Chiang Mai: Thai Cooking Class & Market Tour with Pickup

Summary

Evening in Chiang Mai learning Thai recipes with local tips

You’ll join a small group in Chiang Mai for an evening cooking class starting with a lively market visit led by your local teacher. Learn to prepare four classic Thai dishes of your choice using fresh ingredients you pick out yourself, then share dinner with new friends in a cozy kitchen. Expect laughter, hands-on lessons, hotel pickup included—and flavors you’ll remember long after you’ve left Thailand.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing that hit me was the smell — not the usual touristy incense, but something sharp and green from the market stalls just outside Chiang Mai’s old city. Our teacher, P’Nok, waved us over to a table stacked with kaffir lime leaves and these tiny eggplants I’d never seen before. She grinned when I tried to pronounce “mamuang himmapan” (cashew nut) — I’m pretty sure I got it wrong, but she just laughed and showed me how to pick the best ones for our stir fry. There was this easy friendliness between her and the market vendors; everyone seemed to know her. It felt like we were tagging along on her evening errands.

Back at the cooking studio, which was basically someone’s bright kitchen with mismatched chairs, we washed our hands and started chopping. The air smelled of lemongrass and garlic — strong enough that my eyes watered a bit. We each picked four dishes (I went for pad thai, tom yum goong, green curry, and spring rolls — couldn’t resist). P’Nok moved around correcting our technique (“not like that!”), but always smiling. There was a moment when my curry paste splattered everywhere — nobody cared, actually it made everyone laugh. Cooking didn’t feel stressful here; it was more about sharing stories while stirring pots.

Sitting down together at the end surprised me — I thought we’d just eat quickly and leave, but instead we lingered over our plates. The papaya salad was spicier than I expected (my fault, too many chilies), but honestly it tasted better because I’d made it myself. Someone from Germany tried to say “aroy mak” (very delicious) and we all cheered when P’Nok nodded approvingly. By then it was dark outside and you could hear scooters buzzing past the open window. It felt like a proper evening in Chiang Mai — not rushed or staged, just warm and real.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Evening Thai cooking class experience

• Pick up from hotel
• Visit local market for ingredients
• Proceed to cooking studio
• Learn to prepare four Thai dishes
• Enjoy the dishes with fellow students
• Receive recipe PDF document

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included for this Chiang Mai cooking class?

Yes, hotel pickup is included before visiting the local market.

How many Thai dishes can I cook during the class?

You can choose four dishes to prepare from the menu provided.

Will there be a local guide or teacher during the class?

Yes, a local teacher leads both the market tour and cooking lesson.

Is this cooking class wheelchair accessible?

Yes, all areas including transportation are wheelchair accessible.

Are infants or small children allowed on this tour?

Yes, infants and small children can join in a pram or stroller.

Do I get recipes after the class?

Yes, you’ll receive a 40-page PDF with recipes and ingredient descriptions.

What dishes are available to cook in this Chiang Mai class?

Dishes include pad thai, green curry, tom yum goong, khao soi, papaya salad, spring rolls, chicken with cashew nuts, and tom kha gai.

What’s included

Your evening includes hotel pickup in Chiang Mai followed by a guided walk through the local market to select fresh ingredients for your chosen Thai dishes. All cooking utensils and ingredients are provided at the studio where you’ll prepare four recipes under your teacher’s guidance before sitting down together to enjoy dinner—and you’ll also get a recipe PDF to take home afterward.