HotelsAmanCanyon Point, USA

The honest review of Amangiri

The verdict

Amangiri sells one thing nobody else in the US does: total seclusion inside a 900-acre private canyon estate, with architecture that disappears into the rock rather than sitting on top of it. The Desert Pool Suites carve a private pool and sky deck straight into the mesa, and at night the stargazing from the fire pit is the kind of thing people still talk about years later. When the staff is on, the service is quietly anticipatory rather than smothering, and the via ferrata and Navajo-guided slot canyon tours are genuinely the best reason to book more than one night.

The trouble is what you’re paying for that has moved a long way from what you get. Guests who went in 2016 at $1,000 a night and go back now at $4,500 to $7,000 describe the same rooms, the same menu, sometimes worse mattresses. Dinner at Camp Sarika can run two hours for four courses with a 30-minute wait just for drinks, and more than one guest has had a 40-minute wait for luggage at checkout or a pool attendant stretched so thin that service simply stopped. The food is the most consistent complaint: stale burger buns, undercooked pizza, a coffee program multiple reviewers call undrinkable. None of that should scare you off a trip you’ve wanted for years, but it changes how many nights make sense.

Three nights, not one, is the number repeat guests land on, since the activities are the real draw and a single night barely covers one hike and dinner. Book it for the canyon, the via ferrata, and a room unlike anything else in Utah or Arizona, and go in expecting the service and kitchen to be the weakest part of the trip rather than the strongest.

Where the score comes from

Each out of 20. The tick on every bar is where the collection starts.

Service 13.5/20

Reports split sharply: some describe intuitive, anticipatory staff, others cite unanswered phones, rushed massages, and a 40-minute wait for luggage at checkout.

Rooms & Design 18/20

Location 19/20

The 900-acre private estate, slot canyons, and total seclusion from the outside world are repeatedly called unmatched in the US.

Dining 13/20

Reviews split between lobster thermidor and beef wellington done well and stale burger buns, undercooked pizza, and two-hour dinners with 30-minute drink waits.

Wellness 16/20

The spa, sound bath, and via ferrata climbing draw real enthusiasm, though one guest described a rushed, aggressive massage.

Strengths

  • Architecture carved directly into the canyon walls with total seclusion across a 900-acre private estate
  • Desert Pool Suites and Camp Sarika pavilions offer private pools and sky decks with unobstructed desert views
  • Via ferrata, Navajo-guided slot canyon tours, and free daily guided hikes are standout activities
  • Spa treatments and the boulder-framed pool draw strong, consistent praise

Trade-offs

  • Food quality is inconsistent, with multiple reports of slow service, cold or undercooked dishes, and a widely criticized coffee program
  • Prices have climbed from roughly $1,000 a night in 2016 to $4,500-$7,000+ now, with guests reporting the same or a diminished product
  • Service is inconsistent: some stays get intuitive, personal attention while others report unanswered phones, rushed spa treatments, and slow luggage handling
  • Restaurant seating can be tight relative to the number of suites, leading to long waits for a table or for food to arrive

What people say

Lifts the score

Whether it’s worth $30k for three nights depends entirely on whether you’re there for the landscape or for flawless service.

Jun 2026

If you’re looking for a traditional luxury resort where the value is flawless service and dining, it’s hard to justify the cost. Where Amangiri becomes special is engaging with the landscape: via ferrata, canyon hiking, lake activities. The resort is built into the desert rather than sitting on top of it, and it sits inside a vast private estate, we drove for miles before even reaching the entrance. That sense of seclusion felt genuinely magical to me.

  • Via ferrata and canyon hiking
  • Deep sense of seclusion from a vast private estate
  • Hard to justify purely on service and dining

View source

Drags the score

We’ve been going since 2016 and it’s the exact same product now at nearly three times the price.

Jun 2026

At $1,000 a night in the lower season back in 2016 it was absolutely worth it. We’ve gone six or so times since, and the last trip in 2023 we paid $3,500 a night for what was, as far as I could tell, the exact same experience we’d had years earlier. We probably won’t go back unless prices come down or they actually improve something.

  • Consistent product over the years
  • Price has tripled with no improvement to match

View source

Red flag

We’ve stayed at eight Amans and this was the only one with real service lapses, right down to a 40-minute wait for our bags.

Oct 2025

Things started with radio silence after booking, and it took forever to get a response when trying to book spa treatments or off-property activities. We only got a guest experience call after our travel agent pushed for it. At checkout it took 40 minutes to get our luggage from the room to the car. At $5,000-plus a night for something that isn’t even really a suite, I think it’s completely fair to expect more.

  • Slow response to booking spa and activities
  • 40-minute wait for luggage at checkout

View source

Mixed read

The first-time view through the picture window at the entrance is still one of the most special arrivals I’ve had.

Jun 2025

I’m not usually a big Aman fan but climbing the stairs to that huge picture frame window looking out into the desert for the first time is genuinely special, and the main annex with all its fireplaces lit feels unique among hotels. I’ve been hearing service has been sliding lately, which is disappointing since this used to be one of my go-to quick getaways. It’s still a great place to disconnect and get real reading or work done.

