Southwest Native Trails End Albuquerque with Balloon Fiesta
Tour Type: Regional Explorer
Brochure Type USA Canada and Central America 2024 v2
This complete immersion in Native American Cultural Heritage will delight anyone who is interested in this rare opportunity to delve deeper into the captivating culture, traditions and history of the Ancestral Puebloans who once thrived in America's Southwest landscapes. This itinerary will include the Albuquerque Balloon Festival, the largest hot air balloon festival in the U.S., and end in Albuquerque.
Be My Guest
Brochure Type USA Canada and Central America 2024 v2
This complete immersion in Native American Cultural Heritage will delight anyone who is interested in this rare opportunity to delve deeper into the captivating culture, traditions and history of the Ancestral Puebloans who once thrived in America's Southwest landscapes. This itinerary will include the Albuquerque Balloon Festival, the largest hot air balloon festival in the U.S., and end in Albuquerque.
Be My Guest
- Santa Fe Visit Nambe Pueblo, a Native American community in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains famous for its public ceremonies and traditions, strong agriculture, traditional textiles and world-renowned pottery. Once the primary cultural an
- 2 Lunch (L)
- 1 Welcome Reception (WR)
- 11 Breakfast (B)
- 4 Dinner (D)
- Visit Trujillo's weaving shop and admire the New Mexico weaving tradition that dates back to Spanish Colonial times. Learn about the Trujillo family, whose members have been weavers in the Chimayo tradition for eight generations.
- Taos Experience Taos Plaza, a Historical Landmark and artist colony in the heart of the Taos Historic District, home of 65 galleries, shops, restaurants, and 21 landmarks.
- Cross the Rio Grande Bridge, a steel deck arch bridge, roughly 600 ft above the Rio Grande and one of the highest bridges in the United States.
- Albuquerque Home to one of the largest petroglyph sites in North America, featuring designs and symbols carved onto volcanic rocks by Native Americans and Spanish settlers 400 to 700 years ago. These images are a valuable record of cultural expression an
- Mesa Verde National Park There's no better place to learn about the ancient cliff dwellings of the Ancestral Puebloan people than at Mesa Verde National Park. View the carvings in the sandstone of the canyon walls at the several hundred of these dwelling
- Taos Journey through arid landscapes as you travel along High Road, a cultural and geographical feast for the eyes. Arrive in Santa Fe, the 'City Different' and one of UNESCO's Creative Cities Network, as City of Design and City of Crafts and Folk Art.
- See the graceful red sandstone arch geological formation for which the capital is named Tsegháhoodzání (Window Rock). The small Memorial Tribal Park is not only home to Window Rock, but also to the Veterans Memorial, built to honor the many Navajo peopl
- Albuquerque Over nine days in October, the much-anticipated sight of colorful balloons punctuate Albuquerque's skyline. During this season, the sky is bluer, the days are gentler and the mornings crisper, and on the desert's warm breath sails the annual
- Albuquerque Visit the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center in Albuquerque, gateway to the 19 Pueblos. Learn about the pueblo from ancient times to modern day through the museum and art galleries.
- Canyon De Chelly National Monument See an ancient community built into a sandstone cliff as you peer over the edge of the White House Overlook to see the mastery of Ancient Puebloan construction. Watch nature defy gravity when you encounter Spider Rock a
- Taos Explore Taos Pueblo with Local Specialists who call Taos Pueblo home. Gain insight into the history of the pueblo and what it is like to live there today.
- Bluff Visit Hovenweep National Monument, one of the most intriguing pre-historic settlements in the Southwest, known for its six major villages and more than 300 additional sites within the National Monument.
- Visit the Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum, Southwest Colorado's leading archaeological museum, displaying exhibits on archaeology, local history and Native American cultures.
- Santa Fe Meet Emigdio Ballon the agricultural director at the Tesuque Pueblo Community Farm. Learn about this Indigenous community and their efforts to achieve food sovereighty by preserving heirloom seeds and by growing their own food.
- Canyon De Chelly National Monument Meet a Navajo Local Specialist and take 6X6 vehicles to the bottom of Canyon De Chelly for the most incredible natural sites.
- Chaco Canyon National Historic Park Stop at the Chaco Culture National Historical Park Visitor Center, and enjoy a picnic lunch with a Local Specialist.
- Monument Valley Immerse yourself in the landscape of the Navajo people journeying through the desert to Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park accessing roads, places, sites that are closed to the general public. Get a feel for the land and its people climbi
- Santa Fe Visit the 50-acre property on a private tour with local specialist to see some of Allan Houser's most amazing works known for his magnificent sculptures and paintings depicting various Indigenous tribes.
