Went up in a Hot Air Balloon with my 11 year old son this morning. Alfred was our pilot, and we had the most amazing experience!!! Alfred is an experienced Hot Air Balloon pilot that has had over 20 years experience, I felt safe and completely at ease with him in control of our balloon. My son has Anxiety and tends to get anxious and nervous in these types of situations, but he never did just full of excitement! Alfred gave my son a Hot Air Balloon pin, that made him grin ear to ear. The staff was very professional and courteous, so friendly. I would recommend Rainbow Ryders to anyone! Mimosas after we landed was a great surprise! Very impressed from the moment we walked in the door. Thank you Rainbow Ryders for giving us this memory to last a lifetime! read more

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I can't say enough good things about our experience here. To anyone hesitant due to fear of heights or flying - I was as well but this could not have been a more calm or fantastic experience. This was the highlight of our trip to New Mexico and if you do nothing else while you're here, BOOK A FLIGHT WITH RAINBOW RYDERS! Our pilot was Kris and we couldn't have asked for a better pilot. His knowledge, experience, patience and explanation of each step of the process put any worries I had to rest. Thank you Rainbow Ryders!!! read more

Rainbow Ryders - View over the rio grande - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

This crew is ON POINT! What a wonderful experience, staff was exceptional, want to give a shout out to our pilot Troy-he was amazing!!! read more

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Awesome ride with amazing views with our wonderful pilot Alfred. Very smooth ride and felt very safe as pilot was very seasoned.

Absolutely amazing experience. The staff was great and drove us in a comfortable and clean van to the site. It was nice to be able to see them set up and get the balloons ready. Everything was throughly explained and as we ascended the view was amazing! Even with 10 people in the basket we didn't feel cramped. The landing was a little surprising if you don't know what to expect but very exciting. The champagne that at the end was very nice and ended with a smooth ride back to our vehicles. It was nice they had snacks for us and a flight certificate to remember the trip. I definitely recommend read more

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First time in a hot air balloon. I can see how people can get hooked on the experience. Everyone should go for a ride at least once in their lifetime. read more

Flew with Morghan - felt well taken care of and had an amazing experience. All the staff we interacted with was friendly and the price felt reasonable for the experience. read more

Alfred was an awesome pilot, very professional and friendly. Amazing adventure for a Memorial Day! Definitely would recommend Alfred and his crew they were top notch couldn't have asked for a better time or service! read more

It was amazing!! I 10/10 recommend this place. It was quick and the landing was good as well. We were the highest hit air balloon shout out our pilot Brooke! My boyfriend and I loved it! Also we celebrated with mimosas and landed in someone backyard which I thought was cool! I would post the awesome videos but, I don't wanna spoil it for anyone! Enjoy!! read more

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I took my wife to Albuquerque NM for my wife's birthday. Riding the ballon was on the agenda and Alfred Salazar was our pilot. He was very professional and made the experience an Awesome one. All the staff was very friendly and wanted us to have fun and experience a once in a lifetime adventure. I would highly recommend them and I would definitely do it again. read more

We had a great balloon ride experience! Our pilot, Steve was very cool and made the ride that much more enjoyable the chase team were super friendly for the rides to and from drop off/pick up points. Overall amazing experience, would highly recommend. read more

Rainbow Ryders - Flying high above Albuquerque NM - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Anthony is the best pilot ever and we had an amazing time! View was incredible and I cannot recommend it enough

Just do it!!! Don't let money, time, or any reviews get in the way... Kris thank you for providing my wife and I, along with the 11 other passengers a trip of a lifetime. Dunking in the river, trimming trees, touching the stratosphere, and landing in practically in the backyard of that house way indescribable... I have often wondered how hard or tricky could it be to fly a hot air balloon... Nope, I realize it is the landing of the balloon, dodging the power lines, cars, trees, chimneys...is where the experience & expert knowledge comes in...lol. Oh, and the faces of the drivers when you practically land on their car... lol. Bucket list item, doesn't even give begin to describe the pricelessness of a trip like this... Thank You, Thank You, Thank You rainbow Riders and your amazing staff!!! If it was possible I'd give you a 10 on a 5 scale... read more

Troy was amazing!! The trip was fantastic !! The views were awesome!! Felt so safe!! I would totally recommend everyone to go to them.

