Background <p>Israeli travelers to low and middle-income countries (LMIC) are generally backpackers in their twenties and tend to take more risks than leisure-seeking or business travelers. The aim of this study was to assess risk behaviors during travel to LMIC.</p> Methods <p>This prospective study included 400 backpack travelers who were interviewed before and within a month after their return by phone regarding risk behaviors during their travel and their self-definition as risk-takers.</p> Results <p>Most of the travelers took part in extreme sport activities (<i>N</i> = 259, 64%), more likely among solo travelers (<i>p</i> = 0.04). Drugs were commonly used (<i>N</i> = 231, 57.8%), especially marijuana (<i>N</i> = 227, 98.3%). The majority of travelers used unsafe transportation (<i>N</i> = 296, 74%). Almost half of all participants (<i>N</i> = 199, 49.8%) consumed unhygienic food and water, more likely among meat eaters than vegans/vegetarians (<i>p</i> = 0.01). A third (<i>N</i> = 142, 35.5%) of the travelers met new sexual partners during their trip, more commonly men than women, and most of them (<i>N</i> = 105, 74%) used condoms consistently. Of those who reached high altitudes (<i>N</i> = 242, 60.5%), the majority followed the recommendations to elevate gradually, yet only 36.8% used acetazolamide. Of all travelers, 26 (6.5%) were robbed, most were male and more common among those who visited south/central America. More males than females self-identified themselves as ‘risk-takers’.</p> Conclusion <p>Young single males, solo and long-term travelers, and those who self-identify themselves as ‘risk-takers’ were more likely to engage in risky behaviors during their travel.</p>