Absolutely loved this experience. We have been taking a road trip across 8 states for my daughter's early birthday present and it's both of our favorite experience this whole trip. I am absolutely terrified of heights and was very hesitant to do this but since my daughter wanted to, we went ahead and did it. Our pilots today were Captain Morghan and Anthony and they were amazing and very knowledgeable plus they answered my daughter's 21 questions and helped me feel at ease on the flight. For those who are afraid of heights like I am, the only part I was anxious on was the ascent but after that, the ride is very smooth and you don't even realize how high up you are. Depending on the time of year you go, the layers recommended may not be necessary, but take it as you want. We took our jackets off soon after we finished the ascent because it got HOT under that flame and the day was already heating up even at the 6am departure time. At the end of the flight, you get to learn a bit of history behind hot air balloon riding and finish it off with a toast for finishing the flight along with a certificate, super cool all around. Thank you Rainbow Ryders! This is an experience neither of us will forget! read more

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Our pilot was Alfred and he was amazing! talked through the ride to show us all the landmarks and cool places around , was very knowledgeable and made some jokes along the way. This was my first hot air balloon ride and I would definetly go again ! Views are amazing the ride is long enough to take it all in. read more

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

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Obviously can be intimidating to choose the right company to take you up into the air. After reading all the positive reviews I went with this company. Our tour guy was Anthony and he was great. I liked the route he took us on vs the other guys. Everything felt safe and in control. We went in June. It was a bit chilly in the morning but I was absolutely sweating once in the basket. You're so close to the flame and perhaps close to others so I was sweating. I'm a warm person but still. Not sure how long we were in the air but it was definitely a good amount of time. From start to finish it was about 3.5 hours. Place was easy to find and plenty of parking. Would def go with them again read more

Easy check in. All questions answered. Bit of a wait at the departure area for the right winds. Alfred was our pilot and he was terrific, explained everything!! Got to splash and dash on the Rio Grande, spent a little over an hour in the air. Landing these things is surely an art! Go, enjoy! Easy to get in and out of the basket so don't use that as an excuse. read more

These guys are #1 rating on Yelp in terms of stars and reviews and just $10 more than #2. They are with it! Anthony was our pilot, very informative and professional. All the staff were great. Plenty of respect for C19 but not over the top. Very interested in safety of the flight and making it fun for the passengers. Mimosas generous the purring at the end of the flight but I waited a few days to write this review to not be biased by that alone. read more

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

I posted this earlier but under the wrong categor. oops I signed up for a balloon ride for me and my sister on 26 November in Albuquerque and highly recommend you doing so. The entire experience was simply fantastic. The early morning weather cooperated, and the crew handling our ride did so in an outstanding fashion. From the check in to the celebratory champagne toasts - it was smooth and seamless. They drove us from the main office to the launch site and watching 8 crews inflate and manage our take off was brilliant. All were courteous and friendly offering to take pictures and assisting us into the basket so as to make less awkward the climb in. Once airborne, Anthony Lard, our pilot keep us entertained and informed as we passed over various landmarks. if you need to feel uplifted or just need to get away for awhile, I highly recommend you check out the company and ask for Anthony Lard as your pilot. read more

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Awesome birthday ride with Rainbow Ryders. Kyle and his crew were wonderful. We seemed to be flying higher than all the other balloons. It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. So glad I was able to experience with my friends. read more

The balloon ride itself was good. But it wasn't even done by Rainbow Ryders. It was someone they subcontracted during the Balloon festival. That part was great. The problem was the companies terrible service when the scheduled day was canceled for weather. They knew before the gates opened that they were cancelled for the day, but they don't communicate that to you, so you have to fight traffic, pay for parking and pay for tickets to get in just to find out you are canceled for the day. They say they will reschedule you if this happens, but that is not true. They make you show up each day for a first come, first served standby line. You have to pay for parking and buy tickets to the event even if you don't get to ride that day, just to have to come back and pay again for another chance. They also accept other walk-ups who haven't already paid and been waiting for days to get a ride. They also accept people who manage to cheat or bribe their way in before the gates are opened...taking available spots away from those who are honest. Unfortunately these folks have a monopoly at the festival, otherwise I would recommend any other company than this one. read more

A lot of people say this is a bucket list thing to do, but I think people should do this at any point in their life, and more than once. It was a wonderful time. Our Rainbow Ryders team (with pilot Jon Thompson) were so friendly and knowledgeable; they made you feel safe and comfortable. It was an enjoyable ride, great history and conversation. I will be recommending this experience and this company to all of my friends and family; it was a blast! read more

Amazing experience. Went very smoothly and pilot very knowledgeable and fun. Would highly recommend it.

