Sedona’s Sole Adults-Only Retreat Elevates the Independent Getaway with Wellness, Privacy and Desert Luxury

SEDONA, Ariz – As solo travel continues to surge in popularity, Ambiente, Arizona’s only Two MICHELIN Key property and North America’s first landscape hotel, is emerging as the destination of choice for discerning travelers seeking solitude, self-care and soul-stirring scenery.

Driven by a rising desire for self-exploration, personal growth and untethered freedom, solo travel has become one of 2025’s most defining travel movements, especially among women, millennials and wellness-seekers.

Tucked into the dramatic red rock terrain of Sedona, Ambiente is a high-desert hideaway that feels worlds away from the noise and crowds of busy urban life. With its rust-hued cliffs, pine forests and open skies, Sedona has long attracted those in search of spiritual renewal and natural beauty, making it the ideal backdrop for a solo journey of reflection, adventure or indulgence.

Ambiente’s secluded location, just minutes from Uptown Sedona but set apart on three acres of preserved land, offers the perfect balance of privacy and accessibility. With just a single entry point reserved solely for hotel, restaurant and spa guests, the adults-only property ensures a peaceful, distraction-free environment while providing a strong sense of safety and comfort for solo travelers.

The hotel’s 40 private Atriums—sleek, glass-wrapped accommodations that seem to float above the landscape—offer architectural elegance and uninterrupted views of Sedona’s otherworldly terrain. Designed with tranquil solitude in mind, each Atrium is outfitted with its own rooftop deck, fire pit and daybed, inviting guests to unwind under the stars.

“Our hotel was created to inspire connection: to the land, to wellness and to your own inner rhythm. We’re seeing solo guests embrace that intention in profound ways,” said Jennifer May, co-founder and co-owner of Ambiente. “Whether they’re commemorating a birthday, honoring a life transition or simply carving out time to reset and reflect, Ambiente has become a trusted sanctuary for these deeply personal escapes.”

Ambiente’s amenities are thoughtfully designed to enrich the solo travel experience at every turn. Guests can step directly from their doorstep onto scenic hiking trails that weave through Sedona’s iconic red rock landscape or soak in the pond-shaped pool with panoramic views of the surrounding monoliths. On site, Velvet Spa offers personalized treatments that restore balance and energy, while Forty1, Ambiente’s ingredient-driven, chef-led restaurant, delivers refined, seasonal cuisine in a serene setting.

This growing demographic of independent travelers is prioritizing experiences that foster personal reflection and empowerment, and Ambiente’s thoughtful design offers exactly that—space to disconnect from routines and reconnect with oneself.

For those craving adventure, the hotel curates unforgettable excursions, from Jeep tours across rugged desert paths to helicopter flights over canyons and horseback rides through secluded trails, all tailored to immerse solo travelers in the region’s dramatic beauty. Guests can also take part in restorative programming such as sunrise and sunset yoga, sound healing sessions and guided stargazing beneath Sedona’s famously dark skies.

With solo bookings steadily rising, Ambiente is embracing its role as a refuge for independent travelers seeking serenity, wellness and connection to nature. To learn more or to reserve an Atrium, visit AmbienteSedona.com.

About Ambiente, a Landscape Hotel
The first of its kind in North America and the only Two MICHELIN Key hotel in Arizona, Ambiente, a Landscape Hotel is uniquely situated among Sedona’s legendary red rock monoliths, offering guests an intimate and immersive experience amidst one of the world’s most stunning natural locations. As the only adults-only destination in Sedona, the award-winning boutique hotel features 40 freestanding, cube-shaped Atriums that embody elegant, minimalistic architecture through bronzed glass exteriors that reflect the surrounding landscape by day and fill the landscape with a soft, ethereal glow by night. In line with landscape hotels around the world, expertly placed stilts elevate the structures, simultaneously preserving the existing topography below and allowing for breathtaking, 360-degree views from every angle of the property. With contemporary, elemental interiors, free-flowing waterways underfoot and private rooftop decks that put the Dark Sky city’s beaming stars on full display, the Atriums’ sleek design exudes a tranquil, lavish hideaway that solidifies the hotel’s status as the most luxurious in Sedona. Guests can also indulge in elevated dining at the onsite restaurant, Forty1, unwind at the award-winning Velvet Spa, or explore the many adventures the region has to offer. Opened in February 2023, Ambiente is committed to providing a sustainable destination for global travelers that is harmonious with the environment. To learn more, visit AmbienteSedona.com.

• Photos Courtesy of Jeff Zaruba

“Locals are fed up,” said responsible tourism advocate Birgitta Spee-König. “These fines are signals that communities want to reclaim space. It’s not that tourists are worse – it’s more that the tolerance has gone. And it’s important to consider that not every fine is a crackdown: some are calls for respect.”

Anti-tourism and overtourism protests have been growing in Europe for years. While small measures – including legislation recognising the impact of unrestrained short-term lets on local communities –have come into play, these new fines are taking it further. Local authorities are recognising that they need to stand up for residents and are showing themselves willing to risk upsetting tourists to do that. It’s also a signal to holidaymakers that being away from home isn’t a free pass for doing anything you want.

“Fines won’t shift culture,” said Spee-König, noting that while they can work as a short-term measure, she doubts they can change behaviour in the long term. “Without better orientation, local governance and shared expectations, little will change. Destinations are homes, not playgrounds.”

It’s too soon to say if the new fines are working. Robert Allard, who runs Go2algarve, a specialist travel firm serving the Algarve, has noticed new surveillance cameras and an increased police presence in Albufeira’s nightlife areas. “Some people have been fined,” he said, “but at the same time, people are not really aware of the new rules, even though leaflets are available in hotel lobbies and posters are visible.”

Behaviour change campaigns take time to work, and one season won’t transform visitor habits. But the message is clear: sun, sand and sea are still on offer, but only to those who agree to enjoy them sensibly, sensitively and a little soberly.

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