Awesome must-do in ABQ! Pilot, Damian, and crew, Frank & Landon, were absolutely wonderful - knowledgeable, professional, and fun! I hate roller coasters and was initially scared to do this, but the ride was so smooth and gentle. Someone else said it's like you're floating above the city and they weren't kidding. Our family of 4 took a sunrise balloon ride with 6 others - don't forget the sunscreen and sunglasses. It's a gorgeous way to greet the day, see the city, get a little history, and you're done by 8 am. It took no time for the crew to inflate the balloon and have us climb aboard. With a handful of instructions, we were soon aloft. It was so gentle that if you closed your eyes, you barely knew you were up and away. Enjoy the peaceful and gentle glide up there as the hour ride goes by quickly before gently descending and coming in for a landing. The crew packed up incredibly quickly while we leisurely had a champagne toast. Two of us were a little chicken at first, but we agreed that we could easily do that again. My husband lived in Albuquerque as a child but never got to ride in a hot air balloon. He said this was the best part of his visit to New Mexico after being away for many years. Thanks for a great ride, Damian, Frank, & Landon! Do it - the adventure is worth this price! read more

Flying above Albuquerque in a hot air balloon was amazing! The ride was so smooth. Troy was our pilot, he was extremely knowledgeable & informative. I did the sunrise flight. This flight lasted about an hour with a champagne toast at the end! A balloon flight is a great "bucket list" activity to check off read more

To begin, Rainbow Ryders were very accommodating in sending an email as I requested in lieu of calling as I was trying to surprise my girlfriends for our anniversary! The process of signing the waivers and getting set up was very smooth! Our pilot, Kris, was absolutely fantastic from the first meeting all the way until we were taken back to our drop off spot. Such an exhilarating experience to see the city of Albuquerque in such a fun way! Kris was an absolute master in flying and communicating with us about our views! Touchdown was amazing as, to mine and my girlfriend's realization, that they put a happy anniversary sign on the basket which was a very sweet gesture! I can't thank them enough for the experience of a lifetime! If I'm ever in the area and choose to fly again, it'll be with Kris and the Rainbow Ryders! Thank you again! read more

Rainbow Ryders - Our pilot, Kris, and us after our celebratory toast from our ballon adventure! - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Alfred, Frank, and Mo are an amazing crew and made the experience very smooth before, during, and after our balloon ride. Highly recommend!

Had an incredible experience with rainbow ryders. Troy Bradley was our pilot, and he and his staff were amazing. He and his staff made us feel safe, and what a great smooth landing. He was very informative and had great stories to tell. After landing they gave us a little picnic with champagnes, snacks, & juices for the kids while they put away the balloon. Flying in December, we were worried it would be freezing cold. But it was surprisingly not as cold as we expected. The sunrise, plus the torch above helped keep us warm. Although we were pretty lucky it wasn't windy today. So happy to check off another bucket list. If we ever wanted to ride again, we would definitely go back to rainbow Ryders. read more

Awesome experience ! The weather and views were perfect ! Everyone was sooooo nice !!! We had a fun landing topped off with mimosas . Definitely want to do this again and will tell all our friends about our awesome experience !!! read more

Rainbow Ryders - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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We had a great balloon ride! Kyle was our pilot and was so much fun! He explained everything and answered any questions. It's very peaceful and a great view. I can't wait to do it again next year! Life is short , so just do it! read more

AL Lescarbeau was our pilot, he asked for volunteers to watch the fan so i stepped up. Apparently, I wasn't standing in the right place, so he grabbed me by the shoulders and violently pushed me to where he wanted me to stand. I pushed him back. The witnesses made comments that he was abrupt, had no people skills and was even called an asshole. He made a comment that he had been drinking before the ride, maybe it was a joke, but I don't doubt it because the landing was even more violent than the way he pushed me. My back hurt immediately and pain continued for two days! After the ride, one of the female riders was getting into the crate to help deflate the balloon. One of the crew members pushed her in by her butt and rubbed his hand all over her butt! The people I was standing near could not believe this behavior. I do not recommend this pilot. In addition, Rainbow Ryders packs 12 people in a basket for the balloon ride. You can barely turn around in the basket, it was very uncomfortable for everyone. read more