Bucket List.... Check! So worth every penny to take this trip over Albuquerque as the sum comes up over the mountains. Amazing unforgettable views! Everything went smoothly from booking the flight, to check in and the actual flight. Maybe the only hiccup (which was actually funny) was as we were trying to land in a small park the wind changed at the last minute and we ended up landing on a street in the suburb neighborhood! I honestly wasn't sure if I'd have a problem with standing in a basket looking down because of the heights. But except for the first minute of flight it was really not a problem. The ride is very calm and comfortable and the heights didn't bother me at all. Our pilot was friendly and interesting and did a good job making the whole experience a lot of fun. Even got champagne at the end of the flight! I think the toughest part of the whole trip was getting into and out of the bucket! You need to do this if you can! read more

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Wow what a fun time. We had Anthony as our pilot and his passion is amazing. He LOVES being a pilot and enjoyed telling us about competition flying, celebrities that have flown and the area. Some things to know: 1) Arrive 15-20 mins early to sign waivers. With it being a sunrise try to schedule a Lyft ahead of time. 2) Dress in layers and sunglasses. It warms up with the fire pumping by the pilot as you travel. 3) Kids: can fly 5 years old and above. The pilot recommended it to be something the kid wants to do. 4) No airsickness! I was very nervous about this but due to the clear conditions they fly in the ride was super smooth. I often get plane and boat sickness and this was amazing to not have. While the flying time is about 1 hour, you will have another 2ish hours as they drive to the site, set up, and then pack up and celebrate with a drink. We left the shop at 9am. read more

Rainbow Ryders - Rainbow Ryder hot air balloons at the sunrise ride. - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

This is a super cool activity you definitely should do if you're in town! awesome views, not scary at all if you're worried. read more

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

Easy!! Beautiful! A Must!!!! The ease of communication,cleanliness of facilities, friendliness of staff, and safety of staff made this experience the highlight of our trip to New Mexico! read more

I can't say enough positive things about Rainbow Ryders. They made our first experience at the Balloon Fiesta incredible. They were easy to book with and easy to find at check in. Check in was simple, quick and smooth. Our pilot Mitch was awesome! Great at was he does... you can tell he loves what he really loves it. He paid close attention to detail and made sure we were aware of our passenger duties. He has a great sense of humor and kept us involved once we landed. We'd love to do a ride with Rainbow Ryders again in the future and would love the added bonus of having Mitch as our pilot. read more

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

A marvelous experience. First, be prepared for an early morning. We arrived at the facility at 5:45 a.m. to check in , sign waivers and meet our pilot. Ten of us piled into a van with our pilot to the a possible launching site. They first send up a test balloon. It is a regular balloon to observe the wind patterns. The first test balloon did not meet the standards, so we drove to another place. After another test balloon was let fry, it was determined this was a good location. The balloon is laid out and inflated. The basket is not as big as I thought and there is no graceful way to get in our or out. The balloon is lifted into the air by a large fire heating the balloon. It was a smooth take off. We were in the air for about an hour and our pilot, Anthony was so knowledgeable. He pointed out things to see. The sunrise was breathtaking. The landing was fun and after we celebrated our ride with mimosas and a story about the history of hot air balloons. The entire process is over 2.5 hours, but time well spent. read more

