You’re dead set on running away and backpacking the world. You’ve found the courage, you’ve saved up enough money, and maybe your bag is already packed.

The only thing left to do now…decide where you’re going to go first.

The beauty about this predicament is that you can literally go anywhere you want. On the other hand, you have over 200 countries to choose from.

In the following guide, you will learn how to pick a good first country and find a list of the best countries for beginner backpackers.

Where To Begin Your Backpacking Adventure

The best country for beginner backpackers is one that is different but not too different. If you hop right into a country as intense as India, chances are you will get debilitating travelers diarrhea and never want to go backpacking again.

It’s also a good idea to choose a country that you know very little about. If you have no pre-conceived notions of a place, you can neither be too surprised nor too disappointed. You can look upon your first destination without illusion and with unbiased eyes.

Relatively cheap countries are never a bad idea to begin in as well. It’s hard not to appreciate a 1$ box of Pad Thai. It will also help you maintain your budget and keep you backpacking longer.

Finally, you want to pick a country that is in a good region of the world. This way if you get sick of it or just want to move on, you can easily do so.

With these criteria in mind, below are 3 awesome countries for beginner backpackers.

The Best Countries To Begin Backpacking In

El Salvador

El Salvador, like much of Central America, was strongly influenced by Spanish culture. From Christianity to Latin food and music, the culture is very western and familiar yet exciting and foreign at the same time. It gives one the perfect dose of culture shock.

What little people have heard about El Salvador is usually that of a country plagued by civil war and crime. Ironically El Salvador has a lower crime rate than developed Costa Rica. The people are proud, friendly, and will always help you get where you want to go.

El Salvador is also one of the cheapest countries in Central America. Busses around the country generally won’t cost more than a few quarters. Delicious street food such as Papusas and sandwiches can be bought for around 1$. And since they use the US dollar, it’s easy to calculate the exchange or keep track of your budget.

Finally, when you’re ready to move on, you could either head north to Antigua, Guatemala or South to Leon, Nicaragua. Both neighboring countries are cheap and a lot of fun for backpackers. For more on El Salvador check out 5 Things To Do In El Salvador On A Budget.

Malaysia

While Thailand gets all the glory, few people know of the tropical and multicultural paradise that is Malaysia. With a mix of Indian, Chinese, Malay and Western people, the culture is very similar to that of a western metropolis. And no matter what ethnicity you are, you will feel at home in the Malaysian mélange.

Although Malaysia is not as cheap as it’s neighbors, it is still a lot cheaper than home. Busses across the country range between 20 to 30$. Wonton soup at the Penang night market is just around 2$. And a night in a hostel goes for about 15$.

When you are ready to move on, you can easily catch a boat down to Indonesia or a mini bus / train up to the islands of Thailand. Both countries are excellent to continue your backpacking journey in. For more info on Malaysia be sure to read Why Everyone Should Visit Malaysia.

Bulgaria

Bulgaria isn’t really known for much other than being another oddly named Eastern European country. However, Bulgaria is one of the most intriguing and cheapest countries in Eastern Europe. If prostitutes are your thing you can pick one up at any mile maker on the highway. And for just 50 cents you can buy a delicious Burek breakfast pastry.

When you get tired of the girls at the nude beaches of Varna, you can easily travel to Romania or Greece for more cheap good times. For more info on just how cheap it is, check out The Cheapest Countries In The World.

Conclusion

Although you could go anywhere on your first trip, the former countries are some of the cheapest, easiest to travel in, and most fun. They are some of my favorite countries to visit and I highly recommend them. If you want more info or advice for your first backpacking trip, you can connect with me through Facebook, The Runaway Guide.