Envision This:
You are peacefully drifting through the sky while the sun sinks toward the horizon, casting a gorgeous golden light across the landscape below you. You get to witness golden hour, one of the most magnificent parts of the day, from the comfort of a hot air balloon.Â
Rainbow Ryders is your ticket to capturing this experience. We offer sunset flights in Albuquerque from November through January and in Phoenix from November through March. We launch about one hour before sunset, so you can gracefully soar the skies for approximately an hour before landing just in time to witness nightfall.
What to Expect
Your evening adventure, which is roughly 3.5 to 4 hours from start to finish, begins at one of our designated check-in locations. Five things that’ll happen after you arrive are:
- You meet your pilots and fill out waivers.
- Our ground chase crew uses one of our vans to shuttle you to the launch site, which pilots select based on weather and wind conditions.
- You can witness and help with the fascinating inflation process, which takes about 15 minutes.
- You board the basket and lift off about an hour before sunset to watch golden hour wash over the breathtaking landscapes below.
- After drifting through the skies for about an hour, you make a fun yet controlled landing before the sun completely tucks itself away.
What to Bring
We recommend wearing hats, sunglasses, sunscreen, and closed-toed shoes for this exhilarating outdoor experience. You should focus on dressing comfortably for ground-level temperatures, as flight temperatures often match them.
Hats
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Shoes
First-Class Service
Throughout the flight, your pilot will serve as your knowledgeable guide, eagerly answering any questions you may have. Upon landing, you’ll celebrate with a traditional toast, then we will shuttle you back to the check-in location where you’ll enjoy light snacks before departing.
A Toast
Light Snacks
Ready to Book Your Sunset Flights
Our sunset flights can make any occasion golden, from anniversaries and bachelor or bachelorette parties to graduations and birthdays.
Why Choose Rainbow Ryders
Experienced Pilots
Each pilot at Rainbow Ryders possesses an FAA commercial pilot’s license alongside an annually updated second-class medical certificate. They also undergo annual flight evaluations and participate in at least six safety seminars each year.
Safety Record
Since Rainbow Ryders was founded in 1983, we have flown more than 750,000 passengers without any major fatalities from balloon malfunctions. Additionally, our staff and crew chiefs are CPR- and first-aid certified for added peace of mind.
Sustainability Efforts
At Rainbow Ryders, protecting the landscapes we fly over is a top priority. We recycle materials from daily flights, use solar energy at our offices, and hold litter cleanup days to help keep the Southwestern United States clean and beautiful.
Learn More About Our Locations
Albuquerque
- Get an aerial view of New Mexico's scenic Rio Grande Valley and the Sandia Mountains.
Phoenix
- Drift above saguaro cacti and see the rugged mountain ranges of Arizona's Sonoran Desert.
Colorado Springs
- See Colorado's dramatic Rocky Mountains and the iconic Garden of the Gods from the sky.
Park City
- Get sweeping views of Utah's Wasatch Mountains while gliding in a hot air balloon.