Thai Cooking Class in Khao Lak with Market Tour

Make curry paste from scratch in a bamboo kitchen garden

A hands-on Thai cooking class in Khao Lak where you cook four dishes (including a traditional Southern curry and royal Thai recipes) with your own station, fresh market ingredients, and instruction from a chef with over 10 years of experience and international training. Hotel pickup and lunch are included. The class runs 4 hours and suits families with children from age 5.

The experience

The morning or afternoon starts with pickup from your hotel in the Khao Lak area, then moves to a local fresh market where you learn what goes into each dish before you cook it. You'll see where the seafood, fresh coconut milk, herbs and spices come from, and you can shop for yourself while you're there. The market walk is the foundation. It teaches you what authentic Thai cooking actually uses, not what a supermarket shelf holds.

Back at the class, you work at your own cooking station in a new bamboo hut garden, with a gas stove, cutting board, knives and all the tools you need. You'll make curry pastes from scratch using the ingredients you just saw at the market, then cook with them. The four dishes are deep fried pork with lemongrass, Kaeng Chu Chi Pla (a traditional Southern curry made with Andaman fish and your homemade paste), Yam Som O (pomelo salad), and Bualoi (a Thai rice ball dessert in warm coconut milk). Wandee, the chef, has worked in New Zealand and Iceland and teaches royal Thai recipes alongside the traditional methods. She's also trained to work with children and can adapt dishes for gluten-free, vegan or vegetarian needs. You get a Q&A session during the class and the recipes afterward.

Lunch is included, and you'll have bottled water throughout. The class ends with hotel drop-off in the Khao Lak area. Alcoholic drinks are available to purchase if you want them.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in the Khao Lak area.
• guided tour of a local fresh market.
• your own cooking station with gas stove, cutting board, knives and all tools.
• lunch.
• bottled water.
• recipes for all four dishes after the class.
• air-conditioned vehicle.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 10:00 and 15:30

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (5 to 12 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupUp to 10

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

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

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Wheelchair accessibleStroller-friendlyPets welcome

Operated by Khao Lak Cooking Class by Pakinnaka Thai Cooking School Khao Lak

Is this one for you?The 4-hour class moves at a steady pace (market walk, then cooking at your own station with instruction), so it suits anyone who wants to learn hands-on without a rushed schedule. Families with children from age 5 can join, and dietary needs like vegan or gluten-free cooking are built in.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 12 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

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

The morning class runs from 9:30 to 10:00 AM pickup, and the afternoon class from 3:00 to 3:30 PM pickup. Both follow the same structure (market tour, then four dishes cooked at your own station), so the choice is mainly about which time fits your day.

Do I need cooking experience to join this class?

No. The class teaches you how to make curry pastes from scratch and cook traditional Thai dishes, so it's built for people learning these techniques for the first time. Wandee walks through each step.

What happens at the market tour before cooking?

You visit a local fresh market to see the ingredients (Thai herbs, spices, seafood, fresh coconut milk, vegetables and tropical fruit), and learn where they come from and how they're used in the dishes you'll cook. You can also shop for yourself while you're there.

Will I get the recipes after the class?

Yes. The recipes for all four dishes you cook are available after the class, so you can make them at home.

Can you accommodate dietary restrictions like vegan or gluten-free?

Yes. Wandee specializes in gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian cooking and can adapt the dishes to your needs. Let the operator know when you book.