Situated with picturesque views of both Paradise Valley and the legendary Camelback Mountain, the Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain offers guests a unique blend of desert elegance and Zen living.

Environment

The Asian-inspired property instantly calms the senses (and cools the body) from the moment you walk into the reception area. After checking in, head to the Jade Bar for a cocktail. Then gaze out the floor-to-ceiling windows, which offer sweeping views of the Paradise Valley. For dinner, head to Elements, Sanctuary's signature restaurant, and request a table on the veranda. As the night sky becomes aglow with the twinkling stars and city lights, breathe in the fresh desert air. Elements highlights organic cuisine on both their regular and lighter fare menus, catering to the health-conscious as well as the sinful. Try the Roasted Beet Salad with grapefruit, manchego cheese, and toasted hazelnuts for a starter followed by the Georges Bank Scallops served with sticky rice and grilled mango in a tropical coconut pesto broth. If you're not in the mood for a full meal, the bar serves light dishes to accompany their extensive wine list late into the night.

A visit to the Sanctuary really doesn't begin until you've visited the Sanctuary Spa, featuring cool slate tile, gurgling fountains, and the tranquil Zen Meditation Garden and reflecting pool. This Zen oasis is designed to quickly calm and soothe even the weariest of travelers. Each of the 14 treatment suites opens to the Zen Meditation Garden; a common space featuring a reflecting pool, stone pathways, and lush green plants. Prefer a bit more privacy? Book your treatments in the Sanctum; a private stone-walled retreat often reserved by couples; which features a private deluge shower and vitality pool.

Experiences

If you've ever been to Thailand or Indonesia, you're well aware that many of the indigenous therapies are more therapeutic in their application (with less of a focus on pampering). While still honoring Thai tradition, the Sanctuary's Thai treatments also incorporate a little of the Western feel-good mentality. After enjoying a cup of tea in the waiting area, I ventured to my treatment room for the Luk Pra Kope therapy; a two-hour Thai experience designed to soothe knotted muscles and calm knotted minds. My therapist first soaked my feet in a blend of lime and essential oils and then buffed them to baby softness using a blend of fine white clay and lime. The massage portion of the treatment is clothed, which is standard for Thai massage, and incorporates stretching movements, kneading, and assisted yoga postures to awaken the joints, improve mobility, release energy blockages, and deeply massage tired and tight muscles. My neck and shoulders, which have been tight for nearly six months from a car accident, finally released and I felt my body elongate and relax. Finally, using a compress of steamy, organically grown, medicinal herbs my therapist pressed and massaged out any lingering tension from my body. (The two-hour treatment costs $245.)

Bliss Factor

You'd never expect to find some of the best Asian-influenced treatments in the middle of the desert; but from the spa and resort grounds to the blissful treatments, I can guarantee you'll be back for more of Sanctuary's unique "desert Zen." Bliss tip: Book the Luk Pra Kope or Thai massage; then spend part of the day relaxing under the desert sun by the Sanctuary's infinity pool.

Paradise Valley, Arizona (800) 245-2051, www.sanctuaryoncamelback.com

Melissa Williams is the Editor-in-Chief at Healing Lifestyles & Spas