Ambiente Sedona Is Arizona’s Premiere Destination for Natural Beauty Coupled With First-Class Hospitality

Learn everything you need to know about the resort prior to booking your stay.

Atrium | Courtesy of Ambiente

An adults-only resort in north-Central Arizona, Ambiente Sedona sits on the border of the Coconino National Forest and offers unparalleled views coupled with first-class hospitality. The property, which features 40 individual guest atriums, offers stunning views of the state’s red rock formations and is the ultimate getaway for guests looking to connect with nature.

“As the first landscape hotel in North America, Arizona's only Two MICHELIN Key property and Sedona's sole adults-only retreat, Ambiente is renowned for its first-class hospitality, high-end amenities and eco-conscious design,” Brent Graef, General Manager of Ambiente Sedona, tells SI Swimsuit.

Atrium view | Courtesy of Ambiente

Prior to planning your getaway to Ambiente Sedona, keep reading for the can’t-miss excursions to take advantage of during your stay and a few pro tips from staff when it comes to booking your visit.

How to get there

The closest airport to the property is Sedona Airport (KSEZ), which is approximately two miles away from Ambiente Sedona. However, most travelers will likely fly into Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX). From there, the resort is roughly a two-hour car ride away. You can also choose to fly into Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG), which will get you closer, requiring just a 40 to 50 minute car ride once you’re on the ground.

Accommodation

Ambiente Sedona’s breathtaking rooms take the form of cube-shaped atriums, allowing guests to take in the local landscape during their stay. The floor to ceiling bronze-tinted glass walls offer 360-degree panoramic views of either the Coconino National Forest or red rock formations, depending on where on the property you’re staying.

Atrium interior | Courtesy of Ambiente

“Rather than solely providing a base from which guests can admire Sedona’s natural beauty, Ambiente invites them to fully immerse themselves in it through a unique design that visually and physically recedes into its surroundings,” Graef says. “As part of the property’s development, ancient waterways were restored and carefully reintegrated into the landscape, creating free-flowing streams that wind around the atriums.”

Each atrium features a main bedroom, bathroom with an oversized soaking tub, a sitting area and kitchen, all equipped with smart technology throughout. Most atriums also include access to their own private rooftop decks—which makes for the perfect sunbathing and stargazing spot.

Stargazing | Courtesy of Ambiente

“For a guided experience, Ambiente offers Private Rooftop Stargazing, pairing guests with a professional astronomer who leads an exploration of constellations and nebulae using custom telescopes sourced specifically for the property, all from the private rooftop deck of their atrium,” Graef explains.

Upon arrival, guests can expect a chilled half-bottle of champagne and a seasonal treat waiting for them, while rooms are also stocked with a complimentary mini bar, pour-over coffee station and snacks. Nightly rates at Ambiente Sedona start at $799.

Dining

Forty1, the property’s signature restaurant, offers delectable fare prepared by executive chef Brianna Barker, whose menu is built around Verde Valley produce and Arizona-raised proteins. For a starter, try the Smoked Crab Cake, “which brings together roasted hatch chile, chives, chipotle remoulade and an Arizona sweet corn relish,” Graef notes.

Forty1 exterior | Courtesy of Ambiente

When it comes time to order your entree, “the Copper State Filet Mignon is a popular selection, served with black garlic demi, chive potato puree, roasted asparagus and shallots,” he adds. For dessert, try the Golden Dessert, which includes lemon sponge cake paired with Bavarian cream, mezcal whipped cream and raspberries.

Copper State Filet Mignon | Courtesy of Ambiente

Cocktail hour is also covered at Forty1, featuring La Fiera, the venue’s signature specialty drink, which includes Libélula Añejo tequila, Baileys Chocolate liqueur, espresso and habanero bitters, topped with cinnamon and a Licor 43-infused cold foam.

What to do

There is no shortage of activity available at Ambiente Sedona, where the resort’s staff has assembled excursions that connect guests with the local terrain and culture.

“Among Ambiente's most popular guest excursions is the Ambiente Soldiers Pass Jeep Tour, a 2.5-hour tour that takes guests along an exclusive route through the Seven Sacred Pools and the Devil’s Kitchen sinkhole, ending with a light picnic in a private, secluded area chosen by the guide,” Graef says.

Ambiente Soldiers Pass Jeep Tour | Courtesy of Ambiente

Additional excursions include Saddle & Sip (a horseback ride to the area’s local vineyards), Beyond the Canvas (a private painting experience atop your atrium), the Verde Valley Pour (a tour of local Page Springs Cellars) and more.

“For a broader view of the region, the Ambiente Adventure Seeker begins on the ground with a jeep run through the Soldiers Pass trail before lifting off on a helicopter flight over the most dramatic rock formations and deepest canyons in the region,” Graef adds. “Offered in partnership with Apex Air Tours and Sedona Jeep, it is one of the most comprehensive ways to take in the scale and spectacle of the landscape.”

Should you be looking to relax, the property’s spa, Velvet, offers an array of luxurious treatments, while the pool features a lounge and open-air bar. And if you’re looking to explore the area off the resort, be sure to add a visit to the Adobe Jack Trailhead or a sunrise hike at Cathedral Rock to your itinerary.

Pool view | Courtesy of Ambiente

Pro tips

While summer is an incredible time of year to visit Ambiente Sedona, don’t count out the fall months. In fact, Graef says November is the best month to book a stay at the resort during the autumn, when average daytime temperatures dip toward the 50s and 60s, providing the perfect hiking weather.

“Beloved routes such as Devil’s Bridge, Soldier Pass and Cathedral Rock become less crowded during this time of year, offering a quieter, more serene connection to the landscape,” he says. “With fewer visitors and vibrant seasonal colors, it’s an ideal time to admire the region’s iconic vistas through the floor-to-ceiling glass walls that line each of Ambiente’s elevated atriums.”

Red rock view from atrium | Courtesy of Ambiente

Plus, cooler evenings make for even better stargazing atop your atrium, so for those looking to experience the best offerings of both the summer and fall seasons, booking your stay during November is a guaranteed win.

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