This April, luxury hotel group Aman will be opening a high-end ‘glamping’ site called Camp Sarika that is linked to its Amangiri resort in the Utah desert. Emily Eastman reports
By 2026, the global glamping market will be worth US$4.6 billion, proving that sleeping in close proximity to nature is a popular antidote to urban living, even among high-net-worth individuals.
The dramatic wilderness of Utah’s Painted Desert, in the US, attracts visitors from around the world but now Aman is giving travellers another reason to visit with its new Camp Sarika by Amangiri, positioned near to the brand’s existing Amangiri resort.
Aman says: “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.”
From Amangiri – a site sitting comfortably amid the arid rock formations that characterise this slice of desert – guests can take a short hike or drive to reach Camp Sarika, itself set within 600 hectares of imposing mesas, canyons and shifting sands.
The tented retreat comprises ten canvas-topped pavilions with either one or two bedrooms, and each with its own private plunge pool, living and dining areas, bar, and spacious private terrace with a fire pit.The five one-bedroom tented pavilions will be 175 sqm, while the five two-bedroom tented pavilions will cover 262 sqm. Designed by Luxury Frontiers, they will echo the “spaciousness and clean lines of the suites at Amangiri, where natural materials reflect the light-transforming, undulating surface of the desert outside”.
The interiors will sport decorative canvas walls and ceilings, and wooden fittings, as opposed to Amangiri’s blackened steel and stone furnishings.
Camp Sarika is built around a shared lounge, restaurant and pool, and there’s a pair of spa suites for therapies inspired by traditional Navajo wellness practices. Outdoor yoga and guided meditation will also be laid on.
Aman’s intention is for guests to connect with nature and enjoy solitude. The camp also acts as a “springboard to adventure”, with guided desert and mountain hikes available alongside a programme of slot canyon expeditions.Night-times are spent around the campfire, where residents are encouraged to gather for storytelling beneath starry skies.
In terms of meals, a daily menu of wilderness-inspired cuisine is on offer, as well as snacks and afternoon tea. Fire-pit dishes are created from locally sourced produce and the open kitchen has a rotisserie grill with food served on cedar and slate carving boards.Guests are equally welcome to dine at the main Amangiri site, which has been operating for a decade. It total it has 34 suites across two wings, which stretch out from a central pavilion. Each suite has its own terrace featuring an outdoor fireplace and daybed. The hotel also a 2,322 sqm spa.
Utah isn’t the only region in which Aman is expanding. An Aman is due to open in New York later this year, and the group has also announced its fourth property in Japan – Aman Niseko is set to open in Hokkaido in 2023.
Built over 187 hectares, Aman Niseko will have 30 rooms, all with mountain views, open fireplaces and onsen – bathing facilities built around hot springs.
What’s coming next? Trend reports available to download HERE