A Cultural Tour of The Kingdom of Spain
Thursday, 15 – Monday, 26 October 2009
Leader: Mrs. Bilaibhan Sampatisiri,
Vice President and Chairperson of the Travel Committee
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The familiar images of Spain – flamenco dancing, bullfighting, tapas bars and solemn Easter processions – give only a hint at the diversity of the country. Spain has four official languages, two major cities of almost equal importance, and a greater range of landscape than any other European country. These remarkable contrasts make Spain an endlessly fascinating country to visit. Separated from the rest of Europe by the Pyrenees, Spain reaches south to the coast of North Africa. It has both Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines, and includes two archipelagos – the Balearics and the Canary Islands. The climate and landscape vary from snow-capped peaks in the Pyrenees, through the green meadows of Galicia and the orange groves of Valencia, to the desert of Almería. Madrid is the highest capital in Europe, and Spain its most mountainous country after Switzerland and Austria.
In early times, Spain was a coveted prize for foreign conquerors including the Phoenicians and the Romans. During the Middle Ages much of it was ruled by the Moors who arrived from North Africa in the 8th century. It was reconquered by Christian forces and unified at the end of the 15th century. A succession of rulers tried to impose a common culture but Spain remains as culturally diverse as ever. Madrid may be the nominal capital but it is closely rivaled in commerce, the arts and sport by Barcelona, the main city of Catalonia.
Catholicism holds an historical and pervasive influence over Spanish society, although church attendance among those under 35 has declined in recent years to below 25 percent. The images of saints watch over some shops, bars and lorry drivers’ cabs. Church feast days are marked by countless traditional fiestas which are enthusiastically maintained in modern Spain.
After the death of General Franco in 1975, Spain became a constitutional monarchy under King Juan Carlos I. The post-Franco era, up until the mid-1990s, was dominated by the Socialist Prime Minister Felipe González. As well as presiding over major improvements in roads, education and health services, the Socialists increased Spain’s international standing.
Spain joined the European Community in 1986, triggering a spectacular increase in the country’s prosperity. The country’s fortunes seemed to peak in the extraordinary year of 1992, when Barcelona staged the Olympic Games and Seville hosted the World’s Fair Expo ‘92. During the 1980s Spain enjoyed an economic boom as service industries and manufacturing expanded. Tourism provides approximately ten percent of the country’s earnings. Most tourists still come for beaches. But increasingly, foreign visitors are drawn by Spain’s rich cultural heritage and spectacular countryside. Anyone who knows this country, however, will tell you that it is the Spanish people’s capacity to enjoy life to the full that is Spain’s biggest attraction.
Madrid. Spain’s capital, a city of over three million peoples, is situated close to the geographical center of the country, at the hub of both road and rail networks. Madrid’s attractions include three internationally famous art galleries, a Royal Palace, grand public squares and many museums filled with the treasures of Spain’s history. The city is surrounded by its own small province, the Comunidad de Madrid, which takes in the Sierra de Guadarrama and one of Spain’s most famous monuments, the Palace of El Escorial. When Filipe II chose Madrid as his capital in 1561, it was a small Castilian town of little real significance. In the following years, it was to grow into the nerve center of a mighty empire. According to tradition, it was the Moorish chieftain Muhammad ben Abd al Rahman who established a fortress above the Río Manzanares.
Magerite, as it was called in Arabic, fell to Alfonso VI of Castile between 1083 and 1086. Narrow streets with houses and medieval churches began to grow up on the higher ground behind the old Arab alcazar, which was replaced by a Gothic palace in the 15th century. When this burned down in 1734, it was replaced in turn by the present Bourbon palace, the Palacio Real. The population had scarcely reached 20,000 when Madrid was chosen as the capital, but by the end of the century it had more than trebled. The 16th century city is known as the “Madrid de los Austrias”, after the reigning Habsburg dynasty. During this period royal monasteries were endowed and churches and private palaces were built. In the 17th century, the Plaza Mayor was added and the Puerta Del Sol, the “Gate of the Sun”, became the spiritual and geographical heart not only of Madrid but of all Spain.
