Historic Trains of the Old West with Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta
Overview
In New Mexico, experience the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, where hundreds of colorful hot-air balloons fill the sky during the Mass Ascension, Balloon Glow, evening fireworks, and other signature events. PLUS, this tour includes your choice of excursions in Colorado Springs so you can plan your day your way.
Itinerary
Welcome to Colorado!
At 6:00 p.m., meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome drink.
TOUR HIGHLIGHT - Denver earns its Mile-High City nickname with an elevation of 5,280 feet. As the gateway to the Rockies, it's a perfect place to unwind while taking in sunset views of Mount Blue Sky (formerly Mount Evans) and enjoying a local IPA or coffee. Ask your Tour Director for recommendations on the best spots to eat and explore in LoDo (lower downtown) and beyond.
Spend Your Day Your Way in Colorado Springs
Depart on a scenic drive south to Colorado Springs. Discover the unique heritage of the Pikes Peak region and Colorado Springs on an orientation tour and enjoy free time for lunch in the historic downtown.
This afternoon, explore more of Colorado Springs with your choice of included Globus Choice Excursions.
- GOING FOR GOLD - Experience an immersive look into the training of the greatest athletes in America and rich Olympic history with a visit to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum. Discover interactive exhibits, innovative displays and an impressive artifact collection on Team USA.
- AMERICA'S MOUNTAIN - Take a ride on the Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway for a memorable experience on the oldest cog railway in the world. Travel from Manitou Springs to the summit that inspired the song, America the Beautiful, for panoramic views of rich forests, canyons, and snow-capped mountains.
Enjoy dinner tonight at a local restaurant.
The Land of Enchantment
Explore Garden of the Gods Park, a National Natural Landmark, featuring 300-foot towering sandstone rock formations against a backdrop of snowcapped Pikes Peak and brilliant blue skies. Depart Colorado Springs and travel south into New Mexico, the “Land of Enchantment,” to visit Albuquerque – home of the annual Balloon Fiesta. Enjoy free time this evening before an early morning adventure tomorrow!
TOUR HIGHLIGHT - What began as a gathering of enthusiasts with just 13 hot-air balloons more than 50 years ago has grown into the largest ballooning event in the world – the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. This tradition has grown to an annual event drawing people from around the world to witness hundreds of brightly hued hot-air balloons ascend at once over the landscape of New Mexico. Truly enchanting!
Up, Up & Away!
Get ready for the world-famous Balloon Fiesta! Experience this morning's pre-dawn Opening Ceremonies and the unforgettable Mass Balloon Ascension. See Old Town Albuquerque and enjoy free time before marveling at the popular Balloon Glow and Fireworks show this evening.
TOUR HIGHLIGHT - Attend the uplifting opening ceremonies and mass balloon ascension where more than five hundred hot-air balloons lift off and turn the sky into a virtual rainbow of designs. Leading the ascension is a balloon adorned with the American flag, rising off the ground to the national anthem.
The American Southwest
Travel via the Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway to the charming city of Santa Fe. Visit the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture to explore the history and contemporary life of the Indigenous cultures of the Southwest. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure in Santa Fe.
TOUR HIGHLIGHT - Experience the rich history and culture of Santa Fe, home to an abundance of art galleries showcasing everything from traditional Indigenous and Spanish Colonial works to contemporary masterpieces inspired by the landscapes of the Southwest.
ENHANCED FREE TIME - Explore more with free time in Santa Fe. Your Tour Director will have suggestions for additional sightseeing, shopping, and dining.
Enchanted Jewels
Begin with a captivating visit to nearby Chimayo, founded in the 17th century by Spanish settlers. Enjoy lunch in a century-old adobe home at Rancho de Chimayo, serving outstanding New Mexican cuisine. Visit El Santuario de Chimayó and learn of the miraculous healing powers that still attract thousands of pilgrims each year. Return to Santa Fe for free time to explore on your own.