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Great experience! Check-in is at 6:15 AM. You sign a liability waiver and use the restroom for the last time. (I recommend not drinking much fluids because there's no restrooms after that point!). They drive you to the take-off spot and set up the balloon. Try to book on a clear day because I went on a partly cloudy day and they delayed the flight until the clouds broke up, as rain clouds create additional wind. Then you will need to climb over the side into the basket. The staff will take photos of you in the basket. My group was 11 people, plus the balloon operator, Alfred. The balloon operator will use fire to heat the balloon and raise it up into the sky. You go up slowly. We got up to 4500 feet above ground. The views are amazing! The experience is peaceful and still, as the balloon moves slowly and smoothly. You are basically gliding through the sky! Great time to take photos. Alfred checked several times to see how we were doing. I figured it'd be cold being way up high but I ended up taking off my sweatshirt and I saw others doing the same because you are directly under the fire that heats the balloon so you feel heat. Then we landed in a grassy area, a very smooth landing. Alfred gave us Rio Grande Sunrise cocktails (orange juice, cranberry juice, champagne) and drove us back to where we started where they had pastries. Great experience and I would do it again! P.S. I'm afraid of heights. I was very scared when we were really high but when we came down a bit, it was much better. read more

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Ten star experience in a world of five star ratings! Gliding at 23 mph two miles above the Rio Grande offers 45 minutes of serenity, gorgeous views and encourages your sense of wonder and exploration. After the obligatory moment of "oh snap! What have I done?!" any feelings of anxiety or thoughts of "what if" pass you by while ascending into the skies at sunrise beneath a rainbow balloon and the comforting warmth of its flames. I'm inspired y'all! Today was FUN on level ten! **Insider tips: wear your yoga clothes because you have to climb into and out of the basket. Also, we traveled during July and the weather was unstoppably perfect however after traveling 13 miles (as the balloon flies) we landed pretty remotely and a can of bug spray would have been ideal! Wear sunscreen! Take mimosas! **Bonus tip! Ask to fly with Kris Brandon as your pilot. He's a fourth gen balloon operator, knowledgeable about the ballooning industry and local ABQ geography, funny and charismatic. Our balloon flew the highest, fastest, and farthest - and his ground crew Adam & Landon are equally as professional and fantastic! read more

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Doing a hot air balloon ride was on my bucket list so this was one of the best experiences of my life. I loved it, other than having to be there at 530am. It was so fun. You meet at their office then take a van ride to their takeout location based on the wind. We drove for about 15 minute to get to the spot for the day. Then we watched the crew get everything ready to go. Its quite a process and hard work for the crew but they do a great job. The basket lays on its side at first with the balloon attached to it. Then they blow air into the balloon to fill it up. Then when its full enough, they right the basket and the balloon is all blown up above it. You climb into the basket. I believe there were 12 of us, besides the driver. We went up, up and away. Going over the river and surrounding neighborhoods. It was so beautiful. We went up and down with the wind, eventually landing on the field where the Balloon Fiesta happens. Overall a wonderful experience. read more

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Amazing experience. Definitely a bucket list item and if you get the chance you should definitely do it. Only drawback was our pilot Troy was rude to the guests. At the beginning he said if we had any questions to feel free to ask but then the very nice Asian couple ( English was not their first language) asked a question he rolled his eyes and said he had already told us that. They asked multiple questions and only got rude responses in return. This also happened to us when we dared to ask something. We were very disappointed in his attitude towards us the customers. And I must say it was very hard to hear when the propane was making a flame ( loud whooshing noise) so that may have been part of the problem. My advice if you're going is to check and see who your pilot is and if it's him ask for someone else. read more

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What an amazing experience. Damian was our pilot and we loved him. So knowledgeable! Highly recommend this to anyone visiting! read more

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

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Amazing!! We did the sunrise ride and met up at 5:15 am and left around 5:30 am headed towards the site. We get to see them inflate the balloon which was cool. Take off was smooth and so was the ride. Very peaceful. It's beautiful to see all the balloons in the sky. Very picturesque. Our pilot was Alfred. A great team overall. read more

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We had such an awesome flight! The basket was loaded appropriately, we did not feel crowded at all. The crew was super efficient and excellent hosts. We loved that there were many balloons launched at the same time, we got to enjoy our flight and with the other balloons as a part of our scenery. Anthony was our captain, we felt safe, and he kept the mood light, sharing fun facts about the scenery during but also letting us enjoy the quiet magic of balloon flight. The landing was ridiculously soft! We enjoyed the champagne toast and story of the history of ballooning while the Shamelle loaded up our balloon so fast it blew our minds. We truly enjoyed checking this adventure off our "bucket list" read more

