Desert Trip/Trip to Suez Canal

Since you ve already been so helpful with my question regarding transportation in Cairo, I have another question:

I stayin Giza. If I want to make a trip to the desert: is it better to go to El Fayoum and/or to Wadi al Rayan or somewhere else? Is that a whole day trip and do you think it s worth it? I ve neverbeento the desert before and think it s probably very fascinating.

Plus: Is it a good idea to make a trip to the Suez Canal (Ismailia e.g.)? You can probably you see alot of ship traffic there?

Best regards and many thanks in advance for any input