The Prado Museum contains the world’s greatest assembly of Spanish painting – especially works by Velázquez and Goya – ranging from the 12th to 19th centuries. It also houses impressive foreign collections, particularly of Italian and Flemish works. The Neo-Classical building was designed in 1785 by Juan de Villanueva on the orders of Carlos III, and it opened as a museum in 1819. The importance of the Prado is founded on its royal collections. The wealth of foreign art, including many of Europe’s finest works, reflects the historical power of the Spanish crown. The Low Countries and parts of Italy were under Spanish domination for centuries. The 18th century was an era of French influence, following the Bourbon accession to the Spanish throne.
The Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía (MNCARS) is the official name of Spain's national museum of 20th century art (informally shortened to the Museo Reina Sofía, Queen Sofia Museum, El Reina Sofia, or simply The Sofia). The museum is mainly dedicated to Spanish art. Highlights of the museum include excellent collections of Spain's two greatest 20th century masters, Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí. Certainly the most famous masterpiece in the museum is Picasso's great painting Guernica. The Reina Sofía also houses a superb collection of the works of Juan Gris, Joan Miró, Julio González, Eduardo Chillida, Antoni Tàpies, Pablo Gargallo, Lucio Muñoz, Luis Gordillo, Jorge Oteiza, José Gutiérrez Solana and many other significant artists.
El Escorial, Madrid province (the Comunidad de Madrid) sits high on Spain’s central plateau. There is plenty of superb scenery and good walking country in the sierra to the north, which are refuge for city dwellers who go there to ski in winter or cool down during the torrid summers. In the western foothills of these mountains stands El Escorial, the royal palace cum-monastery built by Felipe II, from which he ruled his empire. Close by is the Valle de los Caídos, a war monument erected by Franco. The smaller Royal Palace of El Pardo is on the outskirts of Madrid, and south of the city is the 18th century summer palace of Aranjuez, set in lush parkland. Historic towns include Alcalá de Henares, which has a Renaissance university building, and Chinchón, where taverns cluster around a picturesque arcaded market square.
Segovia is the most spectacularly sited city in Spain. The old town is set high on a rocky spur and surrounded by the Río Eresma and Río Clamores. It is often compared to a ship – the Alcázar on its sharp crag forming the prow, the pinnacles of the cathedral rising like masts, and the aqueduct trailing behind like a rudder. The view of it from the valley below at sunset is magical. The aqueduct, in use until the late 19th century, was built at the end of the 1st century AD by the Romans, who turned the ancient town into an important military base. The cathedral, dating from 1525 and consecrated in 1678, is the last great Gothic church in Spain. It was built to replace the old cathedral, which was destroyed in 1520 during the revolt of the Castilian towns. The cloister, however, survived and was rebuilt on the new site. The pinnacles, flying buttresses, tower and dome form an impressive silhouette, while the interior is light and elegantly vaulted. Graceful ironwork grilles en close the side chapels. The chapterhouse museum, with a coffered ceiling, houses 17th century Brussels tapestries. At the city’s western end is the Alcázar. Rising sheer above crags with a multitude of gabled roofs, turrets and crenellations, it appears like the archetypal fairy-tale castle.
South of Spain (Cordoba, Seville, Ronda and Granada). One large region – Andalucía – extends accross the south of Spain. Three inland cities between them share the greatest of Spain’s Moorish monuments: Granada, Cordoba and Seville, the capital, which stands on the banks of the Rio Guadalquivir (River). Andalucía has many other historic towns as well as attractive, whitewashed villages, important nature reserves and the sherry producing vineyards around Jerez de la Frontera. Cordoba and Granada are remarkable for their Moorish heritage; Seville, capital city and heart of Andalusía and Ronda, is one of dozens of superb white towns.
