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Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta by Rail

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9 days From $3,795 per person
4.4 stars(82 reviews)
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Experience the International Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, ride the iconic California Zephyr and Durango & Silverton Railroad, and visit Arches and Mesa Verde national parks

Travel among a group of like-minded travelers led by a professional tour manager

Mobility Rating 3

2026 Tour code: ABF26

About the tour

Discover the beauty of the Southwest in autumn on this 9-day escorted adventure featuring national parks, historic rail journeys, and the world-famous International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque.

Travel on the iconic California Zephyr to Grand Junction. View the breathtaking landscapes of Arches and Mesa Verde national parks, before riding the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad.

After uncovering Spanish colonial history in Santa Fe, marvel at the celebrated Albuquerque International Ballon Festival. Enjoy the vibrant celebrations and watch as hundreds of colorful balloons rise into the sky at sunrise.

Unforgettable Experiences

Experience Albuquerque's International Balloon Fiesta
Experience Albuquerque's International Balloon Fiesta
Be spellbound as hundreds of balloons fill the skies above the New Mexico city. From the early-morning Dawn Patrol to the Night Glow, watch on and interact in this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Spend a night on the legendary California Zephyr
Spend a night on the legendary California Zephyr
Travel to Grand Junction in Colorada aboard one of the USA’s most iconic Amtrak trains, the California Zephyr. Join the Tour Manager in Chicago, or opt to travel from San Francisco or other stops along the route.
Marvel at the awe-inspiring landscapes of Arches National Park
Marvel at the awe-inspiring landscapes of Arches National Park
With more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches, enjoy a visit to this Utah wonderland to discover a unique landscape of vibrant colors and jaw-dropping landforms.
Ride the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
Ride the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad
Travel aboard one of Colorado’s most scenic railways, following along the Animas River and gazing in wonder at the Animas River Gorge and San Juan Mountains as you travel between historic boomtowns.
Tour the ancient sights of the Mesa Verde National Park
Tour the ancient sights of the Mesa Verde National Park
Visit the Far View Museum and travel along the “ruins” road, stepping back in time to view the cliff dwellings and surface ruins of the ancient Anasazi people who lived here around 1,000 years ago.
Learn about Santa Fe’s history on a walking tour
Learn about Santa Fe’s history on a walking tour
Explore the history of New Mexico’s capital city, hearing about the Spanish colonists that helped found this town in 1610 and seeing the oldest public building in the United States.

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 - Departing Chicago aboard the California Zephyr

Your vacation into the incredible hues of the American West begins today at Chicago's historic Union Station. As you arrive, meet the Tour Manager and your travel group, and together, join Amtrak's iconic California Zephyr on its overnight route toward Grand Junction, Colorado.

Settle into your seat and watch as the city's skyscrapers fade into the backdrop as the journey sets underway. Relax as the California Zephyr ventures through western Illinois and into Iowa, and maybe head to the Café Car for hot and cold dining and drink options to enjoy at your seat. Alternatively, you could take your meal up to the Sightseer Lounge, lined with panoramic windows, and admire scenes of the Midwest as the sun sinks beneath the horizon. Overnight train.

*Please note: travelers may elect to travel from San Francisco or points in-between and meet the Tour Manager in Grand Junction.

Day 2 - Arriving in Grand Junction, Colorado

Waking aboard the California Zephyr, enjoy a relaxing time admiring the ever-changing scenery as we continue westward, or perhaps visit the Dining Car (booking in advance advised)

Climbing up through the Rocky Mountains, surrounded by pine forests and rolling peaks, we cross the continental divide while we're in the six-mile-long Moffat Tunnel. Emerging in skiing country, we pass through Winter Peak, a year-round resort that opened in 1940. From here on, we are in the traditional Old West and follow the route of the Colorado River for most of the way to Grand Junction, on Colorado's Western Slope.

Checking in to our hotel, there's a free evening to rest and enjoy dinner at your leisure tonight. Overnight Grand Junction, CO.

