Eastern Bhutan is the least explored region of the kingdom, and the closest thing to travelling the country as it was. The whole region is awash in unspoiled natural beauty: towering cliffs, pristine forest, and great swings of altitude and climate between one valley and the next.
The eastern circuit takes in the districts of Mongar, Lhuntse, Trashi Yangtse, Trashigang and Samdrup Jongkhar. Alongside the regular Buddhist festivals, travellers here can watch some of the country's most ancient spiritual practices: animist and Bon rituals that predate the arrival of Buddhism.
The land lends itself to day hikes and longer treks. Accommodation is more spartan than in the rest of the country, but with the choice of camping out beneath an ocean of stars or the unbridled warmth of a village homestay, the comforts of a hotel room are not much missed.