Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hotel Albuquerque. A transfer is included from the Albuquerque International Sunport to Hotel Albuquerque. Join us for a welcome reception followed by dinner tonight at your new ultra-modern hotel – inspired by the ancient local Chacoan culture and nestled between Albuquerque's historic Old Town and the vibrant Sawmill district, against a backdrop of New Mexico's mesas and the Sandia Mountains.

Today you'll explore New Mexico's myriad cultural influences, from Pueblo tribes to innovations of the Atomic and Nuclear ages. A guided sightseeing tour of Albuquerque includes historic Nob Hill, the University of New Mexico, downtown districts and Old Town Albuquerque. On a visit to the National Museum of Nuclear Science, a private welcome and introductory talk by a museum docent provide insights on New Mexico's unique role in the history of the Nuclear Age. After lunch, get a closer look at the history and accomplishments of the Pueblo people, from pre-Columbian to current times, with a visit to the unique Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, a showcase of puebloan history and culture operated by 19 Native American pueblo communities. Return to your hotel late afternoon; dine at the hotel tonight. Note: The largest hot air balloon festival in the world, the annual 9-day Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta takes place in early October. Guests on the October 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 departure dates can enjoy an optional early morning (5:00 AM) excursion today (day 2) to see the mass ascension of balloons; ask for details at booking.

Depart Albuquerque this morning and stop at Jemez State Monument to see the ruins of its 17th-century mission church before peeking into the lives of the ancient Anasazi Pueblo culture at Bandelier National Monument, one of North America's oldest human settlements. Lunch in a 100-year-old adobe home whets your appetite for the mountain vistas that enhance today's journey to the Taos region, which has long attracted a thriving and talented community of artists and craftspersons with the scenic beauty of its contrasting forests and deserts. Visit Santuario de Chimayo en route to your Taos resort, where you'll spend the next two nights and enjoy dinner at your leisure tonight.

Start your day with a private lecture that shares insights on Pueblo life. A guided excursion to continually inhabited multistoried Taos Pueblo, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, showcases a unique way of life that has remained unchanged for almost ten centuries. Continue to the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, a magnificent structure that is a landmark site in Taos and the second-highest bridge on the U.S. Highway System. The remainder of the day is free.

After leaving your Taos resort, today's gentle float trip* on the Rio Grande with a native guide ends with a traditional Pueblo Indian cooking demonstration and family-style lunch, where you will meet local artisans crafting baskets and drums. Continue on through picturesque desert landscapes and arrive at your hotel in Santa Fe in time for dinner and an evening spent as you please.

As the crossroads of the historic Southwest, Santa Fe's unique culture and ambiance are a blend of Spanish, Native American and Old West influences. Experience this diverse cultural mix on a guided tour of Santa Fe's centuries-old center, on which you'll see the city's historic plaza, terminus of the storied Santa Fe Trail, and America's oldest public building, the Palace of the Governors; and visit St. Francis Cathedral, the Manhattan Project site, and famous Loretto Chapel, adjacent to your hotel. Discover the tasty secrets of southwestern cuisine at a private presentation by a local chef, followed by lunch highlighting the city's diverse heritage at the Santa Fe School of Cooking. The remainder of the day is free to spend as you please in Santa Fe.

Enjoy an exclusive, private morning visit to the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe – revealing the sensuous landscapes and other works by this renowned 20th-century artist, who so loved this part of the Southwest that she made it her home later in life. The collection contains over 1,100 paintings, sculptures and drawings by O'Keeffe herself, and nearly 1,800 works by her contemporaries, including many photos chronicling her life and career. Later, embark on a Tauck Exclusive insider visit to the studio of an acclaimed local artist, who you'll meet for a private demonstration, presentation and lecture on the art styles of New Mexico. After time to explore and have lunch as you please this afternoon in Santa Fe, celebrate the close of your remarkable New Mexico adventure at this evening's farewell cocktail reception and dinner at your hotel.

Tour ends: Albuquerque. Fly home anytime; a transfer is included from Eldorado Hotel & Spa in Santa Fe to Albuquerque International Sunport. Allow a minimum of 2 hours for your flight check-in. Ask at booking about extending your stay with additional hotel nights.