Cordoba. The heart of Cordoba is the old Jewish quarter, situated to the west of the Mezquita’s towering walls. A walk around this area gives the sensation that little has changed since the 10th century when this was one of the greatest cities in the Western World. Wrought ironwork decorates cobbled streets too narrow for cars, where silversmiths create fine jewelry in their workshops. Most of the chief sights are 
here.
Seville is the capital of Andalucía, the heart and soul of traditional Spain. One of Seville’s best-known monuments, the Moorish Torre del Oro, built in the 13th century to protect the port, this crenellated Moorish tower now houses a small maritime museum. The maze of narrow streets winds past the Seville cathedral and the real Alcázar which represents Seville at its most romantic and compact. As well as the expected souvenir shops, tapas bars and strolling guitarists, there are plenty of picturesque alley ways, hidden plazas and flower-decked patios to reward the casual wanderer.
Ronda. One of the most spectacularly located cities in Spain, Ronda sits on a massive rocky outcrop, straddling a precipitous limestone cleft. Because of it impregnable position this town was one of the last Moorish bastions, finally falling to the Christian in 1485. Ronda’s Plaza de Toros is the spiritual home of bullfighting. Inaugurated in 1785, it is one of the oldest, most important bullrings in Spain.
Granada. The guitarist Andrés Segovia (1893 – 1987) described Granada as a “place of dreams, where the Lord put the seed of music in my soul”. It was first occupied by the Moors in the 8th century, and its golden period came during the rule of the Nasrid Dynasty from 1238 to 1492, when artisans, merchants, scholars and scientists all contributed to the city’s international reputation as a center for culture. Under Christian rule, following its fall to the Catholic Monarchs in 1492 and the expulsion of the Moors, the city blossomed in Renaissance splendor. There was a period of decline in the 19th century, but Granada has recently been the subject of renewed interest and efforts are being made to restore parts of it to its past glory.
The Alhambra, a magical use of space, light, water and decoration characterizes this most sensual piece of architecture. It was built under Ismail I, Yusuf I and Muhammad V, caliphs when the Nasrid Dynasty ruled Granada. Seeking to belie an image of waning power, they created their idea of paradise on Earth. Modest materials were used (plaster, timber and tiles), but they were superbly worked. Although the Alhambra suffered pillage and decay, including an attempt by Napoleon’s troops to blow it up, in recent times it has undergone extensive restoration and its delicate craftsmanship still dazzles the eye.
Barcelona, one of the Mediterranean’s busiest ports, is more than the capital of Catalonia. In terms of culture, commerce and sport it not only rivals Madrid, but also considers itself on a par with the greatest European cities. Although, there are plenty of historical monuments in the Old Town (Ciutat Vella), Barcelona is best known for the scores of buildings in the examples left by the artistic explosion of Modernism in the decades around 1900. Towards the end of the 19th century, a new style of art and architecture, Modernism, a variant of Art Nouveau, was born in Barcelona (Barcelona claims to have the greatest collection of Art Nouveau buildings of any city in Europe). The old town of Barcelona is one of the most extensive medieval city centers in Europe.
The Barri Gothic or Barrio Gòtico contains the cathedral and a maze of streets and squares. Across
from the Via Laietana, the El Born neighborhood is dominated by the Santa María del Mar Church and is replete with 14th century mansions. The Barri Gothic is the true heart of Barcelona. The oldest part of the city, it was the site chosen by the Romans in the reign of Augustus (27 BC – AD 14) on which to found a new town, and has been the location of the city’s administrative buildings ever since. Close by are the Gothic cathedral and royal palace where Columbus was received by Fernando and Isabel on his return from his voyage to the New World in 1492. The Gothic cathedral, with a Romanesque chapel and beautiful cloister, was begun in 1298 under Jaime II of Aragón (1267- 1327). It was not finished until the late 19th century, when the main façade was completed. One of Barcelona’s most popular attractions, the Picasso Museum is housed in five adjoining medieval palaces on Carrer Montcada. Pablo Picasso (1881-1973) was born in Malaya and was almost 14 when he came to Barcelona. Picasso left Barcelona for Paris in his early twenties and initially returned several times. Picasso donated several of his paintings to the museum including examples of his early work. These pieces were complemented by his graphic works and ceramic pieces given by his widow, Jacqueline.
