The dramatic desert scenery of Southern Utah is the stuff wilderness dreams are made of, with a collection of national parks and monuments that promise endless adventures for city-weary travellers. The desert landscape, punctuated by craggy mesas and a blanket of wild grasses and scrub, has been the playground of guests at Amangiri since it opened 10 years ago, set amid in 600 acres at the foot of an encircling rock formation.
This summer saw the opening of Camp Sarika, a collection of 10 tented pavilions set in 55 hectares of pristine desert wilderness a 30-minute hike or five-minute drive from Amangiri. With canvas walls and ceilings and neutral toned furnishings in walnut and leather, the west-facing one- or two-bedroom tents each feature a heated plunge pool, fire pit and outdoor terrace from which to enjoy the sublime landscape. San Francisco and Johannesburg-based interiors firm Luxury Frontiers have used recycled plastic bottles to weave the canvas roofs, which can withstand up to 12 tons of snow in the winter.
The main pavilion overlooking the camp’s swimming pool – designed by New York-based Selldorf Architects – is home to a restaurant with daily changing menu; and traditional Navajo-inspired wellness treatments are available in two spa suites.
But it’s the Utah landscape that will be the star of the show here, with evocative place names like Resurrection Canyon and Horseshoe Bend inviting endless outdoor adventures. Guests can explore nearby national parks and monuments via hiking trails that wind through the desert and mountain scenery or explore further afield on horseback or canyoneering expeditions.