Chiang Mai: Riverside Thai Cooking Class & Market Tour

Summary

Chiang Mai riverside cooking with local market flavors

You’ll wander Chiang Mai’s bustling markets with a local guide before heading riverside for hands-on Thai cooking. Chop fresh herbs, roll spring rolls, then share your own homemade lunch or dinner by the water. Recipes come home with you — along with new flavors and maybe some laughs you weren’t expecting.

What’s the experience like?

We hopped out of the van just as the morning was warming up, straight into the hum of Chiang Mai’s local market. Our guide, Pim, waved us over to a stall piled high with herbs — lemongrass and kaffir lime leaves that smelled sharp even before you touched them. She laughed when I tried to say “galangal” in Thai (I definitely didn’t nail it), but she grinned and handed me a piece anyway. The whole place buzzed with chatter and clattering baskets, and I remember thinking how much I’d missed that feeling of being somewhere new but oddly familiar.

After we’d picked out our vegetables and curry paste (Pim explained which ones were spicy enough to make you sweat), we drove down to her place by the river. There was this soft breeze off the water — honestly, it felt good after the crowded market. We washed our hands at an outdoor sink while Pim set up stations under a patchwork of umbrellas. Chopping garlic next to a couple from Berlin who kept sneaking bites of raw chili (braver than me), I realized how much fun it is just messing around in someone else’s kitchen. The rice steamed quietly in its basket while we worked on spring rolls; mine looked pretty lopsided but tasted right.

I still think about that first bite of green curry — coconut-rich and hot enough to make my nose run, but in a good way. Lunch was just everyone sitting together at a long table, passing plates around and swapping stories about failed pad thai attempts back home. Pim gave us printouts of all the recipes (plus promised more by email later), so there’s really no excuse not to try again. I liked that she asked about allergies without making it awkward — one guy was vegan, another had nut issues, and it all just worked.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Thai cooking class with market tour

• Tour local market for ingredients
• Learn to prepare Thai spring rolls
• Cook one Thai dish of choice
• Eat the dishes prepared
• Receive free Thai recipes

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included for this Chiang Mai cooking class?

Yes, private transportation is included for guests attending the class.

Can vegans or people with food allergies join the Thai cooking class?

Yes, Pim can easily accommodate vegans, vegetarians, or guests with food allergies.

What dishes do you cook during the Chiang Mai cooking class?

You’ll prepare spring rolls plus one main Thai dish of your choice during the session.

Is this Thai cooking class suitable for families with children?

Yes, families with children are welcome; infants can ride in prams or strollers.

Will I get recipes after the Chiang Mai Thai cooking class?

Yes, printed recipes are provided during class and more are sent later via email.

How long does this riverside Thai cooking experience last?

This is a half-day activity including market tour, cooking session, and meal.

Are drinks included during the Chiang Mai cooking class?

Soda/pop and bottled water are included during your time at the class.

What’s included

Your day includes private transportation from Chiang Mai city to Pim’s riverside kitchen, all fresh ingredients from the local market tour, hands-on tuition for spring rolls and your chosen dish, printed recipes (and more sent later), plus lunch or dinner shared by the river along with bottled water or soda before heading back relaxed and full.