Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Ride at Sunrise
Description
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. Upon landing, enjoy a celebratory toast and light refreshments.
Tour Options
Itinerary
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.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- 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.
- Unable to fly anyone who is pregnant
- This is a shared basket flight, there will be anywhere from 10-16 total passengers in each basket
- Passengers 300lbs+ must purchase an additional space to ensure safety, comfort, and proper weight distribution during flight
Reviews(1,392)
Absolutely unforgettable—this hot air balloon ride was pure magic from start to finish. From the moment we arrived, the team was welcoming, friendly, and incredibly professional, making everyone feel comfortable and excited. The pre-flight briefing was clear and fun, and it was obvious they genuinely love what they do. When we finally lifted off, the view was breathtaking. Floating high above the landscape felt peaceful and surreal, like the world had slowed down just for us. Pilot Greg’s skill was impressive, as well as his crew, Moses and JD. The scenery was stunning—every direction offered something new—and the photo opportunities were out of this world. Even after landing, the excitement didn’t fade as we celebrated with a champagne toast. It felt like we’d been part of something special, not just taken a ride. If you’re considering booking, do it. This is one of those once-in-a-lifetime bucket list experiences that you’ll want to relive the second it’s over. Five stars doesn’t even feel like enough. Thank you again Greg, Moses, JD and Rainbow Ryders!
It was a great experience. We had an experienced hot air balloon pilot that had been giving rides for 23 years.
Thank you for your kind review! We are so glad you had a great experience and enjoyed flying with one of our experienced pilots. We truly appreciate you choosing to fly with us and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure!
So much fun! Alfred was such a great pilot and the whole team made the experience fantastic! It was on my wife's bucket list, but I was more nervous about it than she was! But once we got going, it was so smooth and my kids loved it too. Much smoother and relaxing (while still being exciting) than I envisioned.
Thank you for your wonderful review! We are thrilled to hear that your family had such a fantastic experience and that Alfred and the rest of the team helped make it so memorable. It's great to know your flight was smoother and more relaxing than you expected, and we're especially happy your wife was able to check a bucket list adventure off her list. We hope to welcome you and your family back for another unforgettable flight!
It was a great experience. They were very professional and pleasant.
Thank you for your kind review! We are so glad to hear you had a magical experience and that our team made your flight both enjoyable and professional. We truly appreciate you choosing to fly with us and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure!
The early morning tour experienced the sunrise and then expansive views of Albuquerque and the surrounding landscapes. We had a terrific time that ended with a safe landing and mimosas.
Thank you for your lovely review! We are so happy to hear you enjoyed the sunrise, the beautiful views of Albuquerque, and a smooth landing to finish it all off with mimosas. We truly appreciate you flying with us and hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable experience!
Beautiful ride. Clear instructions and knowledgeable and friendly staff.
Thank you for your kind review! We are so glad you enjoyed your flight and found our team to be friendly, knowledgeable, and easy to follow. We truly appreciate you choosing to fly with us and hope to welcome you back for another beautiful adventure soon!
This was an awesome experience. Kris, our pilot was amazing and we had a bucket list experience over Albuquerque!
Thank you for your wonderful review! We are so happy to hear you had an awesome bucket list experience flying over Albuquerque. We will be sure to share your kind words with Kris and let him know he helped make your flight so memorable. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure in the future!
Very reasonable - awesome experience- - wife & I rode with 5 friends we all had a great time- Tony was our pilot- all of us had a lot of fun - Kim in the office booked our flight flight - can’t wait to do it again
Thank you so much for your kind review! We are thrilled to hear that you, your wife, and your friends had such a wonderful experience with us. We will be sure to share your compliments with Tony and Kim, and we know they will appreciate your thoughtful recognition. We truly appreciate your recommendation and look forward to welcoming you back for another unforgettable flight!
We called the day before and there was room for us the next morning. My husband just grabbed the brochure from the hotel lobby. When we arrived and were checking in, my husband started talking to one of the pilots, Troy B. And he realized that he had flown with Troy 11 years ago!!!! What were the odds? We had a wonderful flight thanks to Troy, Alyssa and Elroy. I got to help inflate the balloon, and the crew were so easy to be with. We will definitely do this again when we are in the area and also recommend Rainbow Ryders!
Thank you so much for sharing your experience! We're so glad you enjoyed your flight with Troy, Alyssa, and Elroy, and that you had the opportunity to help inflate the balloon. Thank you for your kind recommendation, and we can't wait to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure the next time you're in the area!
Highly recommend Rainbow Ryders. Our pilot Troy was very experienced and shared some of the records he has set in the hot air balloon world. Did this experience with my two teenage granddaughters in order to celebrate the oldest one's 16th birthday. They both loved it!
Thank you for the wonderful review! We're so glad you chose to celebrate your granddaughter's 16th birthday with us and that it was a memorable experience for everyone. We'll be sure to share your kind words with Troy, and we're thrilled to hear that both of your granddaughters loved the flight. Thank you for recommending Rainbow Ryders, and we hope to welcome your family back for another adventure soon!