Let me preface this review by saying if you want a spiritual experience, take a balloon ride. We had been looking forward to our first untethered balloon ride with the Rainbow Ryders in Albuquerque. We decided to do a private sunrise ride. We weren't interested in jostling with strangers while trying to enjoy the experience and we are so glad we invested in that. The reservation experience was very professional and easy. Any contact we had with members of the RR team were also professional and easy. Our expectations for the ride were high. I can safely say that our expectations were exceeded significantly. We met our pilot, Greg Morrison and his chase person, Christian very early in the morning (6:15 AM) at their headquarters in Albuquerque. Friendly, reassuring (we were novices at balloon flight), funny and very relaxed. Drove to the launch site (a large vacant field adjacent to an outside mall). RR was going to launch a number of balloons. We got to help inflate the envelope (that is what us professional balloonists call it). Well, we held the opening to the balloon in the air until we are told to stop. However, the whole process was fascinating. Climbed, awkwardly, into the basket. Then we were ready to launch. The slow, gentle rise in the air was simple, yet reminded both of us of those dreams where you seem to just lift up and fly. The intermittent noise from the burners was significant but reassuring as the balloon lifted higher into the sky. It quickly became obvious that this experience was going to be special. We gently drifted over to the Rio Grande River. Greg gently set us down on the banks then lifted us off. Barely bothered the wading birds on the bank. We traveled further, just reveling in the feeling of flying without being surrounded by a metal tube. We could look in all directions and watch thing unfold below us or look into the distance and see past the city limits. Greg was calm, shared some experiences he had while a balloon pilot, we found out he has relatives that live about 20 minutes away from our home, and just added to the serenity of the experience. It's hard to convey the spirituality of being high in the air, silently moving through space, piloted by a friendly, professional with a great sense of humor. It was more than we hoped for. We were never nervous or concerned because we were confident in Greg's skills. Landing was interesting. We had to come down on a golf course in the rough. This was an approved land site, although the one golfer we flew about 20' overhead might've not approved. But he steadfastly ignored us. The wind had picked up and so we were told to get into the safety positions that we were instructed about earlier. Landing was one bounce, short skid, a bit of tipping of the basket then down. It was, to use Greg's terms, a "funner" landing. Had a great toast of mimosas, watched the two of them pack the balloon up and drove back. My wife was very moved by the whole experience, and I am still reliving the peacefulness of the ride and the quiet and friendly professionalism of Greg and Christian. We cannot recommend Rainbow Ryders strongly enough. When we go back, we will definitely use them again and, hopefully, be able to ride with Greg again. read more

DISAPPOINTING. They advertise 45-60 minutes in the air. From the time our basket left the ground to touch down was only 30 minutes with most of the time flying just above the rooftops. read more

On a trip my mom, cousin and I took a flight out of Albuquerque, NM. Our guide was great with a good sense of humor. The whole experience was just amazing. I highly recommend this company. read more

My husband and I were able to get a last minute hot air balloon ride on our one day visit to Albuquerque. Troy was our guide and did a very great job! This was one of the best experiences I have ever had. The trip was very smooth and the temperatures although a little cool were great with the warmness coming from the balloon. The sunset and just seeing everything around was so peaceful. I highly recommend it to anyone! read more

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Long overdue! Memorable for more than one reason. First time flying in a hot air balloon and first time proposing to my girlfriend. I booked the private flight package in January 2018. It was right around $350 to 400. I just remember that at the time it was reasonable. Our pilot was Neil. Wonderful guy and very professional staff across the board. The feeling being in a balloon at 1000 feet is amazing and eerily quiet and peaceful. Shared some great drinks and breakfast with Neil after the flight. Awesome day and one that this newly married couple will remember forever! read more

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The service was impeccable! The staff was very accommodating & implemented COVID safety measures. Pilots & crew members were very knowledgeable about the history, local attractions, and even educated us about how hot air balloon work. On top of the amazing service the views and entire experience were amazing. Definitely recommend taking a hot air balloon ride when in New Mexico, the price was worth it all. Plus they gave us some mimosas at the end of the trip . read more

Rainbow Ryders - Views from the top. Got to do a touch and go on the River! - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Can't explain it but you feel very safe with not only your pilot but your flight crew . AMAZING ! I can honestly tell you my bucket list had scuba with sharks Done ! Sky diving Done ! Travel to every state Done ! Best one yet THIS one ! read more

Hands Up to all the crew of my sunrise balloon ride. Kris B., our Pilot, Robert & Eli, ground crew, best crew ever! Professional, entertaining and knowledgeable of the sights! From lift off to landing didn't feel any bumps at all! Highly recommended! This is a perfect way to end my birthday adventure here in New Mexico! read more

