Jana Ašenbrennerová

In the past months I shared images from the National Geographic Student Expedition in Bhutan which I was one of the leaders. Visiting Bhutan was a dream come true. Exploring the country and make the adventure as memorable as it was wouldn't have been possible without the people who made it happen. Shout out to my rock star (literally) co-leader @adyindia , the amazing Nat Geo expert @ashimanarain, our great guides Singye and @norzang_chhoeda who kept us informed and entertained throughout the whole trip and our tireless drivers Mr. B. and CJ who took us safely to all the destinations on the agenda. And of course, shout out to you, our students, miss you all and perhaps our paths cross again one day, somewhere in the world.. @natgeoexpeditions

@yangpheladventuretravel #natgeoexpeditions #natgeotravel #onassignment #bhutan #bhutantravel #people

Last glance at the Gangteng Monastery as we leave this incredible place after a visit with local monks. It was one of the highlights of our expedition to Bhutan. @natgeoexpeditions #natgeoexpeditions #landscape #travel #natgeotravel #onassignment #budhism #bhutan #everydayeverywhere #everydayasia #asenbrennerova

Leaving Gangteng Monastery and the monks who shared time with us. Until next time.. Wangdue Phodrang District in central Bhutan. @natgeoexpeditions #natgeoexpeditions #natgeotravel #onassignment #natgeoyourshot #monks #budhism #travel #everydayeverywhere #asenbrennerova

Monks headed to their afternoon class. During our visit to the

Gangteng Monastery located in Wangdue Phodrang District in central Bhutan we spent some time with local monks, learning about their lifestyle. @natgeoexpeditions #onassignment #natgeotravel #natgeoexpeditions #bhutan #monks #budhism #asenbrennerova #everydayeverywhere #natgeoyourshot

Monk ran around during our visit at the Gangteng Monastery in central Bhutan. @natgeoexpeditions #natgeoexpeditions #onassignment #bhutan #budhism #monk #everydayeverywhere #asenbrennerova #travel #natgeoyourshot

Visiting monks during our visit at the Gangteng Monastery in central Bhutan. @natgeoexpeditions #natgeoexpeditions #onassignment #bhutan #budhism #monk #everydayeverywhere #asenbrennerova #travel

Visiting monks in the Gangteng Monastery, located in the Wangdue Phodrang District in central Bhutan. Among my favorite places we visited in Bhutan. @natgeoexpeditions #natgeoexpeditions #onassignment #natgeotravel #natgeoyourshot #bhutan #everydayeverywhere #budhism #monks #asenbrennerova

During our visit to the

Gangteng Monastery located in Wangdue Phodrang District in central Bhutan we spent some time with local monks, learning about their lifestyle. @natgeoexpeditions #onassignment #natgeotravel #natgeoexpeditions #bhutan #monks #budhism #asenbrennerova #everydayeverywhere

The Gangteng Monastery (Gangtey Gonpa) was one of the highlights of our expedition to Bhutan. It is located in the Wangdue Phodrang District in central Bhutan and when we were arriving it felt like we just entered a fairytale land. I'll be sharing more photos of the village and the monks we met in future posts. @natgeoexpeditions #natgeoexpeditions #natgeotravel #onassignment #gangtengmonastery #budhism #bhutan #everydayeverywhere #everydayasia #asenbrennerova

Dnes v magazínu Pátek vyšel rozhovor, kde sdílím příběhy nejen pracovní, ale i pár těch osobních. Pokud máte zájem, přečtěte si. Magazín je přílohou dnešních Lidových Novin. Moc děkuji Marii Bordier za zájem o rozhovor a @tomaskrist , který mě pro článek přijel vyfotit.

