General
Flights
In Israel
Attire
Packing &
Baggage
Hotels
Food
FAQ
If you can’t find the answer to your questions here, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team on the CONTACT PAGE.
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Gates to Israel (the company we work with on the ground in Israel) gets updates from the Ministry of Tourism and reports back to us regularly. If the Ministry of Tourism thinks it’s unsafe to go, we won’t be allowed to go. Otherwise, our trip will continue as planned.
Note: Before we take a group, there’s often a “flare up” in Israel or the Middle East, which our news sources cover intensely, making everyone attending (or their families) nervous, based on what we see on the news here. But when we arrive in Israel, everything is calm and peaceful—life as usual. It’s an interesting case study on how things are presented to us in the news; it’s kind of puzzling and disheartening. But on the bright side, it’s encouraging that things are actually much more peaceful in the places we are going there than we’re led to believe! And in general, Israel at large is statistically safer than most American cities.
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In most scenarios, Gates to Israel would be able to fully refund the payments. You can also opt to put the money toward a future trip with us and Gates to Israel. Since our trips are Land Only (meaning you purchase your own flights) we cannot guarantee a refund on your airfare. Trip insurance is also key in this scenario.
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Our ministry calendar only allows us to do two tours per year, so we’ve chosen the absolute best times of the year to be in Israel. Winter is very rainy, and summer is very hot. Fall and Spring are the ideal times to be walking a lot outside.
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We currently bring 2 buses of 46-people each, which totals fewer than 100 people. While that may sound large, many tours of Israel are 8+ buses! We work hard to develop unique bus communities and each bus has an Israelux Team member and its own local tour guide.
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If you fill out the interest form, we’ll put you on our email list! We’ll send you information about upcoming tours as they become available.
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Our tours range from $5,500 - 6,000 per person (as of April 2025), depending on the time of year and other considerations. These prices are based on double room occupancy and do not include airfare.
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We can aim to pair you with a roommate, though we can’t guarantee it. Trip pricing is provided on the basis of double occupancy in hotel rooms. (Gates to Israel and its subagents reserve the right to substitute hotels of the same category when necessary for the proper handling of the tour.) If a roommate is requested and one cannot be confirmed prior to the tour, the tour participant must pay the single supplement in order to receive final documents. If we succeed in finding a roommate, but one of the parties intending to share the room should cancel, the remaining party must pay the single room supplement. Neither Gates to Israel nor its subagents assumes responsibility for roommate assignments that don’t work out. Please see the next question for more info on single supplements.
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A limited number of single rooms are available at an additional cost. A tour participant must pay this supplement when he/she is the sole occupant of assigned accommodation. The additional "single room supplement" cost is usually in the range of $1,500 - 1,900 total, depending on the dates of the trip.
Note: The term “single” refers to a person traveling alone and is not a reference to marital status.
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Due to the nature of our trips, we respectfully request that unmarried couples plan NOT to attend as roommates, but to room separately instead. We’re happy to provide you both with roommates whenever possible, to help avoid the single room supplement fee and save funds on lodging.
Note: If it comes to our attention at any point that unmarried couples are signed up as roommates, we will aim to adjust the rooming situation as described above, in which case a single room supplement fee may be required from both individuals.
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Our trips are only for people 18+, for a variety of reasons.
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Only you know your health limitations, but please be mindful that our trips tend to be fast paced with a higher level of activity than most tours of Israel. We usually walk 3+ miles per day at a moderate pace, many of which will include stairs, hills, inclines, and uneven surfaces.
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The Israelux/Ecclesia tours are uniquely physically demanding. Activities for this tour require you to be able to climb stairs without assistance, walk at a modest pace for a few miles a day on uneven and/or steep terrain, and be able to transport your own luggage. Please note that many international sites and facilities, as well as tour buses, do not have available accommodations for persons with mobility limitations (wheelchair, walker, cane, etc.). We suggest that you prepare yourself by walking 3 miles or more per day for the weeks prior to your departure.