Barcelona Casa Asia, or Asia House, is a remarkable institution of East-West relations. Billed as the gateway to Asia and the Pacific in Spain, it also opens a vista of Catalonian splendor in its premises located on the famous Avinguda Diagonal in Barcelona. The Palau Baró de Quadras, a Modernist building designed by Josep Puig i Cadafalch (1867-1956) and classified as an Artistic and Historical Monument of National Interest, is the 'house' that acts as Casa Asia's headquarters. The building’s architecture evokes the splendor of an earlier era contains a reception area, an art gallery, a library, an auditorium, numerous halls and rooms for workshops and other activities concerning Asian themes.
Casa Asia was set up in 2001 by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Autonomous Government of Catalonia and Barcelona City Council, to increase awareness of Asia in local society, and to strengthen the mutual awareness between Spain and the countries of the Asia-Pacific region. To this end, Casa Asia acts as a point of contact and a forum for dialogue between Spain, Europe and the Asia-Pacific. It hosts public lectures, seminars, business meetings and forums, art exhibitions, and provides specialist information on the Asia-Pacific region.
Toledo. The former capital city of Spain, the city is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Picturesquely sited on a hill above the River Tagus is the historic center of Toledo. Behind the old walls lies much evidence of the city’s rich history. The Romans built a fortress on the site of the present day Alcázar. The Visigoths made Toledo their capital in the 6th century AD, and left behind several churches. In the Middle Ages Toledo was a melting pot of Christian, Muslim and Jewish cultures, and it was during this period that the city’s most outstanding monument – its cathedral – was built. In the 16th century the painter El Greco (Domenicos Theotokopoulos, 1541-1614) came to live in Toledo, and today the city is home to many of his works.
El Greco, born in Crete in 1541, was a Greek artist whose emotional style vividly expressed the passion of Counter-Reformation Spain. His artistic roots are diverse. He traveled between Venice and Rome before he settled in Toledo where he lived until he died in 1614. El Greco was trained and influenced by the Italian master – Tintoretto (1518-1594). He painted from a highly personal religious vision, the Baroque religious art of the 17th century. El Greco came to Toledo in 1577 to paint the altarpiece in the Convent of Santo Domingo El Antiguo. Enchanted by the city, he stayed here, painting religious portraits and altarpieces for other churches. His works are closely identified with the city where he settled. Visitors come to Santo Tomé mainly to admire El Greco’s masterpiece, the Burial of Count Orgaz, which is housed in a side chapel with its own separate entrance.
For 2009 one of the premier trips being organized by the Society’s Travel Committee will be a tour to Spain currently scheduled for 15 – 26 October. Leading up to the decision to organize this tour several events relating to Spain have occurred over the past few years. In 2006 Their Majesties King Juan Carlos and Queen Sophia honored the Society by attending a special reception held at the Society in their honor. In the same year Khun Bilaibhan Sampatisiri, 1st Vice President of the Siam Society, was appointed as the representative of Casa Asia in Thailand.