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We had a fabulous morning. The staff is professional, informative (both prior to your arrival and once you arrive) they are friendly and genuinely nice people. Our flight was spectacular. The flight crew gets you involved in the inflation of the balloon/envelope/and the flight itself is peaceful and otherworldly. Our pilot was Elijah and he was amazing (also the only pilot we had) read more

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Bucket list experience! Highly recommend! Beautiful views, smooth ride you feel like your floating. read more

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Damian (the pilot) Michael and Tye (chasing crew) together they were awesome and gave us the most memorable experience and best sunrise ever. Damian is extremely talented pilot, knowledgeable of the area and funny as heck. Would recommend this company to anyone looking to book hot air balloon flight. read more

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

Great experience. Alfred, Frank, and Mo were our team. Alfred seems to be one of the pros here, so it was awesome to have him as our pilot. We took a quick dip into the water which was pretty cool. Very peaceful and exciting way to start the morning. At the end we had mimosas. (: Good luck to Frank to getting his pilot's license! read more

Totally professional operation from start to finish. Well organized and they make safety a priority. I was able to reserve the day before for a Monday flight and everything went smoothly the whole way through. We met at the office location at 6:45 am and got assigned to our pilot and then loaded up in the van to go to the launch site which was about 20 min away in suburban area near a former golf course. As the crew readied the balloon, our pilot gave us a full briefing and then we loaded up in basket. We slowly went up and hung out at about 500 - 1,000 ft up for about an hour. It was very still, without much wind movement so we didn't travel much laterally and stayed around the perimeter of the golf course. It finished with a sparkling wine toast and then returning back to the office. A great way to get an introduction to Alburquerque! read more

3:00am: Alarm goes off. Huh? I thought this was a vacation?!? 3:45am: Groggily leave hotel. 4:15am: Arrive at Balloon Fiesta Park and get through security. 4:30am: Get in the long check in line with over 275 other balloonists. 5:05am: Checked in! 6:35am: Anxiously waiting for our group number to be pulled. 7:00am: Our guy comes to get our group and we head over to the field. 7:05am: Watch our balloon inflating by our pilot and crew. 7:25am: Our hot air balloon takes off and words can not describe how it feels to be floating on air with 500+ other balloons surrounding you during mass ascencion. 8:30am: Our semi-bumpy landing into a housing complex's common area. 9:00am: Champagne cheers! Here's to popping out hot air balloon cherry with a bang! Was it worth the hefty pricetag of $449/pp and waking up BEFORE the crack of dawn? HELL YEAH! IT WAS PRICELESS! For those of you specifically interested in booking during Balloon Fiesta: 1) Book in advance!!! I booked 6+ months in advance, and they were already sold out of my first choice day and time (which worked out well since they canceled that day due to fog)! 2) The AM flight is the way to go! It's a little pricier than the PM flight, but at this price point, what's a few extra bucks?! Plus, you will be going up with hundreds of other hot air balloons on the same field. There's nothing quite like it. 3) There is a stand-by line. No guarantees, of course, but the morning we went, they were actually able to accommodate everyone. So if you're late to the game in booking, there's still hope! A special shout out to Andy, our pilot, and Connor for such an phenomenal bucket list experience! read more

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Sanjay Gupta and his amazing wife took my daughter Lori and I on a ride of our lived. Amazing couple, smart and fun. What a perfect trip. Thank you both so much. I would recommend this company and pilot to anyone. read more

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

We had a blast on our Rainbow Ryders hot air balloon ride. Our pilot was Alfred, and he was responsive to our requests during the ride ("can we go down close to the river?"), fun and informative. All of the staff were friendly. Our only complaint was that No one seems to answer the phone. I would DEFINITELY recommend the experience and I would use them again. read more

I barely have the words to describe how amazing this experience was. Our captain was truly amazing he was serious enough to trust he knew what he was doing, but had a sense of humor to lighten the mood. You arrive and it is still dark. You sign in and then you are assigned a pilot and asked to sit at a table to finish filling out your forms. Then you wait until go time. Our guy was on a mission. he was the first one to our spot and got to work. He explained what he was doing. Once everything is ready they ask for volunteers to help set up the balloon. It is way harder than it looks but was tons of fun. We were the first up and the last down. He told us all about the land and why he flies. This it was just phenomenal, if you are thinking about it just go for it. You are safe and secure in the basket and the view is breath taking. You will smell like fuel afterwards, just as an fyi. Choose these hometown guys when you book for your bucket list. They will not disappoint. read more

