Morocco Desert

Francis, Marrakech.....but.... get a bus across the mountains from there to Ouazazate, a better place to start from. Lots of places down there do 4x4 trips out to the desert. http://www.facebook.com/TheArtfulBodgers Roger

We did 10 days/ 9 nights -3 nights Fez, drive to Merzouga - 1 night at Riad and 1 night at Berber camp in desert. 1 Night in Dades Valley and 3 nights in Marrakech. The drive from Marrakech to Merzouga is about 9-10 hours with breaks 1 way....so IMO with just 7 days I would try to arrange a trip either into Fez and out of Marrakech or into Marrakech and out of Fez but not round trip to Marrakech and then to Fez. If we go back I would spend an extra day in Merzouga and take one off of Marrakech. Fez is lovely and not as chaotic as Marrakech. We contracted with a local Berber guide/driver who met us at Tanger ferry, took us to Chefchaouen and onto Fez. We stopped in Erfoud on way to Merzouga at his family's home for tea and henna before heading onto Merzouga. He took us to Rissani on market day and around Merzouga before heading off on the camels for desert camp. We stopped at fossil quarry and Todra Gorge before stopping in Dades valley for night. Next day was long drive to Marrakech stopping for bathroom and lunch only. We saw things we would not have seen if we went independently and spending the time in the car with him expanded our cultural understanding. He spoke 8 languages fluently. If this is your first time I would highly recommend a guide at least and a driver/guide at best.