Tour operators are reporting a sharp rise in bookings to the Middle East and north Africa as travellers grow more confident about unusual holidays. The Association of Independent Tour Operators said many of its members saw a rise in 2010. Cox & Kings said this is a record year, with bookings to the region up 75% on 2007, while Explore reports an increase of 66% to Syria. Here are some other ideas for trips to these ancient lands.

Lebanon

Spotting a gap in the market, a group of Lebanese university friends have set up BeBeirut, offering the only guided walks around the Lebanese capital. Their trail winds for more than four hours through many of the city's most characterful neighbourhoods, with guide Ronnie Chatah offering informed, insightful commentary (in fluent English) on his city's past and present – from millionaire mansions to Yasser Arafat's favourite cafe, via Roman baths and Ottoman statuary, alongside tales of Beirut's Armenian, Muslim and Jewish heritage. Regular stops, a coffee break and the downhill route help to focus attention on the stories rather than your feet.
• Book ahead at bebeirut.org. Tours cost £12.60 and run most Saturdays and Sundays

Western Sahara (Morocco)

Thanks chiefly to kiteboarder Soufiane Hamaini, the western Saharan coastal town of Dakhla, perched on a finger of land roughly 1,400km south of Casablanca, is fast becoming a serious centre for watersports. Hamaini's company, Kite Morocco, now offers kitesurf and windsurf courses including equipment rental and accommodation in this remote location: learn first on the landward-facing lagoon, then venture across to the ocean side for the real deal.
• +212 661 661863, kitemorocco.com. Beginners' packages from €597, with 14 hours of tuition, seven nights' accommodation in a shared tent, all meals and transfers

Israel

Go Eco (goeco.org/israel) has several volunteer projects in Israel and the West Bank, including four to eight weeks volunteering on a wildlife programme in southern Israel's Negev desert (from £200). There are also programmes in eco-tourism and on an eco-kibbutz.

Jordan

Sustainable adventure tourism in Jordan is starting to take off (see page eight), with several new eco-aware operators to get you far off the beaten track. Sarha, for instance, has a five-day itinerary through little-explored northern Jordan, following the newly developed Al-Ayoun trail (which links to Abraham's Path) between highland springs and a network of forested valleys near the ancient site of Pella. Further south, Terhaal is running a new one-day bike ride from Madaba to the Herodian palace at Mukawir, perched above the Dead Sea, which includes dinner with a local family.
• Sarha (sarha.jo). Terhaal (terhaal.com)

Saudi Arabia

Why, you may wonder. Diving is the answer. This bit of the Red Sea isn't touristy, the 1,600km west coast is barely explored, and the drop-offs from the sandy islands of Farasan Banks are exhilarating, and attract turtles.
• A week including flights from Heathrow to Jeddah and liveaboards costs £1,699 with Regaldive (01353 659 999, regal-diving.co.uk)

Overland odyssey

For a Lawrence-style adventure, Intrepid Travel (intrepidtravel.com) has a 28-day group overland tour from Cairo to Istanbul including the Nile by felucca, the Sinai, Red Sea and Syria.
• From £1,810, including flights