Chiang Mai: Thai Cooking Class & Market Tour with Farm Visit

Summary

Thai cooking in Chiang Mai’s countryside with market flavors

You’ll wander Chiang Mai’s Somphet Market with a local guide before heading out to an organic farm for hands-on Thai cooking in an open-air kitchen. Pick fresh herbs straight from the garden, cook classic dishes at your own station, and share lunch with new friends. Expect laughter, honest flavors, and small surprises you’ll remember later.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I remember is the smell — not just lemongrass or chili, but that earthy, leafy scent from Somphet Market in Chiang Mai. Our guide, Nok, waved us over to a pile of tiny eggplants and let me taste a sliver (surprisingly bitter). She laughed when I tried to say “makhuea” right — probably butchered it. The market was loud but somehow gentle, like everyone knew each other. I kept stopping to stare at baskets of herbs I couldn’t name.

We left the city behind in a van (pickup was easy), and after about 20 minutes the air felt softer — less exhaust, more green. The cooking school sits out on this quiet patch of land about 13km from Chiang Mai. There were chickens wandering around and rows of basil and kaffir lime trees. Nok showed us which leaves went into tom yum soup; I still think about how her hands moved through the plants, careful but quick.

Cooking outside under thatched roofs felt different than any kitchen I’ve used before — there’s a breeze and you hear birds instead of traffic. My station had its own wok and everything was spotless (I’m picky about that). Chopping ginger while someone nearby tried to light their burner for the third time made me laugh out loud. We made pad thai from scratch — my noodles stuck together but tasted right anyway. Lunch was what we cooked ourselves, eaten at a long wooden table with coffee and tea. It wasn’t fancy but it felt real — like being let into someone’s home for a few hours.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Market visit and cooking class

• Visit Somphet Market in Chiang Mai
• Travel to organic farm cooking school
• Participate in Thai cooking class

Top questions

How far is the cooking class from Chiang Mai city?

The cooking school is located about 13 kilometers from central Chiang Mai.

Is transportation included in the Thai cooking class?

Yes, van pickup is included for participants.

What market do you visit during the tour?

You visit Somphet Market in Chiang Mai as part of the day trip.

Are recipe cards provided after the class?

Yes, you receive colored recipe cards or a cookbook to take home.

Is the class suitable for children or people with mobility needs?

The tour is wheelchair accessible and infants can join with adults; strollers are allowed.

Do you get to pick ingredients from the farm?

Yes, you can pick herbs and some ingredients directly from the organic farm garden.

What meals do you prepare during the class?

You’ll make several typical Thai dishes such as pad thai and tom yum soup.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup by air-conditioned van from Chiang Mai, a guided walk through Somphet Market to sample local produce, all ingredients for your recipes picked fresh on-site at the organic farm, your own open-air cooking station with clean utensils (plus coffee or tea), and recipe cards to bring home so you can try again later.