred private acres and surrounded by towering cliffs of rounded Navajo sandstone.
The sign that welcomes you to the site — easily-missed, nonde- script, and no more than eight inches square — gives away nothing of the splendour and serenity that awaits. And, as you wind your way through the cliffs, passing formations of stone, the valley may reveal
itself but the resort’s structures do not. To say that Amangiri’s architecture is in harmony with the landscape would be an understatement. It is exceptionally well-integrated, with structures of both the main resort and Camp Sarika (a newer, principally tented retreat, and our destination) all but camouflaged, designed to seamlessly blend in with their surroundings and use both natural materials and earthy tones to harmonize with the desert environment. There’s a sense of balance here, one that envelopes you in tranquility and serenity the moment you set foot on site.
ing with reception and restaurant. There’s also a pool and 10 “pavilions,” which may look like desert tents but contain luxurious suites featuring one-, two- or three-bedroom layouts. Guests are welcome to utilize the spa, restaurant, or pool at the main resort, but this is either a long walk or a short cart ride away (in July’s 110 degree heat, the cart is welcome).
To say Camp Sarika raises “glamping” to new heights would be faint praise. The truth is, with each pavilion boasting a private plunge pool and gas fire pit, these structures are both exceedingly well-appointed and incredibly private (we couldn’t see our neighbours from any vantage point). The tented accommodation provides guests with a true escape into the heart of one of the world’s most rugged natural landscapes but never lets up on luxury or style. And inside, your living quarters exude elegance and refinement; each pavilion a sanctuary of indulgence with plush furnishings and spacious living areas.
But that’s what the Camp Sarika experience is all about: relaxation and rejuvenation. Guests are urged to spend their days unwinding by those private plunge pools or taking in the breathtaking vistas of towering mesas and vast canyons that stretch out in every direction. For those seeking a more active agenda, the camp also offers a range of outdoor activities to help guests connect more dynamically to the landscape. Guided hikes through the surrounding
120 BFM / FW23 FEATURE / A PLACE IN THE SUN