You are Here: Home / Browse by Destination / South East Asia / Thailand / Thailand Master Cooking Tour
10 days

Thailand Master Cooking Tour

Thailand Master Cooking Tour

Bangkok's Grand Palace and Temple of the Emerald Buddha

Bike ride among the ruins of UNESCO World Heritage-listed Sukhothai - Thailand's first capital

Chiang Mai cooking school on northern cuisine

Chiang Mai's Night Bazaar - Lanna handicrafts and traditional wares of the hilltribes

Northern Lanna style Thai cooking class in Chiang Mai

Rice barge cruise and dawn monk procession in the former capital of the Siamese empire - UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ayuthaya

The reclining golden Buddha of Wat Po

Trip rating

  • Overview

    This specialty cooking tour introduces us to the best of Thailand, with a special emphasis on its world-famous cuisine. Bangkok is a city of excitement with its lively night markets and riverside restaurants. Here we enjoy the first of our Thai cooking master classes. The old Thai capital of Ayuthaya is best seen from the river – we enjoy a cooking session with local villagers, then cruise on board a converted rice barge and feast on the food we’ve cooked against the backdrop of ancient pagodas. Sukhothai was the first Thai capital and is regarded as the birthplace of Thai culture. We pay homage to the magnificent stupas that line the historical park, as well as try our hand at preparing the local delicacies. In Chiang Mai, renowned for its Lanna cuisine, we will spend a day at a special cooking school, preparing some of the local dishes. Sampling the fruits of our newly found skills will be a delectable highlight, as we round up our gourmet adventures in this amazing country.

    Itinerary

    Day 1 - Bangkok

    • Arrive in Bangkok where you are transferred to the comfortable and centrally located Nouvo City Hotel. A pre-trip briefing is held in the evening, to meet the other members of your group and discuss the trip itinerary. Please check for a Welcome Notice on the hotel notice board located near the hotel lifts which will provide your tour leader's name and the exact time and location of your Welcome Meeting.
    • Until this meeting we encourage you to get out and explore the delights that Bangkok has to offer. Try some of Thailand’s famous cuisine maybe.
    • After the group meeting in the evening we may head off to a nearby restaurant and enjoy a meal together (this is optional and at your own expense). The rest of the evening is free - perhaps a quiet drink or a visit to the bustling night markets of Bangkok.
    Nouvo City Hotel or similar

    Day 2 - Bangkok

    • Prepare yourself for a busy day in Bangkok today! The morning begins with some sightseeing at the Grand Palace and and Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), a must for first-time travellers to Bangkok.
    • We also visit Wat Po, home of the famous Reclining Buddha. (When visiting temples and palaces in Thailand, please dress conservatively in order to respect the local culture).
    • By the afternoon it’s straight into the first cooking class and your first step into becoming a Thai cooking masterchef! This afternoon’s class is held in an ideal home-style learning environment and will focus on learning the essential skills and techniques for Thai cuisine that you will be able to apply to your everyday cooking. This class is a completely ‘hands-on’ experience, preparing the dishes yourself at your own cooking station. Then the best part of the class; dining on the delicious Thai meals you prepared yourself!
    Nouvo City Hotel or similar
    Breakfast | Dinner

    Day 3 - Bangkok - Ayuthaya

    • It’s an early start this morning as we head over to the floating market where we will experience the old style and traditional way of buying and selling fruits and vegetables from small boats. You will be amazed at the resourcefulness of the food hawkers and the ingenuity of these mobile kitchens. Here the Thai vendors manage to braise, brew, grill and deep fry in shallow long tail boats. It was the influx of Chinese migrants who brought a range of new dishes to the Thai market stalls, most snacks and street food is of Chinese origin here, but whatever you do, make sure you don’t miss out on trying the fried bananas!
    • We then travel to Ayuthaya. Situated 90 kilometres north of Bangkok, Ayuthaya was the capital of Siam from 1350 to 1767 AD. In its prime it was one of the largest and most glamorous cities in the world and the capital city of the then huge Siamese empire that included large parts of Laos, Cambodia and Burma. Here we spend the night in a traditional Thai teak house. The accommodation is basic; however it enables you to experience a slice of the life-style of our gracious Thai hosts.
    Krung Sri River Hotel or similar
    Breakfast | Dinner

    Day 4 - Ayuthaya

    • This morning is our second cooking class, this time we start outside in the vegetable and herb gardens to harvest our own fresh produce. The cooking will be done with the local villagers in a traditional Thai environment.
    • Afterwards we will catch a long-tail boat down to the Chao Praya River to transfer onto a rice barge. Here you will be able to sit back and watch life go by while enjoying a long lazy lunch, passing the local people in their homes, along with historic buildings, and the lush green paddy fields contrasting with the growing industrial areas.
    • Later that afternoon if you are feeling energetic, try one of the optional cycling tours to the temples, or a night cycling tour.
    Krung Sri River Hotel or similar
    Breakfast | Lunch

    Day 5 - Ayuthaya - Sukhothai

    • In Thailand, in the early hours of the morning, you will always see monks wander on the streets on their daily alms round to collect food for their day. In Buddhism, alms or alms giving is a sign of respect given by lay Buddhists to Buddhist monks. Thai people prepare the alms food that would include rice and other recipes for the monks. It is a special honour this morning that we have the chance to experience this, making it a spiritual start to our day before setting off for Sukothai.
    • Although we have a long day of driving today we have the opportunity to sit back, relax and enjoy the views of the countryside while discussing your favorite recipes and cooking tips so far or maybe catch up on some sleep after an early start. Tonight’s accommodation is in a unique traditional style, but comfortable hotel in Sukothai.
    The legendha Sukhothai or similar
    Breakfast

