Chiang Mai: Thai Cooking Class & Market Tour with Garden

Summary

Thai food secrets hands-on in Chiang Mai garden class

You’ll start your day in Chiang Mai with a local market visit to pick out fresh ingredients before heading to an organic garden for hands-on Thai cooking. Choose your favorite dishes and learn directly from friendly instructors who’ll share tips (and jokes) along the way. Enjoy your meal by a peaceful lake pavilion—and leave with new skills plus a few stories worth retelling.

What’s the experience like?

"If you pound the curry paste too softly, it won't wake up the flavors," our instructor Pi Nok teased, grinning as she handed me the mortar and pestle. I thought I’d done alright until she mimed her own fierce pounding — everyone laughed, even me. The morning started with a bumpy ride through Chiang Mai’s quieter streets, the air still cool, to a market where Pi Nok pointed out galangal and kaffir lime leaves (I kept mixing them up). She showed us how to spot good coconut milk by shaking the can — it should sound thick, not sloshy. Never knew that.

The drive to their cooking school was quick but just long enough for me to realize I’d forgotten sunscreen. Their organic garden was full of bright green lemongrass and basil — we picked some ourselves, crushing leaves between our fingers so the smell stuck for hours. There were little frogs somewhere near the pond, croaking quietly while we walked around. I tried saying “makrut” properly; Li laughed when I butchered it in Mandarin instead of Thai. Not my best moment but nobody minded.

We each chose our own dishes for the cooking class — I went for khaw soi noodles and sticky rice with mango (couldn’t resist). The kitchen was open-air but shaded, and every station had its own wok. Pi Nok moved between us, checking spice levels (“You like spicy? Are you sure?”). When I tasted my curry, it hit all at once: salty, sweet, then heat that lingered on my lips. We ate together by the lake pavilion, feet dangling over cool tiles, watching dragonflies dart above the water. The whole thing felt relaxed — not rushed or stiff at all.

I still think about that sticky rice sometimes. It was warm and soft and somehow better because I’d made it myself — well, mostly myself. On the way back to town I realized my hands still smelled faintly of lime leaf and chili. So yeah, if you want a real day trip cooking class in Chiang Mai with actual locals (and plenty of chances to mess up your pronunciation), this is it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Morning cooking class and market visit

• Pickup from hotel at 9:00 am
• Visit local market at 10:00 am
• Arrive at cooking school and visit organic garden
• Participate in cooking class
• Enjoy self-cooked meal
• Class ends at 2:00 pm

Top questions

How long does the Chiang Mai cooking class last?

The morning class runs from 9:00 am to around 2:00 pm.

Is hotel pickup included for this cooking class?

Yes, transport from and to hotels in Chiang Mai Old Town is included.

Can I choose which Thai dishes to cook?

Yes, each guest can select one dish from each category—appetizer, curry paste, curry, stir fry, soup, and dessert.

Are vegetarian or vegan options available?

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

Does this Chiang Mai cooking class include a market tour?

Yes, you’ll visit a local market before heading to the organic garden and cooking school.

Is lunch included in the price?

You eat everything you cook during the class—so yes!

Do I need any prior cooking experience?

No experience needed; instructions are hands-on and beginner-friendly.

Is this suitable for children or infants?

No—visitors and infants are not permitted on this tour.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup from your hotel in Chiang Mai Old Town before heading out with an English-speaking instructor to explore a local market and their organic garden for fresh ingredients. You’ll get all supplies needed for six dishes (with options for dietary needs), one wok per person, recipe book access online after class, tea or coffee throughout—and you can eat your creations either inside an air-conditioned dining room or outside by the garden pavilion before being dropped off back at your hotel.