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Currently there are no vaccinations required to visit Israel. Please consult your healthcare provider to determine their recommendations for routine vaccinations.
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If you are carrying a US Passport, you do not need a visa. However, you will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA). They cost about $7 and can be secured after you register for the tour. If your passport is from another country than the US, please consult your country’s embassy.
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The tour includes all ground transportation, hotel accommodations, and meals (with the exception of one lunch) from the time you land, until the time you’re dropped off at the airport. We will give you arrival and departure windows for your flights, and as long as you book within those windows, we will take care of picking you up from the airport and driving you to our hotel. If you book outside of the arrival and departure windows, we can assist you in transportation and accommodations but there may be additional costs. If you’d like to have our tour partner book your flights for you, you may choose that option, but it is not required.
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You may book your flight in whatever manner you’d like, we just ask that you book within our arrival/departure windows and send us your itinerary.
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Not at this time. Please pack accordingly.
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iPhone users: most use the native Voice Memos app. Android users: look in the App Store for something that has good reviews and is free.
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No.
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Due to allergies and sensitivities to fragrances, we ask that you refrain from using cologne, perfume, body spray, or fragrant lotions on the tour.
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Our team will help you determine the best course of action to get you the medical care you may need. Not all health insurance policies cover international travel, please make sure that you have proper coverage while in Israel.
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You will bring $200 (cash in an envelope for tips) to give to Moshe upon arrival. Other than that, you will only need money for one lunch and any souvenirs you’d like to purchase. Many places take credit cards, but for small items in shops you may want to bring $30-50 in small bills.
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We will usually be touring sites from just after breakfast until late afternoon. You will often have a few hours in the evening to relax, shower, or explore the city we’re in.
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Yes! We will do baptisms in the Jordan River while we are in Galilee. The current cost is $15 to rent a towel, robe, and the restroom facilities.
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We suggest comfortable layers. Some flights are comfortable, but others are hot or cold. For an easy pass through TSA, wear slip-on shoes and no metal / jewelry. And for the long flight, we always recommend compression socks to prevent swelling.
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ON FLIGHTS: Jeans are uncomfortable (for most, at least) on long overseas flights, because your body swells so much. We suggest wearing joggers, and pack leggings in your carry-on to put under the joggers in case you get cold on the flight.
IN ISRAEL: Jeans aren’t the most comfortable for long days of walking, and they’re terrible if it rains, because they’re so slow to dry. However, it’s not a bad idea to pack one pair of jeans in case you decide to wear them on a day when it doesn’t rain or on a night when we go out to dinner.
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Yes, just be mindful of modesty regulations on the days when we visit churches/religious sites. That means: nothing low cut, no visible shoulders or knees; consider bringing a scarf to cover your shoulders.
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Leggings as leggings should be fine. The problem is most people wear leggings as pants, with only a shirt that barely covers their backside (and especially not if they bend over at all). If you wear a long tunic over your leggings—something that comes to mid-thigh area—that should work. But please remember that the Jewish idea of modesty is different from our own. Aim to be respectful of their culture and err on the side of caution.
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Though we aim to travel in the times of year when Israel isn’t experiencing much rain, it’s always a possibility. If it’s raining all day, and we’ll be walking in the rain all day, you’ll want to wear them. You can check the forecast beforehand for the cities on our itinerary if you want to gauge the possibility of rain. Each night of the trip, we’ll tell you how to prepare to dress the following day based on the forecast.
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There are three locations where these are useful. Here’s where and why: A) If you want to be baptized in the Jordan River—because the bottom can be slippery or problematic and there are harmless fish that may nibble at you, B) If you want to float in the Dead Sea—because the salt can cut your feet, C) If you swim in the Sea of Galilee—because the rocks can be painful. Teva or Chaco type sandals also work well in most situations.
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We’ll go out for dinner at least one night. Some people like to “dress up” for it, but that usually amounts to nice jeans and a nice top. Nothing fancy is required.
