Krabi: Ya Thai Cooking Class with Market Visit & Hotel Pickup

Summary

Hands-on Thai cooking in Krabi with Chef Ya’s warmth and laughter

You’ll pick fresh ingredients with Chef Ya in Ao Nang, learn to balance flavors while making curry paste from scratch, cook classic Thai dishes step-by-step, then sit down together to share what you’ve made. Expect laughter, new skills, and recipes you’ll want to try again back home—plus hotel pickup so you don’t have to worry about getting lost.

What’s the experience like?

“Don’t eat the chili yet!” That was the first thing Ya said as we poked around the little baskets of herbs and vegetables at her school in Ao Nang. It smelled like lemongrass and something sweet I couldn’t quite place — maybe kaffir lime? We started by picking out our own ingredients, which felt a bit like being let loose in someone’s backyard garden. I tried to pronounce “galangal” properly (Li laughed when I tried to say it in Mandarin — probably butchered it). The kitchen was open-air, so you could hear scooters now and then, but mostly it was just our group chatting and the sound of knives on wooden boards.

Ya showed us how to crush curry paste in a stone mortar. My arms got tired embarrassingly fast — she made it look easy. There was this moment when the spices hit the air, sharp and earthy, and everyone just stopped talking for a second. I didn’t expect that part to feel so… grounding? We cooked Massaman curry, spicy prawn soup (I went heavy on the lime), pad Thai — she kept checking if anyone wanted more or less chili. The chicken mint salad surprised me; mint with fish sauce is a combo I still think about sometimes.

Lunch was all the dishes we’d made, lined up like a weirdly proud buffet. We sat together at this long table while Ya poured us water from an old metal jug. Someone asked her about her favorite dish growing up, and she said fried rice because her mom let her add “whatever was left.” It felt less like a class by then and more like eating at a friend’s house after helping cook. Afterward we got recipes printed out — mine has a little smear of red curry paste on it still. So yeah, if you’re looking for a day trip cooking class in Krabi that’s actually hands-on (and not just posing for photos), this is it.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Learn authentic Thai cooking techniques

• Choose fresh ingredients
• Discover secrets of Thai cooking
• Prepare curry paste using mortar
• Cook dishes like Massaman Curry and Pad Thai
• Enjoy the Thai specialties prepared

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included for the Ya Thai Cookery School class?

Yes, round-trip hotel transfer is included in your booking.

Can vegetarians join this Krabi cooking class?

Yes, all dishes can be adapted for vegetarian preferences.

What dishes do you cook during the class?

You may prepare curry paste, Massaman curry, red curry chicken, spicy prawn soup, chicken mint salad, pad Thai, stir-fried chicken & cashew nut, sweet & sour stir fry or fried rice.

How long does the day trip cooking class last?

The experience covers ingredient selection through lunch; plan for several hours including transfers.

Is drinking water provided during the class?

Yes, drinking water is included along with food tasting.

Do I get recipes to take home after the class?

Yes, printed recipes are provided at the end of your session.

Where is Ya Thai Cookery School located?

The school is located in Ao Nang, Krabi province.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel round-trip transfer from Krabi or Ao Nang hotels, all fresh ingredients for every dish you’ll cook (with vegetarian options available), recipe handouts in English so you can recreate everything at home later on, food tasting throughout the session plus drinking water—and plenty of time learning directly from Chef Ya herself before heading back after lunch.