All Colorado Springs Tours & Excursions in 2026

Sometimes things just work out for a reason. I originally booked my hot air balloon ride with another local company (who kept my friend and I in suspense about whether or not we actually had a reservation because they were waiting to see if more people would book their tour). We found Adventures Out West on Viator and were not only able to book with them right away, but also get an immediate confirmation for our reservation. The only frustrating thing is that when booking through Viator, it requires a minimum of 2 people in order to book the reservation. I'm normally a solo traveler but fortunately I had a friend who wanted to do this excursion as well... But something to keep in mind if you are a solo traveler. You may want to reach out to the company directly to see if you can book as a party of one. The meeting place is about an hour drive from Denver. My friend and I left before dawn and made it to the meeting point by sunrise. Everybody on the team was friendly, energetic and welcoming even at such an ungodly hour. On the ride over to the departure site, they gave us a quick overview of what to expect as well as a safety briefing then we waited for them to unpack and inflate the balloon. After about 45 minutes we were ready to go. I am glad that I did this trip with a friend because it's close quarters in the basket. The basket has several compartments that each hold two people, bus compartments for the fuel tanks and another for the pilot. It's barely enough space in the compartment to turn around, so if you're going by yourself you're going to get to know a stranger VERY well by the end of the ride. The ride itself was absolutely wonderful. It was a calm, breathtaking glide across Colorado Springs. We drifted over the Colorado Springs Airport and got to watch an airplane take off right in front of us. We were about 2,000 ft up, so we were also able to see some of the local wildlife running around as we floated. It was a beautifully peaceful ride. The ground team was supposed to meet us at our landing site but unfortunately they got stuck in a ditch (we could see them from the air). They radioed the pilot of the hot air balloon (T-Dogg) to let him know what was going on and he handled the experience like the consummate professional. Our 40-60 minute ride ended up being almost 2 hours while T-Dogg figured out where to land. He kept us informed of the situation, let us know what his plan was, and never at any time did we feel uncomfortable or unsafe. Ultimately we ended up landing in the driveway of the Pikes Peak outdoor gun club. It was an adventure for everyone involved, as members drove around our massive hot air balloon to enter or exit the venue, snapping pictures and video as they went. The landing was astonishingly gentle. I expected a much more jarring experience but we touched down so softly, then gently bounced a few inches off the ground before coming to a full stop. Another testament to T-Dogg's skill as a pilot. Unfortunately the ground crew was unable to get themselves unstuck, so the staff were able to coordinate ground transportation from another vehicle in their fleet: A modified Jeep that thankfully had space for all of us. We ride by the ditch where the ground team was stuck, picked up all of our items and then headed back to the meeting point where we were welcomed back with some wonderful refreshments including mini muffins and cinnamon rolls, fruit and cheese, as well as a champagne toast, which is an integral part of the hot air balloon experience so you don't want to miss that. This has been a bucket list item for me for a while and I cannot imagine having a better experience than I did with Adventures Out West.

Great day with John! We felt safe and loved the history he gave us regarding Garden of the Gods, Manitou Springs, and Cheyenne Mountain! It was a beautiful day to explore and we had a very nice time. The tour lasted 2.5 hours and we were able to taste various samplings of spring water.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Absolutely incredible experience! The Electric E-Bike Tour of Manitou Springs & Garden of the Gods was the perfect mix of adventure and sightseeing, with stunning views of the red rock formations and an easy, smooth ride thanks to the e-bikes. Our guide was friendly, knowledgeable, and made the whole tour enjoyable and stress-free. Everything was well organized from start to finish, and it’s a fantastic way to explore the area without feeling rushed or exhausted. Highly recommend this tour to anyone visiting, definitely a highlight of my trip!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This food tour was an absolute highlight! The Classic 3-Hour Food Tour in Colorado Springs offered a perfect mix of delicious local spots, great atmosphere, and fun exploration. Every stop had amazing food, and the variety kept things exciting from start to finish. Our guide, Adam, was fantastic—super friendly, knowledgeable, and made the whole experience engaging and enjoyable. Everything was well organized and easy to follow, and it’s such a great way to experience the city’s food scene. Highly recommend this tour if you’re looking for great eats and a memorable time!

John was our tour guide, and he provided us with an excellent experience! We learned quite a bit of history about Pike's Peak throughout the tour, and the stops along the way (both on the way up and the way down) were so picturesque. It had snowed a couple of days before, and all the views were breathtaking. We highly recommend this tour!

The experience is very educational. Everyone involved is friendly & professional. They introduce you to several different birds, explain their differences & their individual hunting styles. They also assist you in getting pictures to document your visit. Deanna & Nicole were a great team & I would highly recommend this experience to anyone who loves birds or is looking for a unique experience during their stay in Colorado Springs. There's also an advanced class I may have to come back to take!

I can't recommend Rainbow Ryders enough! From start to finish, the entire hot air balloon ride was smooth, safe, and simply magical. The views were absolutely surreal. Floating peacefully above the landscape, with nothing but the sound of the burner and the wind, was an unforgettable experience. Our pilot was professional, knowledgeable, and clearly experienced. The landing was impressively smooth.

Great experience! Burley,our guide was amazing. So friendly and knowledgeable. I recently had TKR and he took the time to walk us up as smooth and level pathways as possible to make sure we had great photo ops. My husband steve, who would rather be watching sports than anything else said he was so surprised with the tour. Had no idea it was going to be that good. Thanks again Burley for a great day!! Would highly recommend!!