Chiang Mai Thai & Akha Cooking Class with Master Chef

Cook your own Thai dinner and eat what you make

A cooking class in Chiang Mai where you learn Thai and Akha dishes from a native Akha master chef, choosing your own menu from curries, soups and stir-fries. The morning option includes a local market tour. The evening class fits a busy schedule and runs cooler. Hotel pickup within 3 km of the city, individual cooking station, Akha Hill Tribe coffee, and a full color cookbook are included.

Options for this experience

2 options

From US$ 42 per person, depending on the option and date you choose.See dates & book

Evening Thai Akha Class 16:30 Guide in English Fits neatly into a busy day's schedule. Your first home-cooked Thai dinner in Thailand. No need to worry about where or what to eat for dinner; just come and cook. Pickup: For details about our Pick-Up services, please visit the booking platform. Thank you. Pickup is included.

Morning Thai Akha Class 08:30 Guide in English Thai Akha Kitchen takes you to the local market to see the everyday lifestyle of local people, where you can view the same produce sold at different prices. Pickup: For details about our Pick-Up services, please visit the booking platform. Thank you. Pickup is included.

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What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off within 3 km of the city center.
• individual cooking station.
• Akha Hill Tribe coffee.
• full color cookbook of the recipes you made.
• market tour (morning class only).
• all recipes adapted to vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free on request.

Times

• Every day 08:30 16:30

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Before you book

Group Up to 12

Live guide English Another language? ›

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Book up to 4h before

Ages Adult (6 and older) · Under 6: can't be booked

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Good to know

Wheelchair accessible Stroller-friendly Infant seats available Public transport nearby

Operated by Thai Akha Kitchen

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The experience

What do you actually cook? You start with two appetizers (papaya salad and fried spring rolls), then move through two desserts (mango sticky rice and pumpkin in coconut milk). The core of the class is three Akha dishes: a chilli sauce, a salad, and a soup, all built on traditions where every meal follows this structure. Then you pick one curry from four options (red, green, Panang, or Massaman), one soup from three (Tom Kha Gai, Tom Yum Gong, or clear soup with egg tofu), and one stir-fry from four (Pad Thai, chicken with cashew, chicken with basil, or sweet and sour vegetables). Every recipe can be adapted vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free on the spot.

The morning class adds a local market tour before cooking begins, so you see where the ingredients come from and how locals shop for the day's meals. The evening class skips the market and goes straight to cooking. It fits around a full day of sightseeing and runs cooler in the kitchen. Either way, you work at your own station with the master chef moving between students, and you eat what you've cooked for dinner. Hotel pickup and drop-off within 3 km of the city center is included, so you don't arrange transport yourself.

You leave with a full color cookbook of the recipes you made, plus Akha Hill Tribe coffee. The class runs six hours total. Come with an empty stomach. The food you cook is your meal.

Top questions

What's the difference between the morning and evening cooking class?

The morning class includes a tour of the local market before cooking, so you see how locals shop and source ingredients. The evening class is cooking only, with no market tour, and it runs cooler in the kitchen. A better time to be cooking if your day is already full of sightseeing.

Can I choose what dishes I cook, or is the menu set?

You choose individually from the menu. You pick one curry from four options, one soup from three, and one stir-fry from four. All recipes can be adapted vegan, vegetarian, or gluten-free if you need them to be.

Do I need cooking experience to join this class?

No experience is required. The master chef teaches you step-by-step, and you work at your own station. The class is built for people learning to cook Thai and Akha food for the first time.

Is the market tour included in both the morning and evening class?

The market tour is only included in the morning class. The evening class is cooking only, without the market visit.

What happens to the food I cook? Do I eat it?

Yes, you eat what you cook. The class runs six hours, and the dishes you prepare become your dinner. Come with an empty stomach.

Is hotel pickup included?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included if your hotel is within 3 km of Chiang Mai city center. The driver speaks English.