In June 2008 the election of the new Council included H.E. Mr. Juan Manuel López Nadal, Ambassador of Spain to the Kingdom of Thailand. Over the past few months the Society has been in partnership with Casa Asia’s main office in Barcelona, Spain, to organize a special exhibit on their premises to promote further understanding of Thai culture. The premier event for the program will be an exhibit of some 200 pieces of rare textiles which represent the four regions of Thailand. That program is headed by Khun Bilaibhan, one of the people lending pieces of textile from her private collection for the program. The exhibit will also display pieces from the private collection of Khun Thanong Kuptasthien and Khun Jakrapong Wanchana designers and owners of Rico-a-Mona Haute Couture. The Society study trip to Spain is being timed so that the group will be present in Barcelona for the opening ceremony of the exhibition. The event is being organized in coordination with the Thai Tourism Authority and the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Thai Ambassador to Spain is expected to be present at the opening ceremony.
The exhibition of Thai textiles at the headquarter of Casa Asia in Barcelona is being supported in large part by donations from Thai individuals and the Thai business sector. Anyone interested in being part of the sponsorship, please contact the Society as soon as possible.
The tentative programme will be as follows:
Day 1: Thursday, 15 Oct. Bangkok – Madrid |
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| 9:30 p.m. | Meet at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport, counter check-in Turkish Airlines, Row U. Entrance Gate No. 8-9 |
| 11:35 p.m. | Departure Bangkok to Madrid by Cross Air flight TK 61/1857 via Istanbul |
Day 2: Friday, 16 Oct. Madrid |
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| 7:00 a.m. | Arrive Istanbul transit to Madrid |
| 8:20 a.m. | Depart Istanbul to Madrid by flight 1857 |
| 11:40 a.m. | Arrive Madrid Barajas International Airport, proceed by coach to restaurant |
| Lunch | At local restaurant |
| Afternoon | Visit the Prado Museum, admire the paintings of Velazquez, Goya and other famous Spanish artists |
| Dinner at local restaurant | |
| Overnight in Madrid at Hotel Meliá Madrid Princesa or similar category | |
Day 3: Saturday, 17 Oct. Madrid - Segovia – Madrid |
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| Morning | Breakfast at the hotel |
| After breakfast visit the 16th century Royal Monastery of El Escorial designed by the Spanish architect Juan de Herrera during the reign of King Phillip the Second, to commemorate the battle of San Quintìn. The monastery also houses the Mausoleum of the Spanish Monarchs and is considered to be one of the Eight Wonders of the World. After that proceed across the Castilian landscape to arrive in Segovia for lunch. See the Roman aqueduct, which probably built c. A.D. 50, is remarkably well preserved. This impressive construction, with its two tiers of arches, forms part of the setting of the magnificent historic city of Segovia |
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| Lunch | At local restaurant |
| Afternoon | Stroll through the lovely old town of Segovia and visit the fairy tale Alcázar, begun around the 11th century. After that, journey back to Madrid |
| Dinner at local restaurant | |
| Overnight in Madrid at Hotel Meliá Madrid Princesa or similar category | |
Day 4: Sunday, 18 Oct. Madrid – Cordoba |
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| Morning | Breakfast at the hotel |
| After breakfast drive into the southern region of Spain known as Andalucía | |
| Lunch | At El Caballo Rojo in Cordoba |
| Afternoon | Sightseeing in Cordoba, once the capital of the Caliphate. First, to the Jewish Quarter and the 14th century Synagogue and the Mezquita, a sacred location throughout history. The Mezquita was initially a Roman Temple devoted to the God Janus, then a Visigoth Basilica, until a Mosque was built on the site in 741 A.D. The Muslim construction was finally converted into the Cordoba Cathedral in the 13th century. During the times of splendor, the temple had over one thousand magnificent marble columns which supported the series of multicolored arches for which this architectural masterpiece is so renowned. |