    Day 6 - Sukhothai

    • This morning allows time for a sleep in for those who want a lazy morning of catching up on rest. Alternatively there are some optional activities available for those of you who want to get our and explore Sukothai.
    • Try cycling to the Historical Park to explore the ruins of royal palaces, Buddhist temples, the city gates, walls, moats and the water dyke control system of ancient Sukhothai.
    • After lunch it’s time to start putting those Thai masterchef cooking skills to use! This afternoon it’s back in the kitchen for another cooking lesson.
    The legendha Sukhothai or similar
    Breakfast | Dinner

    Day 7 - Chiang Mai

    • A six-hour drive takes us to the fabled north. Chiang Mai is a moated city with the impressive backdrop of Doi Suthep (a 1,676-metre peak that offers impressive views of the surrounding countryside). Near the summit is a famous temple – Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.
    • The evening presents you with a fantastic opportunity to explore the famous Night Bazaar, a shopper’s paradise! The combination of the local Lanna handicrafts and the traditional wares of the hill tribe people on offer ensure that you won’t go away empty handed. And also let’s not forget the food!
    Imperial Mae Ping or similar
    Breakfast

    Day 8-9 - Chiang Mai

    • Today’s all day cooking class starts with an early morning visit to the local market. After buying all our ingredients, including fresh fruit and vegetables, we travel to our cooking school, situated on the outskirts of town. Here we learn the intricacies of cooking Thai cuisine, with a special emphasis on the northern Lanna style.
    • This final cooking class is a master class is designed for people who are passionate about Thai food and want to learn more than what is usually offered in a Thai cooking course. The menus have been specially designed to cater to professional chefs whilst still being accessible to food lovers who already have some knowledge of Thai cooking.
    • After enjoying yet another one of your own cooked delights, remember to say “Lum tair tair”, the word for ‘delicious’ in the northern Thai dialect.
    • After today you will be able to look back over the past few days and realize that not only have you learnt how to cook Thai food, but rather you have discovered an insight into both modern and traditional Thai lifestyles, cooking customs, learning how to grow vegetables and herbs, experiencing local markets and of course sampling and eating all the wonderful foods Thailand has to offer.
    • The final day is free for you to explore the sights of Chaing Mai. Catch a songthaew to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.
    Imperial Mae Ping or similar
    Breakfast | Lunch

    Day 10 - Chiang Mai

    • The tour ends after breakfast in Chiang Mai. A transfer to the airport is not included; however, your tour leader will be on hand to advise you as to the available options.
    Breakfast
    Download detailed trip notes

  • Details

    What to Know

    What's Included

    • Peregrine tour leader, local guides, arrival transfer, transport, sightseeing, entrance fees and 5 cooking classes.

    Not Included

    • International flights, airport departure taxes, visas, insurance, other meals, any optional tours and activities during free time, tips and items of a personal nature.

  • Map

    Map Itinerary

  • Reviews

    Past Travellers' Ratings & Comments

    There’s no feedback available on this trip yet. If you’ve been on this trip and would like to contribute a review, rating or simply make a comment then please get in touch.

    •  

  • Stories

    From our Blog

    Feast recipe: Northern Thai Curry

    by kellie.bright on 13 Apr 2012

    Every year from April 13 to April 15 the people of Thailand celebrate Songkran, or Thai New Year. The name comes from Sanskrit and means 'a move or change', and the date of Thai New Year was set according to the astrological calculations. 

    In order to celebrate this exciting event...

    Read on...

    Why Laos and Thailand are great for family vacations

    by guest.blogger on 2 Apr 2012

    Today's guest bloggers are the Bohemian Family, consisting of five adventurers - mum, dad and three boys. They started a quest to escape the rat race five years ago in Costa Rica and haven't looked back since. By sharing their experiences they hope others will be encouraged to attempt a life of...

    Read on...

    5 iconic movie destinations to add to your wishlist

    by marissa.cooke on 27 Feb 2012

    The silver screen has immortalised many destinations across the globe, from the lost island paradise in The Beach to the iconic bridge from the World War II classic - The Bridge on the River Kwai.

    With Oscars buz z in the air, what better reason to add a destination to your wishlist than to...

    Read on...

    The great packing debate

    by kellie.bright on 12 Feb 2012

    Once you've chosen a destination and booked a trip, the next big decision is about packing. There's so many different opinions out there about what's best. But you are the only one who knows what is right for you.

    Here's a couple of the most common debates when it comes to...

    Read on...

    Travel trends for the future

    by kellie.bright on 17 Jan 2012

    For Peregrine travellers, it's always been important to get off the beaten tourist path and see a destination with the guidance of a local tour leader, allowing them to experience things they may not get the chance to see or do while travelling on their own.

    While this style of travel...

    Read on...
From US $1595.00
*Per Person, Twin Share

Select a trip date below

Trip Start Dates
Trip Duration
Guaranteed Departure Start Date
Trip Selected:
Price: US $
Start:
End:
Discount price: US $

*Please note: To receive the discounted price for this departure, please enter the Promo Code at Step 4 of the booking form.

No Code available
View all departures

Trip at a glance

Trip Code PACT
Group size 6 - 15
Start City: Bangkok, Thailand
End City: Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai, Thailand

Contact an expert

800 387 7902We'll call you

Simply enter your details and we'll call you back within the next business day.

Request a Brochure