Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Ride at Sunrise in Albuquerque booking from $169.00

Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Ride at Sunrise

Overview

Float over the Rio Grande Valley during a sunrise hot-air balloon flight from Albuquerque, home of the largest hot-air balloon festival in the world. As the sun comes up over the Sandia Mountains, admire the dramatic reds and oranges that fill the sky, and learn about the features of the New Mexico landscape from your expert pilot. Back on the ground, celebrate a memorable flight with sparkling wine and a commemorative flight certificate.

City: Albuquerque

Tue 19 Nov

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Starting at $169.00

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Tue 19 Nov

Starting at $169.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Professional guide

Light continental breakfast

Scenic hot air balloon flight

Champagne toast

Additional Info

Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Minimum age is 5 years
Not recommended for participants with knee problems
Due to the nature of this tour and the safety of all guests, the tour operator reserves the right to refuse service to passengers who are intoxicated or show signs of intoxication. If, as a result, your tour is canceled, you will not be entitled to a refund.
Flights can only be operated with safe winds, clear sky and no rain. In case of unsuitable weather conditions, you will be provided the option to take the tour on an alternative date or be refunded in full.
A maximum of 12 people per balloon
Face masks provided for travellers
Hand sanitiser available to travellers and staff
Regularly sanitised high-traffic areas
Gear/equipment sanitised between use
Transportation vehicles regularly sanitised
Guides required to regularly wash hands
Paid stay-at-home policy for staff with symptoms
Contactless payments for gratuities and add-ons

What To Expect

Rainbow Ryders Hot Air Balloon

Rise early to begin your hot-air balloon experience. Stop into the office for check-in, then ride to the balloon launch site (which varies day-to-day depending on weather). Your pilot begins the process of inflating the balloon when you arrive. You can even help out the crew during the inflation process for a more hands-on experience. As you float high above the ground, enjoy incredible birds-eye views of the Rio Grande Valley. Your pilot determines the route for the day depending on the wind’s direction. You may fly over the city of Albuquerque and even dip low enough to wave at people or skim the Rio Grande River. Throughout your flight, your pilot shares informative commentary about the landscape beneath you. After approximately one hour in the air, your pilot lands the balloon and the ground crew comes to meet you. Celebrate your flight with a complimentary glass of sparkling wine and a commemorative flight certificate before returning to the original starting point.

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (754)

S W

Nov 2017

I was in Albuquerque for a work-related conference that happened to coincide with the 2017 Balloon Fiesta, and so a few months before the conference I decided to reserve a ride for Friday, October 13, which was a day with a lot of "special shapes" balloons. It was my first time to ride in a hot air balloon and it was fantastic! I paid $150 for the ride + $99 for the Ryders Club package. My pilot was Jeff Spear who was an excellent pilot. He was professional, extremely funny, and engaging with the passengers in the basket as well as with the people on the ground who came out of their homes to look at our balloon. There were 6 passengers in our basket and the ride lasted for about an hour. It ended with a wonderful toast on the balloon field where we got to see some balloons taking part in balloon competitions. The pilot and crew provided bottled water, orange juice, and Dom Perignon champagne for our toast. The pilot recited a traditional balloonist's prayer before the toast, which made it all the more special. I recommend the Ryder's Club, especially if this is your first time to ride in a balloon. It makes it a first class experience. And they give you a couple of nice pins and a bag to commemorate the trip. If you never have the opportunity to ride in a hot air balloon again, you'll be glad you paid the extra money for the experience. I was glad, too, that there were only 6 people in my basket. I think you get a more open view if there are fewer people in your basket. And I was glad to see that the Ryders Club tent was open and ready to serve breakfast well before 5 a.m. The breakfast was OK - you get a choice of several kinds of breakfast burritos, with fruit, pastries, coffee and juice. The morning of my flight was not too cold at all - it was about 51 degrees (F), so I actually didn't need to use my hat, scarf, and gloves. The one thing I wish the pilot had done was try a quick dip in the Rio Grande. I saw a picture of other balloons doing that, but our balloon did not do that. We basically circled the balloon field for an hour. But that was fine with me, as we all got to see hundreds of colorful balloons in flight at the same time as well as a number of balloons on the ground getting ready to take off. It was a spectacular sight to see and not one that you get to see unless you attend an event like this Balloon Fiesta. I recommend doing something like this while you are still limber enough to climb over and hop down into the basket. There are square holes in the basket to help you get a footing for hoisting yourself over, but that would have been nearly impossible for someone like my mom, who is in her 80s and has had both knees replaced. She would not have been able to do a ride like this. It would have been too rough on her knees and she probably would have fallen and hurt herself. The chase crew consisted of two young guys and they were very professional. I wish I had brought more cash to give as a tip to the pilot and crew. I only had about $20 on me, which was for all three members, but if you can afford it, please tip generously. The pilot teaches you safety measures while being extremely entertaining and gracious, and he lands in a perfect spot that allows you to exit the basket safely.... He avoids power lines while making sure that the place he lands is not too muddy or in a restricted area. He has to make sure the place he lands in has an opening for his crew to come and retrieve the basket and balloon, and he has to make sure that he does not land in a place with mean dogs or irate homeowners. He does all of this while keeping everyone safe and entertained. They take you back to the Balloon Field in a Rainbow Ryders passenger van; they answer questions and engage in interesting tales about previous balloon flights along the way back. Jeff Spear and his crew did an excellent job. I'd like to take this opportunity to thank them and Rainbow Ryders again for what has been one of the coolest experiences of my life.

Response from Host

Nov 2017

Thank you for sharing about your experience with us. We agree, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta really is a beautiful event, and from the sky it's even more of an incredible sight. Jeff will be glad to know that you appreciated his piloting capabilities and attention to safety. We here in the office, your crew, and Jeff appreciate your kind words. We're all happy to hear it was one of the coolest experiences of your life, and we hope it will be a memory you'll never forget. Thank you for allowing us to enjoy the adventure alongside you. Continue exploring new heights!

Mayfirst

Oct 2017

I absolutely loved my sunrise balloon ride.! Pilot Dean Donley made all the passengers feel safe and comfortable right from the beginning. He was very amusing and explained a lot of what we saw over our hour long tour of Albuquerque. The ground crew were all friendly and professional. This was on my bucket list and had such a good time I don't want to take it off! Highly recommend this company.

Response from Host

Oct 2017

Dean will really like that picture you took of him! We're glad you enjoyed your sunrise balloon ride over Albuquerque, and we'll be sure to pass along your high praises to Dean and his crew. Thank you for checking a "hot-air balloon ride" off of your 'Bucket List' with us. You're always welcome back to accomplish another round of ballooning. In the meantime, continue to adventure!

jakenball

Oct 2017

Took an anniversary ride and it did not disappoint! Amazing views, relaxing ride and a ton of fun. Our pilot, Dean, was great - very knowledgeable of the area and loved his sense of humor! Best part of our trip - thank you!!

Response from Host

Oct 2017

Happy anniversary! We're thrilled that your ride with Dean did not disappoint. We hope this is one of those anniversary gifts that could become an annual anniversary tradition. We agree Dean is all-around pretty great, including his humor, and we'll be sure to pass along your kind words to him. Thank you for joining us in the Albuquerque sky, and we hope to see you next year.

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Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Ride at Sunrise

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