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It depends on what sites we’re visiting that day. When visiting churches or Jewish sites (about 3/4 of the days), you can’t show your knees or shoulders. This applies to both males and females. Low-cut tops are also prohibited.
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It likely won’t work there unless you purchase one with an Israel specific plug. Most converters struggle to convert these particular items, because they pull so much energy. Most hotels have hair dryers in the rooms, but they’re similar to the ones in the US as far as power / ability to dry (not great). Sometimes you can check out a more powerful hair dryer from the front desk. If you need a good one daily, invest in one with an Israeli/Euro plug (220v).
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When it rains at home, most of us don’t spend our days walking outside. We usually just run to our car. If it rains all day in Israel, we’ll be walking in the rain, and sometimes it can come at you from all sides. You’ll want the raincoat to cover your head and upper body, and you may need the umbrella to shield yourself from sideways rain. It’s best to have both options available, in case you need them both or in case the umbrella breaks. Please note: Israel’s rainy months are October-March. If you’re going on a trip from April-September, you may not use these items, but we recommend bringing them anyway.
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Not unless you want to. Our hotels will have towels we can use for this purpose.
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If you’re particularly sensitive or prone to bites, err on the side of caution. Some people like to use it if we happen to be by the Sea of Galilee at sunset (one of the rare places you’ll see mosquitoes).
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There are several things that come into play here. We’re not trying to stifle your passion, and we certainly want you to make the most of the trip, but here are a few things to consider:
On previous trips, photographers have reported that their large cameras were a waste of space, weight, and struggle.
Because of the pace of our trip and how we move quickly, they find that the camera on an iPhone 10 or higher is more than sufficient for all their needs and usually regret bringing their cameras.
Typically, the person who takes the most pictures on the tour is the one who slows the group down quite a bit and who misses our site explanations. Occasionally their delays have been the reason we’ve had to cut sites from our itinerary, because they’re taking longer at sites than the others in the group. By encouraging everyone to use their phone as their camera, we help everyone maintain the same group pace and help make certain that we’re able to visit all the sites on our itinerary.
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As with most airlines, we ask that you limit your luggage to one CHECKED bag (which will go under the plane), and two CARRY-ON pieces (which will be with you on the plane). The carry-on pieces are: one traditional carry-on (21” roller, backpack, etc.) + one personal item (purse, shoulder bag, tote bag, backpack, etc.). If you need to bring more for medical purposes, please communicate that with our team so we can ensure we have the space available.
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Yes. Much like in the US, it’s not the greatest. If you aren’t picky, it’ll work well. If you are, we suggest bringing small travel bottles from home—just be sure to store them in a ziplock bag so they don’t explode in your luggage during the flight.
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No. We will be staying at nice hotels with all the accommodations.
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There’s often an iron in the room or at the front desk.
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Many of the hotels we stay at do have gyms, but not all. Please check the list of our hotels on your tour specific itinerary and visit their websites for info. Also please be mindful that some gyms and pools have separate hours for men and women and many are closed on Shabbat (Sabbath), which is Friday at sundown to Saturday at sundown.
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The primary cuisine in Israel is Mediterranean — fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh bread, grilled meats (fish, chicken, beef, lamb), nuts, yogurts, and cheeses. There is a lot of variety at the hotel buffets for breakfast and dinner.
Lunch will be at some of our favorite restaurants and will not disappoint! Lunch is typically served family-style.
If you have food allergies, are gluten/dairy free, and/or don’t eat fish, notify our tour guide (Moshe Malka) upon arrival so he can point you in the direction of the food options that will work for you.
We’ve rarely encountered anyone who can’t find something that doesn’t work for them, but if you’re particularly picky, bring snacks!
Bring your sense of adventure and prepare to adjust your palate to fresh foods (as opposed to the processed foods many of us are used to). Many people find that they eat far more fresh fiber in Israel than at home.