The 8 Best Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Rides Tours

1.Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Ride at Sunrise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,305 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $189Our pick

Rise before dawn for a one-hour Rainbow Ryders balloon flight over Albuquerque and the Rio Grande Valley. Your pilot, possibly Alfred, Anthony, Brad, Kris, or Troy, explains ballooning and local geography while the crew prepares the basket. Expect changing launch sites, shared seating, a smooth flight, and a sparkling-wine toast after landing.

“This is one experience you will not want to miss. It is exciting to view the mountains of New Mexico floating in the hot air balloon. The pilot of the balloon made me feel safe and comfortable the whole time.”

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2.Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Rides at Sunrise

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 242 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $203

Meet Four Corners Balloon Rides at Paradise Hills Shopping Center for an early morning flight over Albuquerque. Your small group, capped at 12, watches the sun rise near the Sandia Mountains, then returns to the meeting point for champagne and light snacks. Pilots such as Daniel and Dennis have been praised for calm landings, local detail, and careful instruction.

“A great family owned business. We had a wonderful ride on a clear, crisp, sunny morning. Beautiful sunrise. Great way to see the area.”

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3.Rio Grande River Valley Flight

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 145 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $199

Fly Albuquerque takes you up for about an hour over the Albuquerque area, Rio Rancho, or the Rio Grande near Los Lunas. Pilot Sam, Brittany, and the crew handle the safety briefing, flight, and balloon packing. Expect a small group of up to 12, changing launch sites, and a post-flight snack gathering with mimosas, coffee, and orange juice.

“All the crew were helpful and nice. The ride was so tranquil. They served snacks and Mimosa after ride and told the story of how hot air balloons came to be. I enjoyed all of it. I would recommend to anyone.”

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4.Private Hot Air Balloon Flights with Elevated New Mexico

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 92 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $349

Meet near the Rio Grande in west Albuquerque for a private hot air balloon flight with an FAA-certified pilot. Justin, BJ, and the crew have guided memorable flights over the river valley, Sandia Mountains, ancient volcanoes, and lava flows. Plan on three to four hours, including setup, flight, landing, snacks, and a mimosa or sparkling cider toast.

“Very enjoyable. Great pilot and crew, lots of experience and very capable. Would recommend for sure!”

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5.Rio Grande Valley Hot Air Balloon Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 78 reviews · 3h 30m · from $189

Meet Rainbow Ryders at its Albuquerque office for a small-group balloon flight over the Rio Grande Valley. Help inflate the balloon, ride for about an hour with an FAA-licensed pilot, assist with packing up after landing, then return by van for snacks and a celebratory toast. Sunrise and sunset departures vary by season.

“Great time with the Rainbow Riders 😃 Ballooning is a must and needs be done once in a lifetime, I am glad we did it in Albuquerque. Loved it and wich it could have lasted longer”

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6.Albuquerque Hot Air Balloon Ride at Sunset

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 57 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $225

Meet Rainbow Ryders at 2:15 pm for a guided sunset balloon flight over Albuquerque and the Rio Grande Valley. Your pilot explains ballooning, local wildlife, and New Mexico’s natural history while the crew handles launch and landing. Expect about one hour in the air, shared basket space, snacks, and a champagne toast afterward.

“Our pilot Troy and the flight crew were awesome. Troy kept us informed of what we’d be doing , step by step, he answered everyone’s questions, and shared stories of his international flights all while emphasizing the importance of safety. Troy clearly loves sharing his passion for ballooning.”

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7.Private Hot Air Balloon Rides in Albuquerque

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 12 reviews · 2 to 3 hours (approx.) · from $799 per basket (seats 2)

Share a private hot-air-balloon flight for two over Albuquerque at sunrise. You’ll see the Sandia Mountains, Rio Grande, wildlife, and the Bosque cottonwood forest, with a professional guide, light snacks, and a Champagne toast. Meet at Paradise Hills Shopping Center, then return there after roughly 2 to 3 hours.

“I booked a hot air balloon ride to celebrate our 18th wedding anniversary. It was a chilly morning but luckily not too windy, so the conditions were perfect. It was our first time going up in a hot air balloon, and it was really cool to see how everything worked. The staff were all really friendly and answered any questions we had. The ride itself was absolutely beautiful and we felt completely safe the entire time. To cap it all off, we got to enjoy a champagne toast at the end of our morning. I would definitely recommend this company to anyone looking for a great experience.”

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8.Private Hot Air Balloon Ride – Albuquerque, NM

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3 reviews · from $385

Meet at El Verde Inn for a private sunrise balloon ride above Albuquerque’s Rio Grande Valley. Your FAA-certified pilot chooses the launch site according to wind and weather, then guides your group through inflation, a safety briefing, and a peaceful flight. Private transport and a gazebo champagne toast follow the landing.

“The whole experience was stress free and an overall amazing experience. I would definitely go with them again.”

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