| Dinner and overnight in Cordoba at Hotel Córdoba Center or similar category | |
Day 5: Monday, 19 Oct. Cordoba – Seville |
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| Morning | Breakfast at the hotel |
| After breakfast proceed to Seville, capital city and heart of Andalucía, We will follow the steps where Christopher Columbus began to dream of his trip to "India". We will pass the "Cartuja Island" and the Cartuja Monastery. Then go inside the Alcazár, which is the oldest royal residence of the Spanish Kings from the 12th century. See the ceramic tile mosaic, crafted ceilings, courtyards and wonderful Arab and Renaissance style gardens. After the Alcazár, visit to the Cathedral and the Giralda Tower – a mixture of Gothic, Renaissance and Moorish styles. It is one of the world’s largest Christian temples where you can admire the tomb of Christopher Columbus. We will go through the Santa Cruz Quarter, a natural scenario of “Carmen” as well as precisely where the myth of “Don Juan” developed, the old Jewish District, where we’ll enjoy its narrow and colorful streets, with orange trees and beautiful courtyards. | |
| Lunch | At local restaurant |
| Tonight we will stay at the stunningly located parador (Spanish castle) which over-looks 130 meter deep gorge made famous in Hemingway's For Whom the Bell Tolls. | |
| Dinner at local restaurant | |
| Overnight in Seville, Hotel Eme Fusion or similar category | |
| See Flamenco dance at Casa la Anselma | |
Day 6: Tuesday, 20 Oct. Seville - Ronda - Granada |
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| Morning | Breakfast at the hotel |
| After breakfast proceed to Ronda, we will take a panoramic tour of Ronda visiting the antique Bullring of Spain and Plaza de la Duquesa de Parcent in the old city. We will see the mixed architectural styles: Arab, Gothic and Renaissance. The old city is full of churches such as Santa María La Mayor. We will see part of its defenses including the ramparts, towers and Gate of Almocabar and its Arab Baths | |
| Lunch | At local restaurant |
| Afternoon | Drive to Granada, the last bastion of Islam on the Iberian Peninsula, nurtured by its grandeur between the 13th and 15th centuries when it was the head of the Nazarite Kingdom and was transformed into one of the most beautiful cities in the western world. |
| Dinner and overnight in Granada at Hotel AC Palacio de Santa Paula or similar category | |
Day 7: Wednesday, 21 Oct. Granada - Toledo |
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| Morning | Breakfast at the hotel |
| After breakfast we will take a panoramic tour of Granada that will include an inside visit of the Cathedral and the Tombs of the Catholic Monarchs in the Royal Chapel and visit the Alhambra, a summer palace built by the Moorish Kings, set in beautiful gardens with its magnificent patios, arches and fountains that have inspired several authors with its sound and sight, such as the “Tales of the Alhambra” by W. Irving. | |
| Lunch at local restaurant | |
| Afternoon | Proceed to the amazing town of Toledo. We will pass through the Canyon of Despeñaperros, Andalucía and enter Castilla La Mancha, setting of Cervantes, Don Quixote, the Man from La Mancha and his fabulous "Windmills". See the marvelous spectacle windmills in Campo de Criptana, which Don Quijote battled after mistaking them for giants |
| Dinner and Overnight in Toledo, Hotel Alfonso VI or Similar category | |
Day 8: Thursday, 22 Oct. Toledo – Madrid |
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| Morning | Breakfast at the hotel |
| After breakfast visit city of Toledo, one of the most important centers of European medieval history. Toledo itself is a monument, with three different cultures - Christian, Moorish and Jewish. The city holds a collection of typical Spanish monuments along with buildings from Spain’s Gothic to Baroque periods. We then visit the Cathedral, the Church of Santo Tome where we will admire the most famous painting, "El Entierro del Conde de Orgaz" by the great artist Domenicus Theotocopoulous - better known as "El Greco". After that visit a fine artisan factory where Toledo’s famous Damascenes are made. | |
| Lunch | At local restaurant |
