In Chiang Mai, two 6-hour Thai cooking classes are listed on WizardTrip. One takes place on an organic farm, 45 minutes from the Old City. The other, in a garden school near the south gate, teaches Thai and Akha cuisine. They have 20,937 and 4,702 reviews, with ratings of 5.0 out of 5 (as of 18 October 2026).
The two classes look alike on paper. Each takes up to 12 participants, with an English-speaking guide. Hotel pickup covers a 3 km radius, and a full refund is provided up to 24 hours before departure. This article tells them apart by location, menu, schedule and audience.
Chiang Mai cooking class: what to know
Both listings announce 6 hours in total and instant confirmation. In both classes, everyone chooses their dishes, cooks at their own station, then eats what they have prepared. Morning and evening sessions are possible in both cases.
The difference lies in the location and the cuisine taught. The farm relies on its organic vegetable garden and Thai classics. The Akha school adds dishes from the Akha community, with a guided market tour reserved for the morning class.
The organic farm class: vegetable garden, market and choice of dishes
The Thai cooking class on an organic farm begins with hotel pickup. It takes place from 8 am to 8:30 am for the morning class, from 3 pm to 3:30 pm for the evening class. The air-conditioned vehicle stops at a local market for a short visit, then reaches Smile Organic Farm. It is 45 minutes from the Old City, near the San Kamphaeng hot springs.
On arrival, you are shown the menu and everyone chooses their dishes in each category. You then walk through the organic vegetable garden, where you taste Thai herbs and vegetables, before cooking. The five categories are curry paste, curry, stir-fry, soup and spring rolls.
The menu has ten dishes. They include pad Thai, tom yum, green curry, red curry, massaman and khao soi. The price includes the ingredients, transport, a photo album shared on Facebook and a recipe e-book, sent by email.
On the rain, David writes in July 2026: “The weather doesn’t matter because you are in a huge covered kitchen.”
The Thai and Akha class: an Akha chef and desserts
The Thai and Akha cooking class is held in a school set up in a garden since January 2020. It is a 5-minute walk from Chiang Mai’s south gate. The heart of the Old City is a 15-minute walk away. The instructor is an Akha chef, according to the listing.
The menu mixes Thai and Akha cuisine. It includes two starters, two desserts and three Akha dishes. Each person also chooses a curry from four curry and curry paste options. They also take a soup from three and a stir-fry from four. The listing does not say how many dishes are prepared in total.
The morning class begins with a guided tour of the local market and ends with lunch. The evening class skips the market and ends with a homemade Thai dinner. Without a transfer, the meeting point is at 9 am at Wat Pan Whaen temple in the morning, at 5 pm at the school in the evening.
The price includes the round-trip transfer from a hotel within a 3 km radius of the city center. It also includes an individual cooking station, Akha mountain coffee and a color recipe book. Alcoholic drinks are extra.
The two Chiang Mai cooking classes compared
| Organic farm | Thai and Akha | |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | 6 hours, transfers included | 6 hours |
| Class location | Smile Organic Farm, 45 minutes from the Old City | School 5 minutes on foot from the south gate |
| Pickup | Hotel within 3 km, 8 am to 8:30 am or 3 pm to 3:30 pm | Hotel within 3 km, otherwise meet at 9 am (morning) or 5 pm (evening) |
| Market | Short visit before the farm | Guided tour, morning class only |
| Menu | 10 dishes: curry, stir-fry, soup, spring rolls | Starters, desserts, Akha dishes, curry, soup, stir-fry |
| Diet | All dishes in vegetarian or vegan versions | Not specified in the listing |
| Included | Ingredients, transport, photo album, recipe e-book | Transfer, individual station, Akha coffee, color recipe book |
| Group and cancellation | 12 people at most, full refund up to 24 hours before | 12 people at most, full refund up to 24 hours before |
| Price from | 900 THB | $42 |
Morning or evening class: which one should you take?
At the Akha school, the morning session includes the guided market tour and ends with lunch. The evening session suits busy days, according to the listing. It is a first homemade Thai dinner, without the market tour.
At the farm, the listing gives two pickup times. In the morning, from 8 am to 8:30 am; in the evening, from 3 pm to 3:30 pm. It describes no difference in the program between the two.
The Akha listing announces 6 hours in total without detailing the length of each session. It does not specify the end time of the evening class: ask before planning a late transfer.
With children, in a wheelchair or without meat?
At the farm, prices apply to participants aged 9 to 75 and to children aged 4 to 8 attending as visitors. Children aged 0 to 3 take part for free. Children aged 9 and over can use their own cooking station.
The Akha school declares all its areas wheelchair accessible and welcomes infants in strollers. Baby car seats are provided on request. The listing cites families with older children among its audience.
Jeff gave the Akha school 3 out of 5 in June 2026. He writes: “The vulgarity and drug references made this experience unsuitable for children.”
For a vegetarian or vegan diet, only the farm says so in its listing: all its dishes lend themselves to it. The Akha school says nothing on the subject.
Which cooking class should you choose in Chiang Mai?
- You want to taste herbs from a vegetable garden and choose from ten classic Thai dishes: the class on the organic farm.
- You follow a vegetarian or vegan diet: the organic farm, whose listing says so for all dishes.
- You want to discover Akha cuisine, with starters and desserts: the Thai and Akha class.
- You only have your evening: the evening class, at the Akha school or at the farm.
- You travel in a wheelchair: the Thai and Akha school, the only one whose listing mentions accessibility.
The city’s tours, classes and excursions are gathered on the Things to do in Chiang Mai page. Those for the country are on the Thailand page.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a cooking class in Chiang Mai take?
Both classes compared last 6 hours according to their listings. At the organic farm, this total includes pickup and the return to the hotel. The Thai and Akha school’s listing gives the same length for the morning and the evening.
Is a cooking class in Chiang Mai suitable for vegetarians?
At the organic farm, all dishes can be prepared vegetarian or vegan, and the spice level can be adjusted. The Thai and Akha school’s listing mentions no vegetarian menu: tell them your diet in advance.
Is hotel pickup included in the cooking class?
Yes, in both classes compared, for a hotel within a 3 km radius of Chiang Mai’s Old City. Without a transfer, the Thai and Akha school meets at 9 am at Wat Pan Whaen temple in the morning. In the evening, it is at 5 pm at the school.
Can you cancel a cooking class in Chiang Mai?
Yes. Both listings grant a full refund for any cancellation made at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time. Booking confirmation is instant in both cases.
How many people take part in a cooking class in Chiang Mai?
Twelve participants at most in each of the two classes compared. Everyone cooks at their own station, chooses their dishes and eats what they have prepared. The guide speaks English in both cases.
Can children take a cooking class in Chiang Mai?
At the organic farm, children aged 4 to 8 attend as visitors. Those aged 0 to 3 take part for free, and from age 9 they cook at their own station. The Thai and Akha school welcomes infants in strollers.
Activities mentioned in this guide
All activities in Chiang Mai, with their prices and reviews: Things to do in Chiang Mai
