Ao Nang: Thai Cooking Class with Local Chef & Pickup

Summary

Learn to cook Thai dishes in Ao Nang with a friendly chef

You’ll chop, stir, and laugh your way through classic Thai recipes in Ao Nang with a local chef guiding you step by step. Choose your own dishes, learn real techniques (yes, even curry paste), then share a meal with new friends — all with hotel pickup included. It’s the kind of experience you’ll remember every time you taste lemongrass again.

What’s the experience like?

Chopping lemongrass isn’t as easy as it looks — I found that out about five minutes after our guide, Pim, handed me the knife and grinned. She showed us how to bruise the stalks just right for tom yum soup, then let us try (I definitely didn’t get it on the first go). The kitchen smelled like lime leaves and something sweet I couldn’t quite place. There were only six of us, so it felt more like hanging out at someone’s house than a class.

Pim explained every herb and spice like she was introducing old friends. When I tried to say “kapi” (shrimp paste) in Thai, she laughed and corrected me — apparently my accent meant something totally different. We each picked our favorite dish from the menu; I went for green curry because I’d always wanted to know how they get that color so bright. Making curry paste from scratch with a mortar and pestle is way harder than it looks on YouTube, by the way.

The best part? Sitting down together at this long wooden table at the end, eating what we’d made. My pad thai was a little too salty but still better than anything I’ve cooked at home. Someone else’s mango sticky rice disappeared fast — I wish I’d chosen that for dessert now. They gave us recipe books and even a certificate (my first ever for cooking), but honestly it’s Pim’s jokes and the smell of coconut milk simmering that stuck with me most.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Thai Cooking Class in Ao Nang

• Transfer from hotel to cookery school
• Introduction to Thai herbs, vegetables, and spices
• Make curry paste from scratch
• Cook 5 authentic Thai dishes
• Dine on your creations
• Transfer back to hotel

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included for this Ao Nang cooking class?

Yes, free pickup and drop-off are included for hotels in the Ao Nang area.

How many people are in each Thai cooking class?

The class size is limited to 12 people maximum.

Can vegetarians join this Thai cooking class?

Yes, all dishes can be made vegetarian or vegan upon request.

Do I get to choose which Thai dishes to cook?

Yes, you can choose your favorite dish from each category on the menu.

Is lunch included in this Ao Nang cooking experience?

You’ll eat all the dishes you cook during the class as your meal.

Will I receive recipes after the class?

Yes, everyone gets a free recipe book to take home.

How long does the half day Thai cooking class last?

The activity lasts about half a day including transfers.

Is there an English-speaking instructor?

Yes, your local chef instructor speaks English and guides you throughout.

What’s included

Your day includes free hotel pickup and drop-off within Ao Nang, all ingredients and equipment for making five Thai dishes of your choice under guidance from a friendly local chef, plus drinking water during class. You’ll also get a recipe book to keep and a culinary certificate before heading back to your hotel full (and probably smelling faintly of coconut).