Chiang Mai: Evening Thai Cooking Class & Organic Garden Tour

Summary

Evening thai cooking in chiang mai with market stroll and garden visit

You’ll wander a Chiang Mai market with a local guide, pick fresh herbs from an organic garden, then cook six Thai dishes yourself — all at your own pace. Choose your menu, adjust spice levels, relax by the lake or in an air-conditioned dining room, and leave with recipes plus a few stories you didn’t see coming.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll be honest, we almost missed the pickup because I was convinced my sandal strap would hold (it didn’t). Our driver waited anyway, grinning like he’d seen this before. The ride through Chiang Mai’s old town felt like a gentle reset — scooters weaving past, the air thick with that sweet, herbal smell I can never quite name. At the market, our guide May handed me a knobbly root and said something about “galangal.” I nodded like I knew what that was. She laughed when I tried to say it back — probably butchered it.

The walk through their organic garden was quieter than I expected. Just birds and the soft crunch of gravel underfoot. May pointed out kaffir lime leaves — she crushed one in her palm and let me sniff it. It’s sharp but not harsh, kind of citrusy but not lemony? Hard to explain. We picked basil together and she showed me where the morning glory grows wild along the fence. There was this moment where the light hit all those green leaves just right and I thought, okay, this is why people love Chiang Mai.

Cooking itself was chaos in the best way. Everyone got their own wok (thank god) so nobody had to pretend they knew what they were doing. My pad thai noodles stuck together at first but May swooped over and fixed it with a splash of something fishy — “Not too much!” she warned. The air inside filled up with garlic and chili; outside you could hear frogs starting up by the lake. We ate what we made in this open-air pavilion overlooking the garden, sticky rice with mango for dessert (I still think about that). Didn’t expect to feel so proud of my lumpy spring rolls.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Cooking class with market and garden visit

• Pickup from hotel at 14:30
• Visit local market at 15:30
• Arrive at cooking school at 16:00
• Tour organic garden
• Participate in cooking class
• Enjoy self-cooked meal
• Class ends at 19:30

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included for this Chiang Mai cooking class?

Yes, pickup from hotels in Chiang Mai Old Town is included.

Do I get to choose which Thai dishes I cook?

Yes, you select one option from each category: appetizer, curry paste, curry, stir-fried dish, soup, and dessert.

Are vegetarian or vegan options available?

Yes, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and allergy-friendly menus are available—just inform staff during menu selection.

How long does the evening cooking class last?

The class runs from 14:30 to around 19:30; finish time may vary depending on the group.

Will we visit a local market as part of the tour?

Yes, there’s a guided visit to a local market before heading to the cooking school.

Is there air conditioning at the cooking school?

Yes, you can dine in an air-conditioned room or outside in a Thai pavilion by the garden.

Can children or infants join this class?

No, visitors and infants are not allowed for this activity.

What if I have food allergies?

Please inform staff during menu selection; allergy-friendly options are available.

What’s included

Your evening includes pickup from your Chiang Mai Old Town hotel, all fresh ingredients for six dishes you choose yourself (with meatless or gluten-free options if needed), hands-on lessons with an English-speaking instructor who’ll help you fix mistakes without judgment (trust me), time exploring both a lively local market and their peaceful organic garden for herbs and veggies you’ll actually use later. You’ll eat everything you make—either open-air by the lake or inside if you want—and get online recipes plus drinks like tea or coffee before heading back full (and maybe a little proud).