HELP-16 Days in Iran

Hi There

Help please. Asked this question before but no response to date. Have 16 days in Iran in May and would really appreciate any comments/advice on the draft itineray I've put together based on my LP homework. (Note the focus at the beginning on villages is because I really like small towns with some architectural/off the beaten path appeal). Day one starts after coming from the train from Istanbul:

Day 1 Tabriz (depart train) and bus to the Caspian Sea/overnight [any suggestions as to nice town?])
Day 2 to Masuleh/overnight
Day 3 to Tonekabon (formerlyShahsavar)(meant to be a lovely town)
Day 4 to Babol (overnight with friends of friends)
Day 5 Babol (chilling out)
Day 6 Babol to Bastam (again seems a nice out of the way town?) Can I do this by bus easily?
Day 7 Bastam to Yazd
Days 8-9 Yazd
Day 10 Yazd to Shiraz
Day 11 day trip from Shiraz to Persepolis
Day 12 Shiraz
Day 13 Shiraz ro Esfahan
Days 14-15 Esfahan
Day 16 Esfahan to Qom (overnight Qom)
Day 17 Qom to Tehran (fly out very early the next morning) (ie only about half a day and evening in the capital)

Feedback MOST welcome

Thanks- Aussie Mike

Hello dear friend

I think you put too much time for visiting the north of Iran, although north of Iran is very beautiful place but you can see its beauty by visiting there for 2 or 3 days, Iran is the country of contrast you can see many different land scape , very different climate, so I recommend you to visit KANDOVAN a village in mountain near tabriz, also put more time for visiting sites in Shiraz and Isfahan, Kerman is also very very nice city with desert, you can also visit ABYANE a very very old village in desert near Yazd, I hope you can make a memorable visit to Iran

Hi Mike; No direct bus to Masuleh. You have to go to Rasht and then to Masuleh. Overnight Lahijan city can be a choice. or Ebrahim Sara village. contact me for arreengmant for the village.
There is a castle near Masuleh which nice. It is called “ Qale Rudkhan”. you can visit it and then go to Masuleh. it will take one hour climbing through jungle.
Non Muslims are not allowed to visit inside the holly shrine in Qom. You just can visit the yard.

Have good time.

Qom is like Mashhad -- only fun if you're religious. Ditch Qom and spend some more time in Tehran. Anything on the Caspian see is nice.

I agree that Kerman and the Kaluts desert around it must not be missed nor should a day in Kashan which sports a far more intimate and manageable bazaar than Esfahan.

hi.
yes, i would say you should 'skip' Qom altogether and send a day or two in Kerman instead! you can also shorten your stay in north of the country by one or two days as well, and second an extra day or 2 in preferably shiraz and/or esfahan or other cities. it would not be too bad if you could spend one day in tehran, but not more than. so to sum up, remove Qom, add Kerman, spend more time in other cities and less time in the north! Good luck.

What's the lastest re Bam? Expect a visit would be dissapointing in some respects but greatly appreciated by the local population who must have been badly hit by the earthquakes a few years back?

Try and get to Esfahan at night and enter the truly magical central area when it's under flood light .... a memory you'll never forget I promise!