BBYO is changing its Israel tour to give participants “the best possible experience”.

From next summer, the tour will be arranged through travel provider BBYO Passport rather than the Israel Experience tour operator and will include an international element. Tour members will have the choice of four-day programmes where they will join BBYO counterparts from around the globe.

They can opt for a service and learning scheme featuring volunteering; a hiking expedition or a basic IDF training programme. The latter is described by BBYO executive director Kira Blumer as “not overly militaristic, more a personal challenge. It has been designed for secondary school pupils.”

Numbers on BBYO UK’s Israel tour have held steady at around the three dozen mark in recent years.

“It’s a nice group size and families were happy. But we felt Israel tour had not changed enough.”

The itinerary would now offer “new ways to understand Israeli life”, Ms Blumer added. “They’ll be sitting down with Israeli Arab teens and a panel of university students representing the diversity of Israeli life.”

An Ethiopian culinary workshop, sandboarding in the desert and a Red Sea dinner cruise will be features of the cultural and social programme.

Ms Blumer added that “accommodation will be much nicer” with some nights spent in three- and four-star hotels. “A month away from home is a long time and we want to make the experience easier.”

She said the 2019 tour would be “marginally more expensive” at £3,350 but believed the changes would increase take-up.