Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Ride at Sunrise
Overview
Available languages
4 hours
Mobile ticket
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.
Additional Info
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
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
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.
What‘s Included
Professional guide
Light snacks after the flight
Scenic hot air balloon flight
Champagne toast
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Gratuities
Options
6:15 am Departure
Duration: 3 hours: Flight itself is roughly 45 minutes to an hour. The whole experience is 3 hours.
Post-Flight Celebration: Celebratory toast and a light continental breakfast.
7am Departure
Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Ride - 7am Meeting time
Sunrise Experience
Premier Ride Operator: Rainbow Ryders, Inc. is the premier and largest hot air balloon business serving the Southwest since 1983.
Duration: 1 hour: Your flight will be about 45 minutes - 1 hour (depending on Mother Nature), with the entire experience lasting 3 hours.
Celebratory Toast included
Rio Grande Valley views
300lbs+ (Extra Space Policy)
Extra Space Policy: Passengers 300lbs+ must purchase an additional space to ensure safety, comfort, and proper weight distribution during flight
Premier Ride Operator: Rainbow Ryders, Inc. is the premier and largest hot air balloon business serving the Southwest since 1983.
Duration: 1 hour: Your flight will be about 45 minutes - 1 hour (depending on Mother Nature), with the entire experience lasting about 3 hours.
Celebratory Toast included
Rio Grande Valley views
6:45am Departure
Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Ride - 6:45am Meeting time
2021 Sunrise Experience
Premier Ride Operator: Rainbow Ryders, Inc. is the premier and largest hot air balloon business serving the Southwest since 1983!
Duration: 1 hour: Your flight will be about 45 minutes - 1 hour (depending on Mother Nature), with the entire experience lasting 3 hours.
Celebratory Toast included
Rio Grande Valley views
6am Departure
Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Ride - 6am Meeting time
Reviews
1,302 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Bucket list ride of our lives
J7246CTkaylaa,,Jan 31, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00My mom has terminal cancer and going on a hot air balloon was on her bucket list. I knew ABQ was famous for hot air balloons so I looked at booking a trip out there. I tried to book a private tour online but got an error message so I called the office. A spoke to a wonderful woman who helped me book a private tour. She explained the booking process - nominal deposit fee but full payment upon completion of the ride and how to confirm your ride the day prior to flight. I shared with my mom that we were going to go on a big adventure and I saw her eyes light up with happiness and excitement, something that had been rare lately due to her condition. We made the journey to ABQ (two airports and a full travel day) and got up early for our ride. We signed our waiver and met our pilot, Greg Morrison, who talked us through what to expect. He even got us a couple of waters while we waiting to drive to the launch site. On the first attempt, it was so windy. In fact, too windy to safely be in a balloon. He told us this was the hardest part of his job - having to cancel a flight. My mom started crying. We were expected to leave the next day and the winds were supposed to be strong all day. We switched our flights and Greg called the office on our drive back to get us rebooked for the next day. He had already told us so much about the balloon, what we might see, and even credentials (I asked!). He’s a retired F-18 Marine pilot and truly has a passion for aviation and adventure. He is also an extremely loving husband, caretaker son to his elderly mother and very proud father to his two daughters. Being around him felt safe and you could tell he was genuinely a good guy. Someone I’d trust taking my mom and I up in a hot air balloon. We asked if he would be willing to be our pilot again for the next attempt the following day… and, to our delight, he was! He indulged all our questions about ballooning on the way to the launch site, he walked us through the setup and even took some really amazing photos for us! I was worried about getting into the basket and he brought a step stool and helped me and my mom in. We had a safety briefing then we were off! I am terrified of heights but I’ll do anything for my mom so as we started to ascend, I got really scared. Greg picked up on this and kindly tried to distract me with cool facts about the area we were in. He pointed out volcanoes, mountains, birds (man, he loves those sandhill cranes!), and then he dipped down so we were soooo close to the Rio Grande that it felt like we were floating over it! Then we were up, up and away above the tree tops and floating like a cloud. We saw a gorgeous sunrise. My mom was so happy, albeit a bit chilly since it was the end of January - I just didn’t want to risk waiting for warmer weather because we don’t know how much time she has. We took photos. We learned a lot. And when it came time to land, he did a spectacular job with the landing! We ended up in a parking lot of an elementary school and it was a very smooth landing. Frankie was our chase crew came to us within a few short minutes. He helped us out of the basket and Greg prepared a champagne toast for us! There’s a really cool story behind the champagne toast that Greg shared. He’s full of information and enthusiastic about sharing it with people. It wasn’t just the hot air balloon ride, it was the care that Greg and Frankie took to make sure we had a safe and enjoyable experience. It wasn’t just another leisure ride. It was about making sure my mom felt alive, joy, happiness and created the most perfect memory for us. Greg wasn’t just our pilot - he was our memory maker. This is something I’ll never forget and I cannot thank Greg, Frankie and Rainbow Ryders enough for the ride of a lifetime. If you are considering ballooning, want a special experience, love to learn, or just want an unforgettable adventure, I HIGHLY recommend booking Rainbow Ryders and asking for Greg. I hear Frankie is training to be a pilot as well and he’s learning from the best of the best! Thank you Greg, Frankie and Rainbow Ryders.
