Can an Israel Tour participant fly to / home from Israel independently of their Israel Tour group?

Participants have three options to deviate from the Israel Tour group flights and if this is something you require you should select this option on the initial application form. Please note that flight deviation requests must be submitted before 13th April 2026 for these to be processed with El Al.

These options are:

Change Inbound Flight (Tel Aviv → London):

Extend your child’s stay in Israel and return on a later El Al flight to London. A small charge will apply.

Cancel Inbound Flight (Tel Aviv → London):
Your child remains in Israel after Tour, and you book their return travel independently. You will receive a partial refund from FZY.

Cancel Both Flights:
No flights will be booked with the group through UJIA (ideal if you’re already in Israel or making independent travel arrangements). You will receive a partial refund from FZY.

Please note that it is not possible to cancel your outbound flight while retaining your return flight. If you do not travel on the outbound flight with the group, you will not be able to join the return flight.

Who are your staff?

Each Israel Tour bus is expected to have four madrichim (leaders) who will accompany the group throughout. Traditionally, this has been two British madrichim who are students in university, and two Israeli madrichim who have completed their IDF service, one of which will be a tour guide and another who will be a first aider. FZY, along with its partners from UJIA Israel Experience and Tlalim provide extensive, up-to-date and programme-specific training to all madrichim (British and Israeli) in safeguarding, child protection, discipline, welfare, education, etc. No madrich/a is allowed to begin their role without this training. We bring in external expertise to advise on and in some cases deliver certain training to ensure it is of the highest standard.

What is the price of Israel Tour and what does it include?

The early bird reduced price is only available to applicants who make their initial application and deposit payment before 16:00 on 4th December 2022. The price includes outbound and return flights between the designated airport and Israel, accommodation, three meals a day, educational guided tours, seminars, transportation in Israel, group activities, entrance fees, security costs, and the insurance policy. The price does not include spending money (i.e., for snacks and memorabilia) and a refundable damage deposit.

Israel Tour is more expensive than previous years due to the additional costs of running the programme in the aftermath of a pandemic, the current rates of inflation, and the loss of value of the GBP over the past 12 months.

Will the participants need spending money?

There will be times participants may want to buy snacks, ice cream, memorabilia, etc. whilst in Israel. We recommend participants bring with them a small amount of spending money to purchase these things if they want.

What food will be provided?

Breakfast and dinner are often served buffet-style in hostels. Because participants spend each day out and about, lunch varies between sandwiches, packed lunches, and hot lunch deliveries (like school meals!). All the food we provide is certified Kosher and the programme caters for a wide range of allergies and dietary requirements. Sometimes, if groups are spending a lunchtime in a marketplace or an evening in a shopping mall, participants receive the cash-equivalent of a meal so that they can choose their own food.

Can FZY cater for special dietary requirements?

In most cases, FZY can cater for special dietary requirements if we are made aware of these in advance. In Israel, food allergies are far less common than in the UK; especially with regards to nut, sesame and chickpea allergies. Consequently, we are unable to provide food suppliers, restaurants or accommodation sites in Israel that can guarantee that food has been made in a nut free environment or guarantee that specific foods have not been present in the preparation of a dish. Additionally, many snacks (including chocolate and crisps) contain nuts, sesame and/or chickpeas which means their presence are likely to be found throughout Israel, including in kitchens.