  • Dramatic arrival sequence and architecture
  • Peaceful for disconnecting or focused time
  • Service reportedly declining over time

View source

Red flag

For $5,000 a night, the cheapest room category, the service didn’t come close to matching the price.

May 2025

Dinner at Camp Sarika took over two hours for four courses and 30 minutes just to get drinks. The hotel’s own activities are marked up heavily; I found the same UTV tour elsewhere for a quarter of the price. Compared to our prior stay, when staff remembered us and straightened the room between meals, this time housekeeping didn’t even make the bed after we left for breakfast. The coffee was worse than an airport lounge machine.

  • Free daily guided hikes are genuinely worth doing
  • Extremely slow restaurant service
  • Hotel-arranged activities heavily marked up
  • Inconsistent housekeeping between stays

View source

Strong endorsement

We only planned one night and ended up extending because every single interaction with the team blew us away.

Mazdaowner Aug 2026

I’ve stayed at plenty of five-star and seven-star properties around the world as a Centurion member, and I went in skeptical after reading some rough reviews online. From arrival, the team from the GM down treated us like we mattered, and the architecture against that desert backdrop is spectacular. We extended our stay through Sunday because we simply didn’t want to leave.

  • Warm, attentive staff from top to bottom
  • Architecture and setting exceeded expectations

View source

Red flag

At over $11,000 a night I expected flawless service, and instead I couldn’t even get reception to answer the phone.

gratzyella Aug 2026

We’ve stayed at Four Seasons and Rosewood properties around the world, so we know what genuine five-star service looks like, and this wasn’t it. The property felt seriously understaffed: turndown had to be requested repeatedly, housekeeping missed basic details, and when I finally reached the front desk about an issue, the attendant was rude and told me they were busy. For this price, that’s simply not acceptable.

  • Best-in-class location
  • Understaffed reception, unanswered phones
  • Housekeeping and turndown required constant follow-up

View source

Lifts the score

We came for a belated 50th birthday and the Orchard Suite with its outdoor fire pit made the whole trip.

JMax_7 Jul 2026

Getting to Page wasn’t easy since our flight got cancelled last minute, but it was worth the trek. July was brutally hot, but the pool and the well air-conditioned rooms made up for it. Dining was excellent at both the main restaurant and Camp Sarika, don’t skip the cast iron pancake, and the slot canyon hike and horseshoe canyon experience were great to see even if a little overpriced. Service felt personal everywhere we went, at the pool and at dinner alike.

“chiseled, into the geology of Southern Utah is a place unlike no other” in their words
  • Orchard Suite fire pit and stargazing
  • Dining at both restaurants
  • Personable service throughout
  • Activities felt overpriced relative to value

View source

Strong endorsement

This is the best hotel I’ve stayed at in the United States, and the unlimited top-tier food made me giddy.

Lauren Sierra Nov 2025

Everything on the property smells and sounds amazing, almost like the entire grounds function as a giant spa. You’re paying for service that isn’t smothering, anticipates your needs, and excels at privacy. If you appreciate Native American culture, the art on property and the evening performers are the real deal, and it’s also a perfect stopping point if you’re seasonal between Arizona and Colorado.

“the fact that you can eat unlimited amounts makes you feel giddy” in their words
  • Top-tier food with generous portions
  • Discreet, anticipatory service
  • Authentic Native American art and performers

View source

Drags the score

After four stays visiting friends at the pavilions, booking my own stay in the pool suite was a complete letdown.

Emma Nov 2025

Every previous visit with friends at the Sarika pavilions had been top-notch, friendly, respectful staff, fast service. Then I booked my own stay in the Mesa pool suite and the staff seemed rushed and distracted the whole time. The food was still decent but noticeably below previous visits, and the mattress was uncomfortable compared to before. I genuinely can’t tell if it was the room category, the season, or just inconsistency, but I won’t be booking that category again myself.

  • Pavilion stays were consistently excellent
  • Pool suite stay felt rushed and less attentive
  • Uncomfortable mattress

View source

Red flag

The negative reviews about the food here are unfortunately all true.

Meg Nov 2025

We got unripe fruit, undercooked breakfast potatoes, and bland main dishes, and because it’s all included it felt like a dressed-up all-inclusive rather than real fine dining. The coffee and matcha were undrinkable. We told our server we don’t eat meat and got served beef appetizers minutes later. At checkout we were told our $100 Amex credit didn’t apply to alcohol, which felt like it was deliberately withheld until the last moment.

  • Poor food quality across multiple meals
  • Undrinkable coffee and matcha
  • Dietary requests not communicated to kitchen
  • Resort credit restrictions disclosed only at checkout

Drags the score

The property is still beautiful, but the vibe has changed since our last visit in 2017 and I doubt we’ll be back.

Nina Forsyth Apr 2025

Meal service was slow, sometimes over two hours, and it took 30 minutes just to get drinks. They handled gluten-free requests reasonably but couldn’t get basic things like gluten-free french toast right despite having the bread for it. Cocktails were still $20 like in 2017 but noticeably weaker now, and the coffee genuinely needs professional help. I’d recommend the free daily guided hikes, they’re underused and essentially a private hike at no extra cost.

