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New Mexico

Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, Santa Fe Art and Culture

Program No. 15464RJ
See hot-air balloons decorate the sky at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, learn about the history of the Pueblo Indians and discover Santa Fe.

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Price will update based on selection
Prices displayed below are based on per person,doubleoccupancy.
DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Oct 8 - Oct 13, 2024
Starting at
3,699
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED! Enroll by Mar. 31, 2024 to take $200 off the price shown!

DATES & starting prices
PRICES
Oct 8 - Oct 13, 2024
Starting at
4,619
Special Offer

OFFER EXTENDED! Enroll by Mar. 31, 2024 to take $200 off the price shown!

At a Glance

Turn your eyes skyward to New Mexico’s multi-colored tapestry of hot-air balloons at the region’s world-renowned Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Trace Native American life back hundreds of years and learn how Puebloans have managed to retain their lands and traditions for centuries. Enjoy a one of a kind experience learning about New Mexico and the world's premier ballooning event.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Walking up to two miles over varied terrain. Standing for up to three hours. Elevations of 5,300-7,000 feet. Must be able to climb into/out of the balloon basket (approximately 4 feet tall) for the balloon ride. Some days will include very early departure times for the mass accessions at Balloon Fiesta Park.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Experience Balloon Fiesta up close — from inflating the balloons to taking a breathtaking balloon flight of your own.
  • Enjoy Santa Fe — from its abundant culture to its Native American and Spanish history.
  • Learn about the history and science behind hot air ballooning from a local pilot and expert.

General Notes

Max of 160 participants, divided into four groups of 40 for some activities. If you are travelling with someone with whom you would like to be grouped, please include their name(s) on your Personal Information & Preferences as far in advance as possible.
Featured Expert
All Experts
Profile Image
Don Boyer
Don Boyer is a balloon pilot and currently an assistant chief flight instructor for the FAA-certified Airborne Heat Flight School. He took his first balloon flight in 1985 at the age of 32, later acquiring his own balloon system and private and commercial pilot certifications. In 1994, Don became a contract pilot for the renowned World Balloon Corporation in Albuquerque. He recently retired as the safety director for LRC Trucking, Inc., where he managed driver safety programs and federal and state DOT/OSHA compliance.

Please note: This expert may not be available for every date of this program.

Profile Image of Don Boyer
Don Boyer is a balloon pilot and currently an assistant chief flight instructor for the FAA-certified Airborne Heat Flight School. He took his first balloon flight in 1985 at the age of 32, later acquiring his own balloon system and private and commercial pilot certifications. In 1994, Don became a contract pilot for the renowned World Balloon Corporation in Albuquerque. He recently retired as the safety director for LRC Trucking, Inc., where he managed driver safety programs and federal and state DOT/OSHA compliance.
Profile Image of Elena Junes
Elena Junes View biography
Elena Ortiz-Junes is a native New Mexican and member of the Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo. She has worked for many years as a study leader and group leader for numerous organizations and universities, providing a unique perspective on the region and its rich cultural tapestry. She is a writer and founding board member of Red Media, an indigenous owned and operated media project that highlights Native writers. Elena is also a board member of the University of New Mexico’s Alfonso Ortiz Center for Intercultural Studies.
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
Ballooning: A History, 1782-1900
by S. L. Kotar & J. E. Gessler
This book chronicles development and advances in hot air ballooning.
New Mexico, A History
by Joseph P. Sanchez
This book traces the history of New Mexico from the earliest inhabitants through the centennial of becoming a state in 2012. It delves in to the interactions of the indigenous people, immigrants and settlers and their descendants.
Through the Eye of the Deer: An Anthology of Native American Women Writers
by Dunn, Carolyn, & Comfort, Carol
Forgotten Albuquerque, NM: Images of America
by Bannerman, Ty
In 1706, Spanish colonists founded the Villa de Albuquerque on the banks of the Rio Grande. Three hundred years later, that once quiet farming community has grown to become Albuquerque, the largest city in New Mexico. Using over 200 vintage images from public archives and individual collections, author Ty Bannerman explores the city's many guises over time, from its prehistory as a thriving province of the Pueblo peoples to its post-World-War-II population boom.
An Indigenous People's History of the United States
by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz
From the perspective of Indigenous People, this book demonstrates how policy against Native people was designed to displace and eliminate them and how they fought back, resisting the expansion of the West.
Foods of the Southwest Indian Nations: Traditional and Contemporary Native American Recipes
by Dr. Lois Ellen Frank
In this gloriously photographed book, renowned photographer and Native American–food expert Dr. Lois Ellen Frank, herself part Kiowa, presents more than 80 recipes that are rich in natural flavors and perfectly in tune with today's healthy eating habits. Frank spent four years visiting reservations in the Southwest, documenting time-honored techniques and recipes. With the help of culinary adviser and Navajo Nation tribesman Walter Whitewater, a chef in Santa Fe, Frank has adapted the traditional recipes to modern palates and kitchens. Inside you'll find such dishes as Stuffed Tempura Chiles with Fiery Bean Sauce, Zuni Sunflower Cakes, and Prickly Pear Ice. With its wealth of information, this book makes it easy to prepare and celebrate authentic Native American cooking.
The Spell of New Mexico
by Hillerman, Tony (Editor)
A gathering of essays that evoke the unique and mysterious appeal New Mexico has had for some of the twentieth century's best-known writers. included are selections by Mary Austin, Oliver La Farge, Conrad Richter, D.H. Lawrence, C.G. Jung, Winfield Townley Scott, John DeWitt McKee, Ernie Pyle, Harvey Fergusson, and Lawrence Clark Powell. Hillerman's preface and introduction are choice specimens of his incisive humor and his own deep love of the state.
Georgia O'Keeffe: A Life
by Robinson, Roxana
Santa Fe, Its 400th Year: Exploring the Past, Defining the Future
by Dean, Rob
This fresh presentation, 400 years after the Spanish founded Santa Fe in 1610, presents the full art of Santa Fe's story that sifts through its long, complex, thrilling history. It illuminates Santa Fe's enduring promise to cling to roots that are bottomless and to leap into a future that is boundless. Many illustrations, timelines, index, and detailed biographies.
Albuquerque in Our Time: 30 Voices, 300 Years
by Hughes, Debra
Albuquerque, New Mexico, a city astride a great river, celebrated its tricentennial in 2006. This book pays homage to the city with a rich medley of narratives by its most colorful residents: well-loved town characters, writers, journalists, politicians, civic and business leaders who have helped shape Albuquerque's character and guided its growth.





Important registration tip:
If you want to attend the live lecture, please do not wait until the last minute to enroll.
If you enroll after a lecture is complete, we’ll send you a recording of the event.