How to pay for bus between Colmar and other nearby villages?

You can pay on the bus...
https://www.fluo.grandest.fr/en/points-of-sale-fluo-coaches/

(Fluo is not the company, but just a regional organisation that sets the schedules and tariffs. They are copying Germany here, but adding some French funk to it....)

However for you an Asla+ pass might be useful as well.
https://www.ter.sncf.com/grand-est/tarifs-cartes/tarifs-regionaux/alsa+-groupe-journee

That is a day ticket good for unlimited use of all public in the zone or zones you selected, and that for 2 to 5 persons.

WengenK
Day ticket would be awesome except we are traveling on Thursday and Friday. Day ticket is only for the weekend… I think adult fare is €4? AI answer yet I can’t find a source for this at all. If €4, that makes the trip for the two of us with multiple bus rides very expensive! It’s very hard to find specific information on the Fluo website.

https://www.fluo.grandest.fr/en/fluo-card/
Says “On Fluo TER routes, the child fare (4-11 years), which is already reduced, does not allow you to benefit from the “Fluo card companion” reduction.”

But it doesn’t say how much the reduction is…

4 euro is not expensive for bus rides, especially if there are two of you. I pay $2.25 per bus ride in the US.

Melissa H
4€ for each person, not for two. I have 7 year old and since I don’t if there is reduced rate I am assuming full rate. Buses back and forth means I have to take a lot of cash.

That doesn't seem high to me for trips from town to town; it would seem high within a city. Perhaps there's a reduction for your young child. If you have an opportunity to stop in at the tourist office, those folks can probably explain the fare system. I haven't been in that area since 2017.

When we took the bus between Colmar and the surrounding towns, the tourist office (which was very close to most of the bus stops as I recall) was very helpful with schedules, etc. I am sure they can assist with determining the fares you will need to pay. I also recall paying directly to the bus driver and I am almost certain he was able to provide change as needed. But again, the TI can surely provide you with that info.

In case this would be a better option for you, we did a half-day mini-van tour of the surrounding villages. It was very easy, he gave us some nice history as we went between villages, and he dropped us off in close spots.