Originally Posted by
mad_rich
Six days is just enough to do the itinerary I suggested, but it depends on how the transport works out. I would want at least two days and two nights in Dubrovnik, and a full day and night in Zagreb.
Overland coast to Zagreb takes a long time by train (6 hrs+), a little bit less by bus. FWIW, SPU/Split's airport is quite a long way from town (had to drop off a rental car there and bus into Split).
I'm not sure how you would get from Orhid. By road, you're looking at going through Kosovo or Albania, Montenegro, and possibly BiH. Lots of border crossings, possibly some hassle, and either several changes of bus or a hell of a car paperwork headache. It's not a simple journey.
As far as rental cars go, not difficult driving into BiH or MNE. Just make sure your car rental agency allows it.
You could fly to Ljubljana (my favourite city on earth) and take the the train to Rijeka on the coast, then begin your slow journey down the Dalmatian coast from there.
Just be aware train frequency isn't great. It was just 2x (maybe 3x) daily in early October last year.
In fact, if you don't want to backtrack by ferry or plane towards Zagreb, the best escape might be on the overnight ferry to Bari in Italy
Limited schedule. Only 2x weekly in summer. I think the day crossings are to Italy and overnights back to Croatia. Easier to fly out from there to FCO, Germany or London.