Mountain Climbing can be an intimidating sport to try for the first time. Scaling a rock wall or hiking to the top of a peak that is thousands of meters high can seem easy in your imagination, but when you are standing at the foot of a rock wall or sitting at base camp, it is easy to lose your nerve. Luckily, there are some places that are ideal for climbers who are just starting out their alpine careers. These places offer plenty of challenges, but they are also great for novices who are just learning the ropes.

Want to learn to climb? Here are some destinations for beginning climbers. These places are good starting points for novices who are hoping to learn how to safely scale cliffs or reach the summit of tall mountains.

Krabi, Thailand

If you want to climb cliffs and rocks and aren’t necessarily interested in learning the ropes of alpine-style climbing, then this region of Thailand, which includes some of its best islands, is a great place to start your climbing career. Local instructors can get you started on some beautiful limestone rock formations, many of which are located next to idyllic white sand beaches. Local outfitters offer instruction for cheaper than climbing destinations in Europe and the Americas, but you do have to make sure that your guide is qualified. Most routes are relatively short and have plenty of hand-holds, so they are ideal for beginning climbers. And after you get off the rock, there are plenty of places to relax and enjoy a drink or some fresh seafood on the beach (or to try another sport like SUBA diving or kayaking).

Costa Brava, Spain

This is one of the cheaper places to learn to climb in Europe. Many of the climbing schools here are known for really teaching their students useful skills so that they can tackle more challenging climbs by the end of their course. Many of the climbing routes are located at or near the sea, but few are quite as scenic as Krabi. At the same time, Costa Brava is certainly a pleasant place, with warm, dry weather and some great views. More advanced climbers sometimes come to Costa Brava to try deep water soloing, a type of free-climbing that uses routes above water. If the climber falls, they will fall into the water and survive unhurt (provided they know how to swim).

Washington’s Cascades

If you are looking for a place to learn serious mountaineering, the Cascade Range in Washington is a good place to travel. The famous peak here is Mount Rainier, which draws serious climbers from around the world. But there are plenty of lesser peaks that are good for beginning climbers. Some of the best climbing schools in the US are located here. If you really want to learn the technical aspects, logistics, and safety skills needed to handle climbing mountains that are over 3,000 meters tall, this is one of the best places in the world to come. If you aren’t interested in trying to make it to the summit of tall mountains, the Cascades offer glacier walks, wall climbing, and ice climbing in addition to instruction in expedition-style mountaineering.

Mount Washington, New Hampshire

Mount Washington is certainly not a place to try to climb solo. This peak in the Northeastern United States is known for its fast-changing weather and high winds (the highest sustained wind ever recorded was clocked near the summit). The attractive thing about Mount Washington is that climbers can choose their route and thereby choose the style of climbing that they want to learn. Easy routes allow people to reach the summit by hiking or scrambling uphill. Training for serious mountaineering takes place in the wintertime, when the harsh conditions and challenging terrain can mimic the conditions on much-higher peaks.

Scottish Highlands

Scotland’s highland landscapes earn it a status as one of the most scenic nations on earth. Scotland’s (relatively) low mountains make in an accessible destination for people with limited climbing experience. You can head here in the summer for some scrambling or peak-bagging (getting to the summit of as many mountains as possible) and then return in winter for a true alpine experience in challenging conditions that mimic those of much higher mountains. Intermediate alpinists come here to hone their skills before tackling some of the world’s tallest peaks. If you are serious about learning mountaineering, Scotland in wintertime should be on your list of must-visit destinations.

Are you a climber? Where did you get your start? Tell us about your choice for the best mountain climbing destination for beginners in the comments section.