2021 & 2022 Globus Guided Tours - Globus® Vacation Packages

Historic Trains of the Old West with Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta (NCS)

11 Day Tour from Denver to Denver

2026 Tour Details View 2025 Tour Details » View 2027 Tour Details »

All aboard! Calling all trainspotters and railway enthusiasts! You’ll love riding the rails into the unspoiled scenic past of Colorado. This tour of the U.S. West is just the ticket to chug through the untamed beauty of the Royal Gorge aboard the Royal Gorge Route Railway; through the magnificent mesas and canyons of San Juan National Forest aboard the Durango & Silverton Narrow-Gauge Railroad; and through the rugged splendor of the Rockies aboard the historic Georgetown Loop Railroad. You’ll also pick up steam with visits to Colorado Spring’s Garden of the Gods, Mesa Verde’s ancient cliff dwellings, Chimayo’s famous pilgrimage site, and Glenwood Spring’s historic Hotel Colorado, a favorite of President Theodore Roosevelt. Train buffs will also enjoy time in Durango’s D&SNG Railway Museum. Chasing rainbows is easy as hundreds of hot-air balloons take flight and turn the already stunning atmosphere of New Mexico into a kaleidoscope of dizzying color during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. Add this special event to witness the incredible Mass Ascension, fiery Balloon Glow, evening fireworks, and other colorful rituals of the world’s largest balloon event.

Special features included in this tour:

• Ride the Royal Gorge Route Railroad
• Visit Garden of the Gods
• Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta, including Opening Ceremonies and Mass Balloon Ascension
• Visit Old Town Albuquerque
• Balloon Fiesta at night for the Balloon Glow and Fireworks show
• Travel the Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway
• Guided sightseeing in Santa Fe and Santuário de Chimayo
• Visit Bandelier National Monument and Taos
• Discover Mesa Verde National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Guided tour of D & SNG Railway Museum
• Ride the Durango & Silverton Narrow-Gauge Railroad
• Ride the Georgetown Loop Railroad
• Fall Foliage departures: September 30 and October 7 (Mother Nature permitting).

BLACK FRIDAY SPECIAL - Save $700 per couple on select 2026 Globus tours worldwide*
Historic Trains of the Old West with Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta map
National Park Tours – National Park Foundation

 Photo Highlights

 Meals

 Meals & Itinerary

Breakfast daily, 1 Lunch, 2 Dinner


Notes:

• Enjoy spectacular fall colors on our Fall Foliage departures: September 30 and October 7 (Mother Nature permitting).
• Guests should be prepared for sustained walking and standing.
• The Globus Family of Brands insurance does not allow us to arrange hot air balloon rides for our guests. Hot air balloon rides should be scheduled on Day 2 of the tour and any missed sightseeing will not be refunded. Balloon Fiesta schedule of events is subject to change and will be confirmed on tour.

 Itinerary

Day 1 ARRIVE IN DENVER, COLORADO

Welcome to Colorado! At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome drink.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGHS At 5,280 feet above sea level, Denver is called the Mile-High City for a reason. This gateway to the Rocky Mountains is the perfect place to kick back with a view of the sunset over Mount Evans while enjoying a local IPA or coffee after dinner. Ask your Tour Director for the best eateries in LoDo (lower downtown) or other exciting venues this beautiful city has to offer.


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Day 2 DENVER–ROYAL GORGE ROUTE RAILROAD–COLORADO SPRINGS

All Aboard the Royal Gorge! Depart on a scenic drive south to the Royal Gorge for a unique experience on the spectacular Royal Gorge Route Railroad. Later, travel to Colorado Springs to explore Garden of the Gods, featuring 300-foot towering sandstone rock formations against a backdrop of snowcapped Pikes Peak and brilliant blue skies. Enjoy dinner tonight at a local restaurant.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
EPIC RIDE When President Teddy Roosevelt rode the rails through the Royal Gorge in 1905, he described the experience as “the trip that bankrupts the English language.” You’ll be speechless too on this train ride through the breathtaking scenery of the Royal Gorge as it cuts a deep path through the Rockies along the Arkansas River.


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Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 3 COLORADO SPRINGS–ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO

The Land of Enchantment Leave 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
SPECIAL EVENT 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 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!


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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 4 ALBUQUERQUE

Up, Up & Away! Get ready for the world-famous Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta! Experience this morning’s pre-dawn Opening Ceremonies and the unforgettable Mass Balloon Ascension. See Old Town Albuquerque before returning to the hotel for free time before marveling at the popular Balloon Glow and Fireworks show.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
OH SAY, CAN YOU SEE?! Attend the uplifting opening ceremonies and mass balloon ascension where hundreds of 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 Star-Spangled Banner.


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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 5 ALBUQUERQUE–SANTA FE

The American Southwest Travel via the Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway to the charming city of Santa Fe. Visit the Musuem 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
CULTURE & TRADITION Experience the rich history and culture of Santa Fe - home to an abundance of art galleries amid its diverse visual arts scene of ancient traditional art to modern contemporary works that celebrate the desert beauty of this ruggedly beautiful landscape.

ENHANCED FREE TIME
EXPLORE MORE with free time in Santa Fe. Your Tour Director will have suggestions for additional sightseeing, shopping, and dining. Tap your GlobusGO mobile app for maps, tips, and more.

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 6 SANTA FE. EXCURSION TO CHIMAYO

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 Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite Santuário De Chimayo and learn of the miraculous healing powers that still attract thousands of pilgrims each year. Return to Santa Fe, where the remainder of your day is at leisure.

LOCAL FAVORITE
HISTORY & HERITAGE Experience the spiritual traditions of the American Southwest in Chimayo. This historic area attracts locals and guests alike who visit its church sanctuary, which holds sacred soil known for its healing powers. Experience this legendary, authentic New Mexican tradition!


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Breakfast Breakfast
LunchLunch

Day 7 SANTA FE–BANDELIER NATIONAL MONUMENT–TAOS–DURANGO, COLORADO

Ancient Cultures Depart Santa Fe and explore the ancient Anasazi Puebloans, their cliff dwellings, and the museum at Bandelier National Monument. Visit the adobe town of Taos for free time. Continue into Colorado for Durango, a town born in the Gold Rush and silver-mining era. Tonight, spend free time browsing the many shops on Main Street or enjoy a cold pint at one of the city’s local breweries.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURAL GEM Explore the age-old dwellings of Bandelier National Monument. Envision a way of life long since passed to gaze at mesas, sheer-walled canyons, and several thousand ancestral Pueblo dwellings sharing 33,000 acres of designated 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. This incredible site is as inspiring as the Pueblo blessing: “Hold on to what is good, even if it is a handful of earth.”

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 8 DURANGO. EXCURSION TO MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK

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 see the exhibits including an extensive model train layout.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ANCIENT DWELLINGS See Spruce Tree House, one of the best-preserved cliff dwellings. Also, visit the museum that depicts the story of the people who once thrived on this 8,000-foot ancient plateau (now Mesa Verde National Park). Stop at a great vantage point for pictures of Cliff Palace (one of the largest of the 700-year-old Anasazi dwellings).


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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 9 DURANGO–NARROW-GAUGE RAILROAD–SILVERTON–GLENWOOD SPRINGS

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 Globus Local FavoriteGlobus Local Favorite Hotel Colorado.

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
EPIC RIDE 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, once a major mining town where an early miner proclaimed: “We have no gold, but silver by the ton!”

LOCAL FAVORITE
ACCOMMODATION SPOTLIGHT Enjoy a stay at the historic Hotel Colorado in beautiful Glenwood Springs. This elegant Rocky Mountain retreat has been a welcomed respite for travelers for more than 125 years is near the town’s famous hot springs. Special guests President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt and the “Unsinkable” Molly Brown have enjoyed its gracious accommodations in the heart of the Colorado Rockies; it’s storied history also includes time as a Naval Hospital in the 1940’s and playground for notorious characters such as the Chicago gangsters during the Roaring 20’s.

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Breakfast Breakfast

Day 10 GLENWOOD SPRINGS–GEORGETOWN LOOP RAILROAD–DENVER

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
EPIC RIDE Climb aboard the historic Georgetown Railroad and be immersed in the rugged beauty of the Rockies. Envision the old railroad days as you roll through stunning views of aspen trees, pines, and firs with views of Clear Creek Canyon.

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Breakfast Breakfast
DinnerDinner

Day 11 DENVER

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.

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Breakfast Breakfast

 Tour Director

With GLOBUS, there’s no better way to get to know your destination than through the eyes of a Tour Director. We’d like you to meet one of our Tour Directors, who average over a decade of experience and are representative of the type of expert that will be with you on your vacation.

ANDREW MORAN

Escorting tours for more than 20 years

Born in Salisbury, England, I left England at the age of nine and ended up in Los Angeles. Some of my hobbies include travel, flying (I have my license to fly small, single-engine planes), gardening (growing my own fruits and veggies is awesome), and landscaping (it gives me a chance to learn about different trees and plants). My advice to travelers is to come with an open mind and look forward to learning new things. What makes other places so special is that they're not home!

Tour Director - ANDREW MORAN

 Accommodations

 Optional Excursions

No matter what you’re into: food, wine, history, art, music or anything else, we give you the freedom to personalize your vacation with optional excursions that speak to your interests.

When you book your excursions with us, you can be assured that every optional excursion that we offer coordinates with the free time that you'll have in your destination, so you'll never have conflicts between included and optional activities. Our team of travel experts carefully selects each optional excursion that we offer to ensure that you receive the highest quality at a great value. Our tried-and-true partners have a finger on the pulse of the city in which they operate so they deliver the very best experiences. We offer experiences you cannot create on your own and because you’re booking with us, we coordinate all your transportation and timing needs.

The following optional excursions are examples only for this vacation. These may or may not be offered, and availability is subject to days of operation and seasonality. Please select a departure date to view optional excursions and pricing for a specific date (due to currency fluctuation, pricing shown is subject to change until purchased). Optional excursions are available for purchase on our MyGlobus site 90 days prior to the tour start date.

Price Ranges

$ ($50 CAD and under)
$$ ($51 - $100 CAD)
$$$ ($101 - $150 CAD)
$$$$ (Over $150)

No Excursions are available at this time.



The “Starting at” or listed price is based on the lowest price available to book. Price is per person based on twin occupancy and any applicable port charges, non-commissionable taxes and fees and intra-vacation flight are included in the price shown. Any included overnight stay in Canada, applicable GST/HST is also included in the price shown. International airfare, however, is not included. If price is crossed out, the new price shown includes a limited time promotional offer(s). Please review current promotions or deals for additional information.