TRAVEL
Getaway
Photos courtesy Amangiri
Luxurious Isolation
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BY KYLEY WARREN
In a year dominated by social distancing guidelines and travel restrictions, Amangiri—a 600-acre luxury resort tucked away in a protected valley of southern Utah—serves as a blueprint for what hospitality, wellness, and travel could look like in a post-COVID-19 world. In the isolated desert of southern Utah, encircled by piercing red rock formations, national parks and towering sandstone buttes, lies Amangiri—a destination resort that invented the rules for socially distanced travel long before it was cool—or even required, for that matter.
Opened in 2009 and located only 20 miles outside of the Navajo Reservation, the luxurious retreat boasts an unparalleled reputation for its casual grandeur, ability to balance adventure and tranquility, and the impressive list of guests who frequent the property—which includes everyone from A-list celebrities to Silicon Valley’s top billionaires. The concept comes from Aman Resorts—the international luxury hotel group founded in 1988. Since its inception, the
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group has taken the allure of experiential travel to a whole new level through remote resort locations, restrained design concepts, and a mission to create spaces that feel less like a hotel, and more like a haven of peace. Anthony Andra, the spa manager and a wellness aficionado at Amangiri, believes that the brand serves as a blueprint for the future of travel. “When reassessing travel in a post-COVID-19 world, it is important to go back to Aman’s roots as the pioneer in this ultra-luxury and niche segment of hideaway resorts,” says Andra. “In numerous ways, the generosity of space and efforts to slow down time have always been firmly ingrained in Aman’s DNA. This definitely applies to Amangiri—from the