About Your Host
Welcome! I'm Nicole. I'm a seasoned traveler, lifelong curious explorer, and founder of Kismet Travel Company. My wanderlust comes from my parents, and I am eternally grateful for that. They didn’t grow up traveling, but as adults, they became curious explorers - and that curiosity shaped my life. Sometimes, I was lucky enough to join their adventures. Other times, they left me at home, sparking my own dreams of exploration. There was always a National Geographic laying around, and I would read them from cover to cover as my travel dreams grew bigger.
So when I decided to travel solo for a year in 2011, they didn’t ask “Why?”, they just asked “Where can we meet you?” (Though my dad did track down a woman I was staying with in northern Thailand after not hearing from me for a week - don’t ask me how he got her info!).
I’ve been researching, planning, and exploring the world for over 25 years. Along the way, I’ve learned that some of the best experiences happen when we stay curious, pay attention, and trust ourselves. I don’t spend my time looking for signs, but I’ve found that when I follow the quiet nudges, chance encounters, and unexpected opportunities that cross my path, they often lead exactly where I’m meant to go. While I always prioritize safety and thoughtfulness, I've learned that intuition can be one of a traveler's greatest tools.
I'd love to help create your next adventure. Through Kismet Travel Company, I host thoughtfully curated women's journeys that connect travelers to the world, each other, and themselves. For those seeking a more personalized experience, I also offer custom travel planning for individuals and groups.
See the Trips and Travel Planning pages for details.
Why I Created
Kismet Travel Company
For years, starting a travel company for women was just a dream. As a solo traveler, I learned to embrace the unknown and trust that some of the most meaningful moments happen when we're willing to step outside our comfort zones. Time and again, travel introduced me to incredible people, unexpected opportunities, and experiences I never could have planned.
I wanted to create space for more women to experience that same sense of connection and possibility.
That's why I chose the name Kismet. A word of Arabic origin, it resonates deeply with me, having been born in the Middle East. Kismet speaks to those moments when a chance encounter becomes a friendship, a conversation changes your perspective, or a place feels exactly right without knowing why.
I believe that when we approach the world with curiosity, openness, and respect, meaningful connections naturally follow. Not because everything is predetermined, but because we're paying attention to the people, places, and opportunities that cross our path.
That's the spirit I bring to every Kismet journey—one of intention, curiosity, connection, and discovery. These thoughtfully curated trips are designed to help women feel safe, supported, and inspired while experiencing new cultures, staying open, and forming meaningful friendships along the way.
If you've ever felt called to travel but didn't know where to begin—or simply didn't want to do it alone—I invite you to join me.
Bringing Women Together Through Travel
Kismet Travel Company is for women who are curious about the world and eager to connect with others through shared experiences. Whether you're a seasoned solo traveler or someone ready to try something new, you’re welcome here.
Come on your own or invite a friend to join—these trips are intentionally designed to bring women together. If you're traveling with a group of friends, I'd be happy to craft a custom journey just for your crew through my travel planning services, or even privately host your group so you have your own concierge to ensure everything runs smoothly.
I love connecting women with one another for support, inspiration, and friendship. Whether it's personal or professional, we can all use more loving, strong women in our lives!
I also believe that travel is at its best when it supports the communities we visit. That's why I intentionally seek out small, local, and often women-owned businesses whenever possible. By slowing down, engaging with local culture, and building genuine relationships along the way, we create experiences that are not only memorable, but mutually meaningful.
Travel as a Path
to Healing & Transformation
For over two decades, I’ve worked as a licensed massage therapist and more recently, a functional nutritionist in Portland, Oregon. I’ve spent years studying botanical medicine, both in the U.S. and in my travels. No matter where I go, I seek out the best bodywork, healing traditions, and self-care rituals - because for me, travel itself is a form of restoration, nourishment, and transformation and what better way to feel this than by adding some radical self love to the journey. I am excited to share what I have learned and to help you find the same kind of care on my curated trips or on your own journey.
Coming home with a full soul, meaningful memories, and a deeper connection to yourself and the world —that's the point.
Join Me on a Journey
Curated small group trips lead you through new and enriching experiences. By partnering with
trusted local businesses and expert guides, I ensure every trip runs seamlessly while
directly supporting smaller communities in unique and local ways. This commitment allows
for an experience that is both authentic and enriching - you can just show up and revel in the
luxury of a thoughtfully planned trip while making meaningful connections. Kismet believes
in the power of women coming together through travel - the laughter, the tears, and the
deep conversations with others remind us how much love is in the world.
The world is beautiful, and everyone deserves to experience it.