About Us

Meet Ashton, the founder of Expedition Trips, avid explorer, and passionate eco-traveler. After spending a glorious decade exploring the world, from Antarctica to the Arctic, and most places in between, Ashton decided to help others discover the wonders of our planet. Specializing in small ship and expedition-style travel, Ashton continues to be inspired by the incredible experiences people can have exploring the most remote and spectacular destinations and it brings him joy and gratitude to help people realize their wildest travel dreams. He believes that nature is a gateway to inspiration, and that when travel is done right, people can’t help but become ambassadors for the places they explore. (Which is win-win for the planet and our travelers) Ashton's experience in small-ship travel awards him the esteemed privilege to serve on Advisory Boards for the top expedition cruise lines in the industry. When not traveling, Ashton enjoys spending time with his amazing wife, Hillary, their four teenagers, and great friends. He feels fortunate to be surrounded by so much love.

Ashley grew up in Bend, Oregon, where her thirst for adventure and off-the-beaten path experiences ignited at a young age. She enjoys snowboarding, rock climbing, fly fishing, backpacking, and of course, traveling.  An outdoor enthusiast and animal lover, Ashley embraces her dad's belief that nature will always provide you with a gift.  At age 19, she took a month-long journey through Europe by train, sparking a lifelong passion for exploration.  Since then, she has backpacked around Hawaii, circled Iceland in a camper van, explored the rain forests of Costa Rica and Belize, trekked through Alaska's wilderness, experienced the untamed beauty of Antarctica, and snorkeled alongside playful sea lions in the Galápagos Islands.  At Expedition Trips, Ashley channels her love for adventure into helping others plan unforgettable journeys.

Tyler Krell, a Montana native, has cultivated a lifelong passion for adventure, beginning with explorations of the state's National Parks. His international journey took flight when he ventured to Ireland and again when he later studied abroad in Australia. Returning to Ireland post-college, Tyler assisted in guiding high school students in discovering their passions and connecting with the world. With travels spanning Europe, North America, and beyond, Tyler's dream trip combines cruising on a small ship in Palau and partaking in scuba diving and photography while onboard. Beyond travel, he enjoys pottery, hiking, gardening, officiating basketball, and quality time with loved ones. Tyler is experienced in solo and group travel and is dedicated to helping others realize their expedition dreams.

Hailing from the Midwest and now residing in the south, Keri brings her passion for efficiencies, processes, and top-notch service together with her love for travel, nature, and wildlife to Expedition Trips.  As a wife and mother, she knows the importance of making memories that last a lifetime.  With her attention to the finest details and a zest for planning, she ensures each of our clients is provided exceptional service conducive to creating these memories through their experiences.  When she’s not assisting our clients, you can find her enjoying her passions for cooking, baking, hiking, gardening, and traveling with her family.  She has traveled extensively throughout the Caribbean, and various parts of the US including Hawaii and Alaska, as well as Mexico and Canada.   She most recently traveled to the Galapagos to experience the incredible wildlife, unlike anywhere else on Earth, and the strikingly beautiful, rugged, remote terrain. A self-confessed lover of people, great food, and craft cocktails, she looks forward to helping people fulfill their dreams of travel to our many spectacular destinations. She feels truly fortunate and blessed to say that she “loves her job” and can’t wait to work with you on your first or next adventure.

Monica has lived out of a suitcase for most of adulthood and has loved every minute of it! As a professional theater actor/singer/dancer for 30+ years, she has performed in big and small towns in every state in the U.S.A. plus Canada, Mexico, and Singapore on-tour and in regional productions. For pleasure, she has cruised the Inside Passage of Alaska; embarked upon a European Transatlantic voyage; and scuba dived all over the Caribbean. An avid hiker, she annually hits the trails out West. While performing in a hit show in Las Vegas for 7 years, she took great pleasure in being a local guide to visiting friends and family. She has a BFA degree in Theater (Directing/Performance/Dance) and is also a Voice-over Actor. Passions include spontaneous adventures, being of service to others, and the great outdoors - precisely why she loves being a part of the Expedition Trips team!

Gretchen’s love of international travel began with a student teaching program in New Zealand. She followed that with a year in South Korea, teaching English as a Second Language, then did her own language study in Central and South America. The more she traveled, the more she wanted to travel, so she trekked for a month in Nepal, road-tripped through Western Canada, then sailed on a four-month voyage around the world with the Semester at Sea program. She also earned her PADI certification in Thailand, rode horses in Iceland, and camped in the Wahiba Sands desert of Oman. She was with Expedition Trips from 2004-2008, and in 2022 returned to the travel fold. With Expedition Trips she has traveled to Antarctica, the Galapagos & Peru, Alaska, the Arctic, the Mediterranean/Atlantic Coast of Europe, and the wild fjords of southern Greenland. She balances her creative writing with the satisfying structure and analytical detail required of expedition trip planning, bringing with her a never-ending enthusiasm for world travel, small ships, polar regions, and penguins.