Siem Reap: Village Cooking Class & Market Tour with Pickup

Summary

Hands-on Khmer recipes with market strolls and local stories

You’ll head out from Siem Reap by tuk-tuk for a real taste of Cambodian life: shopping for ingredients at a lively local market, learning Khmer recipes in a rural village kitchen, and sharing lunch with your hosts. Expect laughter over spring rolls, hands-on help from your chef, and maybe even some new friends by dessert.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect the morning to start with so many smells — honestly, the market in Siem Reap hit me as soon as we hopped out of the tuk-tuk. Our guide, Dara, grinned when I wrinkled my nose at something (fermented fish paste? still not sure), but then he handed me a sliver of jackfruit and told me to try it. Sweet, sticky fingers from the fruit, and Dara’s laugh echoing over the noise of vendors calling out prices. It was already different than any other cooking class I’ve done.

The drive out to the village was bumpy — tuk-tuks don’t have much suspension, you know? But it felt good to get away from the city dust for a bit. The air got softer somehow. We pulled up to this open pavilion surrounded by banana trees and chickens pecking around. Our chef, Sreyneang, had everything set up: little bowls of spices, piles of herbs I couldn’t name. She showed us how to roll rice paper spring rolls without tearing them (I tore mine anyway; she just winked). The curry simmered on a charcoal stove while we chopped lemongrass and tried not to look too clueless.

Lunch was just us sitting together at a long wooden table — our group plus Sreyneang and Dara — eating what we’d cooked. The bananas in palm sugar were sticky-sweet but somehow not too much after all that curry. I kept thinking about how quiet it was compared to the city; just birds and someone’s radio playing faintly in another house. We swapped stories about home recipes gone wrong. I left with a recipe booklet tucked into my bag and turmeric under my fingernails.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Cambodian village cooking class

• Tour local Cambodian market
• Learn about local produce and ingredients
• Travel to garden pavilion
• Participate in hands-on cooking class
• Cook fresh rice paper spring rolls
• Cook Cambodian curry
• Prepare bananas in palm sugar dessert

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included in this Siem Reap cooking class?

Yes, hotel pickup and drop-off by tuk-tuk are included.

How long does the Cambodian village cooking class last?

This is a half-day activity with morning or afternoon options available.

Are dietary restrictions or allergies accommodated?

Most dietary needs can be catered for if you advise requirements when booking.

What dishes do you cook during the class?

The menu includes rice paper spring rolls, Cambodian curry, and bananas in palm sugar.

Is this cooking class suitable for children or infants?

Yes, infants can ride in a pram or stroller or sit on an adult’s lap during transfers.

Do I get recipes to take home after the class?

Yes, you receive a detailed recipe book at the end of your experience.

Who leads the cooking lesson in the village?

A local Cambodian chef leads your hands-on cooking lesson.

How do we travel from Siem Reap to the village?

You’ll travel by tuk-tuk with your group and guide.

What’s included

Your half-day includes hotel pickup and drop-off by tuk-tuk from Siem Reap, all ingredients for three classic Cambodian dishes (spring rolls, curry, bananas in palm sugar), bottled water and cold towel on arrival, hands-on instruction from a local chef in a rural village setting, plus a recipe booklet to take home after sharing lunch together.