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Thank you so much for a wonderful sunrise balloon ride! I highly recommend this bucket list experience! If you haven't been yet, what are you waiting on? read more

Rainbow Ryders - Rainbow Ryders Hot Balloons. - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Wow. Pretty much all I can say about this experience. I've always been interested in hot air balloons and thought they were beautiful and amazing, but I didn't really consider going on a ride in one. I visited ABQ for a week and a few people said a ride is a MUST DO while here. I debated the price along with some hesitancy regarding heights and whether or not I'd have a straight up fear / panic attack once I got up in the air. But let me tell you, I had fear only on the ground. Once I got in the basket and up in the air, I had zero nerves. Everything felt so smooth and safe and breathtakingly beautiful. Our balloonist, Troy, was so incredible. He's a world-record making balloonist and I felt so safe in that balloon! Our sunrise ride was better than I could've imagined. The mountain views, bird's-eye-view of the city and Rio Grande, traffic underneath us, and general sunrise beauty of the city was absolutely lovely. Even with COVID restrictions, everything was safe and clean and the experience wasn't hindered by anything. I'm so glad I booked this experience and I would agree, it's a must-do while in Albuquerque! read more

Rainbow Ryders - Just amazing! - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

Our pilot Kris and his crew were really great! Our family of eight enjoyed an awesome flight for some pretty spectacular views of the sunrise over the mountains,other balloons,the Rio Grande and more. I'd highly recommend flying with Rainbow Ryders, it was outstanding and I'd definitely go again.The weather couldn't have been any better the morning we went with perfect wind speed at 3mph.There were 3 more people sharing our basket with a plastic divider down the middle,(a Covid-19 safety precaution) so 5 on one side and 5 on the other and the pilot for twelve in all,and it was quite comfortable. I just can't express what a fun experience this was. Thank you Kris and crew!! read more

Rainbow Ryders - Photo I took of other Rainbow Ryder's ballooning over the Rio Grande,Albuquerque,NM. - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

This was an amazing experience! Was my first time ballooning and a little nervous, but our pilot (Alfred) was the best. We were the first balloon up, did a dip in the Rio Grande and had beautiful views of the area. The landing was perfect. You need to do this if you are in the area. read more

Awesome!!!! Not only was the ride great, but the touchdown! Champaine toast! My pilot was awesome! He taught us about ballooning and told us great stories... everyone from the people who answered the phones, to the pick up at our hotel was just great! Look no further, you want a great experience... these are the people to book with! I plan to do this again, but only with rainbow ryders! read more

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Had an absolutely AMAZING time with Rainbow Ryders. Steven, Robert and Nicole helped me plan a private hot air balloon ride to propose to my now lovely fiancé, and they made the experience unforgettable. I would HIGHLY recommend visiting Rainbow Ryders next time you're in town, because I will be doing the same next year! read more

Balloon Fiesta was amazing. Kris was an amazing pilot and we even got celebrate with Champagne after flight. I highly recommend Rainbow Ryders. read more

Alfred was the best pilot! He shared so much information during the whole ride! Best part was he picked his landing spot in the beginning and did land at it with ease! His crew was the best specially Franky! read more

Rode with them in a private flight. Very interesting to see the set up of the balloon! Had a bit of a delay due to a pop up storm so we got off the ground a little after sunrise. Had a great view of the river and west side of town! Our guide was very knowledgeable and answered all of our questions. Overall a very fun experience and loved it! I was a little apprehensive as I'm somewhat afraid of heights but it was fun and the fear wasn't there once we got into the air. We also had a very smooth landing in a parking lot. read more

Rainbow Ryders - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Crossed this off the bucket list while visiting Albuquerque for a conference, but honestly, I'd love to do it again! Doug picked us up from our resort and he was friendly, told us about the area and a safe driver. Bathrooms at the office were clean. Then we loaded into another van to head to the launch​ site. The employees were friendly and told us what they were doing and how they did it. The ride was unforgettable and much smoother than I imagined it would be. Paul was an excellent multi-tasker, explaining what he was doing, why he was doing it, pointing out sites and area, all while intuitively and skillfully flying the balloon. The sunrise was amazing and the views were too. I would definitely recommend this company. Very professional and helpful. read more

Rainbow Ryders - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico