Itinerary
- Day 1
Albuquerque
You'll arrive in Albuquerque today at your own pace. Since there are no scheduled activities, this works perfectly if you're coming in early or late. Arrange your own transport from the airport to your hotel. If you land with time to spare, Old Town is worth checking out for its shops and galleries, or you can look up what's happening at the Balloon Fiesta in the evening. The red mountains surrounding the city start showing up right away, and you'll get a sense of why the art scene here is so active.
Optional Activities
- Stroll around Old Town Albuquerque
- Attend evening events at Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta (if available)
Landmarks Old Town Albuquerque Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta 
- Day 2
Albuquerque
Head up Sandia Peak by cable car this morning, riding up over 10,000 feet for views across the city and desert. From there, you'll do a two-mile loop walk to Kiwanis cabin and back down the same way. The cable car brings you back to the base, and then the afternoon is flexible depending on the Balloon Fiesta schedule. You might catch an afternoon balloon park session if one's running, or head into Old Town to see the museums and galleries instead. Local breweries are another good option if you want to relax before evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Cable car ascent to Sandia Peak
- Two-mile loop walk to Kiwanis cabin at Sandia Peak
- Cable car descent from Sandia Peak
Optional Activities
- Attend afternoon Balloon Fiesta exhibition at balloon park (if events scheduled)
- Explore Old Town Albuquerque museums and galleries
- Visit Native American artwork galleries in Old Town
- Visit local craft breweries in Albuquerque
Landmarks Sandia Peak Kiwanis cabin Old Town Albuquerque - Day 3
Albuquerque to Santa Fe
Wake up around 5am to get to the Balloon Fiesta by 6am for the Dawn Patrol show. Hundreds of balloons inflate and launch as the sun comes up, and the park stays active until about 10am with launches and competitions. After that spectacle wraps, you'll drive north to Santa Fe (about 1.5 hours). Once there, a local guide who writes about the city leads a walking tour through the historic streets, covering everything from ancient Anasazi times through to today. You'll get real depth about how the city developed.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Dawn Patrol show at Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
- Walking tour of Santa Fe with local guide
Landmarks Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta Santa Fe - Day 4
Santa Fe
The whole day in Santa Fe is yours to plan. The Georgia O'Keeffe Museum sits right there if you want to see her New Mexico work, and there are several other museums and galleries scattered around the plaza. Native American markets have good crafts and art if you want to browse. Food-wise, Santa Fe does red and green chiles really well, so try enchiladas, huevos rancheros, or chiles rellenos at one of the local spots. The combination of art, culture, and food makes this a day where you won't run out of things to do.
Optional Activities
- Georgia O'Keeffe Museum visit
- Visit museums in Santa Fe
- Browse Native American markets
- Dine at local restaurants featuring red and green chile dishes
Landmarks Georgia O'Keeffe Museum - Day 5
Santa Fe to Durango
Drive north from Santa Fe to Taos this morning, about an hour away. Adobe buildings and art galleries line the streets here, and you'll feel the strong Pueblo culture influence right away. Visit the Taos Pueblo Visitor Centre to learn about this 1000-year-old settlement and its community. Lunch is included and prepared locally. After eating, you'll stop at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge for quick views of the river, then continue the drive into Colorado toward Durango. This is a scenic drive that takes most of the afternoon.
- Meals
- Lunch (Local food in Taos)
Included Activities
- Visit Taos Pueblo Visitor Centre
- Lunch in Taos (local food)
- Stop at Rio Grande Gorge Bridge
Optional Activities
- Explore Taos adobe architecture and downtown streets
- Browse art shops and galleries in Taos
Landmarks Taos Pueblo Rio Grande Gorge Bridge - Day 6
Durango
Board the Durango and Silverton narrow-gauge railroad this morning. The train uses vintage locomotives from the 1800s and follows a route through rocky passes, deep canyons, and the San Juan National Forest with rushing rivers visible below. You'll pull into Silverton in the early afternoon, a historic mining town with colorful wooden buildings. Spend a couple of hours walking around, then grab lunch before boarding the return train back to Durango. The whole experience is a nice contrast to the desert scenery you've seen so far.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Durango and Silverton narrow-gauge railroad train ride to Silverton
- Durango and Silverton narrow-gauge railroad return train ride to Durango
Optional Activities
- Explore Silverton town
- Lunch in Silverton
Landmarks San Juan National Forest Silverton - Day 7
Durango to Kayenta
Head to Mesa Verde, a UNESCO site with cliff dwellings built by the Ancestral Puebloans starting around 600 AD. The Visitors Centre has exhibits, and a guided tour takes you through the actual structures carved into the rock. The Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum adds more context about how these communities lived. After Mesa Verde, you'll cross into Arizona and drive to Kayenta on the Navajo Nation, the largest First Nations reservation in the country. From there, Monument Valley comes into view with its iconic monoliths and sandstone pinnacles reaching up to 1000 meters. This is where you'll be for the eclipse tomorrow.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- View Native American exhibits at Mesa Verde Visitors Centre
- Guided tour of Mesa Verde
- Visit Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum
Landmarks Mesa Verde Chapin Mesa Archaeological Museum Monument Valley 
- Day 8
Monument Valley Eclipse
October 14, 2023 brings an annular eclipse to Monument Valley. A Navajo guide takes you into the tribal lands by Jeep to reach the eclipse viewpoint, and along the way you'll see the valley's dramatic rock formations up close. The eclipse hits around 10:29am and lasts about 4 minutes and 27 seconds (weather permitting). Eclipse glasses are provided, and an astronomer on hand explains what's happening and answers questions. After the eclipse clears, you'll drive further into Canyon de Chelly in the afternoon to settle in for tomorrow's exploration.
- Meals
- Lunch (Food provided during jeep tour and at eclipse location; depending on timings may be more like a brunch)
Included Activities
- Jeep tour through Monument Valley with Navajo guide
- Annular eclipse viewing at Monument Valley
- Expert astronomer guidance during eclipse
Landmarks Monument Valley Canyon de Chelly - Day 9
Canyon de Chelly to Gallup
A Navajo guide runs the Jeep tour through Canyon de Chelly today, explaining the geology and history as you drive. You'll see the White House Ruin and Antelope House Ruin, both from the 11th century, plus learn how Navajo families have lived and farmed here for thousands of years and still do today. Later on, you'll drive east toward Gallup along old Route 66, the famous highway that ran from Chicago to LA back in the 1950s. Gallup's stretch of Route 66 has some of the best Native American art and well-kept vintage neon signs from that era, so you'll walk around the historic streets and see what's preserved.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Jeep tour of Canyon de Chelly with Navajo guide
- View White House Ruin
- View Antelope House Ruin
Optional Activities
- Explore Route 66 in Gallup
- Browse Native American art in Gallup
- View neon signs in Gallup
Landmarks White House Ruin Antelope House Ruin Route 66 in Gallup - Day 10
Gallup to Albuquerque
Drive back to Albuquerque this morning and arrive at the airport (Sunport) by 10am for your drop-off. International flights depart from 1pm onward, so you'll have time to check in and get through security. The trip wraps up here after seeing the Balloon Fiesta, the art and culture of Santa Fe and Taos, the mountain train through Colorado, the eclipse at Monument Valley, and the canyons and historic Route 66 stops along the way.
Landmarks Albuquerque International Sunport
