Chiang Mai: Thai Cooking Class & Organic Farm with Pickup

Summary

Thai cooking on a Chiang Mai organic farm with garden tour

You’ll start with a real Chiang Mai market stop before heading out to Smile Organic Farm for hands-on Thai cooking. Taste herbs straight from the garden, learn classic dishes like Pad Thai or green curry with a local guide, and enjoy your meal surrounded by fields. It’s relaxed, messy fun—and you’ll leave with recipes (and maybe some red chili stains).

What’s the experience like?

The van picked us up right outside our Chiang Mai guesthouse—earlier than I’m used to, but the city was just waking up and it felt good to be moving. Our guide, Pim, chatted as we drove out past the old city walls. She stopped us at a local market where the air smelled like lemongrass and fried something (I never figured out what). Pim showed us how to tell real kaffir lime leaves from the fake ones—she laughed when I mixed them up, but in a friendly way. I tried saying “galangal” in Thai and got it so wrong that one of the vendors grinned wide and corrected me. It was loud, busy, but not rushed.

When we reached Smile Organic Farm about 45 minutes later, everything slowed down. The fields were green after last night’s rain and you could smell damp earth everywhere. Pim led us through rows of basil and eggplants—she’d pick a leaf for us to crush between our fingers before explaining what it did in a curry. There were chickens wandering around too; one tried to peck my shoe (maybe it liked tourists?). We chose our dishes—Pad Thai for me, green curry for my partner—and then started chopping under this open-air kitchen roof while cicadas buzzed somewhere nearby.

I didn’t expect making curry paste from scratch to be so much work—or so satisfying. My arms got tired pounding chilies in the mortar, but the smell was worth it: spicy, sweet, something almost floral. We cooked five dishes in total (I went light on chili; others didn’t), and then sat together eating what we’d made while Pim told stories about her grandma’s recipes. The food tasted different because we’d pulled half the ingredients straight from the ground an hour earlier. I still think about that first bite of Khao Soi—creamy but sharp—and how everyone went quiet for a second before laughing again.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Thai cooking class at organic farm

• Pick up from Chiang Mai hotel
• Visit local market briefly
• Drive to Smile Organic Farm
• Choose cooking menu
• Learn about herbs and vegetables
• Cook Thai dishes in five categories
• Enjoy self-cooked Thai food
• Return to Chiang Mai hotel

Top questions

How far is Smile Organic Farm from Chiang Mai?

It’s about 45 minutes by car from Chiang Mai old city.

Is hotel pickup included in this cooking class?

Yes, pickup from your accommodation in Chiang Mai city is included.

Can vegetarians or vegans join this class?

Yes, all dishes can be made vegetarian or vegan.

Do you visit a local market during the tour?

Yes, there’s a brief stop at a countryside market before arriving at the farm.

What Thai dishes can you cook during the class?

You can choose from options like Pad Thai, spring rolls, green curry, Khao Soi, Tom Yum soup, and more.

Are children allowed to participate?

Children above 9 can cook; younger kids can join as visitors or free if under 3 years old.

Is transport air-conditioned?

Yes, transfers are by air-conditioned vehicle.

Do you get recipes to take home?

You’ll receive an e-book with all recipes by email after the class.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup in Chiang Mai city, all ingredients for your cooking class at Smile Organic Farm (with vegetarian or vegan options), time exploring both a local market and their kitchen garden with your guide Pim or another teacher, hands-on instruction for five classic Thai dishes plus lunch of everything you make yourself—and an e-book of recipes sent afterward so you can try again back home.