What It’s Like to Stay at Amangiri, Utah’s High-end Nature Resort
Outdoor Activities Offered at Amangiri
The extensive outdoor activity list is as integrated into the natural environment as the architecture itself. Everything is designed to deepen your connection to the world around you, rather than distract from it–whether you’re on a guided hike, a horseback ride, a slot canyon tour led by a Navajo guide, a sunrise hot air balloon ride, stargazing (when else are you someplace with almost zero light pollution?), or any number of cultural activities like a pottery or dreamcatcher workshop. I joined in on a private boat ride of nearby Lake Powell and a Via Ferrata climb on the resort’s property.
The boat tour of Lake Powell, which is a must-do activity in my opinion, brings your group out on a boat ride with a customizable itinerary where you can see the breathtaking buttes and canyons of the lake and learn about its fascinating history. From the sleek Axopar boat, you’re able to swim, paddle board, or hike from Lake Powell’s impressive 2,000 miles of shoreline into one of many backcountry canyons.
Amangiri has built seven different Via Ferrata routes on its impressive 920 acre property, with options for varying adventure levels, all led by experienced guides, and all private to Amangiri guests. Via Ferratas, which roughly means “Iron Paths,” were originally created in WW1 for troops to traverse the Dolomite Mountains of Italy. They are now a popular hybrid of hiking and climbing where, with your climbing harness, you are clipped into a cable that runs alongside steel rungs that you use to climb like a ladder up and across the rock. Amangiri’s via ferrata routes include ladders, bridges, scrambles, with exposure varying from section to section. The 18-inch wide suspension bridge spanning a 450-foot-high gorge was a memorable way to see panoramic views of the area, sweaty palms and all.
If you’re looking to explore even further from the property, Bryce Canyon National Park, the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, and Monument Valley are each roughly a 2.5-hour drive from the resort, though all in opposing directions. Zion National Park on the other hand, is just 90 minutes west.
Getting to Amangiri
The best way to reach Amangiri is by flying into the Page Airport (PGA) in Arizona, just 25 minutes away from the resort. Larger hubs like Las Vegas or Flagstaff will make for a longer, albeit no less scenic desert road trip commute.
Source: https://www.fieldmag.com/articles/amangiri-utah-hotel-review
