Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta ft. 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 gets 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.

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.

After breakfast, we depart Grand Junction by coach and follow the Colorado River to Moab, Utah. This drive takes us past breathtaking scenery including red rock canyons, towering cliffs and the iconic Fisher Towers, before we arrive at Arches National Park.

On a tour of this red rock wonderland, 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, alongside soaring pinnacles, massive fins and giant balanced rocks, creating one of Utah's most iconic natural wonders.

Next, we head into downtown Moab for free time to find lunch independently and explore at leisure. After, we ascend by road to the top of the Mesa Verde where we spend the night. This evening, we dine together, enjoying views out over the Four Corners region. Overnight Mesa Verde National Park, CO.

• Breakfast, Dinner

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 on 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 time for an independent lunch at the Far View cafeteria, we head east to Durango, Colorado, set amid the San Juan Mountains. We check in to our hotel where we spend the next two nights and your evening is free to enjoy downtown Durango at leisure. Overnight Durango, CO.

• Breakfast

This morning, we board the historic Durango & Silverton Narrow Guage Railroad for a nostalgic journey by steam-hauled train. Traveling deep into the Rocky Mountains, we follow the winding Animas River through a landscape of soaring peaks and forested valleys. There are no roads that follow these rails, so it is a rare chance to experience true wilderness, much of it unchanged for over a century.

On arrival in Silverton, we step into a former mining town rich in Old West character. Surrounded by rugged mountain scenery, its historic buildings, saloons and local shops offer a glimpse into Colorado's mining past. There is free time to enjoy lunch independently and explore the town at your own pace.

Later, we return to Durango by coach, where the remainder of the evening is at leisure. Durango offers a welcoming selection of restaurants, breweries and cafés, making it an inviting place to enjoy a relaxed evening at your own pace. Overnight Durango, CO.

• Breakfast

Departing Colorado after breakfast this morning, we journey south into New Mexico. Enjoy changing scenery as we travel through the historic landscapes of northern New Mexico, passing through traditional Spanish towns founded in the 1700s and earlier, rich in history and character.

We stop for lunch at a local restaurant before continuing to the Santuario de Chimayo, where we enjoy a guided tour of its historic 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 and is often referred to as the 'Lourdes of America.'

Today's final stop is New Mexico's capital city of Sante Fe. On arrival, we check in to our hotel just steps away from the end of the Old Santa Fe Trail and within easy walking distance of the city's shops, restaurants and galleries. Overnight Sante Fe, NM.

• Breakfast, Lunch

We set out on a historical walking tour of Sante Fe after breakfast this morning. As we explore, we hear about the history of the Spanish colonists that helped found this town in 1610 and visit key landmarks, including the Palace of the Governors, the oldest public building in the United States. We also visit the famed Loretto Chapel and stop at San Miguel Mission, the oldest church building in the country, among other highlights.

After the tour, you are free to explore the museums and galleries around the Plaza and have lunch at one of Santa Fe's local restaurants. Later, we head to Albuquerque, where there is time to relax and freshen up at our hotel before we enjoy an early dinner together.

An early night is recommended tonight as we have an early start in the morning to experience the unforgettable spectacle of the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Overnight Albuquerque, NM.

• Breakfast, Dinner

An early start awaits this morning for the highlight of the vacation - the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. On arrival at the Balloon Field, we may see the Dawn Patrol taking to the skies, assessing the weather conditions ahead of the morning launch.

Breakfast is included on the field in the exclusive Chaser's Club lounge, and there is time to walk out onto the field, meet 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, making It an event of a lifetime.

Later, we enjoy a tour of Albuquerque, including a visit to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center Museum, where we learn about the region's heritage and watch ceremonial dances. There's free time over lunch before we return to the Balloon Fiesta this evening for the Night Glow*, when the balloons stay on the ground and illuminate on the field, creating a memorable display. Dinner is at leisure at one of the food stalls before watching the fireworks show from our hotel. Overnight Albuquerque, NM.

*Please note: the Night Glow does not occur on Sep 27, Sep 28, Sep 29 and Oct 3 departures. Instead, we will have a group dinner together.

• Breakfast

After traveling on the California Zephyr to the popular Colorado town of Grand Junction, our vacation took us through the breathtaking 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 keep this day available as a reserve Balloon Day if needed. A group transfer to Albuquerque Amtrak Station will accommodate trains departing after 11:00 am, and a transfer to Albuquerque Airport will accommodate planes departing after 12:00 pm.

• Breakfast