Amangani

The legendary Amangani is not just Jackson Hole’s most exclusive resort, but its most impressive as well. This was the first outpost of the Singapore-based Aman chain in the Americas — and should Wyoming seem an odd choice for a brand mostly known for Bali-style luxury spas, one look at the hotel itself will convince you of its absolute rightness.

Amangani’s location is extraordinary: set at seven thousand feet above sea level, it’s carved into the hillside at Gros Ventre Butte, overlooking the meadowed valley of Jackson Hole with a view of Teton Pass and the Snake River Range in the distance. It’s an imposing structure, hewn from rough Oklahoma sandstone with accents of glass and Pacific redwood — a sort of Eastern minimalist take on a rustic Western theme, and unlike anything in Wyoming if not all of the Rockies.

There’s an understated glamour to the interiors, which tread a middle path between luxury-hotel opulence and international boutique minimalism — constant is the insistence on fine craftsmanship and materials, and the distinct Asian influence is pervasive yet never kitschy.

It’s hard to imagine suites more comfortable or luxurious than these. Each includes a fireplace, king-sized platform bed, and a private balcony with a commanding view of the valley below. Bathrooms are impossibly spacious, with slate walls, redwood floors, separate showers, and deep soaking tubs with mountain views.

The Grill serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in a 65-seat redwood-paneled dining room. The cuisine is Western with organic leanings, serving steaks and seafood with regional produce. A zinc-top bar and a lounge with vast two-story windows overlooking the Tetons offer venues for drinks and socializing.

And no Aman resort would be complete without a world-class spa. This one, perhaps unsurprisingly, emphasizes physical fitness over decadent pampering, though the latter is certainly available. Outside a hundred-foot swimming pool and whirlpool take in views of Wyoming’s snow-capped peaks — possibly the perfect image to convey the contrast that makes Amangani so unusual.

How to get there: Amangani is located about 20 minutes from Jackson Hole Airport.