Camp Sarika by Amangiri

We’re currently staying at Amangiri and have been disturbed by a recurring noise in our room, resembling a leak within the walls. It’s made it impossible to sleep, which is very disappointing given the premium rate. The staff has been kind and attentive so far, and we’re hopeful they can resolve this soon to make the rest of our stay more comfortable. We got here today after a long trip from Brazil. To make things worse, today is my wife’s birthday, so this was not part of the plan I envisioned for her.

We booked our stay hoping for a pampering luxurious experience, but we were sadly disappointed. When we arrived, we were greeted by the resort manager who brought us into the lounge. We were greeted by staff and served overly sweet lemonade. Our room wasn’t ready, so we were invited to sit by the pool and relax. While we were offered water immediately, it took 10-15 minutes for someone to take a drink order (They not busy as there were only 2-3 other couples there and it was a Tuesday). When our room wasn’t ready, we were brought over by a staff member who gave us a tour of the property on the way. We noticed more used towels strewn by the hot tub and preceding lounge. There were also used glasses and empty wine bottles. The room was lovely, but was missing some essentials. For example, there were robes and towels galore, but only one roll of toilet paper and there was no price list for spa services (it also was not online). The floors to the shower were very slippery (I almost fell a few times!), there was no blackout shade and the a/c only cooled to 70 degrees. They also did not extra universal chargers which would have been nice. The next day as we were returning to the resort after a day out, there were used towels and a banana peel strewn on a table in the main entry. The lack of staffing issue persisted for the remainder of our stay. On our last day, at 4pm all of the but one of loungers were vacant, but not refreshed. And again, nobody came by to ask if we wanted drinks or food. Speaking of meals, while the food was great, the restaurant service was anything but. We had made reservations for each night of our stay at the property as was suggested by the staff. We arrived on-time and there were several empty tables at 7pm. While we were seated relatively quickly, a couple we met at the hotel waited 45 minutes to be seated. Once at our table, we waited for 10 minutes for someone to come to our table. After putting in a cocktail request with our server, nothing arrived for 20 minutes. Because no staff members came by the table, I walked up to the manager to inquire. While he was apologetic, there was no follow up at our table for 10 minutes later when the cocktail arrived. A few minutes later, our main courses showed up, but my chicken dish was shrimp and lukewarm warm at best. Our server was nowhere to be found and by the time we found a staff person who could assist, my husband was halfway through his meal and I had lost my appetite. When we got up to leave, the server and manager finally came by with a second cocktail (too little, too late). Finally, we received no follow-up afterwards. While I don’t expect someone to follow me around throwing rose petals before my feet, I do expect a clean, well-staffed experience from a 5-star luxury resort, especially with the outrageous price tag attached to Amangiri.

Amangiri is a place I enjoyed for its peaceful solitude in a natural environment. We stayed 5 nights and were most impressed throughout the whole time by the abundant staff who were all friendly, attentive, responsive and very knowledgeable. Anytime we had a question about surroundings, food, things to do, they either knew the answer or immediately worked to get an answer. A few times, we had staff drive us places for off-site tours and each one was a well-spoken storyteller, telling us about the area, about Navajo Nation customs and history, about local sports and activities, and about geology. All were entertaining and engaging. Meals: there were always healthy, tasty choices available, which included vegetarian selections, and the vegetable dishes were really good. The 'proteins' were all really good, too. I heard others praising their steaks, but my favorite dinner was the Colorado River trout, that was moist inside with a perfectly crispy skin, and I liked it so much, I had it twice. Breakfasts included options one could grab quickly like fruit and yogurt, toast, bagels, or one could order from a selection of smoothies or typical 'full' breakfasts from the menu. The strawberry/banana smoothie, and the cast iron pancake were my favorite menu breakfast items. The lunches were good, too, but we found that if we skipped lunch and were hungrier, we savored our dinner more! Solo on-site activities: a real highlight for me was having 12+ miles of hiking trails on property, as well as guided activities available. Each morning, I enjoyed getting out at first light and each afternoon before dinner I went to explore a different trail before the meal, and the geology and terrain and flora were diverse and interesting - different in each direction, with plenty of hills to climb, sand to hike through, rocks to climb. There are interpretive signs installed to identify plants or explain geologic or historic features. I particularly enjoy solitude and there was plenty of solitude on the trails. Guided group on-site activities: each day, there were at least 2-3 guided activities on-site (60-90 min. hikes, wildlife demonstration, etc.) with knowledgeable guides. I particularly enjoyed an afternoon guided hike on the Coyote Trail, which I had already hiked solo, but I learned a lot more with our guide, Maya (spelling?) from Adventure Partners, who was so enthusiastic about answering questions about the geology we were seeing, the plants, and explaining the cryptobiotic soil...his guiding was a highlight. Off-site add-on Guided Activities: 3 slot canyon tour: everyone in our family considered this a highlight of the whole trip. Christy, a Navajo guide, was excellent, not only helping us enjoy seeing the slot canyons, but showing us how to set up our phones to take better photos of them. Lake Powell Boat tour/rainbow bridge hike: We were delighted to take a river tour with Captain John of Adventure Partners. He was so enthusiastic, personable, knowledgeable, sharing about the landscape, types of boats, river history, plants. We heard that a longer tour would get us past the narrower, busier and choppier part of the lake to where it would be calmer with more solitude, so took a 5 hour tour with him and we thoroughly enjoyed it. There were options to choose from about length of tour and activities to do, such as paddle boarding, hiking, etc. We chose the 5 hour tour to see a longer portion of the river and the changes in terrain, as well as hike to see Rainbow Bridge, one of the largest natural bridges in the world. Captain John was a fantastic tour guide who I would try to have as a guide again if I return sometime!

