Located near the Utah-Arizona border, Amangiri opened officially yesterday in canyon country. The second property built in the U.S. by Singapore-based Amanresorts, Amangiri (Sanskrit for "peaceful mountain") brings an unprecedented level of luxury to the area that includes Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Lake Powell and the Colorado River.

The resort is ideally placed for day trips to the Grand Canyon, Monument Valley and Bryce and Zion National Parks. Amangiri is cradled by massive 200-million-year-old mesas and rock formations in a region home to a variety of endangered species, including the California condor, and a bevy of dinosaur fossils, some dating back more than 160 million years. Set on a 600-acre expanse of wilderness that has been home for centuries to the indigenous Navajo and Hopi tribes, Amangiri's creation was made possible by a 2005 Act of Congress that permitted a swap of private and Federal land.

Amangiri has 34 guest suites, each with uninterrupted panoramic views of the desert and mesas and endowed with all the luxuries and comfort expected of an Amanresort -- from day-beds, to roomy bathing areas, to the unobtrusively personalized service that has been the hallmark of Amanresorts since its first resort, Amanpuri, opened 21 years ago in Phuket, Thailand. Pool suites and the Girijaala and Amangiri Suites have private pools and secluded outdoor sky terraces that are ideal both for daytime relaxation and nighttime stargazing.

Amangiri's 25,000-foot spa offers hydrotherapy treatments, color therapy-enhanced flotation treatments, indoor and outdoor treatment rooms, a step pool, cold plunge and generous spaces for exercise, yoga and Amanresorts' unique Pilates assessment. The cuisine at Amangiri features menus that change regularly based on available ingredients from local farmers, and emphasize organic and specialty products. The open-to-browse wine room has state-of-the-art climate control, space for 900 bottles and the technology to serve even the finest vintages by the glass. The private dining room seats 10; its large wooden doors can be closed for privacy or open to the kitchen.
In addition to the resort, the Amangiri master plan features 28 dramatically designed four- or five-bedroom private villas, each with large pools, wine rooms, fireplaces, optional media rooms and staff quarters.

GETTING TO AMANGIRI: Amangiri is a 25-minute drive from Page Municipal Airport, AZ, served by Great Lakes Airways' direct flights from Denver and Phoenix. The airport has full-service facilities for charter and private aircraft. By road, the resort is a four-hour drive from Phoenix, five hours from Las Vegas and six hours from Salt Lake City.

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