Sunrise Hot-Air Balloon Flight: Rio Grande Valley Views

Experience the breathtaking beauty of a sunrise hot air balloon ride over Albuquerque’s Rio Grande Valley. Marvel at the vibrant colors in the sky and learn about New Mexico’s landscape from your expert pilot.

Duration: 4 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • 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…
What's Included
  • Scenic hot air balloon flight
  • Professional guide
  • Champagne toast
  • Light snacks after the flight
What's Not Included
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
  • Gratuities
Additional Information

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…

Location
5601 Eagle Rock Ave NE
Eagle Rock Avenue Northeast
Please check in at our office location.
Cancellation Policy

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

Customer Ratings
4.9
(1325 Ratings)
5 stars
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1 star
Rachel
Mar 16, 2026
Hot air balloon at sunrise - The pilots were incredibly knowledgeable and well equipped for managing the balloon. Seeing the set up and takedown processes was also part of the fun. Great experience.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Escape08804063499
Mar 15, 2026
Bucklet list ✔️ - This was our first time in a hot air balloon. Absolutely loved it! Kris was our pilot. He was very knowledgeable and made the tour fun.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
44arlenea
Mar 15, 2026
A must do - Well worth the price for the experience. The balloon bucket was a little crowded, but I was so occupied with the sites that it did not bother me that much.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
April
Mar 9, 2026
We loved it! - We thoroughly enjoyed our experience with our pilot Anthony. He was friendly, knowledgeable and made sure to give us the best experience possible. The ride was very peaceful and beautiful. Would definitely recommend Rainbow Ryders.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dave_g
Mar 5, 2026
Awesome experience, staff... - Awesome experience, staff was great. Our pilot Alfred was great. Smooth ride. Alfred was calming, made our first experience a great one. Would do it again.
Review provided by Viator
589shannao
Feb 28, 2026
Lift off - We had a great flight team with Greg our pilot.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Nisha_k
Feb 28, 2026
Best Ride - Excellent pilot with lots of experience. Had to postpone our previous day trip due to wind Better safe than sorry. Thanks Troy!
Review provided by Viator
Chloe_d
Mar 1, 2026
Great experience! Highly recommend - Such a great experience! Anthony was an excellent operator — super smooth takeoff and landing, and he communicated clearly throughout the entire flight. We barely even felt the landing, which speaks to his absolute skill. The whole experience felt very organized and thoughtful. The water, snacks, and champagne afterwards were such a nice touch and made it feel celebratory and special. One note for other people doing it - make sure to take your pictures RIGHT away because the balloons start off close together and then get further apart. Your best photos will be within 5-10 minutes after taking off! My one note is that it was advertised as a “sunrise” balloon ride with a 6am arrival, but we didn’t lift off until about 7:30am, so we missed most of the true dawn light. That early glow is such a magical time of day, and it would’ve been amazing to experience more of it in the air. Still, we were back to our cars by around 9–9:30am, which was very efficient. Overall, a really good experience — just wish we had caught more of the sunrise itself!
Review provided by Viator
H615jjanjam
Mar 2, 2026
Office staff needs to be nicer - Balloon ride was great until we landed in a fenced in area and had to walk out and through a fence to get back. Definitely an adventure. But when we returned to the office, staff there was pretty rude. We were told there would be a glass of sparkly and snacks, but no one mentioned anything and they couldn’t wait to get rid of us. That part was very disappointing for the price!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Passport39800638853
Feb 22, 2026
Did not get my refund for not flying 2-17-2026 - I already wrote my review. I had paid for my balloon ride early. Two days before the launch, I received a phone call from their outside sourced calling service that called from Phoenix SPAM#. I didn't answer it and I don't listen to SPAM voice mails. I showed up at the butt crack of dawn to do the launch and nobody was there but another couple who also didn't get Didthe message. The company cannot email us because TRIP ADVISOR won't share the emails of us. We were given the opportunity to fly another day when the wind was better but my airplane was leaving Albuquerque that day and I couldn't do it another time. I want my money back in full and I don't know how to get my money back in full. The lady at the hot air balloon place said TRIP ADVISOR has my money - so she couldn't pay me. ~Rebecca Gray
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $189
up to 6 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).