Maoz Israel’s Independence Tour

This is, by far, the most common question asked. Since tourism is one of Israel’s most prominent industries, news agencies and/or people who may be opposed to Israel can paint Israel in such a way as to persuade potential travelers to stay away. The reality on the ground is that it is statistically safer to travel to Israel than it is to travel to some inner cities in the US. And, the most common comment that we receive when the trip is over is that people couldn’t believe how safe they felt in the Land. Obviously, Israel is in the Middle East and the political situation over there will remain tense until the Lord returns.*

*If, for any reason, the US State Department issues a travel advisory to Israel AND our agents who live in Israel agree, we will reschedule a trip if it is deemed unsafe to travel there due to political tension.

Yes. Proof of citizenship is required for all travelers, and passports are required (must be valid for at least six months beyond the completion of travel). To find out if you need to apply for a Visa prior to your trip, view this document.

Each airline has different policies depending on where you’re traveling from. However, to make it easier for you, we recommend you only bring one checked-bag since we’ll be changing hotels during the tour.

Because Maoz partners come from all over the world, flights will be arriving in Israel from all over the world rather than one or two locations. You are, however, entitled to discounted tour airfare through this link.

No, we don’t provide travel insurance and leave that up to the individual traveler. We highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance

We encourage people to pack modestly. There will never be a time where you have to ‘dress up’ (so leave the tuxedos and evening gowns at home). While touring, it’s perfectly fine to wear shorts and tee shirts. Jeans are acceptable everywhere we go. There are some sites that require that everyone wears pants and shirts with sleeves and we will let you know which ones they are so that you can dress appropriately on that day. The most important thing to pack is a pair of comfortable walking shoes as we do a lot of walking in the land.

All breakfast and dinners are provided. There are a few times when lunch is provided as well (when we go to a unique place such as a Druze village)

When we’re in the Galilee area, the weather will be warm (in the high 60’s and 70’s). When we’re in Jerusalem, the weather can be significantly cooler (50’s and 60’s during the day and even cooler at night). We recommend bringing a warm jacket for the evenings in Jerusalem and a light sweatshirt or sweater for the evening in the Galilee.

Yes, the price is based on double occupancy and you can either request a roommate or you’ll be placed with someone close to your age and gender. If you want to request a single room, you can but the price is significantly higher – just let us know if you’d like that option.

Most modern, small electronic devices are dual-voltage and will adjust automatically for other countries. For dual voltage electronics, you’ll simply need to bring an adapter to plug the charger in to the outlet. Before leaving on your trip, check the manual or power cord for the device to know if it will work with 220 voltage without a converter. Be aware that U.S. electronics that are not dual-voltage should never be used without a converter in countries with a voltage of 220.

Most cell phone providers offer international plans; check with your carrier before your trip to see what international options they provide. If your phone is unlocked you can purchase a prepaid SIM card at a fairly low price.

We suggest you bring US Dollars, British Pounds, or Euros, which can be exchanged for the Israeli Shekel. There are locations throughout each city in Israel to exchange currency, including most hotels; you may also obtain Shekels prior to departure. Rates vary from place to place and some charge commission.

Most shops and restaurants accept foreign debit/credit cards. Exchanging some money for Israeli Shekels is a good idea. You will need Shekels for there are a small number of shops that may only take cash (especially when outside of tourist areas or in the markets). Before you leave to come to Israel, please make sure to contact your bank and let them know that you are traveling overseas, and they will be able to help you unlock your credit card to enable use of your debit and credit cards while in Israel. Please remember that fees can apply to international transactions.

We recommend carrying no more than $200 cash with you. Most places that we go do take credit cards and there are also cash machines that will take your debit card and give you shekels (the Israeli currency) in return.

Yes. Although tips are always expected, we feel that adding an additional $100-$200 USD to an already expensive trip causes an uncomfortable experience for visitors – so we’re taking care of it for you! This covers tips for hotel staff, bellmen, front desk, housekeeping, kitchen staff, waiters/waitresses, bus driver, and Israel tour guide.

Israel Standard Time (IST) is the standard time zone in Israel. It is 2 hours ahead of UTC and 7 hours ahead of EST.

Yes, there will be plenty of time to shop. We know the best places that give you the best prices and we will do our best to steer you away from the places that like to take advantage of tourists.

Yes, we will spend some time in the Dead Sea for a swim.

Yes, we will stop at the Jordan River and those that would like to be immersed will have that opportunity.