Prayer flags and a portrait of one of our drivers who told the students to call him Captain Jack. He is a funny guy! I remember when we passed by other busses during our trip, he would explain to me, they were public busses also known as "the vomit buses." He laughed uncontrollably when he was telling me the story. 😂 @natgeoexpeditions #natgeoexpeditions #natgeotravel #onassignment #bhutan #everydayeverywhere #everydayasia #prayerflags #portrait #asenbrennerova

Afternoon hike in Punakha Valley. I loved the saturated greenery that monsoon produces. @natgeoexpeditions #natgeostudentexpeditions #natgeotravel #onassignment #bhutan #everydayeverywhere #everydayasia #landscapephotography #monsoon #asenbrennerova

Monks perform Warrior Dance during the Kurjey Tshechu Festival in Bumthang Valley at the Kurjey Monastery. This festival takes place every year for one day and it celebrates Guru Rinpoche who brought Buddhism to Bhutan. @natgeoexpeditions @natgeotravel #natgeostudentexpeditions #onassignment #natgeotravel #natgeoyourshot #bhutan #kurjeylhakhang #festival #budhism #thongdrel #everydayeverywhere #everydayasia #asenbrennerova

Kurjey Tshechu Festival is another festival in Bumthang Valley we visited with our students. This festival takes place at the Kurjey Monastery, every year for one day and it celebrates Guru Rinpoche who brought Buddhism to Bhutan. During the festival a giant Buddha/Guru Thangka painting is revealed and presented on the wall of the monastery. There were several dances performed by local monks - videos coming up! @natgeoexpeditions @natgeotravel #natgeostudentexpeditions #onassignment #natgeotravel #natgeoyourshot #bhutan #kurjeylhakhang #festival #budhism #thongdrel #everydayeverywhere #everydayasia #asenbrennerova

Landscape near Paro town. @natgeoexpeditions #natgeostudentexpeditions #natgeotravel #onassignment #bhutan #everydayeverywhere #everydayasia #asenbrennerova

Our climb to the Tiger's Nest sure took hours. Luckily the sun was hidden in the clouds on the way up, so the temperature wasn’t too high, that certainly helped! Thanks to the guidance of Singye, one of our amazing local guides. @natgeoexpeditions @natgeotravel #natgeostudentexpeditions #natgeotravel #onassignment #bhutan #parotaktsang #tigersnest #architecture #landscape #yangpheladventuretravel #everydayeverywhere #everydayasia #asenbrennerova

Up there in the clouds on the high mountain is Paro Taktsang, a temple complex also known as Tiger's Nest, our next destination. We have hours of walking up some steep hills ahead of us. @natgeostudentexpeditions #natgeostudentexpeditions #onassignment #bhutan #natgeotravel #tigersnest #parotaktsang #everydayeverywhere #asenbrennerova

Dog and a couple of monks in the background at a washing station at the Trongsa Dzong. @natgeoexpeditions #natgeoexpeditions #onassignment #bhutan #trongsa #budhism #dog #everydayeverywhere #everydayasia #everydaybhutan #asenbrennerova

Located in Trongsa district, the Trongsa Dzong is the largest one in the country. Located in a wide valley it offers some beautiful views. On the right side in the back, up in the hills, the tiny blue building was our hotel. @natgeoexpeditions #natgeoexpeditions #onassignment #natgeotravel #dzong #trongsadzong #landscape #architecture #bhutan #everydayeverywhere #everydayasia #asenbrennerova

Dry chilly peppers, popular ingredient all over Bhutan. @natgeostudentexpeditions #onassignment #bhutan #hot #chilly #everydayeverywhere #red

Before we departed the stunning Phobjikha Valley to head to our next destination in Punakha we visited local family in their farm house. They showed us their home, their alter that can be found in every Bhutanese home and together we made butter tea. It was wonderful learning experience before we departed. Big thanks to the family for sharing the morning with us! @natgeostudentexpeditions @natgeotravel #onassignment #natgeostudentexpeditions #natgeotravel #bhutan #phobjikhavalley #farmhouse #family #lifestyle #everydayeverywhere #everydayasia

Phobjikha Valley is a scenic marshland in Bhutan. It is a special part of the country since the black-necked crane comes here from the Tibetan Plateau to roost in winter. The valley is known for the rich biodiversity of its fauna and flora. Absolutely stunning part of the world! @natgeoexpeditions @natgeotravel #onassignment #natgeostudentexpeditions #natgeotravel #everydayeverywhere #everydayasia #bhutan #phobjikhavalley #landscapephotography #nature #travel