| Afternoon | Proceed to Madrid, see the Plaza de Espana and the statue of Cervantes, author of Don Quixote., the Plaza Major, pass Cibeles Fountain and the Parliament, and cross the Puerta del Sol, geographical centre point of Spain. Free time during which time you may wish to relax in one of the cafes on the Paseo de la Castellana or shop in the elegant boutiques of Serrano as time permits. |
| Dinner at Botin Restaurant. According to the Guinness Book of Records, this is the oldest restaurant in the world, dating from 1725 specialties being cochinillo asado (roast suckling pig) and cordero asado (roast lamb). | |
| Overnight in Madrid, Hotel Meliá Madrid Princesa or similar category | |
Day 9: Friday, 23 Oct. Madrid by train to Barcelona |
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| Morning | Breakfast at the hotel |
| 9:30 a.m. | Depart by train to Barcelona |
| 12:27 p.m. | Arrive Barcelona, meet the coach to transfer to a restaurant for lunch |
| Lunch | At local restaurant |
| Afternoon | Visit Casa Asia headquarters in the Palau Baró de Quadras, a modernist building designed by the architect Puig i Cadafalch. The building is classified as an Artistic and Historical Monument of National Interest. The groups will participate in the opening ceremony for an exhibition of rare Thai textiles at the Casa Asia headquarters. |
| Dinner at Local restaurant | |
| Overnight in Barcelona, the Gran Hotel Princesa Sofia or similar category | |
Day 10: Saturday, 24 Oct. Barcelona |
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| Morning | Breakfast at the hotel |
| After breakfast, proceed to Gothic city. Barcelona is the city in Europe that has the largest number of religious and non-religious (civil) Gothic buildings from the XIV-XV centuries. The tour of the center of the city will include the Picasso Museum (in a gothic building) and several very beautiful cathedrals and government buildings. Proceed to Art Nouveau in the late XIX and early XX centuries, the architectural movement called Art Nouveau flourished in Barcelona. Great architects like Antoni Gaudi erected amazing buildings and designed beautiful parks. A tour around the city visiting the best examples of this architecture. The La Sagrada Família and Parque Güell are 2 fines example of this architectural movement | |
| Lunch | At own arrangement |
| After lunch free at leisure | |
| Dinner at own arrangement | |
| Overnight at the Gran Hotel Princesa Sofia or similar category | |
Day 11: Sunday, 25 Oct. Barcelona – Bangkok |
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| Morning | Breakfast at the hotel |
| Free at leisure | |
| Lunch at own arrangement | |
| 2:30 p.m. | Transfer to the airport for flight return to Bangkok |
| 4:30 p.m. | Depart to Istanbul by TK 1856 |
| 8:55 p.m. | Arrive at the Istanbul Ataturk International Airport, transit to flight to Bangkok |
| 11:40 p.m. | Depart Istanbul to Bangkok by TK 60 |
Day 12: Monday, 26 Oct. Bangkok |
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| 1:40 p.m. | Arrive at Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport |
Booking
The total contribution is 172,500 baht per person, of which 35,000 baht is required at the time of booking. Payment in full is due by Wednesday, 16 September 2009. Your contribution will cover all transportation as mentioned in the programme, accommodation for two persons per room, all meals in Spain, airport taxes in Thailand and Spain, and donation to the Siam Society. Please add 30,500 baht for single room. Members must submit a copy of passports at the Siam Society when they make their initial booking and must hold passports valid for at least six months. 3,500 baht extra cost for non-members.
The contribution excludes: Optional programme, visa fee to Spain, tips or gratuities for local guides, driver and porters, drinks and own personal expenses.
Cancellation charge:
45 days before the start of the trip: No cancellation charge
Within 44-35 days of the start of the trip: 20 % of the tour cost
Within 34-16 days of the start of the trip: 50 % of the tour cost
Within 15 days of the start of the trip:
NO REFUND
The Siam Society reserves the right to change the programme as necessary. Seats are limited. Please book your place as soon as possible.
For further information and bookings please contact Khun Prasert (ext. 504) or Khun Ekkarin (ext. 506) on 0 2661 6470-7, fax 0 2258 3491 or e-mail: info@siam-society.org. Office hours: 9:00am.–5:00pm. Tuesday–Saturday (except holidays).