Sand, sky and stars: These luxury hotels have nailed the desert aesthetic

With its minimalist design and muted tones—stark, sculptural buildings create a beautiful contrast against the rippling walls of the surrounding canyons—Amangiri magically blends in as much as it stands out in the dramatic, colourful expanse of the Utah desert.

Since it opened in 2009, the resort has won countless design awards and the hearts of A-list travellers, including models like Emily Ratajkowski, Jasmine Tookes and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, who can’t get enough of the hotel’s picturesque surroundings— especially of the pool, which is flanked with king-size loungers and parasols. In cooler months, cosy up by the fire pit or take a dip in the Jacuzzi.

In 2020, the hotel introduced Camp Sarika, adding to its 34 suites a collection of ten tented pavilions with individual private plunge pools in a luxury encampment surrounded by 240 hectares of raw wilderness, located just a five-minute drive—or a 30-minute hike—from Amangiri.

Amangiri also offers an oasis in the typically dry state of Utah, with a floor-to-ceiling walnut wine cellar and locally inspired cocktails, like a prickly pear margarita or sage mojito.

Tatler tip: For epic sunset views, choose a Mesa View Suite, or a Sunset Canyon Pavilion at Camp Sarika. To experience Amangiri from the same perspective as the plethora of celebrities that visit this desert escape, the Girijaala Suite has a sprawling sky lounge and a large swimming pool. 

Habitas AlUla’s co-founder Oliver Ripley used to organise camps for Burning Man, and some takeaways from the legendary desert arts and music festival can be found here—it’s home to immersive and interactive art installations commissioned for its Desert x AlUla programme; there’s a strong focus on wellness, with sound healing, meditation, and yoga on a gorgeous sculptural deck surrounded by sandstone outcroppings; and every guest is given a bike to travel from their villas to the restaurant, spa and lobby (golf carts are also available).

The property is home to 96 sustainably designed villas that boast otherworldly views, outfitted with luxurious linens, floor-sofas and traditional rugs made from ethically sourced organic materials. The grandeur extends outside: take a dip in the middle of the desert in Habitas AlUla’s ridiculously photogenic infinity pool or catch a culturally stimulating documentary at the open-air cinema. Overall, the property is visually and emotionally arresting.

Founded in the 6th century BC, the hauntingly beautiful ancient city of AlUla has seen civilisations built and lost, and visitors have the opportunity to explore preserved tombs, historic dwellings and sites like Hegra, Saudi Arabia’s first Unesco World Heritage Site.

See also: Here’s how Saudi Arabia’s ancient desert will be turned into the next cultural destination in the world

The clever brutalist architecture at Paradero Todos Santos plays with light and shadow, constantly enhancing and transforming the landscape and mood of the hotel throughout the day, while a spectacular sea of stars appears at night.

Set in Todos Santos, a town on the southwestern coast of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula surrounded by the Sierra de la Laguna Mountains, the hotel boasts 35 suites and impressive common spaces, including an infinity pool with a crescent-shaped deck overlooking the wild desert. The surrounding vegetation includes dozens of endemic plants, like Mojave yucca, agave and red sand verbena.

Provenance matters at Paradero, where the hotel restaurant serves authentic Mexican cuisine using produce sourced from local farms and its own organic garden, and seafood from the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez—some of the Baja Peninsula’s countless secluded beaches are just a short drive away.

It was the mission of its founders to protect Todos Santos’s dwindling family-owned farming communities without overdeveloping the region’s rugged wilderness. So, community- mindedness and sustainability play an important role in everything Paradero does—we recommend getting into the spirit with a farming class or a shaman-led temazcal, or sweat lodge, ceremony.

Located in far west Texas is Willow House, a cosy property that boasts 360-degree views of the Chisos Mountain Range, just a few kilometres from Big Bend National Park and the Rio Grande river.

It comprises 12 villas, or casitas, designed in an industrial-desert- chic style. There’s also a community space featuring a kitchen, living area and outdoor fire pit where guests can mix a drink and perhaps make some new friends along
the way.

It’s hard to believe that Willow House is the work of first-time hotelier Lauren Werner. Every detail is heartfelt and personal, intended to forge a deep connection between the desert and its guests. The casitas are adorned with works of art by Werner’s grandfather, as well as sand, coral and amber-hued stones from her daily walks, and she’s sourced dishes by a local ceramicist and installed hanging beds positioned to enjoy a front-row seat to the ethereal magic of the Milky Way at night.

After breakfast, take a day trip to visit the galleries in Texas’s art hub Marfa, or hike Big Bend’s South Rim for the day and be back in time for a sunset dinner.

Connect to Australia’s spiritual centre at Longitude 131, which is located in the World Heritage-listed expanse of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park. It has just 15 tents—more like chic cabins—looking out towards the rust-red wilderness of the Simpson Desert, with incredible private views of the sun rising and setting over Uluru (formerly referred to as Ayers Rock).

Every other night, guests are taken to a secret location for the hotel’s Table 131 dining experience, where they’ll enjoy a three-course meal alfresco, followed by a storytelling session about the region’s expansive desert starscape.

Here, the vast red desert feels like your own personal playground, and there are many ways to enjoy it: you can book a helicopter, Harley Davidson or camel to ride around the area; take a guided excursion to learn about the history of Uluru; or wake up at 5am to catch the ethereal sunrise over the ancient monolith, with freshly baked pastries to tempt you out of bed.

Tatler Tip: As comfy as the beds are here, we recommend spending a night on the deck—the staff can even set up a bed there, so you can sleep under a blanket of stars and wake up with Uluru in your sights.

Nestled in AlUla's Old Town, Dar Tantora The House Hotel is a testament to heritage preservation. The hotel features 30 rooms meticulously restored from 800-year-old mudbrick houses, blending traditional materials with modern comforts. Guests can immerse themselves in local culture through experiences like ancient breadmaking and storytelling sessions, all while enjoying amenities such as a spa and two distinctive restaurants.

Set within the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, Al Maha offers 42 secluded suites, each with a private pool overlooking expansive dunes and the Hajar Mountains. The resort's architecture and interiors are inspired by Bedouin heritage, complemented by authentic artefacts. Guests can engage in activities like camel trekking and falconry, or unwind at the Timeless Spa, making it a sanctuary of Arabian hospitality.

This story was updated by the Tatler T-Labs team on March 10, 2025.

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