- View Square Tower Unit at Hovenweep, Chaco Canyon's White House, Bandelier National Monument
- Scenic Drive along Colorado's Trail of the Ancients National Scenic Byway
- Explore Pueblo Bonito "Great House" and the North Rim scenic drive with a Local Specialist
- Visit Petroglyph National Monument, Chaco Canyon National Historical Park, Hubbell Trading Post National Historic Site, Hovenweep National Monument, Canyon of the Ancients National Monument, Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Monument Valley Tribal Par
- Gallup Your Stay with Story is the historic home to many starlets from the 'Western" genres of the 1930's - 40s.
- Durango Stay at The Strater Hotel, adorned with beautiful handcrafted woodwork, housing the largest collection of American Victorian walnut antiques. It's Durango's Historic Landmark Hotel, showcasing stories of the old west and mining times.
Call (513) 563-6608 for more information or to book today! Mention code 18573387
- Tour Operator
- Trafalgar Tours
- Offer
- Offer valid through 9/30/2024
- Duration
- 12 Days
- Escorted
- Escorted - Yes
| Day | Destination | Description |
| Day 1 | Albuquerque | Kick Start Your Trip at Albuquerque's Balloon Fiesta: You're in for a wild time at Albuquerque's Balloon Fiesta. Explore Old Town Albuquerque if you like before meeting your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a Welcome Reception at your hotel. Accommodations: Sheraton Albuquerque Uptown |
| Day 2 | Albuquerque | Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta: This morning gaze upwards as hundreds of colorful balloons take to the sky. This evening, attend the exclusive and private Chasers' Club to view the mesmerizing Balloon Glow. Afterwards, join your fellow travelers and Travel Director for dinner. Accommodations: Sheraton Albuquerque Uptown |
| Day 3 | Albuquerque | Uncover the History of Acoma Pueblo: Trace centuries-old stories etched in stone by Ancestral Puebloan peoples and early Spanish settlers at the Petroglyph National Monument. Marvel at the designs and symbols carved onto volcanic rocks 400 to 700 years ago, a valuable record of cultural expression and of profound spiritual significance for Native Americans and the descendants of the early Spanish settlers. Continue to the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center as you appreciate insights into the pueblo from ancient times to modern day through the museum and art galleries. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure. Perhaps join an optional visit to Sandia Peak Tramway to ascend one of America's most stunning urban peaks where an 11,000 square mile panoramic view awaits. Accommodations: Sheraton Albuquerque Uptown |
| Day 4 | Gallup | Explore Chaco Canyon Stays With Stories Make Travel Matter: You'll love this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience along your Southwest Journey as you visit the Chaco Canyon inside Chaco Culture National Historical Park. Head on a field trip with your Local Specialist to Pueblo Bonito, an important ?Great House? in modern day culture (should weather conditions render the dirt road to Chaco Canyon unsafe, your Travel Director will arrange visits to more accessible destinations of historical and cultural significance). Tonight, your Stays With Stories is historic El Rancho Hotel, home to many starlets in the 'Westerns' genre during the 1930s-40s. Accommodations: El Rancho Hotel |
| Day 5 | Chinle | Delve Into the Legacy of the Navajo Make Travel Matter: This morning, stop at Window Rock, the capital of the Navajo Nation, where you'll see the Window Rock geologic formation and the World War II Navajo Code Talkers' Memorial and learn how Navajos helped the United States win WWII. Take a step back in time and visit the Hubbell Trading Post National Historical Site, and learn how the Navajo and settlers once traded. Delve into the story of Lorenzo Hubbell, who had a major influence on Navajo rug weaving and silversmithing. After a visit to the Canyon de Chelly Visitor Center, meet your certified Navajo Local Specialist and board your 6X6 vehicle to marvel at the stunning scenery with sandstone cliffs, canyons, and beautiful artwork in the forms of pictographs, petroglyphs and ruins in this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience. Accommodations: Holiday Inn Canyon de Chelly |
| Day 6 | Monument Valley | Marvel at Canyon de Chelly National Monument Make Travel Matter: See an ancient community built into a sandstone cliff as you peer over the edge of the White House Overlook to see the mastery of Ancient Puebloan construction. Watch nature defy gravity when you encounter Spider Rock and hear the legend of the mythical Spider Woman who is said to live in this towering stone spire. Enter Monument Valley National Tribal Park, a symbol of the American West with its iconic landscape of enormous rock features, including mesas, cliffs, and buttes made famous as the location for dozens of films stretching back almost a century. Meet your Navajo Local Specialist for a private guided excursion of Monument Valley in this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience. Continue deeper into the valley while experiencing the sights of Monument Valley through the eyes of your Navajo guide. Travel along backroads and trails unavailable to the public while learning the history and local culture of the Dineh people. Visit an authentic hogan, the primary, traditional dwelling of the Navajo people. Other traditional structures include the summer shelter, the underground home, and the sweat house. Accommodations: Goulding's Lodge |