LOCAL FAVORITE - Experience the spiritual traditions of the American Southwest in Chimayó. This historic community is home to El Santuario de Chimayó, a revered pilgrimage site where visitors come to learn about its history and the sacred soil long associated with healing traditions. For generations, people from across the region and around the world have journeyed here seeking reflection, inspiration, and spiritual connection.
Ancient Cultures
Depart Santa Fe and explore the ancient Ancestral Puebloans, their cliff dwellings, and the museum at Bandelier National Monument. Visit the adobe town of Taos for free time to discover the culturally rich downtown at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Continue into Colorado for Durango, a town born in the Gold Rush and silver-mining era. Tonight, spend time browsing the many shops on Main Street or enjoy a cold pint at one of the city's local breweries.
TOUR HIGHLIGHT - Explore the age-old dwellings of Bandelier National Monument Envision the lives of the Ancestral Pueblo people while gazing across mesas, sheer-walled canyons, and thousands of archaeological sites scattered throughout 33,000 acres of protected wilderness. Bandelier's human history is traced to over 11,000 years ago when nomadic hunter-gatherers followed migrating wildlife across the land. By 1150 AD, Ancestral Pueblo people began to build more permanent settlements.
Stone Houses
Today, visit Mesa Verde National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Return to Durango for a guided tour of the D&SNG Railway Museum with free time to explore the exhibits, including an extensive model train layout. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant in Durango, where modern Southwestern cuisine meets classic Old West flavors.
TOUR HIGHLIGHT - Discover Mesa Verde National Park's remarkable cliff dwellings, including Spruce Tree House, one of the best-preserved in the United States. Continue to the museum to learn about the people who once lived on this 8,000-foot plateau, then stop at a scenic viewpoint for photos of Cliff Palace, one of the largest Ancestral Puebloan dwellings.
All Aboard in Durango!
Board the Durango & Silverton Narrow-Gauge Railroad for a scenic ride through San Juan National Forest from Durango to Silverton. Continue to Glenwood Springs for an overnight stay at the historic Hotel Colorado.
TOUR HIGHLIGHT - Board the legendary Durango & Silverton Narrow-Gauge Railroad steam train as it hugs steep canyon walls to wind its way through Rio de las Animas Canyon. Arrive in Silverton, a National Historic Landmark District that flourished during Colorado's mining boom and retains much of its Old West character today.
LOCAL FAVORITE - Enjoy a stay at the historic Hotel Colorado in beautiful Glenwood Springs. This elegant Rocky Mountain retreat near the town's famous hot springs has been a welcomed respite for travelers for more than 125 years. Special guests President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt and the “Unsinkable” Molly Brown have enjoyed the gracious accommodations in the heart of the Colorado Rockies; its storied history also includes time as a naval hospital in the 1940s and a playground for notorious characters such as the Chicago gangsters during the Roaring Twenties.
Making Tracks in the Old West
Travel through the beautiful Colorado Rocky Mountains to historic Georgetown for a scenic ride on the Georgetown Loop Railroad. Continue east to Denver, where your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner. Wonderful conversation and cuisine make the perfect finale for your vacation.
TOUR HIGHLIGHT - Climb aboard the historic Georgetown Loop Railroad and be immersed in the rugged beauty of the Rockies. Envision the golden age of rail travel as you roll past groves of aspen, pine, and fir while taking in sweeping vistas of Clear Creek Canyon.
Safe travels until we meet again!
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. Want to explore more in Denver? Additional nights are available for purchase.
