2025 Dates:
October 6-13
Duration:
8 days/7 nights
7 days/6 nights
Price:
$3,150-3,600/rider
Every October people come from all over the world to New Mexico for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Hot air balloons fill the sky, with the Sandia Mountains looming above the valley and the river winding below. Enjoy scenic rides with these picturesque globes floating overhead. Each day will be planned for optimum balloon viewing and mild terrain so that riders can take as many pictures as possible. Get up close and personal with these inflated airships and even spend one morning at the fiesta participating in blowing up and launching a balloon, with the afternoon spent amongst the wide variety of vendors with local foods and arts and crafts. Spend one day exploring historic downtown Santa Fe as well. Don't miss a unique way to experience this amazing event!
Horses
Save a horse, ride a rescue!
Our hosts in New Mexico do great work rescuing, rehabilitating, and rehoming rescue horses. The herd encompasses a wide variety of breeds, ages, and backgrounds, and all have been carefully rehabilitated over time and trained using natural horsemanship methods for their current jobs as trail partners.
Riding Level
Intermediate - Advanced
Riders need to be comfortable at a walk, posting trot, and strong canter on trail and within a group, as well as mount/dismount the horse unassisted. Riders must be to be physically fit enough to be in the saddle 3-4 hours a day.
Tack and Terrain
Choose between Western or Endurance saddles. The terrain is scenic but rugged and often rocky, with both slow, technical sections of trail as well as wide, open stretches for long trots or canters.
Accommodation
Riders lodge in a charming guesthouse nestled on a juniper and pine ridge overlooking the valley, decorated in a rustic and eclectic southwest style, and designed with environmental sustainability in mind (composting toilets). Enjoy reading nooks, hammocks, hot tub (all year), swimming pool (summer only), and bicycles available for further exploration.
√ WiFi
√ Laundry
Cuisine
New Mexican cuisine is wholly unique, rich with local ingredients, slow cooked meats, and spiced with roasted green and red chilis. Enjoy European-style breakfast, lunches of light salads or soups, and family-style dinners with occasional visits to local restaurants. Dietary restrictions, allergies, vegetarians, vegans, and gluten-free can all be accommodated with advanced notice.
Itinerary
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Arrival and settle in, short welcome ride followed by dinner.
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Breakfast at the main house.
Depart from the ranch to ride for about 3 hours, with snacks on the trail and lunch on the trailhead. When you get back to the ranch, enjoy free time to swim, hike, do yoga, take a nap, etc. Dinner in the evening.
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Early departure from the ranch to ride. Breakfast at the trailhead, followed by a 3-4 hour ride on the river where you can view balloons and eat snacks along the way. Lunch back at the ranch, free afternoon, dinner at the ranch.
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Early breakfast and departure to visit the Balloon Fiesta. Spend all morning at the balloons, followed by the afternoon at the Indian Cultural Center. Dinner at the ranch.
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Breakfast at the main house.
Depart from the ranch to ride for about 3 hours, with snacks on the trail and lunch on the trailhead. When you get back to the ranch, enjoy free time to swim, hike, do yoga, take a nap, etc. Dinner in the evening.
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Early departure to ride, with breakfast at the trail head. 3-4 hour ride in the foothills with balloons filling the sky. Lunch at the ranch and free afternoon, followed by dinner at a restaurant in Albuquerque.
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Breakfast and departure
Dates
October 6-13 2025
Book an 8-day or 7-day stay, all of which include a visit to the Balloon Fiesta.
Book Now
Price Includes:
- All accommodation
- All meals + snacks
- Visit to Balloon Fiesta
- Visit to Santa Fe (if booking 8-day or 7-day itinerary)
- Airport transfers (ABQ Airport)
Does Not Include:
- Airfare to/from Albuquerque
- Travel insurance
- Tax and gratuities