1- You will not have time to see Trakoscan castle if starting after lunch. It is in opposite direction to Plitvice. You have 4-5 hours of driving this day + time to see the castle.

2- What time are you planning on leaving Plitvice? You cannot get to Mostar at a reasonable hour. Stay in Trogir or Split or a pension by the sea outside of Split.

3- The drive to Dubrovnik gets a little messy after the super highway ends. Allow time.

7-Kotor or back to Dubrovnik
8-Dubrovnik

Plitvice is better than Rovinj.

Amico tours in Dubrovnik advertises day(7AM to 7:30PM)Tours, Saturdays, 5 people minimum tours to the Tara river. See their unstable website.Seeing Plitvice and then driving to Dubrovnik is not practical.

Relax, smell the roses, sit at the Busa bar, walk at night, holding hands, down the main street, walk the walls, drink water out of the fountain, eat dinner outside tables on a side street stone pavement, enjoy the Perl of the Adriatic.You picked a beautiful country for your anniversary.

1- You will not have time to see Trakoscan castle if starting after lunch. It is in opposite direction to Plitvice. You have 4-5 hours of driving this day + time to see the castle.

2- What time are you planning on leaving Plitvice? You cannot get to Mostar at a reasonable hour. Stay in Trogir or Split or a pension by the sea outside of Split.

3- The drive to Dubrovnik gets a little messy after the super highway ends. Allow time.

7-Kotor or back to Dubrovnik
8-Dubrovnik

Plitvice is better than Rovinj.

Amico tours in Dubrovnik advertises day(7AM to 7:30PM)Tours, Saturdays, 5 people minimum tours to the Tara river. See their unstable website.Seeing Plitvice and then driving to Dubrovnik is not practical.

Relax, smell the roses, sit at the Busa bar, walk at night, holding hands, down the main street, walk the walls, drink water out of the fountain, eat dinner outside tables on a side street stone pavement, enjoy the Perl of the Adriatic.You picked a beautiful country for your anniversary.

Thank you for your reply i appreciate it.
I thought zagreb to plitvice was 2 hours that's why I thought we could do the castle but I agree it could be too much. But it looked like a interesting place to stop near zagreb

We would leave plitvice prob around 12 or 1 latest. I realize w lunch we wouldn't get to mostar until 7ish. I was concerned that trogir would be too similar to Dubrovnik and Mostar would be different feel. Do you prefer trogir? Both look beautiful.

So you think the Tara river rafting trip is not worth changing my itinerary for? I have been contact with a couple companies that do the tour, active and summit, but it is a long day. Of course they day it is worth it, And I understand what you are saying about stopping to enjoy and smell roses and you are right, somehow when you think you may not be back again you want to see everything! We will be doing sea kayaking and hiking biking on the sailing trip to the islands. So maybe that's enoug nature.
So if there is anything that you feel is not worth it please let me know.

Do you have opinion on where to stay in Montenegro overnight kotor or perast? Which is more scenic ? we would stop at both and any other must see stops in this area
Also if the sailing ends at 4 pm is this to late to drive to kotor or take the ferry from dubrovnik that afternoon? They say it's 2 hour drive? But now you have me thinking this might be too much as well.

Thank you for your help !

On day 2 if you left the park by 12 or 1 latest you could make it to Mostar. Mostar is a different feel with mosques, the river, the "new" old bridge.I was lucky to have been there in the days of the old bridge. I recommend that you go to Mostar.

To me the only way to get to Dubrovnik on day 2 is to see Plitvice on day 1. Where are you flying from into Zagreb? Is it an overnight from the USA? The park opens at 7AM and closes at 8PM. It might be easier if you were staying in the park.Where are you planning on staying in Dubrovnik? Two years ago we stayed in the old town and loved it. If you stay in a apartment it takes time to connect up with the owner and go to the apartment. The owner may not want a late arriver. I assume you will turn your car in when you arrive in Dubrovnik.Parking cost a fortune.