Trip Inclusions
- Globus Choice Excursion in Colorado Springs - included in your tour, your choice of the Broadmoor Manitou & Pikes Peak Cog Railway to the summit of Pikes Peak or visit the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum
- Visit Garden of the Gods Park, known for its towering red sandstone formations and views of Pikes Peak
- Attend the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, including the Opening Ceremonies and Mass Ascension, when hundreds of colorful balloons fill the morning sky
- Return to the Balloon Fiesta at night for the Balloon Glow and Fireworks show
- Travel the Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway, linking historic mining communities between Albuquerque and Santa Fe
- Guided sightseeing in Santa Fe, including [LF] Santuário de Chimayo, one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the Southwest
- Visit to Bandelier National Monument to explore ancient cliff dwellings and archaeological sites, and enjoy guided sightseeing in Taos
- Discover Mesa Verde National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its remarkably preserved Ancestral Puebloan cliff dwellings
- Guided tour of Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad Museum, showcasing the history of one of America's most famous railways
- Ride the historic Durango & Silverton Narrow-Gauge Railroad and Georgetown Loop Railroad through spectacular Rocky Mountain scenery
- Fall Foliage departures: September 29 and October 6 (Mother Nature permitting).
- Breakfast daily, 1 Lunch, 2 Dinner
- Denver: Hilton Denver City Center (Superior First-Class):
Sleek Hotel on the first 19 floors of the 43-story Hilton Tower in heart of downtown financial district. - Colorado Springs: The Antlers Hotel:
The hotel has an indoor pool, hot tub, fitness center, gift shop, business center, restaurants, pub, coffee kiosk, and room service. Guestrooms feature cable TV, coffee maker, hairdryer, iron/ironing board, bath amenities, and Internet access. - Albuquerque: DoubleTree by Hilton Albuquerque (First-Class):
Hospitality is number one at the DoubleTree in Albuquerque, where you're welcomed by the signature DoubleTree chocolate chip cookie, comfortable accommodations, modern amenities, and a superb location. Complimentary shuttle service is available to shopping, dining and entertainment within a three-mile radius. Offering stunning views of the Sandia Mountains, this Albuquerque hotel provides a unique, relaxing setting in the heart of the city. - Santa Fe: La Posada de Santa Fe (Superior First-Class):
Welcome to La Posada de Santa Fe. This beautifully decorated hotel has lots to offer. Enjoy the rich history of New Mexico and enjoy all the modern amenities. - Durango: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Durango (First-Class):
This hotel is located along the Animas River's banks. A five-minute stroll gets you to the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad and historic Downtown Durango. The San Juan National Forest, which contains Colorado's largest wilderness region, is ten miles away and offers outdoor fun. - Glenwood Springs: Hotel Colorado (First-Class):
Settle into the enriching history of this hotel in the charming mountain town of Glenwood Springs. As host to dozens of presidents and well-known people throughout history, there is a lot to explore at this hotel. Not to mention the ghost stories! The hotel sits nestled between the gorgeous Colorado mountains and directly across the street from the famous Glenwood Hot Springs. Enjoy the hot spring pools, cocktails on the hotel patio, or a little shopping and dining in downtown Glenwood Springs.
- Airport transfers at your arrival and departure destination are not included in the price of the tour.
- Itinerary and inclusions subject to change.
- Price is for land, cruise and specified internal flights. International flights not included.
- Enjoy spectacular fall colors on our Fall Foliage departures: September 29 and October 6 (Mother Nature permitting).
- Guests should be prepared for sustained walking and standing.
- Hot air balloon rides must be arranged by the guest at their own risk and are not protected by Globus family of brands travel insurance. Balloon rides should be scheduled on Day 2 of the tour. Refunds are not provided for missed sightseeing scheduled in conflict with a guest's extra-curricular balloon ride. Balloon Fiesta schedule of events is subject to change and will be confirmed on tour.
- Visiting and participating in activities in this region may be subject to favorable weather conditions. Order of sightseeing subject to change.
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Dates & Pricing
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A definite departure means minimum numbers have been reached for this departure to operate. Your Global Journeys Travel Advisor will check the availability of your departure date when you Enquire. Additional savings may apply. T&C’s apply.
Tour & cruises prices are per person. Prices shown have savings applied, are subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice. Pricing and trip details are correct at this point in time, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking and are subject to change by Globus. For cruise itineraries, cabin images are sourced from the cruise-line and should be treated as indicative only. Cabin inclusions, upholsteries and room layout may differ to the image(s) shown depending on the ship selected and your sailing dates.
