Introducing our NEWEST training!

Get ready to master one of the most iconic and high-demand itineraries in the tour industry! The Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta and Santa Fe are featured on countless tour operator programs — and knowing how to confidently run this experience is a game-changer for any tour professional.

This hands-on, immersive training goes far beyond the basics. You’ll learn how to expertly navigate Balloon Fiesta logistics, manage timing and traffic flow, and handle the unique operational challenges that make this itinerary both exciting and complex. Along the way, you’ll discover the most traveled routes, hidden gems, strategic stops, and engaging “bus filler” that keeps groups entertained and energized from start to finish.

You’ll also gain insider knowledge on delivering unforgettable Albuquerque and Santa Fe city tours that truly WOW your guests. Most importantly, you’ll learn how to engage your group the TripSchool way — with confidence, storytelling, professionalism, and energy.

Adding this experience to your resume tells tour operators you’re not just interested in leading trips — you’re ready to run one of the industry’s signature programs successfully. This is a full-featured, active training designed to prepare you for real-world touring at the highest level.

Start time: 3PM, MDT on 8/28

End time: 9PM on 8/30

You can book flights home anytime on 8/31

Important:

Booking terms and conditions can be found here.

Welcome to Albuquerque — the heart of the breathtaking Land of Enchantment! Nestled at the base of the majestic Sandia Mountains, this vibrant Southwestern city is packed with culture,, history, and unforgettable scenery. With crisp mountain air and an elevation even higher than Denver, you’ll quickly discover why travelers from around the world fall in love with New Mexico.

Today kicks off your immersive training experience as we dive into the most popular Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta itineraries and the incredible regional destinations commonly paired with this tour. In a fun, interactive classroom session (starting at 3PM local time), you’ll begin building the operational knowledge and destination expertise needed to confidently lead one of the industry’s most iconic programs. From routing strategies to key attractions and must-know regional highlights, this is where your tour leadership skills begin to take flight.

Tonight, we celebrate New Mexico style with an authentic local dinner featuring the bold and unforgettable flavors that make this cuisine legendary. From smoky green chile and rich red chile to handmade tamales and regional specialties, you’ll experience why New Mexican food stands proudly in a category all its own — not Mexican, not Tex-Mex, but uniquely and deliciously New Mexican. Get ready for an evening full of flavor, culture, and connection as your adventure begins!

Today is where this itinerary really starts to show off. Grab your coffee, charge your camera, and get ready for a day packed with culture, storytelling, hidden gems, and serious “wait…THIS is in Albuquerque?” moments.

This morning, we journey west to the Sky City Cultural Center and the legendary Acoma Pueblo — the oldest continuously inhabited settlement in North America. Known as “Sky City,” this remarkable village sits dramatically atop a towering mesa and remains home to the Acoma people, whose history and traditions stretch back more than 1,000 years. We’ll board a shuttle up to the pueblo, where an Acoma community member will lead our tour, sharing the stories, culture, and living history that make this one of the most powerful cultural experiences in the Southwest. It’s authentic, unforgettable, and the kind of stop that elevates an itinerary from “nice tour” to “wow.”

After our visit, we head back to Albuquerque for lunch at a true local hidden gem — the kind of place tourists rarely find and locals try not to tell anyone about. Because let’s be honest… chain restaurants are not the vibe.

Next, we dive into Albuquerque’s fascinating Old Town, where history comes alive through adobe buildings, Spanish colonial roots, and stories that connect directly to Alan’s own ancestors — yes, the same family names you’ll still see on buildings around town today. From there, we continue an unforgettable city tour that goes far beyond the standard “drive-by-and-wave” experience.

This is where TripSchool turns up the volume. We’ll explore the quirky, fascinating, and often-overlooked sites that most tours completely miss. Jim Morrison’s boyhood home? Yep. The tiny office where Microsoft was born? Absolutely. Breaking Bad filming locations? You know it. Along the way, you’ll learn how to weave these stops into your own tours in ways that captivate guests, create memorable moments, and separate you from every other guide running the same route.