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What an amazing flight! Alfred was great. He flew us right over the petroglyphs, and landed perfectly. Professional, welcoming, and skilled. I highly recommend you go for a ride And request him! read more

This was such a fun experience! Much less expensive than I previously thought it would be -- so if you have any inclination to splurge on this Albuquerque experience, I say go for it! We received a confirmation call the day prior informing us that we were good to go -- though there is always a chance of a weather cancellation. These balloons don't fly when there is any significant amount of wind on the ground, so you should always keep that in mind -- particularly if you have your heart set on a sunset ride, which I understand can be notoriously fickle when it comes to wind. Our sunrise ride began with a meetup at 6:30. We were all shuttled out to a launch site and waited for about 30 minutes for setup. The balloons are much larger than you think they will be! There were about 10 people in our balloon basket -- snug, but plenty of room to stretch -- and the ride was very peaceful and quiet. It was beautiful to look at the sun rising over the Sandia Mountains and watch a dozen other balloons in the air at the same time. The landing (which took place a few miles away in a public park) was very smooth -- almost like going down a dirt slide in a basket. Big compliments to our pilot, Alfred and his team. We were then served mimosas and orange juice while we toasted a great flight. read more

Awesome!!!! Hot Air Balloon ride. They let you help with the setup if you want. Great crew Alfred the pilot, Jerry & Frank setup and breakdown were very courteous and competent. read more

Anthony, our pilot, made this adventure absolutely EPIC! Our family loved this ride. The entire process, from the online reservation, the follow-up check-in, and the day-of registration, was extremely smooth. The entire crew handled every detail with professionalism, and any nerves from our kids were calmed as my husband was allowed to assist in the process of inflating the balloon. The ride lasted somewhere around an hour, though I wish we could've floated all day! We had a perfect sunrise to see, and we loved soaring above the city. Anthony welcomed and answered every question we had. Our landing was so smooth as we returned to ground on a golf course. The flight finished with a champagne toast, which was the perfect ending to an amazing experience. Bravo to Rainbow Ryder's for making this such a great trip, and Anthony is truly the best! Highly recommend this company if you're looking to tackle a bucket list item! read more

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What a amazing experience. I am even afraid of heights but enjoyed this adventure. Brook was an amazing pilot while Greg handled the balloon chase car and set up. I highly recomend that you try this company and experience. They have locations in Las Vegas, Phoenix, Colorado Springs and Albuquerque. read more

Rainbow Ryders - My husband helping get the balloon ready. - Hot Air Balloons Near Me - Albuquerque, New Mexico

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Jesse Newcomer (our pilot), KB, and Patrick made our experience absolutely euphoric and safe. Not only was Jesse extremely passionate and informed about his career as a pilot, he kept us feeling secure and made the experience so much fun. This was my first time riding in a hot air balloon, and we were celebrating our anniversary. Getting in and out can be tricky, but the crew made it so simple. There were a couple elderly disable people, and the crew made it so easy to help them in and out without making them feel self-conscious. Tips for attending the festival: Wear comfortable shoes and layers, you'll be walking a lot and the temps change dramatically! There are tons of food vendors and merchants, so you will have a lot to do after you check in. It's a very early event for most people, but it's worth showing up at the recommended time so you can check in, enjoy, and relax. You'll be in close proximity standing next to other people. If that isn't your thing, you'll be spending over 1k$ each for a private flight. I did not mind it at all, we were just 8 people. It was such a lovely experience everyone should try, and I am so happy we went with Rainbow Ryders. We were greeted with mimosas afterwards and got a chance to talk to our crew and the other passengers who came from all over the country. read more

Alfred was a great pilot. Very knowledgeable and personable. Had a great time!!! I am not great with heights, but didn't even realize we were on the way up as he kept us all engaged. read more

Amazing tour! Took around 45 minutes and we saw the beautiful sunrise. Our pilot Alfred is the best. Very smooth and comfy process. Thank you! read more

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