Our stay in Phobjikha Valley was among my favorites in Bhutan. So scenic and peaceful. It was a bit could when we arrived and therefore even more so we appreciated already pre-heated, cozy rooms of Dewachen Hotel where we spent the night. @natgeotravel @natgeoexpeditions #natgeostudentexpeditions #onassignment #bhutan #everydayeverywhere #everydayasia #hotel #interiordesign #phobjikhavalley #dewachenhotel #asenbrennerova

Butter tea is widely consumed in Bhutan as well as in other Himalayan regions. We stopped by in a farm house in Phobjikha Valley and local family showed us how to make it and let us try it. They use tea leaves, cow's butter (traditionally yak butter is used) and some salt to make the drink. We were also offered rice-shaped tiny crispy treats to put into the tea. @natgeostudentexpeditions @natgeotravel #bhutan #phobjikhavalley #buttertea #tea #everydayeverywhere #everydaybhutan #natgeo #natgeostudentexpeditions

Camping in Bhutan was rather unexpected experience. When we arrived to the camp in Punakha Valley with our students we were greeted by dressed up staff offering hot towels and drinks. We had carpets outside and inside our tents and regular toilets surrounded by decorative flowers. We had hot showers and stone baths and fresh muffins were served every morning. There was a charing station for electronics and as everywhere in Bhutan - dogs. My idea of camping was forever changed.

#natgeoexpeditions @natgeoexpeditions #natgeotravel #onassignment #bhutan #punakha #camping #glamping #nature #everydayeverywhere #everydayasia #everydaybhutan

Punakha Dzong (Pungtang Dewa Chhenbi Phodrang) is considered the most beautiful dzong in Bhutan. It was build in 1637-38 and it is the second oldest and second largest dzong in the country. It used to serve as an administrative center for the local government until 1955 when the capital of Bhutan was moved to Thimphu. @natgeoexpeditions #natgeoexpeditions #natgeotravel #onassignment #bhutan #punakhadzong #architecture #everydayeverywhere #everydayasia #everydaybhutan #asenbrennerova

Bhutan is the only country in the world that doesn't have any installed traffic lights. Traffic is controlled by a policeman who stands in the middle of a busy intersection and directs vehicles as shown here in the country's capital Thimphu. @natgeostudentexpeditions #natgeostudentexpeditions #natgeotravel #onassignment #bhutan #thimphu #everydayeverywhere #everydayasia #everydaybhutan #asenbrennerova #streetphotography #traffic

Meeting people on the street of Paro town #bhutan #natgeotravel #natgeostudentexpeditions #onassignment #everydayeverywhere #everydayasia #asenbrennerova @natgeostudentexpeditions

Dogs were omnipresent in Bhutan wherever we went. Here kids are playing in Paro town while surrounded by curious dogs. @natgeostudentexpeditions #natgeostudentexpeditions #natgeotravel #onassignment #bhutan #paro #dogs #city #everydayeverywhere #everydayasia #everydaybhutan #streetphotography #asenbrennerova

Today we hiked to the Taktsang Palphug Monastery (Tiger’s Nest), a sacred Buddhist site in Paro Valley that was first built in 1692. We left at 8am climbing up some steep hills and got back down around 2pm. Very special way to conclude our trip. As everywhere in Bhutan we were accompanied by dogs all the way. @natgeoexpeditions #bhutan #onassignment #tigersnest #paro #everydayeverywhere #everydayasia #natgeotravel #natgeoexpeditions

Our ride from Bumthang to Trongsa was foggy and full of atmosphere with few landslides we passed by on the way. #natgeostudentexpeditions #natgeotravel #onassignment #bhutan #everydayeverywhere #everydayasia #transportation #fog #asenbrennerova @natgeostudentexpeditions

We spent the past couple days camping with our students in Punakha Valley and hiked around to enjoy beautiful views of paddy fields. @natgeoexpeditions #natgeotravel #natgeoexpeditions #natgeostudentexpeditions #punakha #bhutan #everydayeverywhere #everydayasia #onassignment

We are glamping alongside Mo Chhu river in Punakha Valley and our students are enjoying traditional Bhutanese hot stone bath infused with Artemisia - a plant that has medicinal purposes. #natgeo #natgeostudentexpeditions #onassignment #bhutan #travel #hotbath @natgeostudentexpeditions