We end the day on a literal high note with a ride aboard the Sandia Peak Aerial Tramway. In just 15 breathtaking minutes, you’ll soar from the desert floor to over 10,000 feet above sea level, taking in sweeping views of Albuquerque, the Rio Grande Valley, and the endless New Mexico landscape glowing beneath the sunset. It’s dramatic. It’s unforgettable. And yes — your camera roll is about to work overtime..

Today is all about stunning scenery, fascinating history, quirky New Mexico charm, and leveling up your tour-leading skills while you’re at it. Buckle up — this is not your average sightseeing day.

This morning, we hit the road for Santa Fe via the legendary Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway — one of the Southwest’s most beautiful and underrated drives. Winding through the foothills of the Sandia Mountains, this route serves up wide-open landscapes, old mining towns, dramatic desert scenery, and enough “pull over, I need a photo” moments to keep everyone busy. Along the way, you’ll hear stories about the region’s Native American tribes, culture, and traditions from a local expert and fellow TripSchooler who knows these roads like the back of their hand.

Then we arrive in Santa Fe — the oldest capital city in the United States and arguably one of the coolest small cities anywhere. Adobe architecture, colorful art galleries, hidden courtyards, chile ristras hanging everywhere… it’s giving Southwestern magic with a side of sass. We’ll explore the city from a true local’s perspective during an engaging sightseeing tour featuring iconic landmarks like the San Miguel Mission, Palace of the Governors, the Roundhouse State Capitol, and the mysterious “Miracle Stairway” at Loretto Chapel.

But this isn’t a “follow-the-umbrella-and-listen-quietly” kind of tour. Oh no. Throughout the day, willing participants will jump into mini guide assignments designed to sharpen storytelling, crowd engagement, and destination interpretation skills in real time. Because the best way to learn guiding… is by actually guiding.

Next up: Bandelier National Monument — and honestly, pictures don’t do this place justice. Massive canyons, volcanic mesas, cliff dwellings, ancient ruins… it feels like stepping into another world. Once home to Ancestral Puebloans between 1150 and 1550 CE, Bandelier is packed with history, mystery, and some seriously epic scenery.

And here’s the best part: you get to choose your adventure. Want a relaxed walk along the paved trail to explore the ruins and cliff dwellings up close? Perfect. Feeling ambitious? Join a local guide for an additional one-mile hike up to Alcove House, an archaeological site perched 140 feet above the canyon floor. And yes — there are wooden ladders involved. Your thighs may complain tomorrow, but your bragging rights will be immediate.

As if the day hasn’t already delivered enough personality, we wrap things up with a stop in Madrid, New Mexico — a funky, artsy, gloriously weird former coal-mining town turned bohemian hideaway. Grab a drink, wander through eclectic shops and galleries, and soak up the offbeat vibe that makes this place unforgettable. Oh — and yes, you can absolutely visit "Maggie’s Diner" from the movie Wild Hogs, because New Mexico loves being iconic like that.

This morning, it’s time to say goodbye… or maybe just “see you later” to the Land of Enchantment.

Book your flight home anytime today, if you must — but don’t be surprised if New Mexico convinces you to stay a little longer. This state has a funny way of getting under your skin in the best possible way. One minute you’re planning your departure, the next you’re Googling “Can I casually move to Santa Fe?”

If you have extra time, we highly recommend extending your adventure and exploring even more of the Southwest’s most unforgettable destinations. Rent a car, hit the open road, and discover the surreal white dunes of White Sands National Park, the delightfully weird alien-loving town of Roswell, or the artsy mountain magic of Taos. Trust us… New Mexico does not do boring.

From ghost towns and hot springs to scenic byways and hidden roadside diners, there’s always another incredible story waiting just around the corner. And of course, we’re more than happy to share our favorite insider tips, routes, and can’t-miss stops to help you keep the adventure going.

Because honestly? Once New Mexico gets ahold of you… there’s a good chance you’ll be back