Phuket Thai Cooking Class with Pickup & Hands-On Curry

Summary

Phuket half day thai cooking class with transfers and local chef

You’ll learn to cook classic Thai dishes in Phuket alongside locals and travelers in a relaxed open kitchen. Expect hands-on lessons making curry paste from scratch, plenty of laughs with your guide Noi, and time to share your creations around the table. You’ll leave full — and maybe even a little proud of your Pad Thai skills.

What’s the experience like?

I’ll be honest — I almost missed the pickup because I was still hunting for my flip-flops. The driver just grinned and waved me in, like he’d seen it all before. We wound through Phuket town’s early morning traffic, windows down, the smell of fried garlic drifting in from some street stall. By the time we reached the open-air kitchen, I’d already sweated through my shirt (humidity here is no joke), but our teacher Noi just handed me a cold towel and said, “You’ll need your energy for pounding curry.” She wasn’t kidding.

There were only eight of us — a couple from Berlin, two sisters from Chiang Mai visiting family, and me trying not to embarrass myself with a mortar and pestle. Noi showed us how to make green curry paste from scratch. My arms still ache thinking about it. She kept laughing at my technique (“More wrist! Like this!”) and let us taste everything as we went — little spoonfuls of coconut milk, kaffir lime leaves torn fresh off a branch, chili so spicy it made my eyes water. At one point someone dropped an egg for the Pad Thai and everyone cheered instead of groaning. It felt like being at a friend’s house more than a class.

The best part? Sitting down together at this long wooden table under the fans, eating what we’d made: Tom Yum Kung that smelled like lemongrass and sea air, sticky rice with mango so sweet I nearly licked the plate clean (didn’t, but thought about it). Noi told stories about her grandmother’s recipes while we picked at leftovers. I didn’t expect to feel so… welcomed? It’s hard to explain unless you’ve sat there too, sweat drying on your neck, listening to people swap travel stories over bowls of curry they actually made themselves.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Half-day Thai cooking class in Phuket

• Arrive at cooking class location
• Learn to make curry paste
• Cook Chicken Green Curry
• Prepare Pad Thai dish
• Make Tom Yum Kung soup
• Prepare Mango sticky rice dessert
• Enjoy the dishes you cooked
• Return transfer to hotel

Top questions

Is hotel pickup included for this Phuket cooking class?

Yes, roundtrip transfer is included for hotels in Kata, Karon, Patong, Rawai, and Phuket town.

How long does the Thai cooking class last?

The class lasts approximately 3-4 hours.

What dishes will I learn to cook in this Phuket class?

You’ll make chicken green curry (with homemade paste), Pad Thai, Tom Yum Kung soup, and mango sticky rice.

Are children allowed in the cooking class?

Yes, children under 7 join free with an adult; specialized infant seats are available if needed.

How many people are in each cooking group?

The maximum group size is 10 people per class.

Is there an extra charge for certain pickup locations?

Yes—there are additional fees for pickups outside central areas like Kamala or Bang Tao.

Do I need any prior cooking experience?

No experience is needed; the class is beginner-friendly and hands-on.

What’s included

Your day includes roundtrip hotel pickup from central Phuket areas (Kata, Karon, Patong, Rawai or Phuket town), all ingredients for four classic Thai dishes—green curry (with homemade paste), Pad Thai, Tom Yum Kung soup and mango sticky rice—and personalized instruction from certified local cooks in a small group setting before returning you back to your hotel after lunch together.