Who Are We?
We're travel consultants/planners who are here to help you explore the world more efficiently. We create personalized adventures for an authentic experience.
Meet the Explore Experts
Ryan Johnson - Owner/Expert
I started traveling in 2014 and haven’t looked back since. I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to roughly 50 countries over the last ten years. Ever since my first backpacking trip I’ve had the urge to inspire those around me to travel, and starting The Explore Experts was a way for me to continue to do just that.
Planning travel used to be the worst part of travel for me but now it has grown into a passion for me and I truly love the process. I love finding every hidden gem I can, roadtrips through new countries, getting off the beaten path and diving into a new culture in ways that aren’t the most traditional.
My Fiancé, Svenja, is from Germany, so our time is spent between Kentucky and Germany or exploring somewhere in between. I have a degree in Graphic Design and a passion for photography. I am a certified English Teacher and have taught English online for many years. I lived for a year in New Zealand and a year in South Korea, both on working holiday visas.
All of the unique travel experiences I’ve had and the tips and tricks I’ve learned along the way allow me to explore the world in a more authentic and efficient way.
Svenja - Explore Expert
I’m from Germany so I’ve had the pleasure of traveling around Europe with my family since I was a little kid. After I turned 18, I began to backpack around Europe spending a large amount of time throughout France, really immersing myself in the culture. Then I took off on a six month backpacking trip all over Southeast Asia.
I lived in Australia on a working holiday visa for almost two years, traveling and working all around the country. Shortly after, I moved to New Zealand for a year on a working holiday where I met Ryan and we’ve been exploring together ever since. More recently we lived in South Korea for a year on a working holiday visa. South Korea is my favorite country and holds a special place in my heart.
My favorite part of traveling is finding all of the coolest cafes, libraries, and locally owned shops in a new place. I love trying all of the local cuisine and discovering the best restaurants, usually based on the recommendations of locals. I speak German, English, and French. I love languages, and try to learn some of the basics in every place I visit. Ryan and I both love photography so this usually leads us to finding the all of the hidden spots, which usually turn out to be the highlight of a trip.