  • Beautiful property
  • Underused complimentary guided hikes
  • Slow meal service, weak cocktails
  • Coffee quality poor

View source

Strong endorsement

We spent Thanksgiving and our 30th anniversary here with our kids and genuinely had no complaints.

momtrieshard Nov 2024

We hiked, rode horses, did a canyon walking tour, and hit the spa and pools over the whole stay. Our room had everything we needed including a clothing steamer, which came in handy for a special luncheon we had planned. The night of our anniversary we came back from Thanksgiving dinner to candles, rose petals, a flower arrangement, a bubble bath, and a lit fire waiting for us.

  • Thoughtful anniversary turndown setup
  • Wide range of activities for a multi-generational group

View source

About Amangiri

Amangiri is an Aman resort in Canyon Point, Utah, set within a large private desert estate of canyons and rock formations. The property is built into the surrounding landscape, with architecture designed to sit low against the canyon walls, and includes suites as well as the separate Camp Sarika pavilions on the same estate. Access is controlled through a gated entrance, and the resort is reached by a private road across the estate grounds.

On property, guests have access to a spa, multiple pools including a pool built around a natural rock formation, and dining venues at both the main resort and Camp Sarika. Facilities include fireplaces in communal areas and rooms, and activities available on site or through the resort include via ferrata and rock climbing, hiking trails, horseback riding, off-road vehicle tours, and outings on Lake Powell such as boating, kayaking and paddle boarding. The setting also puts nearby slot canyons and surrounding desert terrain within reach for excursions.

What fat travellers ask

Is Amangiri worth it?

It depends heavily on what you’re booking it for. Guests who go for the setting, architecture, and canyon activities consistently come away satisfied, while those expecting flawless, high-touch service to match the price more often come away disappointed.

What’s the best time to visit Amangiri?

Spring and fall avoid the extreme summer heat that keeps guests indoors between late morning and early evening, while winter brings a cozier, fireplace-driven atmosphere but rules out most outdoor activities like via ferrata and hiking.

How many nights should you book at Amangiri?

Repeat guests consistently recommend at least three nights, since a big part of the value is in the via ferrata, hiking, and canyon excursions, which a one-night stay doesn’t leave time to properly experience.

Should I book the main resort or Camp Sarika?

Camp Sarika pavilions offer more privacy, a private pool per pavilion, and a golf cart for getting around, and several guests who’ve done both say they preferred it to the main suites, though its restaurant has drawn more mixed reviews.

How does Amangiri compare to other Aman properties?

Many well-traveled Aman guests consider the Asian properties more consistent and better value, and some long-time Amangiri regulars who’ve watched prices quadruple since 2016 say the experience hasn’t kept pace with the increases.

How many Michelin Keys does Amangiri have?

Amangiri holds Three Michelin Keys in the Michelin Guide’s 2026 hotel selection, announced in September 2026. Three Keys is the guide’s highest hotel distinction, given for what it calls an extraordinary stay. It has held Three Keys in every selection since 2024. The Keys come from the guide’s own anonymous inspections and are separate from the Fat Score: Fat Voyage rates it Fat Approved, 15.5 out of 20.

How do I book Amangiri?

Two routes, and both end with the reservation sitting at the hotel in your name. Direct on the hotel’s own site is the fastest — the Reserve button on this page goes straight to it. The other is through a travel advisor with consortia access: you pay the same rate the hotel is charging publicly, the hotel pays the advisor’s commission instead of you, and an amenity package comes attached — breakfast for two daily, even on room-only rates, $100 property credit for food, drink or spa, room upgrade, subject to availability, early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability. We handle that side ourselves for readers who ask.

What is the smartest way to book Amangiri?

Through a travel advisor with consortia access, for almost everyone. You pay the hotel’s own public rate and an amenity package comes on top that direct booking doesn’t include — typically breakfast for two daily, even on room-only rates, $100 property credit for food, drink or spa, room upgrade, subject to availability, early check-in and late check-out, subject to availability. It costs nothing extra, because the hotel pays the commission rather than you. The one real exception is brand loyalty: advisor rates don’t always earn nights toward status, so if you’re chasing a tier or points, book direct. Short of that, there’s no version of booking direct that leaves you better off. We’re advisors ourselves, so you can just ask us.

Can I get a free room upgrade at Amangiri?

Never guaranteed — it depends on what’s still unsold the day you arrive, and anyone promising one is guessing. Two things move the odds. The reliable one is booking through a consortia programme, where a room upgrade is written into the amenity package subject to availability; it costs nothing extra and it is the closest thing to a lever that exists. The other is telling the hotel in advance that you’re celebrating something, which works more often than people expect. The first part is already handled if you book it with us.

Most weeks, we leave you alone.

The occasional note

When something worth knowing happens in fat travel — a verdict that shifted, an opening worth waiting for, a hotel that earned its place — we write.