CULTURE Chiang Mai, Thailand

Thai Cooking Class & Market Tour

Northern Thai food runs on turmeric, fermented soybean and herbs from the hills — not the fish sauce and curry pastes that define Thai food everywhere south of here. This private class starts at Warorot Market and ends at a table full of dishes you made yourself.

4.9·TAT Certified·16 Booked

Duration~4h

Private TourJust Your Group

TransportIncluded

Hotel Pickup8:30–9:30 AM

About this tour

Northern Thai cooking runs on its own pantry: turmeric and fermented soybean paste in place of the fish sauce and curry powders you'll find on every menu from Bangkok south. The class starts at Warorot Market — trading since the early 1900s — where you pick the ingredients, then moves to a private kitchen to cook khao soi, sai oua and nam prik noom from scratch. Everything you cook, you eat.

Thai Cooking Class & Market Tour — Chiang Mai private tour

Thai Cooking Class & Market Tour — experience with guide

Tour Highlights

Shop for ingredients at Warorot Market, Chiang Mai's oldest market and still where locals buy Northern sausages and fresh produce
Cook khao soi from scratch, the curry noodle soup that defines Chiang Mai's food scene
Make sai oua, the herb-packed Northern Thai sausage, and nam prik noom, a roasted green chili dip eaten with sticky rice
A fully private kitchen, no shared classroom and no rushing through someone else's recipe card

Itinerary

Tour runs approx. 4h

Hotel Pickup

Your guide meets you in the lobby for the short drive to Warorot Market.

Warorot Market

Pick out the chilies, herbs and Northern sausages you'll cook with, moving through stalls that have traded at this market for over a century.

Cooking Begins

At a private kitchen, prepare each dish from scratch: khao soi curry paste pounded by hand, sai oua sausage mixed and grilled, nam prik noom roasted and pounded.

Eat What You Cooked

Sit down to the full menu you just made, plus anything extra the kitchen has on hand that day.

Hotel Drop-off

The drive back to your hotel.

Included in Your Tour

Hotel Pickup

Complimentary Hotel Pickup

Any hotel in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Instructions: We will pick you up directly from your hotel lobby. Your private guide and driver will arrive in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle. Please be ready in your lobby 10 minutes before your scheduled pickup time (8:30–9:30 AM).

Included

Private hotel pickup and drop-off (Chiang Mai)
Expert local English-speaking guide
Market shopping with a local guide
All cooking ingredients and equipment
A full meal of everything you cook

Excluded

Gratuities (optional)
Alcoholic beverages
Personal purchases at the market

What to Bring

Comfortable, washable clothing, this is a hands-on kitchen
Closed-toe shoes
Camera or smartphone
An appetite, you'll be eating a full meal of what you cook

Hi, I'm Monika!

TAT Certified Guide · Thai Native & Food Lover

“Born in Chiang Mai and based in Bangkok, I started 'Hi Monika' to show travellers the authentic side of my country — the places my friends and family actually hang out. I love sharing our food, our culture, and the hidden stories of our neighbourhoods.”

Guest Reviews

4.9

“Monika was incredible! We saw parts of Chiang Mai we never would have found on our own. The street food was amazing and we felt completely safe the entire time.”

Sarah L.October 2024

“Perfectly organised and so much more personal than a group tour. Monika knew exactly when to go to each spot to avoid the crowds.”

James & EmmaSeptember 2024

Frequently Asked Questions

Will we have the tour to ourselves?

Yes — this is strictly a private tour for you and your loved ones only. No other guests, no shared buses, no waiting around for people you have never met. The guide, the vehicle and the entire day are exclusively yours.

Can I change the date after booking?

Yes — contact us via WhatsApp or email at least 12 hours before the tour start time and we will reschedule your tour once at no extra cost, subject to availability. Subsequent reschedules are subject to a THB 1,500 fee.

What happens if it rains?

Chiang Mai weather is unpredictable. Tours operate rain or shine — we provide umbrellas if needed and adapt the itinerary where possible. If severe weather makes the tour unsafe, you'll receive a full reschedule or refund.

Do I need to pay anything on the day?

No. The price covers everything: entrance fees, all transport, bottled water and lunch. Just bring spending money for any personal shopping or optional extras.

Note: many local vendors and restaurants do not accept credit cards — cash is always the safest option.

Is this tour suitable for children?

Yes. The pace and itinerary are adapted to your group. Let us know the ages of your children when booking so we can plan accordingly.