We recently stayed at Amangiri for 4 nights and couldn't have had a better experience. Such a lovely and serene place, so well integrated into the landscape it feels almost a part of it. Our room was spacious and very comfortable with twice daily housekeeping and small gifts left for us every evening. Whatever you needed, you only had to ask for. The food was excellent - as vegetarians we were a bit worried about variety but we had no issues. There is always dining at nearby Camp Sarika if you feel the need to expand your culinary horizons. And although we did not book any of the additional outdoor experiences, we did book spa services. My massage was perhaps the best I've ever had and is a highly recommended addition to your stay! Yes, it is expensive but it's a stay you will long remember!

We spent three nights in this magical setting, and it was nothing short of incredible. The property itself is otherworldly and breathtakingly beautiful—it’s hard to even put into words. We stayed in room 30, which was absolutely phenomenal. The outdoor area overlooked the vast grounds, offering tranquility and stunning views. The room itself was luxurious, with a soaking tub facing the gorgeous landscape and a fridge stocked with complimentary non-alcoholic drinks and snacks—a beautiful retreat where every detail is considered. One of the absolute highlights of our trip was the Slot Canyon Tour with Steven as our guide. The tour was worth every single penny, truly one of the most memorable experiences of our lives. However, I was disappointed to learn that the 10% service fee added to tours doesn’t go to the tour operator or guide —it all goes to the resort. This policy feels a bit greedy and out of place for a property that prides itself on hospitality. I had an Aqua Shiatsu treatment at the spa, which was one of the best things I’ve ever experienced. I highly recommend opting for something unique like this instead of a more standard spa treatment. The spa services here are on another level and really add to the overall experience. I appreciated that the intimate property meant that finding a spot by the pool was never an issue. Poolside lunch service was excellent, and I really appreciated the calm, unhurried atmosphere. Now, for the cons. While the setting and amenities are exceptional, I found that the service at this price point could be more polished and personalized. For example, when we booked our reservation, we had requested that Horseshoe Bend be added to our Slot Canyon tour, but it wasn’t on our itinerary. Of course, the tour operator was very accommodating and we were able to add it, but it should have already been there. Everyone at the resort was eager to please and very friendly, which I appreciated, but at a place like Amangiri, the service should feel more personalized. For instance, we had a dietary requirement noted, and although they reconfirmed the preference each night, only one night’s “tastings” they brought were adapted to her dietary requirement. All of them could have easily been modified like they did on night one, but they must have forgotten the other nights? Similarly, I ordered the same mocktail each evening, but it wasn’t noted and waiting for me on the third night—something you’d expect from a resort of this caliber. The personal attention was just not there. As for dining, the dinner menu was somewhat challenging for a picky eater like me. Breakfast and lunch were fine, but the dinner menu leaned heavily into fine dining, which limited my options. Thankfully, there was a special one night that helped mix things up, but the regular menu felt repetitive. That said, everything I did eat was excellent, so if you enjoy fine dining, you won’t be disappointed. The gym was small but well-equipped, and housekeeping was top-notch. The bell service was also excellent—they packed our car with care and made sure we had plenty of waters for the road ahead. One minor issue we had was with the thermostat in the room. The room became uncomfortably hot, and the instructions provided didn’t help. We ended up finding the manual online because we didn’t want to call someone into the room late at night while we were in our pajamas. One thing I really loved was the turn-down amenity each night. The small touches like a face mask, perfume sample, and candle were luxurious and added to the overall experience. All in all, we loved our stay at Amangiri, but I do agree with some comments about the service. The setting is unbeatable, and most aspects of our stay were exceptional, but there’s definitely room for improvement in terms of personalization, especially at this price point.