Day 3 - Through Arches National Park to Mesa Verde

After breakfast, we depart Grand Junction and follow the Colorado River to Moab, Utah. Our morning stop will be at Arches National Park.

On our tour you will discover a landscape of contrasting colors, landforms and textures unlike any other in the world. The park has more than 2,000 natural stone arches in addition to hundreds of soaring pinnacles, massive fins, and giant balanced rocks. This Utah wonderland amazes with its unusual red rock formations.

Next, we head into downtown Moab for time to find lunch on your own and free time to explore. After, we ascend by road to the top of the Mesa Verde where we will be spending the night. Tonight, we dine together while looking out over the Four Corners area. Overnight Mesa Verde National Park, CO.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4 - Exploring Mesa Verde National Park

A tour of Mesa Verde National Park follows breakfast as we see some of the cliff dwellings and surface ruins of the ancient Anasazi people.

Mesa Verde offers a spectacular look into the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people who made it their home for more than 700 years, from A.D. 600 to 1300. Today the park protects nearly 5,000 known archeological sites, including 600 cliff dwellings. These sites are some of the most notable and best preserved in the United States. We will begin our tour at the Far View Museum for a look at the artifacts that have been found at this site.

Continuing on what is called the "ruins" road, we have the opportunity to view some of the other sites in the park. After lunch on your own at the Far View cafeteria, we head east to Durango, Colorado, where we spend the next two nights. Your evening is free to enjoy downtown Durango at leisure. Overnight Durango, CO.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 5 - Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

This morning it is all aboard the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad for a nostalgic journey by steam-hauled train.

The scenery is on a grand scale this morning as we follow the Animas River into the Rocky Mountains. There are no roads that follow these rails, so we are in true wilderness most of the way to the mining town of Silverton. Be sure to bring your camera to capture this breathtaking scenery.

The train arrives in Silverton, an old mining town, where you will have time for lunch and to shop and browse the town before we board our motorcoach and return to Durango where the remainder of the evening will be at leisure. Overnight Durango, CO.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 6 - En Route to Santa Fe

Departing Colorado after breakfast this morning, our journey turns south into the state of New Mexico. The scenery of northern New Mexico is lovely as we head through quaint Spanish towns that were founded in the 1700s and earlier.

Our first stop is the Santuario de Chimayo, where we enjoy a guided tour of the chapels. Built in 1813 near the path of the Old Spanish Trail, this small shrine is one of the most important Catholic pilgrimage sites in the United States, giving rise to the name "the Lourdes of America". Lunch is included nearby, before we continue on our journey.

Today's final stop will be in New Mexico's capital city of Santa Fe. We will spend the night just steps away from the end of the Old Santa Fe Trail and within walking distance of shops, restaurants, and galleries. Overnight Santa Fe, NM.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch
Day 7 - Historic Santa Fe and on to Albuquerque

This morning, we enjoy an informative historical walking tour of Santa Fe. During this exploration, we will hear about the history of the Spanish colonists that helped found this town in 1610 and see the Palace of the Governors, the oldest public building in the United States. We also visit the famed Loretto Chapel, stop at San Miguel, the oldest church, and more.

You are free after our walk to enjoy the museums and galleries around the Plaza and have lunch in one of Santa Fe's local restaurants. Afterward, we will head to Albuquerque. Upon arrival at our hotel, there is time to rest and freshen up before we enjoy an early dinner.

You will want to get a good night's rest tonight. Tomorrow we are up with the birds to enjoy the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Overnight Albuquerque, NM.

Includes
  • Dinner
Day 8 - Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

Set your alarm for Zero Dark Thirty this morning for a highlight of your vacation - the amazing Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

On arrival at the Balloon Field, we can see if the Dawn Patrol is up in the air, checking the weather conditions. As they light up in the dark, they look like twinkling rainbow lights above your head. Breakfast is included, so you can eat breakfast and watch the Balloons at the same time. You can walk onto the field, talk to the balloonists and take pictures of the balloons as they slowly inflate. There could be as many as 600 balloons in the air this morning! It is an event of a lifetime.

