Happyto help doc. My brother lives in Cairo and he says the Western Desert is a must see if you want a unique desert experience. I just spent a night in the Sahara when I was in Morocco last week and I was quite dissapointed but apparently the experience in Egypt is different. Jordan is also a good destination to combine with Egypt and many tour operators offer Jordan as an optional 3-4 day extension. Craig Beal - owner - Travel Beyond