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. They were intrigued with curiosity, wanting to know my ‘travel story’.  They complimented me for being brave and courageous for traveling solo.  Blushing - I thanked them and shared that I was just following my dreams, intuition and living aligned.  What I didn’t share was that it had taken me a long time and a lot of work (AND a lot of solo travel!) to get to this place. Where 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