Cappadocia, Confidence & a Hot Air Balloon: A Bucket List Journey I No Longer Waited For
I dreamed for years (pre-2020) of seeing the fairy chimneys and skies of Cappadocia from a hot air balloon. I waited… for the “right moment,” and more honestly, the right person to go with (aka - a man).
I assumed a trip like this had to be shared—ideally with a partner. I believed things like:
I’d be lonely.
I’d stand out.
People would feel bad for me.
I couldn’t go alone.
It wouldn’t be safe… or fun.
These limiting stories played on a loop for years.
A Turning Point in 2025
I began building a business supporting women in traveling solo in late 2024. So this year (2025), I committed to a 7-week solo journey—part personal, part professional—to explore destinations beyond the typical European hotspots for women travelers. I FINALLY felt grounded, confident, secure and connected in myself to take a trip like this - focused on being present, diving into exploring intentionally and on purpose places that have been on my travel bucket list yet were foreign in their familiarity (ie - very different cultures, religions, landscapes and parts of the world than Europe and Latin and South America).
This trip marked a shift.
Was it surprising? Maybe.
Was it worth it? Without question.
To be fully transparent—solo travel for me has never been all rainbows and “finding myself.” It’s been full-spectrum: joy, confidence, expansion... and also that ache of doing everything alone. That quiet voice reminding me: “you’re still solo.”
Sometimes, that voice was loud.
It forced me to examine where I was living in alignment—and where I wasn’t.
But something changed when I started stepping into this next version of myself. As a travel advisor and concierge, planning my solo journey through Morocco and Türkiye felt different. It felt purposeful.
The Dream Becomes Real
After five days in Istanbul, I flew to Cappadocia.
While I usually avoid tourist-heavy experiences, Cappadocia was different. I had dreamed of this place for over six years. The fairy chimneys. The soft earth tones. The balloons drifting through dawn skies.
And yes—I even booked a private photoshoot (that dreamy story is coming soon 😉).
Despite my fear of heights, I had done a hot air balloon ride in 2022—floating above the pyramids of Teotihuacan in Mexico. It was surreal... but lonely. I was the only solo traveler in the balloon, surrounded by couples and families.
A Different Kind of Presence
This time in Cappadocia, I was again the only solo person in the basket—but I felt completely different.
As I struck up conversations and snapped photos for the cute couples who curiously asked about me—intrigued that I was there solo—I watched them ooh and ahh, share kisses and hugs. And quietly, I trusted that one day, I’ll share experiences like this with someone special, too.
But until then? Damn, I feel amazing.
There was no ache. No “what if.” Just presence.
Floating silently above ancient valleys, watching the moon set and sun rise (nature showing her magic), I felt what I think is euphoria—a calm, radiant kind. A sense of awe and pride. I had shown up for me. I didn’t wait for someone else to make it happen.
These are the moments that build quiet confidence—the kind that stays. The kind that says:
“This life is mine, and I’m living it aligned.”
And that is the core memory I carried from Cappadocia.
More than the dreamy photos (of course I snapped so many). More than the checked-off list.
✨ You Don’t Have to Wait
This is what I want for every woman who dreams of travel—but waits.
You don’t have to.
If you’re longing for a journey like this—something more than a vacation, something aligned with who you're becoming—I'm here to support you in bringing it to life.
👉 Curious about creating your own soul-stirring journey?
Reach out here and send me a message—I’d love to help you design it.
Love,
Megan