My understanding is that your only opportunity to the Tara River is day 3.You will only know if it was worth it when you get back. I would not do it.Maybe if you were not doing Huck Finn the next 4 days.

I would stay in Dubrovnik, rent a car and drive to Kotor for a day on day 8.

Amalfi area is great, Capri not so much.

For the Kotor vs Perast question, stay in Kotor. There is nothing going on in Perast, plus it is only 3 miles down the road so you can go there for an hour or so-- take the boat to the church island, beautiful.

Budva in Montenegro is also nice and only about an hour from Kotor.

However, since you do not have much time in DBV I would lean towards staying there as there is far more to do.

the only day we could do the tara rafting would have to be the day after the 3 night sailing trip. so our second to last day in that area, day 8 when we are in kotor. so maybe we have to skip the rafting. its that or sailing i agree. I feel like the sailing of the islands will be really beautiful in July and nice to swim, kayak and hike and bike those islands. I hear more wonderful things about the islands of croatia than the rivers etc?

so it would be
1-fly into zagreb and san korana right by plitvice for night
2- plitvice til 12 or 1. than mostar or trogir overnight?? with your vote for mostar

3 - continue on to dubrovnik staying at hotel stari grad for 1 night in old town
4-6 sailing at 11 am with huck finn to ston, sipan, mljet, peljasic.
has anyone sailed or explored these islands?

7- after sailing at 4 pm was going to take the ferry or drive to kotor for 1 night. thks krgystn we will stay in kotor i was leaning that way. we thought it would be nice so it wasnt just a day trip and break of up the driving. if we can get there that night that is.

8-9 explore kotor, perast, cavtat etc that area and back to dubrovnik for 2 nights at excelsior or villa argentina???

10-13 leave in AM for Amailfi coast from dubrovnik ooking at staying in Positano. hotel marincanto, eden roc hotel, or hotel bocca ? looked into ravello too but the hotels seem even more pricey there.
would like to do a boat tour around amalfi coast or the hike but am going to skip capri have already been.

> plitvice til 12 or 1.

That doesn't leave you much time for Plitvice Lakes. One can visit in just a morning, but I was glad I had close to 7 hours there.

> mostar or trogir overnight?

These are both lovely, but incredibly different. If you have time to get to them, which to visit really depends on your interests.

> to ston, sipan, mljet, peljasic. ... has anyone sailed or explored these islands?

You do know these are not all islands? You might find a lot of very helpful information in a good guide book.

Itinerary lookin good!

Mostar
http://www.villa-anri-mostar.ba/onamaen.html

Kotor
I hope you can make Kotor on day 7. Where does the ferry to Kotor operate? Is it just across Kotor Bay? I am not familiar with it.

Thank you all for your advice,

I realize they are not all islands I have explored all the guide books and read a lot online, was trying to minimize my post , but thanks was just asking if anyone sailed those islands, towns, peninsulas...
Was looking for a personal experience we chose this sail over the hvar, vis korcula sail because it seems it will be less crowded and more natural .

There is not alot online about the Tara river rafting so I was wondering if it is amazing and should try to fit in over some f the kind and coastal towns.

It seems like we may have to simplify a bit and figure out what is our must sees.

I am serve issued like a full day at plitvice but in the heat of July I thought 7 hours might be too much without a dip in the water?

Yes there are ferries to kotor from Dubrovnik , we have a friend who suggested taking the ferry to kotor one way instead of driving both ways, I am still looking into finding the info on it, Thks Dugi

> I am serve issued like a full day at plitvice but in the heat of July I thought 7 hours might be too much without a dip in the water?

Many parts of the park are wonderfully shaded. I don't believe you are permitted to go into or dip any part of your body into the water, and would encourage you to avoid doing so as it can damage this fragile ecosystem.

yes you are not alllowed in the water thats why I was saying it might be hot for 7 hours, If we want to take more time in the park we will we could always drive in the dark if we have to, glad to hear some is shaded.