| Day 7 | Durango | Time Hop to Prehistoric Settlements in the Southwest Stays With Stories Make Travel Matter: Head to Hovenweep National Monument, an intriguing prehistoric settlement. As you travel through the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, stop at Southwest Colorado's leading archeological museum at the Canyon of the Ancients Visitor Center for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience. Then have an insightful viewing of the Ancestral Puebloan archaeological sites at Mesa Verde National Park. From the Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum, you can see the park's third largest cliff dwelling, Spruce Tree House. This evening your Stays With Stories is at the historic Strater Hotel in Durango. Accommodations: Strater Hotel, Durango |
| Day 8 | Durango | Dive into Durango: Spend your day at leisure exploring the historic town of Durango. Choose to go farther afield taking an optional scenic drive on Colorado's Million Dollar Highway (U.S. Route 550), from the town of Ouray, known as the Switzerland of America, to the historic mining town of Silverton. Enjoy the panoramic views of one of the most scenic drives in the U.S. as you reach the summit at Red Mountain Pass at over 11,000 ft. Take time to explore and have lunch in Silverton before heading back to Durango. You can even choose to book a ride back onboard the historic Silverton narrow gauge steam train, an unforgettable step back in time aboard a coal-fired, steam-powered train. Chug along rails originally laid at the end of the 19th century winding through a spectacular wilderness (dependent on availability and season). If you are feeling more adventurous, opt for a white water rafting trip on the Animas River. Accommodations: Strater Hotel, Durango |
| Day 9 | Taos | Discover Taos Pueblo Dive Into Culture Connect with Locals: Make your way through the mountains and into New Mexico, arriving at the Rio Grande Gorge, a geological feature where the watercourse of the Rio Grande follows a tectonic chasm. Cross the Taos Landmark Site of the Rio Grande Bridge, a steel arch bridge that stands roughly 600 feet above the Rio Grande. This afternoon, Dive Into Culture in charming Taos beginning at Taos Plaza, a Historical Landmark and artist colony in the heart of the Taos Historic District, home of 65 galleries, shops, restaurants and 21 landmarks. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience when you tour Taos Pueblo, a World Heritage Center and National Historic Landmark, with a Local Specialist. Connect with Locals who call the Pueblo home and learn about these iconic, multi-storied adobe buildings, built roughly 1,000 years ago. A piece of the past in the present, about 150 Puebloans still live within the pueblo today. Gain insight into life in the pueblo and leave with stories one can only hear from locals. Accommodations: Don Fernando De Taos, Tapestry Collection by Hilton |
| Day 10 | Santa Fe | Uncover the High Road from Taos to Santa Fe: Start the day taking the High Road from Taos to Santa Fe and visit Trujillo's weaving shop. Dive Into Culture learning first-hand how these eighth-generation weavers use one of a kind handwoven techniques. Visit Nambe Village, an active indigenous community at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains along the Rio Grande River, for a traditional feast day meal prepared by elders at the Robinson Property. During this Be My Guest experience, learn more about Nambe culture over lunch and conversation. Continue to Bandelier National Monument and delve into the history of the people that inhabited this area 1,000 years ago. These fascinating cliff dwellings have been designated as one of UNESCO's Creative Cities Network, City of Design and City of Crafts and Folk Art. Accommodations: Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza |
| Day 11 | Santa Fe | Savor the Culture of Santa Fe Make Travel Matter: This morning we head to Allan Houser Sculpture Garden, where you will meet with the museum's director. Explore the 50-acre open air museum dedicated to preserving the artist's work. This afternoon you'll love the eye-opening MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience where you'll meet Emigdio Ballon, the agricultural director at the Tesuque Pueblo Community Farm. Learn about this Indigenous community and their efforts to achieve food sovereignty by preserving heirloom seeds and growing their own food. Accommodations: Hilton Santa Fe Historic Plaza |
| Day 12 | Albuquerque | Depart Albuquerque: Say a fond farewell to Santa Fe and make your way to Albuquerque Sunport International Airport at your leisure. Accommodations: |
- Dates/Pricing
- Disclaimer
- Twin prices are per person.
- These prices are correct at the time of the website going live, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking.
- All tour information is correct at time of tours going live, however is subject to change, please confirm all details at time of booking.
- For full terms and conditions, please refer to our Conditions page.
- Hotel Class Key: D: Deluxe SF: Superior First Class F: First Class
