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Balloon Fiesta Kayak Tour
Come and enjoy the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta
from the best seat in the house!
Guided Balloon Fiesta Kayak Tours
Offered Daily
October 1 - 9, 2016
SPACE IS STRICTLY LIMITED!
Kayaking in Albuquerque's Rio Grande Bosque is one of the best-kept secrets in New Mexico. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta - not so much of a secret anymore. Come join us for a leisure float down the Rio Grande Bosque, often among 100's of balloons, with no obstructed views, no traffic jams and no crowds for a unique experience that you'll never forget!
"I high-fived one of the pilots! It was awesome!!!" - Jane Bales; Rio Rancho, NM
“The Balloon Fiesta Kayak Tour was undoubtedly the most surreal kayaking experience I've ever had! All these massive orbs of bright colors descending around us and blasting the early morning river silence with their roaring burners. Unbelievable!” Rem Smith (57), Albuquerque, NM
"With very little kayaking experience, I nervously but eagerly joined Kelly Gossett and a group of kaykers on an early morning excursion down the Rio Grande during the balloon fiesta. It was an amazing experience and with Kelly's patience, clear direction, and encouragement I had a brilliant outdoor adventure. I met some really great people along on the trip and I look forward to repeating the adventure this fall. Thank you Kelly for such a memorable experience." Genieve Sanchez; Albuquerque, NM
"I am amazed at the dedication that Kelly and his crew have for taking care of safety for all participants. It is certainly an amazing group of professionals and I recommend their tutorial experience [Intro to Kayak class]. Fun and respectful group of people... an interesting combination to find these days. Avoiding the crowds and still being able to enjoy the wonderful balloon sites makes this the perfect place to be!" Sergio Albonic
A note about weather:
October is a great time for kayaking in the Rio Grande Bosque. Fall is in full swing and there's no better place to view the changing colors of the Cottonwood trees than from the Rio Grande itself. The days are often clear and sunny, but there are some exceptions. While the winds usually blow gently from the South, sending the balloons upriver, it's possible that the winds may blow from the North or West, sending the balloons well away from the Rio Grande. For safety of the pilots, the balloons may not fly in windy conditions, conditions that would have minimal impact on paddlers.
Historically, about 60% of our trips have been among the balloons, and approximately 50% have experienced a "Splash n' Dash" close enough for us to carry on a conversation with the pilots. However, some factors are beyond our control. For example, Balloons typically do not fly if the wind is greater than 10mph. This has little or no effect on our kayaks, sheltered by the banks of the Bosque. Other factors may include wind that push the balloons East, West or South of the river. This is unusual, due to the "Albuquerque Box", but these events still occur. On most days, the balloons soar overhead and often Splash 'n' Dash within a few feet of our kayaks. However, on every day, you're guaranteed views of the changing Fall colors in the Rio Grande Bosque against scenic views of the Sandia Mountains, migrating water fowl and other wildlife, up close and personal.
Our guided tour will take place regardless of whether the balloons fly. In the event of lightening in the immediate area, lasting longer than 1 hour from our anticipated departure, we will gladly refund any payments, or apply them to your next adventure with New Mexico Kayak Instruction.
Daily Itinerary:
| 6:00am | Meet at predeterminded meeting location. Guests leave vehicles at predetermined meeting location to save time at the end of the tour. | |
| 6:15am | Overivew of trip, logistics, timeframe, weather considerations. Load into NMKI passenger van and depart for river access point | |
| 7:00am | Reach river access point. Listening to reports from AIBF Dawn Patrol. Begin assigning boats and gear. Balloons typicaly launch between 7am and 8am. | |
| 7:10am | Orientation to Paddling, River Reading 101, Safety briefing, conducted in-person by ACA Certified kayak instructors. | |
| 7:30am | Push-off; begin floating down the Rio Grande | |
| 8:00am | Balloons typically in full view at this point, yet still miles away. Steam rises from the river as warmer air meets cooler water | |
| 8:30am | Sun clears the Sandia Mountains. A cool morning begins to warm up and paddlers begin to remove outer jackets and heavier layers. | |
| 8:30 - 10:30am | Balloons in every direction. Some directly overhead, others in the distance. Some splash'n'Dash within feet of our flotilla. Snacks and refreshments served along the route. Paddlers typically remove layers and enjoy the reminder of the morning in t-shirts. Balloons make final flights and land as day becomes too warm to fly. | |
| 11:00am | NMKI reaches final destination river access point for conclusion of the trip. Final words and parting gifts for guest. |
Full payment is due at the time of registration, and is non-refundable. Full payment is required to reserve your spot in this event. No spot is reserved untill full payment is received.
New Mexico Kayak Instruction accepts cash, check or credit cards over the phone.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Your payment is a reservation for an event with limited capacity. Cancellations or rescheduling request 4 or more days before the scheduled event are entitled to receive a refund, less a 30% cancellation fee. We're sorry, but cancellations or no-shows within 3 days of the event are non-refundable, and may not be transferred to another date. You may transfer or resell this ticket to another interested party. They should, however, complete this RSVP form and understand the cancellation policy.
Kelly is someone who knows the sport of kayaking and is able to teach in a safe, effective and fun way. Not only did the girls have a total blast, but they learned the names for all parts of their kayak and equipment, how to safely enter and exit a kayak, how to help someone else who may be in trouble, what to do in inclement weather and how to best move through the water (to name a few). We had our last Girl Scout meeting of the year last week, and when I asked the girls what their favorite experience was over the last 3 years, 75% chose kayaking. I would highly recommend Kelly to anyone and would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
I like the emphasis on kayaking as a positive experience. After taking the classes, you realize that you can have a very fun time, even before mastering the roll. Other classes I've taken make the roll seem like a necessity, and learning to roll (or not), becomes the focus, which eclipses the fun of kayaking.