Experience of a Lifetime!
cheryl8472,,Jan 20, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was a fantastic experience. So cool to watch the set up of the balloon. The crew was amazing with the guests, from getting in & out of the basket, taking photos and overall excellent care. I highly recommend.
Wear warm clothing gloves...
Gregory G,,Jan 18, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Wear warm clothing gloves and a hat, you will be high up in the sky. Experienced pilot and a great crew
Tgis is your sign to make a reservations!
Ryan A,,Jan 17, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Everything about this was perfect. They were professional helpful and answered all our questions. We had a couple of people in our group afraid of heights and they walked them through the entire experience. Both want to go again.
Just do it!
Getaway56269505479,,Jan 9, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great experience! Greg and the crew were great -- competent, knowledgeable and friendly. This is the way to see Albuquerque. Greg pointed out and named the mountains and sites. It was actually educational in learning how they set everything up -- with a little help from the passengers -- and how they bring the balloon down.
An experience that is guaranteed to last a lifetime
maxkB2406MK,,Jan 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Such an amazing experience from an incredibly professional company. The pilot (aeronaut) Alfred made the trip so enjoyable! If you're wondering if it's worth it, 100%, if you can, fly with Alfred!
5/5 — Incredible First Hot Air Balloon Experience with Rainbow Ryders Taking my first hot air balloon ride with Rainbow
119anilc,,Jan 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Taking my first hot air balloon ride with Rainbow Ryders was unforgettable. From the moment we arrived, the crew made everything feel smooth, safe, and exciting. They walked us through the setup, answered every question, and kept the mood fun and relaxed. Watching the balloon inflate at sunrise was magical on its own, but lifting off the ground and floating so quietly above the landscape was something I’ll never forget. The views were breathtaking — peaceful, panoramic, and unlike anything you can see from the ground. Our pilot was knowledgeable and friendly, pointing out landmarks and sharing interesting facts along the way. The landing was gentle, and the post‑flight celebration was a great touch that made the whole experience feel special. If you’re considering a hot air balloon ride, Rainbow Ryders is absolutely worth it. It was the perfect mix of adventure, professionalism, and once‑in‑a‑lifetime views.
Amazing morning up in a balloon!
JulieRbtravels,,Jan 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our flight was amazing! Troy, our pilot did an excellent job start to finish of our 61 min flight. The morning was beautiful, very peaceful up there. We climbed to a height of 1000 feet. There were 15 of us in the basket including Troy our pilot, however it did not feel crowded at all. Great views all around. I found out that the pilot has a way of rotating the basket so your get to see 360 degree views. He landed us exactly where he said. Very precise, easy landing! The price was great also!
The pilot also acted as a...
Lori L,,Jan 4, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The pilot also acted as a tour guide letting people know what land marks we passed and he was very knowledgeable
What are you waiting for?
tlray1011,,Dec 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Did the sunrise balloon ride on Christmas morning as a family and it was amazing. Our pilot Greg could not have been more friendly and welcoming along with his daughter Lily. If you are on the fence - you must do it - lifetime Experience.
From US$189.00
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