A tour of Albuquerque follows, stopping at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center Museum for a tour and to see ceremonial dances. Later, we watch the Night Glow*, when the balloons stay on the ground and illuminate on the field. Dinner is on your own at one of the food booths, before watching the fireworks show at our hotel. Overnight Albuquerque, NM.

*Please note: the Night Glow does not occur from Mon-Wed. Instead, we will have a group dinner together.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 9 - Tour conclusion

After traveling on the California Zephyr to the popular Colorado town of Grand Junction, our adventure took us through the spellbinding Arches and Mesa Verde national parks. A journey on the heritage Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad showcased the wild beauty of the Old West, before we explored the history of Santa Fe. These fantastic excursions paved the way for an unforgettable experience as we marveled at the magical sight of hundreds of balloons illuminating the sky above Albuquerque.

Your vacation concludes today, and this morning is at leisure to pack and get ready for your flight or train home. We also reserve this day as a reserve Balloon Day if needed. A group transfer to Albuquerque Amtrak Station will accommodate trains departing after 11:00 a.m. and a transfer to Albuquerque Airport will accommodate planes departing after 12:00 p.m.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Departure times

Departure times vary based on selected rail vacation. This information will be provided in your final documents. For more information please speak with your rail specialist.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours, they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. Please reference our Mobility Ratings Information, and if you’d like to discuss any particular vacation with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us at 1-877-929-7245.

Hotels

Best Western Plus Rio Grande Inn, Durango

Best Western Plus Rio Grande Inn, Durango

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DoubleTree by Hilton Grand Junction

DoubleTree by Hilton Grand Junction

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Far View Lodge, Mesa Verde National Park

Far View Lodge, Mesa Verde National Park

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DoubleTree Albuquerque Convention Center, Albuquerque

DoubleTree Albuquerque Convention Center, Albuquerque

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Inn of the Governors, Santa Fe

Inn of the Governors, Santa Fe

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Holiday Inn Express, Durango

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Drury Plaza Hotel, Santa Fe

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Trains

Amtrak's California Zephyr
Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad

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Reviews

4.4 stars4.4 / 5 · 82 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (47)
  2. 4 stars
    (20)
  3. 3 stars
    (13)
  4. 2 stars
    (2)
  5. 1 star
    (0)

Scott Splichal

5 stars

Submitted 28 Oct 2024

Words and pictures can not express how awesome this event is. Attending the balloon fiesta should be on everyone's bucket list.

from Vacations By Rail
Hi Scott - thank you so much for checking in and letting us know how the tour went. We're delighted to hear that you had an awesome time!
1 comment

Collected by Trustpilot

Sheri Snyder

5 stars

Submitted 25 Oct 2024

This was a bucket list item for us and it exceeded all expectations. The only thing that was not A+ was trying to sleep in the "Roomette" car on the train.

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Dennis Overberg

5 stars

Submitted 22 Oct 2024

Trip from Chicago to Grand Junction Colorado via the California Zepher going thru the Rockies was awesome. Mesa Verda, the Arches in Utah, the steam engine ride from Durango to Silverton was breathtaking. SantaFe and the Pueblo history was also very good. The Balloon Fiesta was our last stop and "Oh My". Worth the money! Our tour guide Sean was fabulous and Ozzie our bus driver did a wonderful job making those hairpin curves. Totally recommend it!

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Linnaea Mallette

5 stars

Submitted 19 Oct 2024

Love ability to be up close to balloons

Collected by Trustpilot

Pamela Devivo

5 stars

Submitted 19 Oct 2024

We had a fabulous time...our GUIDE was amazing

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Lloyd Allen

5 stars

Submitted 18 Oct 2024

Very well organized. Everything went very smoothly and we saw so much…more than we could see on our own.

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